Which camera

I've got a Nikon S560. It's a fairly decent little camera but I'd like to upgrade. I'm leaning toward Canon this go around but not sure which model to get. I want something good at grab and shoot as I have a grandson nearing two so I need to be able to grab really quick shots. I'd like something good indoors as that will often be the case. I'm familiar with AP, SP etc. and in a former lifetime had 35mm SLR equipment I played with so I'm not worried about getting something too complex for me. I might or might not ever use certain features but if they're there I might. I want the fast good shooter most of all. So Canon gurus, which models should be on my short list.

Fast, grab-and-go and you're not afraid of controls? I think you'll see a landslide of recommendations for the S100. It's got a fast lens at shorter focal lengths, and a CMOS sensor for decent high-ISO (ASA for us old-timers) performance without a lot of noise (grain).

I've been looking at the S100, SX230 and SX260. I'm sure there are others worth looking at, the G12 among them, but so far see those three as likely suspects.

Should I consider the difference between Digic 4 and Digic 5? If so, what does that mean for me?

The G12 would be my first recommendation for a DSLR/SLR user, as it is the most comfortable to handle.
In terms of indoor low-light shooting, the S100 is the absolute winner, of course.
However, you need to know in advance that none of these are fast focusers,
and you'll have to work hard at times in order to catch a fast moving grandson.
The SX230/SX260 are nice for what they are, but you'd be paying for features
you didn't mention you need, like a large zoom (worthless indoors) and GPS.

-eyalg

I picked up a SX40HS as a Happy Snapper. But it actually has produced some shots good enough for production work.
It is not small and flat doesn't fit in your shirt pocket. But it will do 10fps for an 8 shot burst. And has a hot shoe (used it for a model test session driving 3 other flashes with an STE-2 as a commander) and it's glass zoom range is 24mm-840mm with decent quality.

LDB wrote in post #14280794
I've been looking at the S100, SX230 and SX260. I'm sure there are others worth looking at, the G12 among them, but so far see those three as likely suspects.

Should I consider the difference between Digic 4 and Digic 5? If so, what does that mean for me?

Canon has sort of branded the "HS" moniker based primarily on the combo of the DIGIC V for more horsepower along with the use of back lit CMOS sensor design in their point and shoots. I think the G12 is the exception using a DIGIC IV.

If you want to see the difference between using a DIGIC IV/CCD combo and a DIGIC V/Back lit CMOS
...look at the spec difference between the SX30IS and the SX40HS. Most of the specs are nearly the same however the fps, the IQ the video improved markedly.

Also keep in mind...the g-kid may be small now...but in a few years...it's outdoors and soccer or something else and you may end up like my kids grandpa. He has been shooting his outdoor activities since he was 4 years old and he is still shooting his games at 16.

rang wrote in post #14282703
Canon has sort of branded the "HS" moniker based primarily on the combo of the DIGIC V for more horsepower along with the use of back lit CMOS sensor design in their point and shoots. I think the G12 is the exception using a DIGIC IV.

If you want to see the difference between using a DIGIC IV/CCD combo and a DIGIC V/Back lit CMOS
...look at the spec difference between the SX30IS and the SX40HS. Most of the specs are nearly the same however the fps, the IQ the video improved markedly.

actually, all of the HS cameras prior to the sx40hs were digic 4 (s95, s90, 100hs, 300hs, 500hs, 230hs, g11, g12). the S95, s90, g11 and g12 were the only CCD HS camera. Only some recent HS cameras are digic 5. The newly released D20, for example is a HS camera but it runs digic4.

HS is only a branding for low light capability. Digic is the image processor, independent of each other.

imjason wrote in post #14282805
actually, all of the HS cameras prior to the sx40hs were digic 4 (s95, s90, 100hs, 300hs, 500hs, 230hs, g11, g12). the S95, s90, g11 and g12 were the only CCD HS camera. Only some recent HS cameras are digic 5. The newly released D20, for example is a HS camera but it runs digic4.

HS is only a branding for low light capability. Digic is the image processor, independent of each other.

I was looking back at my Canon marketing literature and comparing it with the latest marketing releases and the S95/S90/G11 were touted with "IS" but not "HS" when they were released. Starting with the latest white Canon Powershot and EOS booklet they included the G12 as having the "HS" moniker...but nothing changed to increase it's sensitivity to shoot in low(er) light conditions with less noise nor increase its fps rate. I thought that was some marketing slight of hand. The last conversation I had with the Canon rep was that the "HS" branding essentially was based on the DIGIC V which supported the better noise handling/higher useable ISO range along with the switch to back lit CMOS sensor design which truely supported the features that were touted in the "HS" designation. Also looks like the horsepower in the DIGIC V enables the "Intelligent IS" feature of auto-switching of modes.