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Recommend Compact Camera for nights out etc
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collyParticipant
Guys I want to get a compact digital camera for Christmas. Something small I can have in my pocket and bring with me on nights out etc etc. In the past I’ve had the Canon IXUS II, the Canon Ixus 65, and the Fuji F100FD.
I want something small but does not have to be tiny. The Canon’s were great but kinda crap in low light. The Fuji was better but it was pretty slow. It will mostly be used for taking photos of people on nights out, I hate the way some camera flashes wash everything out – so Face Detection would be nice (if it actually work that is…)
Any recommendation of a make or model that would be a safe choice? Don’t really want to spend more than €200
I’d appreciate any recommendations you can give me
Thanks
CollyIOPParticipantI’m not sure €200 will get you what you want. I’ve been looking at compact cameras with a view to getting a decent one that I could carry around in my pocket and still get decent creative shots. I’ve gone through a few in the past few years but finally got one a few weeks ago that seems to do the job.
My specification wish list included: large maximum aperture, image stabilisation, good high iso performance (the hardest, technically, to deliver) and to be able to shoot Raw (noise reduction is slightly more successful in Raw files than Jpeg files). Raw files are also much more successful at recovering detail in blown out areas (such as the way flash washes everything out, as you mention).
The camera I found that seems to meet all these criteria is the Canon S90 but is unfortunately waaay out of your stated budget as it’s €499. The shots from it are stunning in low light. 400 ISO is acceptable but only goes there as a final resort as the f/2 lens and image stabilisation means higher Iso only comes in as a last resort.
This first shot is handheld at dawn. Shot in Raw and post processed in Lightroom for a little noise reduction. Iso 100, Image Stabilsation On, Aperture f/2, Shutter 1/30. Without the f/2 lens and the Image Stabilisation this shot would easily have had to have been shot at 800 Iso to get the 1/30 second shutter.
This one is even tougher. It’s a night time shot, obviously, but again it’s handheld, no flash but shot through dark tinted windows. Details are: Raw, Iso 800, Image Stabilisation on, Aperture f/2, Shutter 1/25th. Noise is much more apparent in this one (the problem of a small sensor), but is still usable from a snapshot point of view
I think my wish list is very similar to the specs that you need. I’ve not seen a basic compact camera that meets all these but I’d be keen to hear what the views of others are,
Dave
WillemMemberI’d have a look at an Olympus FE-340, http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2008/05/30/Olympus-FE-340/p1 It’s not the best camera available, but it it very compact – I bought an FE-240 for recording nights out and ended up having it with me everywhere I went, it just slips into a shirt or jeans pocket and I forgot about it. I found it to take very good pictures in dark pubs and clubs, and it has a massive screen on the back. It gets a bit of a panning in the review, but I felt this is a bit unfair as it has loads of functionality for the price.
I lost it on a night out getting re-acquainted with :evil: Stella Artois :evil:. I’d definitely get another one though.
Hope this helps
Will
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