Recommend a camera for me

[someone28624]

I'm in need of a new camera. I'm currently using a Canon Powershot A630. I've had it for 5 years now, and it's served me extremely well. I love the image quality. Unfortunately, it keeps turning itself off now when I go to take a picture. It's been dropped, and I fear I damaged something.

I'm looking for a new point and shoot camera that takes quality pictures. I'm not interested in a DSLR due to cost and portability. I'd ideally like something a bit smaller than my old Canon. I'd gladly go for another Canon. I'd like it to take an SD card. Some degree of optical zoom is a must (I think that goes without saying). I'd really like a camera that still has a viewfinder. I'm a freak like that, I know, but in sunlight it's too hard to see LCDs and I want some way to work without one.

I'd really like the camera to have a geotagging feature. This would be awesome with Places in iPhoto.

Price range: sub $300.

 

[HBOC]

Probably the S90 or S95 (whatever it is called). Gets glowing reviews.

 

[rusty2192]

If you can stretch your budget by another $50, the Canon SX230HS should be a great option. I have not used this model, but I have its predecessor, the SX210IS, and I love it. 14x optical zoom, GPS geotagging, 1080p video. The only thing I don't like about it is the low light capabilities, especially at the long end (although this is for my 210IS, not the 230HS, so they may have improved it a bit).

The S90 or S95 will almost certainly give you slightly better quality shots, but at a much higher price tag, and it lacks the GPS that you said would be nice. In the real world in normal light, and at close distances, you probably wouldn't be able to tell much of a difference.

Neither of these has a viewfinder. You'll be hard pressed to find any point and shoot these days that does. Micro 4/3's don't even come with viewfinders.

Here are some shots that my wife took with our SX210IS for reference. She knows little about the technical sides of photography and had the camera set to "easy auto" mode for all of these.


IMG_1418 by Rusty2192, on Flickr


IMG_1563 by Rusty2192, on Flickr


IMG_1781 by Rusty2192, on Flickr

There are more in the set on my Flickr page here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48874590@N02/sets/72157626528262552/

 

[someone28624]

Both cameras look great! I'm going to have to watch for sales. Leaning toward the second one. Thanks for posting the pictures. They look great! So jealous you went to the Harry Potter park.

 

[someone28624]

I bought the Canon SX230HS today. I'll let you know how I like it.