best SMALL P/S camera

[surfnvb7]

i already have a 40D with lots of lenses, so I'm not exactly looking for top of the line here. but just something that fits in my pocket easily and that is light weight is key, can take a beating, takes good flash and regular pics in auto mode, and some movies.

things it would be used for:

-bar hopping
-snowboarding (yes, while I am moving)
-mtn biking
-hiking

small/light, BIG LCD, good ISO and flash, decent shutter speed.

saw the "budget" camera review over on dpreview, but not really sure those are what i am looking for.

don't really care about the brand either i guess...

[Sleepyd]

IXUS 80IS gets my vote.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_Camera/IXUS/Digital_IXUS_80_IS/index.asp

[tgara]

Check out the Canon SD870IS or SD880IS. Both have 3-inch LCD screens (the largest Canon offers I think), both go to ISO 1600, both have powerful built-in flashes, and shutter speeds up to 1/1600th sec. They both have built-in Image Stabilization and have 28mm wide angle lenses. The only major differences between the two is that the 880 has the Digic 4 processor, a bit more zoom, and 10 MP, while the 870 has the Digic 3, a bit less zoom, and 8 MP.

Like you, I have a 40D and an assortment of lenses, and I personally use a G9 for my P&S. I got an SD870IS for my wife earlier this year and after playing with it, I have to say that if I was looking for a pocket-sized camera, I'd get one of those two.

[nordstern1]

i recently got an IXUS 880 IS for my mom. its a nice camera...small, light, the controls are easy to get familiar with & the LCD is huge. cant say much about its performance since i've only handled it for one day and it seems like a pretty good performer.

[thesupe87]

Powershot A series are all pretty solid. I have an older a610 and its great - I've even sold hundreds of the images from it on microstock photography websites, and we all know how strict their standards are.

[frule]

I gotta go against the grain(though I'm a Canon dslr user for years) and say check out the Panasonic line(TZ3,TZ5,FZ28,FZ50-as you go up in size).

[GCGuy]

I got an SD990 last month, it takes great pics, but the SD880 has a much nicer screen and I think is every bit as good. Used to have an SD1000 for snowboarding, bar hopping, dirt biking, taking pics of construction sites, etc and that worked really well until it fell into a mud puddle :cry:.

[PlayersZ28]

that worked really well until it fell into a mud puddle :cry:.

My SD1000 didn't like water either except in my case my wife didn't check the pocket of my jeans prior to washing them. :(

[GCGuy]

My SD1000 didn't like water either except in my case my wife didn't check the pocket of my jeans prior to washing them. :(

LMAO, I have the exact opposite problem.... she goes through all the pockets of my jeans before washing them.... leads to finding lens receipts that cost a "little" more than what they look like they're worth to her. :D

[locky]

I have the Canon A620 and it takes excellent shots with alot of capabilities. Also I dropped it into a river and after about 3 days it starting working again just fine. It is not a pocket camera if that is what your looking for.

[brupaint]

ok I got the same issue but I'll add a curve. You are now buying it for a 19 year old about to go hiking in Gautamala. He has taken to B & W all manuel photography so he is no real newbie, he's got an eye but he is still a knucklehead bum - like we all were. What is the least $ canon you all would travel with , No what would you send traveling, with a kid to Central America.

[Zell]

ok I got the same issue but I'll add a curve. You are now buying it for a 19 year old about to go hiking in Gautamala. He has taken to B & W all manuel photography so he is no real newbie, he's got an eye but he is still a knucklehead bum - like we all were. What is the least $ canon you all would travel with , No what would you send traveling, with a kid to Central America.

I bought a Cannon A590 a few weeks ago. It's a subcompact but not real slim. It's rated very highly and it takes great shots with auto and manual features. I paid $113 on Amazon for it. Here's a photo of it:

http://www.letsgodigital.org/images/artikelen/6/powershot-a590is.jpg

[DavidSR]

It seems that you need a camera that can take..maybe a little abuse..I suggest looking at this Olympus..it's waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-1050SW-Digital-Black/dp/B001CCJNY4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/191-6695456-9748324?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228513907&sr=8-1

[surfnvb7]

Check out the Canon SD870IS or SD880IS. Both have 3-inch LCD screens (the largest Canon offers I think), both go to ISO 1600, both have powerful built-in flashes, and shutter speeds up to 1/1600th sec. They both have built-in Image Stabilization and have 28mm wide angle lenses. The only major differences between the two is that the 880 has the Digic 4 processor, a bit more zoom, and 10 MP, while the 870 has the Digic 3, a bit less zoom, and 8 MP.

Like you, I have a 40D and an assortment of lenses, and I personally use a G9 for my P&S. I got an SD870IS for my wife earlier this year and after playing with it, I have to say that if I was looking for a pocket-sized camera, I'd get one of those two.

yeah, i'm leaning strongly to the 880IS after reviewing dpreview for a while. definitely want the wider angle and greater optical zoom. price seems about right as well.

not looking for anything amazing, as i have my 40D for that. but definitely need something small and versitile while not sacrificing quality to capture all kinds of wild and crazy moments. ;)

I got an SD990 last month, it takes great pics, but the SD880 has a much nicer screen and I think is every bit as good. Used to have an SD1000 for snowboarding, bar hopping, dirt biking, taking pics of construction sites, etc and that worked really well until it fell into a mud puddle :cry:.

ouch!

It seems that you need a camera that can take..maybe a little abuse..I suggest looking at this Olympus..it's waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-1050SW-Digital-Black/dp/B001CCJNY4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/191-6695456-9748324?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228513907&sr=8-1

i'm not too worried about needing a shock proof and water proof camera. i used to have an old A520 i stuck in my coat pocket going snowboarding, as well as mountain biking and it held up quite well.

although....the water proof thing is tempting, but if i want a water proof camera, i'd probably just buy a water proof housing so i can go diving with it sometime.

[Canon Guy]

I'd recommend either the SD870 or 880. The 28mm wide angle is really useful to have.

[HappySnapper90]

I bought a Cannon A590 a few weeks ago. It's a subcompact but not real slim.

This is not a sub-compact camera, it is a compact. The sub-compacts are the SD line. If your camera has a handgrip like the a500, 600, and 700 does/did it is not a sub-compact. :eek:

[Jon]

You won't get a whole lot of agreement on that definition.

[vjack]

I've been looking for something similar and for very similar reasons. I started with the A590 in mind. I've never owned one, but I have used one and really liked it. I have large hands, and it was still fairly easy to use. It worked well with a belt case, but was too big to be comfortably pocketable.

I am now looking closely at the SD880. The 28mm wide angle is appealing, and the smaller size would probably mean that I would be more likely to take it with me. If it wasn't for thinking that the low-light performance of the Fuji 100fd would be nice, I probably already would have bought one. Now that the Fuji 200 is about to come out, I'm undecided.

[cowboyslim]

I know this is a Canon forum, and I used to like my SD800, but I really love my Panasonic LX3. It is 24mm at the wide end and only zooms to 60mm, but has a great f2 lens and a very usable ISO 400 and shoots RAW. It is so good that I leave my 5Dmk2 home alot. Did any high end p/s get introduced at PMA that people are excited about?