help me get the right camera S5,G9,XTI

[coolshot]

hi everyone
been lurking around here for a few weeks and i cant seem to choose the right camera. ATM i have a canon SD600 P&S and its ok for shots with lots of natural light. Im looking to upgrade this because im unhappy with the performance of shots in low light. I ususally have to shoot things like 5-10 times before i can get a decent shot. Im unhappy with my shots I usually take. I take mostly indoor shots of people with low fluorescent house lighting or even worse, shots of me and my friends at bars/clubs. I hate getting soft/blurry shots and red eye because of the tiny flash and inability to use diffusers or bounce the flash. I'm also into lots of gear hobbies like audio, computers, photography etc. I like taking pictures of my gear and doing reviews on my blog. I have a little more control here as i can use a tripod and experiment, however i still have bad lighting.

im looking to spend max around $650--- S5, G9 or XTI?
at first i was dead set at getting an XTI bodywith 50mm 1.8 and being done. But then i thought about where i take pictures (mostly at parties or at home). Id hate to lug 50lbs of gear just to take 20 shots or so. Then, i would probably leave it somewhere because I was talking to some girl or otherwise being distracted. Anyways, here are some sample pics to show you what i want to improve on (sharpness in lowlight, red eye, less noise)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/coolshot/omegaconstellation009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/coolshot/singlepowerppx3002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/coolshot/xuansparty009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/coolshot/xuansparty004.jpg

[_aravena]

Buy a used XT, 50 F1.8, extension tubes, and then...idk...kit lens to be your wide angle at parties. And seriously, don't exaggerate, it's it 50lbs worth. Just throw on a neck strap, swing it by your side or around your back. You'll get lots of attention and probably more girls, "Are you a photographer!?! Wanna take my picture?"

I can only guess you're a college person, so yeah, it works.

But then you can build from there. I'd check out the DIY lightbox thread so you can make something to shoot your watches and what not in for better results.

[Jon]

For the scenarios you describe, you're either going to need to use an external flash or to get the XTi and a fast lens (either the 50 f/1.8 you identified or a more expensive lens such as a 30 mm or 50 mm f/1.4 or 28 f/1.8 or 35 mm f/2). You don't need to haul (and I realize you're using hyperbole) 50 lb. of gear just because it's an SLR that can accept all kinds of accessories. You can easily go out with just the camera, one lens, and a flash; with a fast enough lens you can even leave the flash behind. The S5 or G9 with external flash will initially be more versatile; the XTi will let you expand once you discover the limits of your initial choice, something you'll find much harder to do with either of the other two. And make no mistake, whatever you choose, you will find it limiting you sooner or later.

If you're willing to go the external flash route, you'll find the S5 or G9 more versatile, at least initially, since they have long zoom range lenses and the XTi, whether with the "kit" 18-55 or with the "Nifty 50" 50 mm f/1.8, won't have the telephoto reach they offer. On the other hand, the 18-55 on the XTi is a noticeably wider angle lens than either of the other two cameras can offer; indoors in family, party or club situations you often won't be able to back up far enough to get everything you want in the picture. This will particularly be a problem with groups of people. Choosing one of the "prime" (fixed focal length) lenses for the XTi would limit you even more, since there will only be one position at which you can get a everybody in the picture, and it's going to be further away than with any of the zooms at wide angle; with a zoom you can choose the combination of your position and the lens' zoom to get the everybody in, depending on how much room you have.

So basically, you have to decide:
Are you willing to carry around a camera and flash?
Are you willing to accept that you may not be able to get everybody in the shot in some cases?

If you aren't willing to carry around both, then the XTi is your best choice. You can rely on the pop-up flash and later add a faster lens or a separate flash. The G9's built-in flash is still pretty close to the lens; you'll still need to worry about red-eye. The S5's pop-up gives you a little more separation of flash and lens, so less red-eye problem, and you'll find it easier to put a diffuser (white tissue paper will do) on that or the XTi's pop-up flash. You still won't really be able to bounce either of them; that will require a more powerful external flash unit.

[coolshot]

i looked through my photos and most are 4 ppl max, i guess i tend to do smaller groups or couples. I can always back up if need to squeeze more people in. I might want to get two cameras, i think my mobile camera(most important ATM) will be an S3. I hear it has less noise at higher iso, compared to the S5. Hopefully I can rely on that so I dont need an external flash. I dont really care about the MP because most of these shots will remain online or on my hard drive in JPEG format. If i do make prints, they will be the standard 4x6 prints from costco. I would get the XTI first, but I cant see myself bringing that everywhere and i'm afraid of leaving it around in a bar/club as I will be dancing/drinking as well. If its at home or in a house I trust, i can set it down in a room, where nobody will go rummaging through my gear.

If it turns out not what i had expected, i'll return it and get the xti. If i like the S3 but need more flexibility, ill go ahead and keep both, since i already have a manfrotto tripod and tamrac explorer 4 bag :D

[NOsquid]

I would not get the S3, it does not have a hot shoe for an external flash. You can always use the onboard flash I guess but I don't know how much better it will be than what you have already.

[coolshot]

well i was gonna rely on the supposed better performance at higher iso so i didnt need an external flash. The only thing im on gonna put a big eternal flash on is the XTI. I think putting a big ol' flash on a compact defeats the purpose of having something small and mobile.

[NOsquid]

All compacts, to include the S3/S5/G9 suck at high ISO.

[pcbguy]

Go with the S5. I love mine.