Friend needs P&S that can 'keep up with kids" - any recs?

My friend bought an Olympus PL3 around christmas and has been complaining to me that it can't keep up with this kids (most hosts are blurry) - without doing that much research I told him to up the iso (if possible) but he already returned it.

I assume this is an issue people have dealt with before, but what are some good options for him if he dosen't want anything that much bigger?

Thanks

Kids are difficult to catch in action. The best you can do with a point and shoot type camera is anticipate and pre-focus prior to your shots. My step-son had this issue to deal with, so I recommended an entry level DSLR. He got a Nikon D3000, and is now a happy snapper.

I couldn't find any tests of the E-PL3 performance, but the E-PL2 was not that fast. See the table in this link for shutter response;

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EPL​2/EPL2A6.HTM

The Panasonic LX5 is quicker than the E-PL2, but not by much;

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/LX5​/LX5A6.HTM

Pre-focus speeds of nearly all cameras is about equally quick, whether point and shoot or DSLR. But, pre-focusing may not be the preferred method for some folks.

Your friend may want to investigate the new Nikon 1-series. The J1 is less expensive than the V1, but both are pretty quick in the shutter lag tests, and their AF capabilities are supposed to be very accurate.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NIK​ONJ1/NIKONJ1A6.HTM

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NIK​ONV1/NIKONV1A6.HTM

Here's an initial hands-on-review of the V1 by Kirk Tuck. He has grown to really like the V1 (he MUST have a camera with a good viewfinder), and he likes it's quick AF and responses.

http://visualsciencela​b.blogspot.com …rintuitive-crazy-and.html

Dennis

I am not even remotely an expert, but I find that the S100 does fine indoors in Tv mode with between 1/60 and 1/125 speed, with no flash and a decent amount of light. Blurring only occurs with very fast motion and in that case, I usually want blurring to represent the motion. But normal kid walking, playing, etc seems sharp.

Sounds somewhat like he doesn't know exactly what he is doing...

The S100 is quite good, the shutter lag is very short for a point and shoot and it still has the auto modes as well as manual. Also has things like high-ish speed shooting with refocus between frames or a super high speed burst mode that does about 9fps.

I'd agree it's mostly user ignorance, but I will suggest the Nikon J1. It has really fast AF and shutter response. It's really as fast as any DSLR. The downside is that it is a bit expensive and has a smaller sensor than 4/3 (but bigger than any compact).

tkbslc wrote in post #13715232
I'd agree it's mostly user ignorance, but I will suggest the Nikon J1. It has really fast AF and shutter response. It's really as fast as any DSLR. The downside is that it is a bit expensive and has a smaller sensor than 4/3 (but bigger than any compact).

The reviews I have read we're very neutral to negative on the nikons, basically the IQ and features to cost just isn't there. Most suggest that the NEX line are much better in this class.

Depending on budget, I would suggest one of the mirrorless cameras, like the NEX, Lumix GF2, Lumix X10, or similar, they are very, very responsive.