Wife wants small pocket camera, no 50d+grip :)

I have a ton of gear, but wife wants just a simple point and shoot to carry to kids events or something not as complex as what I. 50d+grip dosn't exactly fit in the purse

Any recomendations. I don't want crap. I also don't want to spend a fortune on this. Did a quick search on bhphotovideo and saw a bunch of cameras sub $200. I figure stick to canon and nikon as those are two of the most respectable camera names I know.

What does everybody use on this type of camera? Want something pretty good in low light also.

For pretty good in low light you'll want to look at the S90, it has good manual controls if she's a serious photographer and it's tiny. Or a G11. But these are $400.

For "average" in low light (and for a compact, average is bad) and no manual controls I'd just look at the SD series, I'm sure there's one in the $200 range. I had an SD1200 and it was fine. But I wouldn't have high expectations indoors without a flash if you're a pixel peeper.

Compromise .... get the 50D without the grip

Not sure if $200 is your actual budget but I have the G11 for those times when the DSLR can't come with me.

$200 and low light don't go that well together. Maybe the SD1300? If you can manage $400, maybe the S90, which has an f/2.0 lens.

The local Staples here has the 1200 for $149, which is pretty good. Most stores stopped stocking it a long time ago.

The SD780 (really only available new at Amazon--again, out of stock because newer models are out) is rated very well and has HD video. The cool thing about the sd1200 and 780 is that they are all metal bodies.

I wouldn't mind one of those 780s myself. They can be had for about $179 new off Amazon or Ebay.

Anything by Canon that is close to 200 is going to be a great camera for point and shoot. I'd try to stay at 10mp if I were you, though. THey all use the same sized sensor, but some pack 12-14 mp in those things, and it gets noisy.

The S90 is the best, and has a much bigger sensor than all the other point and shoots ,but you'll have to fork out about 379-399 for it, but from what I hear and read, it's the best of any point and shoot on the market right now. I'd like one.

Jon wrote in post #9925464
$200 and low light don't go that well together. Maybe the SD1300? If you can manage $400, maybe the S90, which has an f/2.0 lens.

I really cant think of any i would recommend for that price

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Com'on guys .. anyone would think that just because it's sub $200 it going to have to be crap. Anything at this price is going to be a compromise .. so it depends what yours is going to be.
For me, my needs were that it had to be small, light and compact .. easily fits in my pocket and will take a good picture 95% of the time. I don't care that it doesn't allow me to have too much control over its settings, as long as I can 'point and shoot' and get a photo. For anything else I'll use one of my DSLRs.
My advice would be buy the best you can afford .. look at older discontinued models. I grabbed a brand new dark grey SD1200IS for $127 from Henry's on a 'buy it now' on Ebay. It fits my P&S needs .. and at this price it'll be with me most of the time.

bphillips330 wrote in post #9924984
Want something pretty good in low light also.

Everybody wants a pocket camera that is good in low light, but they don't exist. Just scratch that off the list and go get whatever Canon or Panasonic seems to catch the eye. (Nikon compacts really kinda suck, actually).

Consider the Canon SX200IS or the new SX210IS. Both have 28mm wide angle lenses and 3 inch LCD screens, which are features she will appreciate daily. I got my wife the SX200IS for the same reasons that your wife wants a P&S. She likes the macro and supermacro settings. That camera has more features than my 40D or my G9!

I note that the new SX210IS has a low light scene mode too.

Well, if you REALLY loved your wife, you would add another zero to the $200 and buy her nice little Leica X1...it's pretty good in low light, or at least will get better results with the larger sensor, and it will fit in her purse.

Dennis

I don't know if they still make it, but a few years ago I used the Canon A530 point and shoot. As far as point and shoots go, it was a good little thing. No SLR, but it surpassed other P&S that I have used. I would check into that or whatever the upgrade is from that one.

bphillips330 wrote in post #9924984
I have a ton of gear, but wife wants just a simple point and shoot to carry to kids events or something not as complex as what I. 50d+grip dosn't exactly fit in the purse

Any recomendations. I don't want crap. I also don't want to spend a fortune on this. Did a quick search on bhphotovideo and saw a bunch of cameras sub $200. I figure stick to canon and nikon as those are two of the most respectable camera names I know.

What does everybody use on this type of camera? Want something pretty good in low light also.

When my wife called me long distance to tell me she dropped her old SD500 I empathized with her and then marched off and bought an S90.
I love this P&S. Low light work blows me away for this class of P&S.

You might even like it. If you do get it ...grip it with Richard Franiecs grip it will keep you/her from "ham-fisting" the too loose dial on the back. But even with the engineering brain fart this camera rocks.

Oh yeah...and it's small...essentially a G11 minus the hot shoe and swivel screen and it does have a nice f/2 lens.

denncald wrote in post #9949231
Well, if you REALLY loved your wife, you would add another zero to the $200 and buy her nice little Leica X1...it's pretty good in low light, or at least will get better results with the larger sensor, and it will fit in her purse.

Dennis

So funny story. I work at enterprise rent a car. I happen to walk into another office and in their lost and found pile was a LEICA point and shoot!!!!! In a customer leather case. I almost crapped myself as who leaves that in a car. I asked everybody in the office if anybody has claimed this, and one of the guys said, it is some sort of wierd off brand and he will be supprised if anybody comes and claims "this piece of crap". Keeping a straight face, I said, if nobody claims this, give me a shout and i can see if this camera is worth anything, biggest smile inside my head!!!! Of course, the owner called and picked it up the same day.

If they only knew what the "piece of crap" off brand Leica was really worth.