Ultracompact digital camera recs?

[Phatpat]

I'm looking to buy an ultracompact digital camera. I've been looking at the Pentax Optio S, the Canon SD10, and various Casio Exilims. I've read mixed reviews on all of them; nothing seems to stand out. I want to use it for taking pics at cycling races and everyday shots to post on my blog. I don't want to spend more than $300.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions?

[evil_santa]

i have a canon ixus2 ( power shot sd100 in the usa) 3.2MP, its small and take good pics,
$299 on amazon

[Phatpat]

Yeah, I've checked out the Powershot SD110. It's looks good, and Canon has attained quite the reputation in the digital camera market. Only thing I don't like is the lcd; it seems rather small. With the exception of casio cameras, this seems to be commonplace among most small cameras.

[Apple //e]

Originally Posted by Phatpat

Yeah, I've checked out the Powershot SD110. It's looks good, and Canon has attained quite the reputation in the digital camera market. Only thing I don't like is the lcd; it seems rather small. With the exception of casio cameras, this seems to be commonplace among most small cameras.

the pentax optio s4i fits in an altoids can, has a 3x optical zoom and a 1.8"lcd.

if lcd size is important, casio has the largest in the biz, but the resolution isnt that great

[crap freakboy]

Originally Posted by Phatpat

Only thing I don't like is the lcd; it seems rather small. With the exception of casio cameras, this seems to be commonplace among most small cameras.

Ive got the Canon Ixus II, screen isnt really that small and I tend to be rather fussy about the finer details of any techy purchase I make. Infact
the lcd is one of the major selling points for me, its not hard glass covered so therefore the image is still crisp and bright when used in direct sunlight.

I read heaps of reviews before I bought it, but in all honesty the deciding two factors that made me bite the bullet were the lcd and how it felt in 'my' hands- not some online reviewers. PLEASE save yourself disappointment and spend a hour or so annoying a salesman in a camera shop by trying all the cameras you are interested in...all the buttons, zoom, functions...just how it feels.

[Teronke]

Originally Posted by Phatpat

I'm looking to buy an ultracompact digital camera. I've been looking at the Pentax Optio S, the Canon SD10, and various Casio Exilims. I've read mixed reviews on all of them; nothing seems to stand out. I want to use it for taking pics at cycling races and everyday shots to post on my blog. I don't want to spend more than $300.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions?

Just bought the newly released Pentax Optio S4i. This is a much better version than the Pentax Optio S or Pentax Option S4. It's a 4 mega-pixel camera with a 1.8 inch screen and unlike the earlier version takes some pretty good pics and has a great movie mode. The only issue I've had with it is that because it is so light you have to be especially mindful of keeping the camera still when pressing the shutter.

Many of the Casios use Pentax lenses. So the difference lies in how each brand configures the in-camera software to utilise the lenses. I have friends who have Exilims and they're a pretty good ultracompact.

I would advise against the Canon SD10 purely because it does not have an optical zoom. The other cameras in the Ixus range would be a better bet.

[cosmo]

canon s400 for $315 shipped through pricegrabber. . .

only had it for a couple weeks, but i'm loving it so far (4.0 MP's)...

[Phatpat]

the s400 is a little thick for my tastes, but that does vouch for the quality of that product line.

The Pentax Optio S4i is perfect, but a bit expensive. I don't really need 4 megapixels. The Casio Exilim EX-Z30 also looks great, but doesn't seem to exist in the US yet. I may go with the Canon SD110 if I get impatient.

Does anyone know what the shutter lag is like on these small cameras? Will I be able to take action shots with them?

[Sparky's]

Originally Posted by Phatpat

I'm looking to buy an ultracompact digital camera. I've been looking at the Pentax Optio S, the Canon SD10, and various Casio Exilims. I've read mixed reviews on all of them; nothing seems to stand out. I want to use it for taking pics at cycling races and everyday shots to post on my blog. I don't want to spend more than $300.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions?

You want really ultra compact...check this out

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras/655e/

I'm gonna buy one just because. At under $100 why not. I don't even care how good it works. My cell phone takes pictures so why not a Zippo Lighter

[Phatpat]

heh, that thinkgeek camera is quite a gadget. Doesn't really help me though. My cell phone has a camera, and I'm looking for something that takes better pics. I'm a little doubtful that the "james bond stealth camera" will best my phone by much

[Koodauw]

I have the DSC-U10. Awesome for taking pictures at parties and what not. Very small.

They have updated it since to the U30. 2.0 mega Pixels.

I like it alot.

