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Resolved Question

Help in choosing a quality digital camera...looking at 3

Sep 5, 2011 6:11AM PDT

Good afternoon,

I am in the process of upgrading my digital camera. I eventually want to get a DSLR. I love photography! I would like to get a nice compact camera that would be a good lead in to a DSLR. I'm not very technical when it comes to using cameras, but I want to learn. I have been using a Canon Powershot SD1100. It's an alright little camera. Takes decent fotos outdoors, but when it comes to indoors, in low light situations its downright dreadful. On my recent trip to Colombia, I took quite a few indoor fotos, mainly at the aquarium. The fotos did not come out well at all. Video quality was ok. This all leads me into my search for a better, more hands on camera(more manual options). From my research I have narrowed my choices down to 3. They are:
Canon Powershot S95, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX9V, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5.
If there are better ones in the price range of under $400 please let me know, but of those 3, which is the best?
Important factors in purchasing for me is; image quality(especially in low light situations), better than average video (I like to take 30-60sec short video clips) and manual options.

Thanks for the feedback! Happy

Discussion is locked

Eriquillo80 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Two out of 3 is not bad.
Sep 5, 2011 7:41AM PDT

The Canon S95 and Panasonic LX5 are better in low light than the average small camera.

The Sony HX9V has little advantage over the average camera in low light.
Plus the 16 megapixel sensor is a risky choice.
It usually results in too much noise which requires heavy handed application of noise reduction.
That results in a loss of detail.

Nikon just announced a camera that should do well in low light.
The Nikon P7100.
It is not available yet and there is not real world experience yet.
Here is a Preview - it includes a comparison to the very popular Canon G12.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikonp7100/

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Advanced Compact vs DSLR
Sep 5, 2011 10:28AM PDT

There is some advantage to cameras like the Canon S95 and Panasonic LX5 over your current camera. But do not mistake a DSLR as being more complicated than those two. You can use a DSLR in auto mode just as easily as you can on the S95 or LX5, and you have the advantages of a viewfinder, interchangeable lenses, and much faster operational speed. An entry level DSLR is not too much more than your budget...about $550.

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Thanks
Sep 5, 2011 12:46PM PDT

Thank you both for the feedback!
Snapshot2, I will check out the link you posted for the Nikon P7100. I'm looking to purchase a new camera within the next month or two, maybe there will be more/better choices available.

Piston, you make a few good point and I have looked into a few entry level DSLRs

I prefer to get a more compact, close to pocket size camera at this time with several manual options that would lead to a DSLR purchase in the future.

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Latest and Greatest = Full Retail
Sep 5, 2011 2:52PM PDT

The P7100 looks promising, but any time you buy a new-to-market camera, you pay top dollar. Count on the Nikon being $500 when it is released. The LX5 is arguably the best value right now; it started out at $500, but is now $400. It is larger and less pocketable than the S95 though. The P7100 (the P7000 is pictured) and the G12 are larger still; at that size, it's worth looking at a Micro Four-Thirds system camera:

http://cameracollector.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/compactgroup.jpg

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Side by side view
Sep 9, 2011 2:01AM PDT

Thanks Piston, for the side by side views of the four cameras. I need to go to my camera store this weekend to test the other two out that you mentioned. The both look very nice and I read up a little on the reviews. Very positive. Thanks!