Help choosing a camera

We have a cruise coming up in 2 weeks and I thought about buying the kids a camera to use. Thought better of that - give the kids mine & get a new one for me!

I know I am not ready for a DSLR, no way I can learn that fast, also way out of the budget and don't want to lug it around.

I currently have my 2nd or 3rd Canon PowerShot Elph (SD790 IS). I like the Canon's and wouldn't mind staying in that family of cameras. Beyond that though, I'm lost!

I can't really tell which would be best - another Elph, if so which one!, or moving up to the SX line.

I will leave my camera in Auto 90% of the time but still want it to take a great photo of my kids (aka "moving targets"), so a fast shutter speed is a must. If they ever slow down and hold still, I would love to take portraits with the blurred background (something my camera now can't do at all).

Any recommendations? $300 & under. Thanks!

You could go with an SX line or personally what might be better on a vacation is a G series they are a little more pocket friendly in terms of size

How about a Canon G12 Refurbished? Now only $279.99-

http://shop.usa.canon.​com …uct_10051_10051​_291834_-1

Knowing I won't buy another camera for at least 5 years, I'd rather go New than Refurbed. The G15 does look really good. More than I wanted to spend, though. Would have to get the hubby's permission!

Since they look, spec-wise to the unknowledgeale eye, similar to the SX 280's, what makes these better? In layman's english please?

AndrewsDK wrote in post #15928814
Since they look, spec-wise to the unknowledgeale eye, similar to the SX 280's, what makes these better? In layman's english please?

bigger sensor.. means, better imagequality(especiall​y in 100% crop view).

I would get one of these from most to least:
G15
S100
SX 40
S110
ELPH 110 HS

If you're used to the compact size of your SD790 and you like it,
then I wouldn't recommend a G series camera for you.

Also, you say that you're about to use it mostly in auto mode,
and that's not what the G cameras are built for.

The SX280 could be a great option, and a serious upgrade
from your SD790 both in terms of image quality and in zoom range.

The S100 is better than the SX280 in general, and specifically when
lights are low, but it has a significantly smaller zoom - though still
better than the SD790's, with a wider lens starting at 24mm.

If you're after the best image quality - get the S100.
If you're fine with good image quality and prefer the zoom
and wireless connectivity, get the SX280 and don't look back.

Having said all that, you can also get one of the latest IXUS's,
such as the Ixus 225 - you may feel it's a more natural upgrade
to the SD790, being smaller than the other cameras I mentioned,
while still maintaining many of their features and capabilities.

-eyalg

I would recommend G15 or Elph 110HS. Owner of both and they are very reliable.

thanks for all the suggestions.

based on all the recommendations here & elsewhere, I went with the G15.

so far, i am happy with it. image quality is much better than my old camera. and, i am learning to use more of the manual controls.

I do miss the 'kids and pets' setting on my old camera though! was trying to take a photo of my kids jumping last evening. so, dim lighting, fast moving target. never got the shot. tried auto, higher iso, faster shutter, flash, nothing worked at all. menawhile, my 9 year old picks up the old camera, points, shoots, pnoto comes out bright & not blurry every time. very frustrating!

Currently, I have an sx160is. Does most of what an SLR does, except change lenses, use a hot shoe, and save in RAW. I'm doing exercises from books, now, learning digital photography. Soooo much to learn.

When I get to the point where I am ready for a true DSLR, what should I look at?
I do photography of metalworking machinery and machining in progress, small and large machined parts, and try to be really creative with family photos. Not really a pro, but would like to be a talented and capable amateur. Macro mode is important to me.

"Macro mode" in a DSLR is handled by the lens, not the camera body. But a macro lens won't be as handy for family photos as some other lens (something like the kit zoom that most cameras have available). So you're looking at two lenses, or maybe (depending on the kit lens) adding a set of extension tubes to your kit lens, although I wouldn't recommend the latter course. Extension tubes and zooms behave strangely together (actually they behave perfectly consistently together, if you understand optics, but most people don't want to have to ponder what is going to happen if they zoom with tubes in place).

OK. Thanx.
Now, what body for an entry level DSLR that would accept that macro lense?
Some recommend Canon Rebel TxI, with x=2, 3, or 4.
Amazon Two lense bundle? Pawn shop? Dedicated camera shop? No, not Wally-World.

I really value your advice.

Any EOS body will accept any Canon EF lens. Any Rebel or x0D will accept any Canon EF-S lens, as will the EOS 7D. Macro choices for any EOS are the 50 mm f/2.5 macro (goes to 1/2 life-size at closest focus), 100 mm f/2.8 macro, 100 mm f/2.8 L IS macro, and 180 mm f/3.5 L macro. For EF-S only, there's also the 60 mm f/2.8. All those except the 50 will reach 1:1 at closest focus (life-size on the sensor). Tamron, Tokina and Sigma also make macro lenses in Canon EF mounts, but I'm less familiar with those. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any bundles with a standard (kit lens) zoom and a macro. A Rebel would be a good, inexpensive (relatively, in this game) starting point. If you like macro, one of the models with an articulated screen and live view might be handy.

GREAT advice. Helps narrow the field. Have plenty of time, Lord willing, to make and be sure of a choice.

Gotta outgrow the sx160 first. Setting up my photography cave/classroom in our spare bedroom. Looking for a statue for a subject. Got "Digital Photography Lighting for Dummies" from the liberry. Read do read do, etc.

Will be ready to choose in maybe three, maybe six months.

One Brit on Youtube recommended dealing only with a dedicated camera store. "What happens if your camera doesn't work right? Emails to China? Yeah, right. Spend the extra cash. Go to the camera shop." The only one within 50 miles is in Daytona. They're CLOSING! We're losing our camera shops to Ebay, Amazon, and Wally-world. Still, for a $500 purchase, I'll take his advice. AND, you get advice. Like here.

Thanx, guys.

Looked at EOS. Read about EOS. Rebel T3, T3i, T4, T4i, XS, XSi. Tough to choose. Will have to get to that camera shop in Daytona to check them out.

Plenty of time. I hope.

Will let you know how it went.