looking for compact and good in low light

[susiemw]

Hi all,

I've been reading some of the posts about choosing point and shoots, and I'm in the same situation... I would love some advice. I've seen recommendations for the SD 780, SD1200, Sd180 and 960 so am reading up on them.

My main camera is a canon rebel xt which is great but right now, it's about
2,000 miles away from me and I would like to pick up a small point and shoot type camera with manual settings to use now.

I'm a telephoto junkie so I'd love one with a fairly decent (for a point and shoot) telephoto... right now I'm in Alaska so this is a must. My little cell phone camera just isn't going to cut it.

My mom owns a blues bar and she sometimes needs to borrow my camera for shooting pics of the bands... so good in low light would be nice. She won't use my rebel. She has a nikon coolpix which sucks in low light... I have a friend who has a different nikon coolpix which cost ~$200.00 which does phenomenally in low light.

I like canons but am not wedded to this point and shoot being a cannon.

A guy on a whale watching cruise I was on had a sony cybershot that took
some amazing pics. considering that I was lugging my canon rebel, and several lenses including a 500mm... I was a little jealous that his little tiny cybershot that fit easily in his shirt pocket could get some of the photos that it did!!

I know I'm asking for the impossible here but I'm sure someone will have
some suggestions. if we could keep them around $350.00 or less that would be great.

Any advice?

Susan
p.s. I'm in Fairbanks so my shopping options are walmart, fred meyer, sams club, a couple sports stores, one small camera shop with a limited selection and of course, online. Finding it in person would be great but I realize that's really asking the impossible. argghhhh

[c2thew]

low light capabilities on a point and shoot? no sirree. especially if it's going to be shot in a bar. A dslr with a sizable sensor is a must in order to be saved from noise.

sounds like you want more of a small, portable point and shoot rather than a feature rich point and shoot. you could probably pick up a sony TS series (i believe that's what they are) that are tiny but are still fairly decent.

[susiemw]

Originally Posted by c2thew

low light capabilities on a point and shoot? no sirree. especially if it's going to be shot in a bar. A dslr with a sizable sensor is a must in order to be saved from noise.

sounds like you want more of a small, portable point and shoot rather than a feature rich point and shoot. you could probably pick up a sony TS series (i believe that's what they are) that are tiny but are still fairly decent.

I thought I might be asking for a bit much but since I saw the results my friend got with her little nikon coolpix in low light, I thought maybe things had changed. I' already have a rebel xt so I don't need more than a point and shoot at this time but thanks

susan

[eosphotomanoftennessee]

If you can keep your subjects in a club or bar to within 12 feet of the flash I think you will be happy with the canon powershot 1000 is. It has iso up to 3200 and if it's for web or 4 by 6 prints you will be satisfied. The IQ of the sensors has come a long way in the past year or two for p&s cams. I use an sx1 but a friend has the 1000 is and it works great for what you pay for, about 149.

[Immaculens]

... perhaps tell your mom to turn on additional strategic lighting when she is ready to shoot...