Which camera do you recommend?

[Autumnx]

Hi. I'm looking for a camera, I've looked at several of the powershots but I don't know which camera to get.

I want it to have;
- optical zoom,
- image stabilizer so the photos aren't blurry,
- auto focus and manual focus,
- I want it to be good in the dark because I want to take it to a concert and I don't want the photos to come out bitty,
- I'd also like it to have colour accent...is that what it's called when you can change the picture so that it's black and white except for one colour, it's not essential though.

Also, I live in England so I have to be able to buy it over here. And I don't want a big chunky camera, I have oneof those already :)

[cool_dude07]

Well, an S5 or a G9 (other powershots as well) will satisfy your needs but one thing you won't have with a P&S is good low light performance. You won't get great shots at a concert. Other than that, as a previous owner of an S2...I recommend the S5

Ty

[MusicallySilent]

I have an S3 IS and it is great, really low light performance isn't stellar but on a dreary rainy day I was still able to get shots off at 100-200 ISO and at full zoom that were crisp.

I had pretty good success with mine, S5 is nice due to additional hotshoe

I got mine at amazon, unfortunately when I bought mine a few months ago S5 was at msrp of 500 everywhere, s3 was a bit cheaper also

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-0176495-8175276?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=s3&x=0&y=0

If the difference was only 60 bucks like in that link when i got mine in august i would have gotten the s5 for the better digic processor, more mp, bigger higher detail screen and the hotshoe (I constantly find situations I would love a ringflash with my s3)

You may notice some chromatic abberation (I think it is called) basically redish purplish streaks where highlights are in images often on edges of the object, this is just the lenses issue, I have only noticed it a few times.

[_aravena]

I got an S3 for concerts. Works great, would like the S5 with a flash though and then it'd be awesome! But still, it's a P&S. I took a lot fo pictures and deleted most to get some good ones.

[delhi]

any P&S that has the russion hacks! they work great! S3IS is one of them.

[lakiluno]

you don't want a big camera, and you've just been recommended an S5 and a G9...

I'd recommend an A series - however far your budget goes. The A570IS or one of the A7xx's with IS would be great. They all have manual focus, manual modes etc. You won't get good low light performance in a compact! It'll be better than you'd get with film compacts, but unless you use flash (only good for a few metres) then you just won't be able to take good dark photos. I use a 20D at ISO 1600 with an f/1.8 lens at concerts, and still struggle if they're dark! The high ISO performance on compacts makes them unusable past ISO 400.

Is does make a difference for static objects, but someone moving won't be helped.

Anyway, despite all my negativity, for most photos in good light, or for photos out with friends, I'd recommend an A570IS or an A7xxIS camera. The A570 would probably be smallest of the two.

If you want smaller, then you lose manual focus.

[Saudidave]

lakiluno wrote "The high ISO performance on compacts makes them unusable past ISO 400"

With the greatest of respect, that is, in my opinion totally untrue and grossly misleading. I've taken loads of 800 iso shots with Canon & Panasonic compacts that whilst not perfect, are very, very useable. Quite good in fact , unless you are a pixel peeping perfectionist!(nerd?)

[mven74]

Hi. I'm looking for a camera, I've looked at several of the powershots but I don't know which camera to get.

I want it to have;
- optical zoom,
- image stabilizer so the photos aren't blurry,
- auto focus and manual focus,
- I want it to be good in the dark because I want to take it to a concert and I don't want the photos to come out bitty,
- I'd also like it to have colour accent...is that what it's called when you can change the picture so that it's black and white except for one colour, it's not essential though.

Also, I live in England so I have to be able to buy it over here. And I don't want a big chunky camera, I have oneof those already :)

not on a P&S

[Jon]

A series, at least from the A570 on, S- and G- models have MF. Low light performance will be the killer though. I think I'd go with an A640 or A650 even though they don't have IS. The fold-out screen will be very good for over-the-head shots at a concert.