First, what do you want to do with the camera, respectively what type of photographs want to use it for, THEN decide what's best for YOU.But let me start to answer (and question) some of your points:.
Areinu wrote:.
Hello,.
I'm looking for compact camera I could just carry with me a lot,because SLR is sometimes just not too handy, haha..
What is compact? Pocketable or just NON-DSLR?.
I have trouble with choosing something decent, as I want all thosefeatures:.
OIS.
Many cameras out there. (O)IS will help reduce handshake but not avoid motion blur.
Manual settings for at least: shutter speed , ISO, WB, aperture, EVIf possible manual focus.
This limits the choice but there are still a few options.
The smaller the better.
Low noise at ISOs up to 400, with access to higher ISOs being welcome(even though I don't really plan on using those unless I won't see another option).
You might need higher ISO sooner and in more situations than you expect, especially in low light situations (that could be at indoors, at dawn / dusk, under foliage or on a cloudy day at long zoom).
For my needs 4-5megapixels will be enough, but higher mp won't be deal-.
Breaker.
6+ is pretty much standard nowadays.
Viewfinder.
Not dedicated preview mode(so I can go back to shooting mode with one click), this is just optionalSD memory cards, in worst case scenario XD cards, as I have quite a few..
Even though, I see that for some people this is a concern, I always recommend that you shouldn't limit you choices by persisting on using a particular storage card type. (Memory is cheap, and just think about what you used to spend on film in the "old days").
AA batteries, plus optionally integral battery so camera settings won't reset when batteries are out.
AA batteries will strongly limit you choices too. How much of a priority is this to you?.
Optionally: USB auto connect(a must have if working with XD cards)Optionally: Multiple aspect ratiosOptionally: Diagrams etc.Optionally: Taking RAWs.
Even though RAW offers a multitude of benefits, it also requires much knowledge to actually draw the advantages from using this format. What makes RAW important to you?.
Kinda silly and it's hard to find a camera without one, but: thereshould be strap..
As for price, I'm more looking at quality:price ratio than theprice range itself..
What's the ballpark amount you are willing to spend on a camera. Within different price ranges there are different champions when it comes to price - value..
I was looking a bit for camera that would havethose and the closer I could find was Panasonix LX1(S), but I thinkit costs a bit too much for what it has to offer, especially here,as it's still $100 more expensive than in US..
All things optional are really welcome, but those are things I'mmost likely to pass on if there will be no better option, but Istill hope there is something which will fill my needs ideally..
At the end, I would like to reiterate that it will be easier to point you to the best camera for you, if you describe WHAT and WHERE you will be using the camera, rather than listing the features..
Cheersbecksi..
Areinu wrote:.
Hello,I'm looking for compact camera I could just carry with me a lot,because SLR is sometimes just not too handy, haha.
Canon's A-series cameras, particularly the A570IS and A710IS, seem to fit your needs pretty closely and are both very good cameras..
Androohttp://Androo.smugmug.com..
Becksi wrote:.
First, what do you want to do with the camera, respectively whattype of photographs want to use it for, THEN decide what's best forYOU..
What is compact? Pocketable or just NON-DSLR?.
Preferably pocketable, if not then at least smaller and lighter than my current non-DSLR Olympus C-725..
Many cameras out there. (O)IS will help reduce handshake but notavoid motion blur.
I want it for handshake reduction, as I want hand take pictures with it.
Manual settings for at least: shutter speed , ISO, WB, aperture, EVIf possible manual focus.
This limits the choice but there are still a few options.
That's the most important feature for me though.
You might need higher ISO sooner and in more situations than youexpect, especially in low light situations (that could be atindoors, at dawn / dusk, under foliage or on a cloudy day at longzoom).
My current camera(Olympus C-725) has 8x zoom and only ISOs up to 400 and I managed to do quite decent pictures of everything I wanted, though I know I didn't have to use it on situations where higher ISOs would be necessary. It's why I would like new camera to have it, as it would surely open some new possibilites, but I'm not crazy on that point..
For my needs 4-5megapixels will be enough, but higher mp won't be deal-.
Breaker.
6+ is pretty much standard nowadays.
