Valentine's Day Present - P&S vs DSLR?

So I want to get a decent camera for my girlfriend for Valentine's Day as she always talks about how she wants to "vlog". Vlogging as in recording her everyday life and putting it together in a video for fun, maybe post them online or something. But I also want to get her a camera so that she can tag along when I go hiking/shooting and take pictures/videos as well.

My conflict is, Canon S110 vs Canon T3i?

The S110 is small, compact, does DECENT video and photos. The T3i is going to be chunkier (meaning its more of a hassle for her to throw in her purse, which I will add can definitely fit the T3i with its kit lens) but has better image quality. I understand the image quality differences and thats the only reason why I would go with the T3i but will she care for the difference to justify the bigger size? It's probably going to be in full auto or program mode so not too concerned about control.

What should I do

Doesn't sound like she needs a DSLR. If she does, lend her yours lol. To me, your message leaned towards the S110.

Good P&S I reckon is the correct answer too. Unless she has specifically shown interest in a DSLR.

Alan

She has not shown much interest in DSLRs, she just talks about "high quality" video for vlogging. I guess it's more me who wants her to have a DSLR just because I'd prefer her to have better image quality. Its more that she hasn't declined having a big chunky DSLR that makes me interested in getting one for her.

Does she have a phone with a camera? If so, does she use it? If not, then you might consider that option...

Does it have to be a Canon? The micro 4/3 system offers a very nice middleground these days. Perhaps something like a Panasonic GX1 with a 14-42 kit lens (regular or pancake) and the excellent 20mm f/1.7 pancake along with it, or maybe the even better 25mm f/1.4 depending on the budget.

I'm currently rocking an olympus e-pl5 and it's excellent across the board - but a bit more expensive. M43 is currently a very mature system and I'd really recommend it over a crop dslr nowadays, unless there's some real plans to upgrade to FF.
Of course, with a Canon DSLR she could profit from your handmedown lenses and maybe a flash, but considering the lenses in your signature, there might not be a whole lot of overflow.

catchquan wrote in post #15602436
She has not shown much interest in DSLRs, she just talks about "high quality" video for vlogging. I guess it's more me who wants her to have a DSLR just because I'd prefer her to have better image quality. Its more that she hasn't declined having a big chunky DSLR that makes me interested in getting one for her.

If you have the budget for a T3i, check out the RX100. The T3i is going to be manual focus only and difficult to use for many people. Sony RX100 has insanely good video and picture quality for its size. Unless you pony up for some fast glass, the RX100 might even be better than the T3i.

http://www.eoshd.com …nt/8499/sony-rx100-review

If she is going to use it for mostly vlogs, I'd go with a P&S. A DSLR is too big and doesn't have autofocus. I would probably go with the G15. Although, if the swivel screen is important (and may very well be for vlogging) then a G12 or G1x.

For vlogging, unless you're doing the shooting for her, the flip out screen would be a must feature.
I'm 99% sure they both do 1080, so they're high quality as far as most internet sites are concerned, if the shooting will be in low light then the larger sensors will help keep the noise down, if she's shooting in a well lit house or brighter daytime while hiking then it's not as critical.
The S110 has some GPS and wifi features that will be handy and overall less intimidating if she's not comfortable beyond auto.
I read it to my girlfriend she said go with the P&S...she's been looking at the oylmpus mirrorless.

Wow thanks for the responses guys. I did consider going micro 4/3 and looked at the RX100 too, I just wasn't sure which direction would be best. One reason why I am heavily considering the t3i IS for the swivel screen. I showed it to her at one point in the past and she loved the idea of having the swivel screen. The swivel screen alone is one reason why I want to get her the t3i over the S110.

I'm not stuck on Canon and am open to any brand.

The G series cameras I actually had not considered, I'll go ahead and look into those now. I guess at this point the criteria would be:

-HD Video
-Decent image quality for stills
-Swivel Screen
-Somewhat compact
-Sub $600

Any other recommendations would be GREATLY, I mean GREATLY, appreciated as I need to have this ordered by tonight via expedited shipping to get by Thursday night.

You could just get something as a stand in for the camera as a v-day gift and let her order her own gift afterward. All of these are good in different ways, so it ends up being kind of a personal style and feel thing.

Like maybe get her a memory card to open and then she could use it with whatever camera she picks.

@tkbslc - I think thats what I'm going to do. Except going to go down to a camera store or Best Buy and find a nice bag and that'll be the stand in gift Thanks for the idea.

After some short research I feel like the G1X is the right camera to get. Its compact (between the S110 and the T3i), has a swivel screen, good image quality, HD video, don't see any cons in getting it. Kind of sucks that I can't use my lenses with it but at the same time, my array of lenses is catered towards my portrait and landscape photography uses considering I have no zooms and I don't think she'd enjoy using a prime anyways.

I had a T3i and it wasn't something I'd want to carry with me everywhere I went. if I was doing what you were looking at doing, I'd have looked at something smaller, which it appears you have done. Awesome birthday present.

Yeah, hope she enjoys it!

S110 all the way, especially with its wifi capabilities. I have the S100 and love it....it'll allow your gf to take a huge variety of pics (from point and click snaps to fully manual shots, even has a built-in ND filter, etc)...it allows for a LOT of room to grow, if she starts getting interested in photography...if she doesn't, then it's about as good as a (Canon) P&S gets (the Sony RX100 is probably the best compact on the market, though).

EDIT: Just saw your post about the G1X...that's really a preference question...it has a relatively slow lens and it's bulky/heavy...I've had a G7 and a G9 and, while they were good cameras, they were too much of an in-betweener for me. I sold the G9 and bought the S100 and never looked back.