Which Digital Point & Shoot for Wife on Vacation?

Frank_Giuliani · #1 02-16-2007, 12:51 PM

My wife and I are going back to Acapulco for vacation in a couple of weeks. She has a 23 year old Nikon P&S which is still working fine. I have two Canon 5D's and various lenses, and I do not feel like bringing one of them to Mexico. I thought I could find a "simple", for her, digital P&S with an optical viewfinder as she has expressed a distaste for shooting with the LCD as the only viewfinder in a digital camera. I have read reviews on the Canon G7 and everyone's comments here. Also thought about the Canon SD-900, but she has a fixed 35mm lens now on the Nikon, and I was hoping for something wider this time, (24mm?), I believe the Sd-900 is a 37mm equivalent. Price is not an issue, I wil buy the G-7 if that is the consensus view. It just seems more complex than what she needs, and DPP reviews seem to find something wrong with all of them. Any suggestions?

Martin_Doudoroff · #2 02-16-2007, 05:15 PM

I'll be watching this thread closely, because I'm in the same predicament! I've been researching and re-researching the p&s market for months and I'm terribly frustrated. None of the cameras out there seem remotely appealing as either a pocket camera for me or my (non-technical, non-photographer) wife.

[begin rant]

It seems that all the consumer products are being sold based on bells and whistles and megapixels. They all have TOO many megapixels, yielding large files and terrible signal-to-noise. Most of them have terrible, fiddly, fumbly user interfaces, and the few that don't have horrendous image quality (unless you have optimal lighting) due to crazy noise levels, over-sharpening and various other sins. The models turn over at a dizzying rate, but only barely evolve with each generation. Some even regress (for example, the Canon SD-800 appears to be categorically inferior to the SD-700 it replaced).

I'd be very attracted to the Ricoh GR, but DPReview found the image quality to basically be unacceptable. Samsung has some nice new designs, but they apparently can't deliver on the image quality either. Fuji and Canon have some cameras that have range-leading image performance, but they're fiddly, fumbly cameras, and/or they're a little too big for a pocket.

I suppose what I want is a miniature digital variant of the Leica CM: pocket size, quality build, fixed focal length, range finder, less than 6 megapixels, large sensor, elegant, minimalist user interface.

Apparently, I'm S.O.L.

[end rant]

MHKowski · #3 02-16-2007, 08:02 PM

Hello, I'm new in this forum but not new in photography. I have a 20D and a 5D for serious photography. What I needed was a small but low noise camera. I found mine with the Fuji F30, capable of 3200 ISO

, ok, 1600 looks great, and a nice size (cigarette box). The only drawback is - there is no viewfinder. The rest is stunning, 800 to 100 shots per battery load, manual settings (if you want) but a nice auto-mode for beginners, smart flash mode. Since the F40 is just below the horizon, this one could be a bargin with its moderate 6.3MP (really no difference to my 8.2MP 20D).
There is no noticable time delay, they offer an affordable UW-case (the camera has an UW-mode) and it doesn't look expensive (good for some countries).

Michael Kowski

Frank_Giuliani · #4 02-17-2007, 10:30 AM

Martin,

You really nailed the problem! I would be happy with a digital sensor attached to my current Nikon film P&S.

Michael,

The Fuji sounds good but according to DP Review it does not have an optical viewfinder, one of my "wish list" items.

Thanks,

Frank

DickOLeary · #5 02-17-2007, 11:16 AM

Frank,
I have been using the Canon Digital Elph (S500) and have found it to be a great camera for travel. It has an optical viewfinder and a 7.4 -22mm(36-108 35mm equivalent) lens that goes from f2.8 to f4.9 Shutter fm 15-1/2000 sec. Uses compact flash card (type 1). Also has capability for 30 sec. video. Battery use is very good and comes with small plug in recharger. I have made decent 8x10 blow-ups from cropped images.
Have a great trip.
Dick

Tony_Gamble · #6 02-17-2007, 11:40 AM

" Ricoh GR, but DPReview found the image quality to basically be unacceptable"

Well that is rubbish. The problem with the fora on DPReview is that it is peopled with too many characters who want to sound dramatic. Having said that there are plenty on the Ricoh forum there who are getting results they are really proud of.

My wife has the GRD and I used it solely to cover trips to Venice and Puglia. It produced many exhibition quality images.

It needs an external viewfinder. Ricoh do one, but I'd recommend the small one that is done by Voigtlander as it is neater.

It's main failing is that it is slow with RAW - but would you want your wife shooting RAW anyway. And it is there if you need it and can wait ten seconds between shots and most of us can...

Of course it is fixed wide angle. But again there is nothing wrong with that if you remind yourself of all the fun you had in your pre-zoom days.

Buy now while stocks last - as they say.

Tony

Martin_Doudoroff · #7 02-20-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony_Gamble

It needs an external viewfinder. Ricoh do one, but I'd recommend the small one that is done by Voigtlander as it is neater.

As a practical matter, how do you find carrying the camera about with the viewfinder attached? It won't fit in Ricoh's carrying case that way, will it? Will the camera fit in a pocket?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony_Gamble

It's main failing is that it is slow with RAW - but would you want your wife shooting RAW anyway. And it is there if you need it and can wait ten seconds between shots and most of us can...

Actually, if there was a suitable workflow available for a non-technical wife, yes, I would want her shooting RAW, mainly because it presents a good opportunity to correct bad exposure. Apple's iPhoto---which most likely does not support the GR's RAW format---might be adequate, but someone should be able to do better.