For P&S Digicams, which is more important to you?

[FlipsidE]

I'm torn between which camera to get (two different brands). So, I'm curious as to what you guys think is more important.

Thanks

FlipsidE

[PacAce]

The one thing almost everybody I know who has a P&S camera complains about, other than the fact that they can't get good action shots in low lighting, is the fact that from the time they press the shutter and the camera actually takes the pictures, the action is long gone or often times, out of the "picture". So I would think that zero shutter lag would be a gift from heaven for P&S shooters, that is, if there is such a thing (as zero shutter lag, not heaven :) ).

[FlipsidE]

PacAce,

I haven't tried them out myself yet, but I hear that that Sony Cybershot DSC series P&S digicams don't have any shutter lag. Right now, I'm trying very hard to decide between the Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital Elph and the Sony Cybershot DSC-L1. They are almost identical in price and size (w/in about 1/4" in all directions), but the SD200 has a lot more features than the DSC-L1 (like custom white balance, ISO 50, a Viewfinder, Spot Metering, and a closer minimum focus distance). The DSC-L1, however, is a 4.1MP cam (versus the 3.2MP SD200) and supposedly the DSC-L1 doesn't have any shutter lag.

Edit: Refer to this thread (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=59097) for more info on the low to zero shutter lag for the Cybershots. Though, after rereading that thread, the zero shutter lag comment may just be for the camera bought in that thread, but another cybershot is praised for it's overall speed when compared to the Canons.

FlipsidE

[Claire]

I hate shutter lag. That's why I don't user my old IXUS anymore. If I would get a new P&S I'd go for one with as little shutter lag as possible.

[FlipsidE]

Looking at dpreview (should have looked there first), the DSC-L1 most definitely is faster than the Canon SD300 at least. Not by a lot, but there is a difference. It's not instant, but it's less than half a second.

FlipsidE

[thomascanty]

Shutter lag has never really bothered me. Most of my pictures are landscapes, though. The scene rarely changes, so I don't mind waiting a split second for the camera to take the shot.

[FlipsidE]

thomas,

I honestly agree with you, but I wanted to hear some opinions of other people. I honestly don't plan to take action type shots with my P&S. I'm not sure they'll be landscape, but possibly urban or portrait shots. Either way, I expect that most of what I shoot with my P&S will be posed and/or pre-planned and therefore shutter lag won't matter.

Still, I always find it to be a good thing to get all angles.

Thanks for the opinions, all!

FlipsidE

[Jon]

I voted resolution and shutter lag, but since I actually use the P&S as a supplement to the DSLRs, my actual priorities would be: flexible viewfinder, handy size, shutter lag and resolution in about that order.

[FlipsidE]

Jon,

You feel the same way I do. I'm not sure why, but having a viewfinder is almost a necessity to me. I guess it's just that I've gotten so used to my DSLR that being w/out a viewfinder just doesn't seem right.

FlipsidE

[Jon]

Actually, I was thinking in terms of the flip and swivel LCD finder if I can't have through-lens viewing.

[despot]

I've got a DSC-L1. I wanted something that could be fitted in a pocket for the times I didn't want to lug the DSLR around.
Focusing is quick and there's no shutter lag once focused. And it does have a spot metering mode.
The only disappointment was the flash coverage, which was a lot worse than I was expecting. Oh, and Memorystick prices are pretty high.
HTH
Andy

[JZaun]

I am looking for a P&S also and the one thing if find is I want to be able to use my 20d mem. I have 4 gigs worth :) so that leaves most P&S cams other than Canon out of the race. So Now which Canon P&S to get. The A85 looks real good but I am still studying. A fast shutter response would be great. I had a Nikon 885 but you pressed the shutter button and waited and waited for it to take the pic. Not good.


JZ

[PacAce]

I am looking for a P&S also and the one thing if find is I want to be able to use my 20d mem. I have 4 gigs worth :) so that leaves most P&S cams other than Canon out of the race. So Now which Canon P&S to get. The A85 looks real good but I am still studying. A fast shutter response would be great. I had a Nikon 885 but you pressed the shutter button and waited and waited for it to take the pic. Not good.


