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Question

Need new digital Camera

Oct 19, 2011 7:35AM PDT

Looking to buy a new digital camera for an upcoming event. I'd like something that takes rapid pictures and has excellent quality. Pocket size or handbag size will do. Any thoughts? i've heard the Canon line is good but not the fastest shutter speed. Undecided on price range at this point.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
More Info Needed
Oct 19, 2011 12:55PM PDT

What is the event?

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(NT) Need new digital Camera
Oct 19, 2011 5:02PM PDT
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Umm
Oct 19, 2011 11:44PM PDT

Yes, we know you need a new camera, but for what? Indoor or outdoor event? Moving subjects? Distant subjects? A camera is just a tool. If you do not know how to use the tool, or do not know the limitation of the tool, it will not do what you want. Asking for a small camera to do things only a big camera can do is only asking for disappointment.

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Good Point
Oct 20, 2011 11:17AM PDT

Good point - let me give you more detail. The camera will be used for an indoor wedding with an outdoor ceremony. Not too many action shots like soccer games etc. I would like a good zoom feature and a high quality digital picture. Lots of photos of flowers so details and color quality will be important. Does that help?

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Cameras
Oct 20, 2011 3:21PM PDT

Outdoor (daylight) photos are pretty easy for any camera. The primary limitation of small cameras is their more limited dynamic range, such as a scene with both very bright and very dark elements. Indoors is where most small cameras have difficulty. In what seems like adequate indoor lighting is often too dim for a camera to "see," resulting in blurry photos. Some new small cameras use high dynamic range image stacking technology to get better low-light photos. Different manufacturers give it their own name, for instance Sony calls it Handheld Twilight mode. Note that this technology really only work with still subjects. You might want to look at this group test of travel zoom cameras; the recommended cameras are in the $250-300 range:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q311travelzoomgrouptest/

The next step up from the above type of cameras is an advanced or enthusiast compact. They have slightly bigger digital sensors (the main cost of any camera), and brighter lenses...both those things contribute to better low light performance. You give up the long zoom lens though. Advanced compacts are also designed with more manual controls, which is a benefit if you know how to use them...as smart as cameras seem to be getting, no camera can take good photos 100% of the time. Often human intervention is necessary to create a good photo. Advanced compacts run about $350-500:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q42010highendcompactgroup/

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2nd reply
Oct 20, 2011 11:18AM PDT

I hope my reply's show up - I don't see them when I look here. Anyway - I just posted something that will give you more details. Hope you can see it.