Suggestions for a Good P&S

[Medic1]

Hi guys,

I need some suggestions for a decent inexpensive p&s...maybe in the $200-$250 range. I use a DSLR mainly so I am not very knowledgable in the p&s world, but need a good vacation body the wife can use to replace her aging 3MP Kodak P&S.

Thanks

[bishoy]

Canon A series can go as low as under 100$ and has all the feature set. They miss wide angles and long zooms (mostly they are between 36mm and 140mm eqv.). They use a couple (some models use 4) of AA batteries and they do good with 2000 mAh. They got the creative zone (Av, Tv, M, P modes) with many scene modes.

Going higher in price there is the SX series with longer zooms and sometimes wider but I think optics is not that great as they are compressed and have a great range.

There is also the G series which hasn't got the long range but has RAW and many other controls even a hot-shoe. And there is SX10 and SX1, but these three are much expensive. If you like what you get from the SX10 but want it for less price, try finding the older S5 IS, it is pretty much the same camera with lower price as it is older, I think it is still sold on Amazon.

Going for lower price, I own the A570 IS and I am very happy with it:
Review here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona570is/
Buy for 75$ here: http://www.adorama.com/ICAA570R.html
Check my Flickr for sample photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13625720@N02/

Going for a longer zoom, Check the SX110 IS:
Buy for 210$ from here: http://www.adorama.com/ICASX110KBK.html

Go here for the whole Canon P&S list on Adorama sorted by prices (http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20Lenses&cat2=Digital%20Cameras%20%26%20Accessories&cat3=Digital%20Cameras&feature1=Canon&feature3=Point%20%26%20Shoot%20with%20Zoom%20Lens&sf=Price&Startat=1)

Also search this forum about the issue, you will almost find a daily thread about P&S choice :)

[NorthernShooter]

I'm new to the game, though so far my A590is has done well in most situations. http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/canon_a590is.html

[Medic1]

I'm looking at a used a720 IS in good condition for $60 CDN. Sound like a good deal?

[tkbslc]

anymore details on what you are after? Do you want something tiny and compact? Something with manual controls? Something with RAW and a viewfinder? THere are a lot of different options so it it hard to recommend.

Personally, I got the SD1100 IS for my wife. IT is small, fits in her purse so she always has it with her, and it has just enough features while being easy to use. My wife hates messing with settings, so I didn't need something with any manual modes. I might recommend something like that without any other information from you on requirements.

[Tee Why]

Canon SD 880IS may be a good one.

[Medic1]

I am not necessarily after super small......I am used to a 40D so a little bigger is better for me, and my wife is used to the Kodak P&S I have always had which is fairly bulky. Almost anything these days will be more compact than it.

Manual would be nice for me, but the wife will always use Auto so it really doesn't matter to me....raw is not needed

Friends of mine have the A590 and I was quite impressed with its capabilities for a P&S

Are there any good sites that show the chronology of the Canon P&S line? I have been looking at a few refurbs but not knowing the P&S world like the SLR world I am having trouble figuring out which has the newer technology from limited descriptions for each (and I don't feel like reading full reviews on every single Canon Compact)

Thanks