JZ

Jerry, don't wait too long or you just might miss the boat. Canon is starting to bring out more and more of the newer P&S cameras to use the SD cards instead of the CF cards. :D

[ByteTheBullet]

I have learned to live with/reduce the shudder lag on my old S50 and now S70. I really like the flexibility that the other options give me. I use burst when I want to be sure I get an action type pic.

My 2¢


ByteTheBullet (-:

[Raj]

I am looking for a P&S also and the one thing if find is I want to be able to use my 20d mem. I have 4 gigs worth :) so that leaves most P&S cams other than Canon out of the race. So Now which Canon P&S to get. The A85 looks real good but I am still studying. A fast shutter response would be great. I had a Nikon 885 but you pressed the shutter button and waited and waited for it to take the pic. Not good.


JZ
Powershot S70 takes CF cards + Last I checked in store, I found it much more responsive than its predecessors. Has wide angle too. If shutter lag bothers you than look at manufacturers, usually canon compacts are very poor when it comes to shutter lag.

[Raj]

PacAce,

I haven't tried them out myself yet, but I hear that that Sony Cybershot DSC series P&S digicams don't have any shutter lag. Right now, I'm trying very hard to decide between the Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital Elph and the Sony Cybershot DSC-L1. They are almost identical in price and size (w/in about 1/4" in all directions), but the SD200 has a lot more features than the DSC-L1 (like custom white balance, ISO 50, a Viewfinder, Spot Metering, and a closer minimum focus distance). The DSC-L1, however, is a 4.1MP cam (versus the 3.2MP SD200) and supposedly the DSC-L1 doesn't have any shutter lag.

Edit: Refer to this thread (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=59097) for more info on the low to zero shutter lag for the Cybershots. Though, after rereading that thread, the zero shutter lag comment may just be for the camera bought in that thread, but another cybershot is praised for it's overall speed when compared to the Canons.

FlipsidE

I have used Sony Cybershot P100 for a while & to be frank, camera is lightening fast in every sense - startup, focussing,image writing,quick review. Thats something I havent founf in any of the canon's compact/ultra compact model till now.

[Raj]

Ok, If I am to look for a compact or ultra compact (Honestly I wouldnt classify A or G series as compact or just P&S, they are bigger & have lot more options than just as P&S); I would look for:

- dont care much about manul controls - after all I am looking for a P&S & hence;
- something which fits into pocket, better if it fits into pocket along with its case.
- try to find something with good dynamic range (you dont like washed out skies, dont you ?? :-))or a way to overcome this limitation. for example P100 responds well to exposure compensation
- Cheap/reasonable accessories, after all Its a P&S & I dont want to spend a fortune on it.
- Focussing speed + flash compensation if available
- Battery life, your ultra-compact no longer remains UC if you have to carry a lot of accessories with it :-)
+ other normal stuff - MP, zoom etc

Before getting my P100, actually spent month on UC reviews at dpreview & alike & to be honest in terms of overall requirements, I couldnt find a better option than P100. Just my 2 cents.

Hope this helps :-) :-)

PS: movie mode is hopelessly outdated on canon compacts, if you want this then look at other manufacturers. Apart from this I find slow AF, no good battery indicator & shutter lag particularly irritable on canon compacts

[cactusclay]

I wanted to vote for both, but it wouldn't let me. I haven't keep up with the point and shoots for the past year or so, but I really remember being annoyed with the shutter lag. I was annoyed with it for about five years in fact, so when I got my first dslr I thought I was finally doing photography again, because when I pushed the shutter button, it took a picture. On the other hand custom wb and low asa/iso speeds help with image quality. So, now that I can, I vote for both.

[Raj]

These days most of the compacts/ultra cmpacts offer preset WB & manula iso settings, UC's on the other hand may not provide a true custom WB

[Moppie]

Ouch!

Whats with all the canon compact bashing?