[Logik]

I have a Exilim. EX-Z3... i LOVE it... best $400 i've spent.. they now have a 4mp version out... i have a 256mb sd card for it and it holds around 132 pictures and the battery lasts for about 150-160 pictures... my mom has a Nikon 4mp and i like the smaller exilim more.. definately better build quality.. i carry it with me...

i DEFINATELY WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend the Exilim EX-Z3 and Z4... the only problem with it is that it doesn't take great pics in the dark... not many digital camera's do though without paying the price..

if you have any questions.. ask

[aricher]

I agree with Logik - the Exilim rocks - I know, most people say "Casio...eeww." but it blows away my PowerShot S500 Elph in image quality. And besides, a camera endorsed by Steve Wozniak can't be all bad There's some pictures Woz took with the Exilim on this site. Is it me or is Woz starting to look like a garden gnome with cliff huxtable's sweaters?

http://exilim.casio.com/review.htm

[locopano]

Originally Posted by Phatpat

I'm looking to buy an ultracompact digital camera. I've been looking at the Pentax Optio S, the Canon SD10, and various Casio Exilims. I've read mixed reviews on all of them; nothing seems to stand out. I want to use it for taking pics at cycling races and everyday shots to post on my blog. I don't want to spend more than $300.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions?

I would strongly recomend not going under 4MP if you plan to print out the photos. I would go with CANON IXUS over OPTIO anyday. CANON have best life span and picture quality by far. I have used both Optio S, Optio330, OPtio S4 and canon IXUSV, V2, V3, IXUs 400, now i have Ixus500 maybe its called S500 in the USA.

But yeah cant go wrong with the new canons. Plus i think the IXUS 430 is 4MP and you can get it for $350...USD....

But yeah if your printing them out or want one that will last in the future go with IXUS 430 or whatever its called in US... its fromt he latest batch..

[Mr. G4]

Originally Posted by locopano

I would strongly recomend not going under 4MP if you plan to print out the photos.

That is non sense.
Unless you want to print your picture in 11" x 17" or 8" x 11 any 2 MP is good enough for regular size photos.
I have a coolpix 950 (2MP) since 1999 and I print my picture at the photolab at Costco, no one can tell if it was taken by film or digitally.

The problem is compact camera is that taking picture in the dark or at night since the sensor is too small it doesn't capture well when there are not sufficient light.

I have used the Nikon coolpix 3500 (3MB) and the Canon SD100 (3MB) both are good, pictures came out great on paper. The advantage of the Canon over the Nikon is the movie included the sound while the Nikon doesn't do sound. The Canon use a media (SD) at this point is more expensive than the compact flash that is used in the Coolpix.

You can find on line the coolpix refurbished under $200.

[mstecker]

I just bought and absolutely love my Sony DSC-T1. It's smaller in every dimension than the Exlim, is FIVE megapixels, has a beautiful 2.5" lcd and Zeiss optics.

You pay a bit of a premium for all of this. Sony just dropped the list from $549 to $499. Street prices can be as low as $450.

Here's a review:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/t1.html

[wPod]

i have a pentax optio S . . . of such small cameras (fits in an altoids tin (thats what i use for my case)) . . . it has the best quality and features.from skiing in Big Sky to low light indoor pics and briliantly colored close up flower pictures the optio S does A LOT!!! and does it much better than my gfs cannon :-) im sure the newer optios are even better!

[r6girl]

i'm looking for a new camera as well and came across this site that has some helpful reviews: www.dcresource.com

i'm deciding between the canon s500 and the new sony dsc-t1. i want as many megapixels as i can get for a reasonable price since i intend to keep whatever camera i get for a few years (or at least until my husband lets me get a new one! ). i like the size of the sony, but i'm put off by the proprietary memory stick format. i need to get to a store to play with each one a little more before i make a decision...

good luck!

marianne

[mkrishnan]

Originally Posted by mstecker

I just bought and absolutely love my Sony DSC-T1. It's smaller in every dimension than the Exlim, is FIVE megapixels, has a beautiful 2.5" lcd and Zeiss optics.

You pay a bit of a premium for all of this. Sony just dropped the list from $549 to $499. Street prices can be as low as $450.

Here's a review:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/t1.html

I'm super tempted to get this camera, but the only problem with it I see is that the optics aren't up too snuff with the sensor. The z-fold design is really cool, and I liked it in the Dimage XT but wanted more than three pixels, but on a lot of the sample pics in that review you posted, especially the one with the two girls at the baseball diamond, there is an insane amount of aliasing noise at the edges of the in-focus elements (like the edges of the girls' cheeks). Sorry, forgot what the right digital-camera-ese term is for this. Saw it in a lot of the other photos too.

But this thing is soo tempting, esp. with the 640x480 long duration movie mode.

[aswitcher]

A problem I always see with Sony equipment is the memory sticks are just so expensive compared to CF cards.