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Question

Help choosing a compact digital camera

Jun 26, 2014 4:54AM PDT

Hello,

I'm shopping for a good all-around compact digital camera. At the moment I'm more of a casual photographer, but I want to take this more seriously as a hobby, so I'm thinking something between a simple point-and-shoot and an enthusiast-level compact.

My priority is image quality. I will be traveling next month and I need a camera that will perform well in daylight and low-light settings. I'm not too concerned with Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities, so I don't mind if those features aren't up to par.

My ideal price range is $200-$300, but I realize better image quality comes with higher prices, so I'm willing to spend up to $400 if it's worth it.

Here are a few cameras I've been considering:

In the lower price range: Canon Powershot SX-280 HS (though I'm concerned with the battery life on this one...), Canon Powershot S110, and the Nikon Coolpix L830. Does one stand out among the others in terms of image quality? Or, if they all perform the same in terms of image quality, does one perform better overall?

In the higher price range: Canon Powershot SX-700, Canon Powershot N100, Nikon Coolpix S9700, Nikon Coolpix P520, and the Sony DSC-HX50V. Again, does one stand out among the others in terms of image quality? Or, if they all perform the same in terms of image quality, does one perform better overall?

I know there are tons of reviews about each camera, but I'm having trouble comparing them so I would appreciate any help! Also, if anyone has a better option in mind other than the cameras I mentioned, please let me know!

Thank you!!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Compact Digital
Jun 26, 2014 8:55AM PDT

Since you stated you wanted it to perform in low light, the list gets shorter.

Low light is the Achilles hell of Compact Digital cameras, due to small sensors used in these small cameras.
Most will work in low light but tend to produce noise in the picture.

The Canon S110 has a little larger sensor and a bright F2.0 lens, which makes it better than most cameras of this size in low light.
It also does not have excessive pixels which is a cause of some noise.
It has 12 mega-pixels which is good.

I suggest you get your hands on the S110 and judge the performance of other cameras against it.

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Other suggestions?
Jun 26, 2014 2:03PM PDT

Thanks for your help! Are there any other cameras that have a slightly larger sensor like the Canon S110 that I should also consider?

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Others
Jun 27, 2014 7:57AM PDT

Similar cameras with same sized sensor and a bright lens:

Fujifilm X20
Nikon P330 & P340
Olympus XZ2
Panasonic LX7

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Answer
Canon Powershot
Jun 30, 2014 10:24PM PDT

Hello,
You can try out with any canon powershot camera. I can suggest you to buy Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Camera, Canon PowerShot G16 Camera (playing a good role in market), Canon PowerShot SX510 IS Camera, Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II Camera, Canon PowerShot S110 Camera.
I cannot suggest you any particular model as it depends on your purpose or usage, budget.
You can check out more canon products online at official store canon.co.in and if you want to buy online, then have a look at their authorized dealer imagestore.co.in

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Answer
Cameras and images
Jul 6, 2014 6:36AM PDT

You could try http://www.imaging-resource.com/compact-cameras ; choose sensor size and set your price range to see what comes up. For low light and assuming no tripod, built-in IS is a must.
Investigate the site further, and compare pairs of cameras on your shortlist (also images), using their Comparometer .
As for sensor size, it is not just that but how well it works together with the lens.
More important than your final choice would be getting the hang of the new gear before it is used extensively. As someone has said, the best camera is the one you have on you when you need it.

Note: This post was edited by a forum moderator to fix link on 07/07/2014 at 9:33 AM PT