Iv used several differnt sony DSC series cameras, and all of them made my A80 look like a 1D when it came to speed.

Compacts are compromises, and one of things compromised to reduce costs and make them smaller is speed.
In my opion, based on my experiance, Sonys claims to have made thier cameras faster go in the same bag as claims that more MP is always better.

[Moppie]

Ouch!

Whats with all the canon compact bashing?

Iv used several differnt sony DSC series cameras, and all of them made my A80 look like a 1D when it came to speed.

Compacts are compromises, and one of things compromised to reduce costs and make them smaller is speed.
In my opion, based on my experiance, Sonys claims to have made thier cameras faster go in the same bag as claims that more MP is always better.

[FlipsidE]

Well, I dropped by CompUSA during lunch today. They had both the SD200 and the DSC-L1 in stock. Unfortunately, though, they couldn't get the SD200 demo model to work (couldn't find the right power adapter and couldn't get to the battery to replace it). But, I did get some decently quality time with the DSC-L1. I didn't mess around with the extra features at all. The main thing I wanted to see, while there, was how fast it was in focusing and how much shutter lag it had.

I am here to say, that thing is lightning fast! Unfortunately, as of right now, I cannot compare it to the SD200 simply because I haven't been able to use it yet. The DSC-L1 is almost instantaneous when snapping shots (A LONG LONG jump ahead from my current P&S...the Canon PowerShot S30). I don't like how it's laid out exactly. buttons on the back tend to stick out, and I think that would bother me. And, it's rounded on the front but the area surrounding the lens is flat...gonna make it feel a tad bulkier. I do like the fact that it is very narrow (tho making it a tad longer and a tad thicker than the SD200). I think that'd make for an easier fit in my pocket next to my Nokia N-Gage QD cell phone.

I think I'm going to plan on making a trip to Best Buy tonight to see if they can get their SD200 working. Then I can, hopefully, make a better comparison.

FlipsidE

[Jon]

Just remember Sony's off-the-wall and proprietary memory format. You really want to carry around their Memory Sticks too?

[FlipsidE]

Jon,

The SD200 takes SD cards rather than CF cards. So, I'll be carrying around at least two types of mem cards anyway...don't really want to, but I have to. One big advantage that the SD200 has going for it (for me at least) is that I already have a 256MB SD card. I'd have to purchase at least a 256MB Memory Stick (I think this thing might require a Memory Stick duo). So that ups the price of the DSC-L1 by about $65.

FlipsidE

[Raj]

Just remember Sony's off-the-wall and proprietary memory format. You really want to carry around their Memory Sticks too?

Thats something I hate about Sony :evil:
You can also try Lexar. I am using a Lexar Pro Duo 256 MB for almost a year now without any issues.

[PacAce]

I am looking for a P&S also and the one thing if find is I want to be able to use my 20d mem. I have 4 gigs worth :) so that leaves most P&S cams other than Canon out of the race. So Now which Canon P&S to get. The A85 looks real good but I am still studying. A fast shutter response would be great. I had a Nikon 885 but you pressed the shutter button and waited and waited for it to take the pic. Not good.


JZ
BTW, Jerry, before you go out and get the A-series cameras make sure you do an internet search on "E18 error". Seems like this error might be a common occurrence with these cameras. My daughter's A70 just suffered the same fate a couple of weeks ago.

[JZaun]

BTW, Jerry, before you go out and get the A-series cameras make sure you do an internet search on "E18 error". Seems like this error might be a common occurrence with these cameras. My daughter's A70 just suffered the same fate a couple of weeks ago.


Leo,
Thanks for the tip on E 18. Seems to be quite a few out there. Maybe I'll wait for the SD400 and 500 to hit the stores and get full reviews. The Pre rel info looks god.

JZ

[Littlenose]

I found that even with the shutter lag I was able to capture shots of motorbikes using the ixus 400... the inclusion of th eoptical viewfinder made panning possible, and so long as i kept panning, and anticipated where i wanted the shot, then it all worked fine... I found that I couldn't do this without using the optical viewfinder.