suggest a compact digicam

[paulr]

My Canon A530 has been pretty nice but its flash gave out. I do like the Canon A series powershots in other regards, though they have succumbed too much to the megapixel race. My desires in a camera:

1. Power: MUST run on AA nimh cells (or AAA if camera is very small). No lithium ion. NOT NEGOTIABLE. I'm just bloody sick of special chargers and having to buy proprietary replacement cells on the internet. Please don't suggest any lithium ion powered cameras, I don't want them except to smash with a hammer.

2. Memory card: prefer SD/SDHC but not absolutely mandatory. CF is also good. XD or memory stick not desirable unless camera has absolutely compelling virtues in other regards.

3. Megapixels: 3MP is plenty, I prefer large size pixels on the sensor for higher low light sensitivity.

4. Lens: not too fussy about long zoom range. Wideangle coverage or availability of a wideangle adapter is good. Optical image stabilization good. Close-up (macro) capability good. Low light capability in general is good. Fast lens (low f/number) is good. Ability to accept screw-in accessories (preferably 49mm filters) is good. Canon has an adapter to 52mm available for some models and then I can use a step-down ring.

5. Waterproofness: this would be really cool, at least splash/dunk resistance though I don't plan to take it swimming. I guess it's not overwhelmingly important, but the notion intrigues me enough to be willing to look away from Canon for it.

6. Size: needn't be ultra tiny but it should be pocketable in a jacket pocket. Let's say the 4 cell Canon A600 series are a bit bigger than I'd like but acceptable, while something like the G9 is basically too big. The 2 cell A530 was a good size. 4 cells means faster flash recycling, always a good thing.

7. Features: just want a good basic camera, I have a DSLR for when I want to do something fancy. I used the A530 video clip feature a few times and it was fun but not that important since the quality was crap. However, if there were a high quality video camera powered by AA cells, I'd be interested.

I'm a fairly experienced digicam user and not in need of basic instruction on the subject, but just haven't been keeping up with the latest developments and thought I'd seek the wisdom of CPF'ers who have tried models that I haven't. I've mostly been sticking with Canons and am most familiar with those, but they have no waterproof models without bulky external enclosures.

 

[Bright Scouter]

The AA is the limiting factor for me. I also have always liked Canons, so in that line, I would say the A590IS or A720IS. But since I want smaller and don't care if I use AAs, I have no direct experience with either.

 

[Pellidon]

I have an older Cannon A80 and have used and liked Panasonics, especially with Leica lenses. You can check out Steves digicams and search by MP and they have a list of battery types. I prefer those that take AA's since I lost the factory charger on one once and it was discontinued without replacement. So much for a great price on a lesser brand name (Ricoh).

 

[geepondy]

Go to www.dpreview.com or your other favorite digicam forum and look at all the new releases over the past couple of weeks. What is pleasing to me is there are now quite a few wide angle models something of which I have been looking at in a compact. Unfortunately yes they all seem to have succumbed to the megapixel race but on a positive note, most have optical IS and after using a camera with IS, I won't buy another without it. I can take steady 1/15th second handheld shots, sometimes even 1/8th.

 

[paulr]

Wow, this old thread came back to life. Thanks for the replies. Anyway, I bought a Samsung S1050 at woot.com for $120 a couple weeks ago. It has good and bad points. Large LCD screen and powerful macro mode, but no optical viewfinder, and a bit on the slow side. Overall I think I did pretty good at the price, but normally they sell for much more than that and are less attractive. I guess I think of it as a stopgap, and figure that eventually something better will come along.

 

[geepondy]

We have come so far in that you can buy a usable digicam now for the low $100. I was an early forerunner (had more disposable income then as well) and bought a Nikon 1 megpixel Coolpix 900 for $1000 in 1998. A 48Meg compact flash card, cost me a shade under $300.

 

[kitelights]

You're really limited by the AA requirement because you're much more experienced than the typical market that an AA camera appeals to. You want it for convenience, but the main reason a manufacturer produces them is that it's less expensive than Li-Ion. Similar thinking with a viewfinder - not necessary because the less experienced owner prefers the novelty of the LCD screen.

I'm now hooked on Panasonics. I got a subcompact last year (FX3) and love it. I shoot a lot of pics of local bands that I follow in low lit bars and restaurants and the camera is capable but the flash is not. The result is grainier pics than I would like. My camera will produce a usable shot where others don't do nearly as well, but I'd like better.

I'm giving up the convenience of the subcompact this week and getting an FZ8. It'll do everything and do it well, but at the cost of size, although it's still much smaller and lighter than a DSLR.

I'd recommend that you take a look at the new TZ5 due out in April, but it's a Li-Ion. It's the format of the Samsung that you got, but on steroids. 10x optical zoom (Leica lens) with a 28mm wide angle. The only downfall is no viewfinder (but an extremely HQ LCD screen) and a limited flash, although the flash is still 1/3 to twice the power of a typical compact. It's got an ISO capability of 6400 and is capable of near dark shots w/o a flash. It's a brand new engine this year (Venus IV) and this camera is loaded. It's considered a compact, but not a subcompact - it will fit in a shirt pocket.

If the reviews are as good as the past two years (TZ1 and TZ2 & 3), I'll likely bite.