Yeah, I know. Still I just wanted to note that if there's good camera below standard I would go with it..
SD memory cards, in worst case scenario XD cards, as I have quite a few..
Even though, I see that for some people this is a concern, I alwaysrecommend that you shouldn't limit you choices by persisting onusing a particular storage card type. (Memory is cheap, and justthink about what you used to spend on film in the "old days").
AA batteries, plus optionally integral battery so camera settings won't reset when batteries are out.
AA batteries will strongly limit you choices too. How much of apriority is this to you?.
Both memory cards and batteries types are lowest priority out there..
Optionally: Taking RAWs.
Even though RAW offers a multitude of benefits, it also requiresmuch knowledge to actually draw the advantages from using thisformat. What makes RAW important to you?.
Educational importance. I want to be able to take RAWs to be able to learn how to draw advantages from it on my own pictures. I have long summer coming so there will be plenty of time to learn new things. But still, this is only optional..
As for price, I'm more looking at quality:price ratio than theprice range itself..
What's the ballpark amount you are willing to spend on a camera.Within different price ranges there are different champions when itcomes to price - value..
Andrew Butterfield suggested in next post two cameras, expensive goes by 350-400USD here, and it's price I'm most willing to pay. I can go up to 700USD easily, but then I don't think I need something that expensive..
At the end, I would like to reiterate that it will be easier topoint you to the best camera for you, if you describe WHAT andWHERE you will be using the camera, rather than listing thefeatures..
Then I'll have my go at it. For hand taking pictures at mountains(we all know how weather can change at mountains, and in mountains every 100g can weight like 1kg), parties(those usually have really bad lighting or it's pretty much dark), outdoor pictures during knight tournaments, which sometimes have plenty of movement, but nowhere as much as most sports. I could take clear pictures of them with ISO 100 - 200 depending on weather. Basically I want it to be carry-everywhere-around camera, as there are just too many times I wish I had my camera with me, and C-725 even though not the biggest out there is just not to handy to have around. So, basically I would like it to work in close to most daily situations that could happen and in mountains, while parties in dark places and outdoors are one more thing I would like to capture. And again, I would like to hand take most of those shots, while most of the situations I use it don't have that great chance for motion blur.
Well, still, I want to be able to take good pictures of nature in places I don't want to carry anything heavy, as I'm usually traveling in group and I have to keep with them. I don't know how helpful is that description though!.
*************.
Andrew Butterfield: For now I've looked trough A710IS reviews, specification and some sample pictures and it indeed looks pretty good! I still have to look at A570IS, but right now I'm out of time...
I went to a shop today to see the cameras personally and I must say I'm impressed with their design, and it's specs are pretty neat, reviewers were pretty much impressed with them, test photos I've seen and test photos I made both looked pretty good. A710IS is currently number 1 from what I've seen up to this point. If there will be no other suggestions I'll probably go with this one. I feel I'll be satisfied with the purchase...
The only camera that fits the bill exactly would be the Olympus SP550, which is, alas, noisy as blazes at 400 - you'd be better off with what you have, by all accounts..
I'd point you at the Canon A710 IS, it has not got RAW, but ISO 400 is fine and the 6x zoom ought to do enough for you..
I'd strongly advise you to start using NeatImage or NoiseNinja or a similar noise reduction software. High ISO shooting really needs proper NR software..
Bare in mind that with the exception of the S6500 and maybe the S9100, no decent zoom camera will go USEFULLY beyond ISO 400. They will all go beyond ISO 400, but with far too much noise Most aren't useful at beyond ISO 200..
If you need RAW that badly I think you're going to have to drop IS and/or the AA batteries..
Or buy the Pentax K100D kit - bigger, heaver, but a proper DSLR with as close as you'll get to noiseless ISO 400. I know it's not what you're looking for but I have to say it..
StephenG.
Fuji S9600Fuji S5200Fuji F30Fuji E900Canon A710ISPCLinuxOS..
Thank you for suggestions. I think I'll go with A710IS, I got really good impression of it and I think I'll drop RAW until the time I'll be buying something heavier, probably proper DSLR. I'll remember to check on that Pentax then...