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Question

Point and shoot - best image quality?

Jun 23, 2011 1:03AM PDT

Hi, I'm looking for a compact point & shoot camera with the best image quality possible. I've read a bunch of reviews for various cameras and figured out what I want for features, but at the end of the day the image quality is the thing that matters most. So I want to know which models are the best in that department - price is not an issue.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Is size an issue?
Jun 23, 2011 2:11AM PDT

These are the best compacts for image quality:

Canon G12
Canon S95
Nikon P7000
Olympus XZ-1
Panasonic LX5
Samsung TL500

FYI, most often people get poor photos because they do not know much about photography, or the limitations of small cameras. If you are wanting a compact P & S to capture images of kids playing indoors, no small camera can do that well, not even the more expensive compacts I have listed.

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size is somewhat of an issue
Jun 24, 2011 6:28AM PDT

Thanks for the reply. Size is an issue which is why I'm looking at compacts. I basically want something that I can carry around easily wherever I go (doesn't have to be tiny though).

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So you're not really wanting the best image quality :P
Jun 24, 2011 10:17AM PDT

Look at the Canon SX230 IS, Nikon S9100, or Sony DSC-HX5V.

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well yes.... but
Jun 24, 2011 5:19PM PDT

There are certain features I would like to have, but at the end if the day there's no point if the camera doesn't take good pictures. For example, I liked the features of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 but kept coming across reviews complaining about the picture quality. I know I'll never find the perfect camera so I'm just trying to figure out which one has the best combination picture quality and features for me.
Is there any reason that you recommended the DSC-HX5V over the HX7 or HX9 besides the fact that the HX5 has a manual focus?

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HX5V vs. HX9V
Jun 24, 2011 11:24PM PDT

The HX9V is getting very good reviews also and is worth looking at...it's really the one I meant to write. But the HX5V is a bargain right now at $200 on Amazon; $150 cheaper than the HX9V.

There's nothing wrong with the ZS10, but its image quality is not as good as the previous model, the ZS7. That said, if you only print 4 x 6, or view images sized to fit a 15" monitor, the difference is probably not apparent. That goes for the difference between any of these cameras image quality as well.