Ugh, I need help choosing a compact

G11 or LX3 or something else?
I want full manual, compact design...

I know this is a canon forum, but some unbiased answers would be good

I don't have either, but when I was looking for an advanced P&S, both received great reviews, both online and here.

G11, S90, or LX3. If you don't like short zooms, don't get the LX3 (24-60 vs 28-140 and 28-105). If you don't like slow lenses, don't get the Canons (f/2.8-4.5 and f/2-4.9 vs f/2-2.8 ). If you like your wides, get the LX3. If you're still unsure, go find them and play with them. They're all pretty much the same IQ-wise, their interfaces are just different.

S90 is f/2-4.9...

hmm, so there are only 3 possible choices in this area?

Spacemunkie wrote in post #9420763
S90 is f/2-4.9...

oops. Corrected.

rgrebby wrote in post #9420854
hmm, so there are only 3 possible choices in this area?

pretty much.

rgrebby wrote in post #9420854
hmm, so there are only 3 possible choices in this area?

Ricoh and Sigma both make decent compacts, but those three are possibly the most versatile models that are currently available.

S90, G11, or LX3 are all great cameras. I personally think the G11 and the s90 may produce a touch better IQ and a better focal length range.

I actually tried out the s90 and really like how small and easy it is to use. The G11 is much bigger and easier for manual control and such. The LX3 is more along the lines of s90. It has full manual but it's a pain to use it compared to the G11.

Personally, I'd use an Olympus E 420. A refurbished kit is only $350 at Adorama and a new one is $400 at Walmart online. It's a bit bigger but the IQ is comparable to dslr's and it's responsive like other dslrs.

I like the G series. I recently bought my daughter a D10 as she loves surfing and has been taking that on the board with her as well as some snorkeling. I haven't used it myself but she is turning out some pretty good shots, which is saying alot.

I've had the G10 for around 7 months now and find it's a great camera with brilliant image quality.. It has full maunal settings as well as the usual auto settings..

I ordered a G11 for my daughter for her birthday which arrived today.. I had a little play with it tonight.. I like what I see..

I think the G11 isnt really compact though, hmm

I think with compacts it is best to just forgo all the manual controls and get one that fits in your pocket. Since there is essentially no DOF control possible, what are you going to use the manual controls for?

I just like to have control, plus they have a hot shoe so could do some fun lighting with wireless triggers.

Tee Why wrote in post #9423219
Personally, I'd use an Olympus E 420. A refurbished kit is only $350 at Adorama and a new one is $400 at Walmart online. It's a bit bigger but the IQ is comparable to dslr's and it's responsive like other dslrs.

I have a canon 5Dmk2 so I dont need another dslr sized camera.

rgrebby wrote in post #9425416
I just like to have control, plus they have a hot shoe so could do some fun lighting with wireless triggers.

I get that, but there is not much you can control. You don't want to go past ISO 400 to aviod noise, you don't want to stop down because there is no DOF control anyway and it creates diffraction, and so I guess that just leaves shutter speed. I figure if I want to control a difficult sitation I have my SLR. IF I just want a camera in my pocket, I got the small SD1100.

I like the idea of a hotshoe, too, but realize that in itself necessitates the camera be deeper than your average compact and probably rules out pocketability.