Need a p&s to go with my 20D

I'm overwhelmed with my choices and I don't know a thing about p&s. I will be traveling soon and would like a p&s that I can discreetly take into restaurants and take shots of the interior and the plates of food. Obviously I want to do this without flash so as not to disturb other diners.

I need to be able to shoot in RAW and would like to use the same batteries as my 20D but that's just a bonus. I don't anticipate needing more than 6mp. IS would be great as I will be hand holding in low light and will need fast lens.

I don't care at all about video and I'm use to the small screen on the 20D so I don't care about anything bigger.

The reason I've avoided a p&s until now is the shutter lag makes me want to kill myself. I'm hoping they've gotten better since I last checked.

What should I be looking at?

RAW compatible with Canon's software, I assume you mean. The only cameras that meet those criteria are out of production (the G1-G6; G7 doesn't do RAW and doesn't use the BP-511). So we're back to IS and fastish lens never mind the battery or storage. Take a look at the A710; convenient size, and while it doesn't use the same battery as your camera, it [I]does use the same batteries as your flash. At the 35 mm efl end it's an f/2.8.

Jon wrote in post #2509402
RAW compatible with Canon's software, I assume you mean. The only cameras that meet those criteria are out of production (the G1-G6; G7 doesn't do RAW and doesn't use the BP-511). So we're back to IS and fastish lens never mind the battery or storage. Take a look at the A710; convenient size, and while it doesn't use the same battery as your camera, it [I]does use the same batteries as your flash. At the 35 mm efl end it's an f/2.8.

I took a look at the A710 and it indeed might be just what I'm after. Unless I missed something in the description, it doesn't shoot manual which makes me a wee bit sad. I was thrilled that it has an optical view finder. Are you aware of any other p&s' that have this feature?

The G7 also looks nice due to the hot shoe and manual features and 1600 ISO but I don't think I want to pay $500.

You might consider the Fujifilm F30, it has incredible low light capability.

Not with IS. My P&S is an A620.

Yes, I realize the F30 has no IS. The OP said "It would be great" rather than "must have".

I personally have a SD700IS for my p&s.

I think I have terminology incorrect. I said I was thrilled with optical view finder thinking this meant I would look through the view finder to frame my image like I do with the 20D.

I read about EVF and think this might be what I'm after but am still quite confused.

I just want to shoot an image by looking throught the view finder to frame it. Is this possible? I just can't stand holding a camera out in front of me and looking at a little screen to take a picture, it feels so awkward

Take a look at the Canon SD800.

Jon wrote in post #2510032
Not with IS. My P&S is an A620.

so is mine!!!!

EllenC wrote in post #2509328
... would like a p&s that I can discreetly take into restaurants and take shots of the interior and the plates of food. Obviously I want to do this without flash so as not to disturb other diners...

It seems like the Fuji F30 is the best point and shoot camera for this requirement, as restaurants can be quite dark places - it produces results at ISO 800 that other P&S produce at ISO 200 (or even ISO 100). Even ISO 1600 is pretty usable, which I personally find amazing on this kind of camera. It doesn't have an optical viewfinder, but the excellent LCD screen makes up for it. I suggest that you read this review.

CRE@TE wrote in post #2510109
Yes, I realize the F30 has no IS. The OP said "It would be great" rather than "must have".

I personally have a SD700IS for my p&s.

I was responding directly to Ellen in the post above yours. The A620 doesn't have IS either.

My P&S is a little Canon A530. It's not too small or too powerful, just right for in the purse and out the door. The 4.0 mp shots are actually amazing. It has controls similar to the Canon DSLR's so I don't have to read the manual.

the A710 does have manual.

EllenC wrote in post #2510406
I think I have terminology incorrect. I said I was thrilled with optical view finder thinking this meant I would look through the view finder to frame my image like I do with the 20D.

I read about EVF and think this might be what I'm after but am still quite confused.

I just want to shoot an image by looking throught the view finder to frame it. Is this possible? I just can't stand holding a camera out in front of me and looking at a little screen to take a picture, it feels so awkward

yes but no. you can look through it, but there is NO way i would try to frame an image with it. infact its pretty useless to anyone who knows photography. first off, theres no exposure or any other form of data in it, so dont be expecting that. Second, it doesnt look through the lens like an SLR, hence and SLR is an SLR. Third it has what they call Parrallax Error because the small lens that it does look through it not actually in line with the lens. and Last, it makes almost no attempt to actually frame equally with the image you will get.

So in short optical viewfinders on P&S's are underwhelming (more like downright worthless) at best.

So in short optical viewfinders on P&S's are underwhelming (more like downright worthless) at best.[/QUOTE]

I was afraid of that.

I've spent the last couple of days doing a bit of reading on point and shoots and my short list of wants are:

Must haves - At least 6MP, manual settings, good auto focus in low light, lowest possible noise at 400 ISO.

Really want - hot shoe, IS, f/2.8, CF card, RAW

Is it possible to find a G6 anymore? I couldn't even find one used on craigslist. I'm leaning towards the G7 but I think it's due to the cuteness factor. The G6 has everything I'm after I think, just can't find it. The A710 is also appealing as is the S3.

I never thought p&s would be so complicated.