Need advice on 'pocketable' camera

Manticore

I have the 'big rig' - D200, 70-200VR, 18-17, macro, etc. etc. and I love it all. The problem is, I'd like something small to stick in my brief-case or pocket for when I'm not likely to carry all the toys - like at work or just buzzing around town.

Now here's where I need help. Since I'm pretty-used the quality I get from my D200, I'm not crazy about settling for just 'ok' quality.

Any recommendations for a high-quality (like, capable of excellent 8x10s) pocketable camera - or am I dreaming? Do any of the smaller camera shoot RAW, or are they all stuck in JPG mode?

Any help appreciated - thanks!

gtc

epson olympus
plenty of high end digicams to choose from but you could also look at an
expensive but high quality and compact epson rd digital rangefinder or film alternative olympus xa series pocket rangefinders or stylus epic.

Terrence

I have not used any of these, but I have seen several good reviews of the Canon PowerShot G7 and Ricoh GR. Both are in the $500 to $600 range. The Epson RD-1 looks pretty amazing, but carries a pricetag in the $3000 range.

I have used a few of Casio's Exilim series cameras. They are excellent on battery life and very compact. Excellent quality images IMHO.

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 looks pretty nice and you could use one of your Speedlights on it too.

It all comes down to what features you must have in a camera and what you are willing to spend. In the P&S market there is a lot of choice and just about everyone is producing great to excellent quality cameras.

tsk1979

Terrence wrote:

I have not used any of these, but I have seen several good reviews of the Canon PowerShot G7 and Ricoh GR. Both are in the $500 to $600 range. The Epson RD-1 looks pretty amazing, but carries a pricetag in the $3000 range.

I have used a few of Casio's Exilim series cameras. They are excellent on battery life and very compact. Excellent quality images IMHO.

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 looks pretty nice and you could use one of your Speedlights on it too.

It all comes down to what features you must have in a camera and what you are willing to spend. In the P&S market there is a lot of choice and just about everyone is producing great to excellent quality cameras.

I read somewhere that if low noise an image quality is what you want from a pocket camera the Fuji F series (F10 onwards) take the cake.
You could look at the bigger boys like S3 IS from canon, but they are not really pocketable, though not big as a DSLR rig.
I have one of the Casio Exilims, if you want to shoot in anything except daylight you will be dissapointed.
As for the Prosumer camera, you can look at Oly offerings which offer very nifty features.

Lex

Leica D-lux 3 images
I have compiled a test series of images from my new Leica D-lux 3 that I am fairly impressed with. As far as I can tell the only major weakness is sensor sensitivity to blowing out highlights in bright conditions. However, perhaps I was expecting to much in that area..

here is where my images are @: These are 10.2 mpx originally! 100% crops look pretty amazing for a camera of this size. I also found I can handhold a polarizer in front of the lens if I want to. Yeah, it's a little flaky of a way to do it, but it works.

This one will fit in a T-shirt pocket without a case on it, of course, it has just a bit of lens bulge.

Leica D-lux3 test prints

Doug
www.fotagafer.com

tsk1979 wrote:

I read somewhere that if low noise an image quality is what you want from a pocket camera the Fuji F series (F10 onwards) take the cake.
You could look at the bigger boys like S3 IS from canon, but they are not really pocketable, though not big as a DSLR rig.
I have one of the Casio Exilims, if you want to shoot in anything except daylight you will be dissapointed.
As for the Prosumer camera, you can look at Oly offerings which offer very nifty features.

Beaverhausen

What do you guys think of the Samsung NV7 OPS? I'm in the same boat - hate to carry the big rig all the time - especially because I mostly ride a motorcycle. I love everything I've read about this camera. It's an awkward shape but I think it looks nice as I've always been a fan of the rangefinder form factor. The lens looks like it's well worth the size too except the wide angle isn't as wide as I'd like (38-270mm).

Shay Stephens

Look no further than the Fuji F30. Great price and great low light capability.

ziggy53

Shay Stephens wrote:

Look no further than the Fuji F30. Great price and great low light capability.

The similar Fuji F40 fd also supports 2 card formats, xD and SD, and has an external battery charger.

It also has the Fuji "face detection", but I'm not completely sold on that technology.

ziggy53

Shay Stephens wrote:

Look no further than the Fuji F30. Great price and great low light capability.

I just found that Isabel Cutler likes and uses the FinePix F30:

http://www.pbase.com/isabel95/fujifilmf30

Lots of great samples here:

http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/fujifilm_finepix_f30

TeamSpeed

Canon Elph (SDxxx) series all have multi AF points, shoot raw, have creative modes, movie mode, etc. Size of a deck of cards. Very nice camera for the money. Something to consider.

Plus the newest versions have body IS.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd700is/

gtc

Ricoh GR
they look nice- 28mm and 21mm conversion lens...noise may be an issue but can be dealt with-the fuji f30 does looks better at high ISO but maybe not as pocketable-always with the compromises!

arroyoshark

TeamSpeed wrote:

Canon Elph (SDxxx) series all have multi AF points, shoot raw, have creative modes, movie mode, etc. Size of a deck of cards. Very nice camera for the money. Something to consider.

Plus the newest versions have body IS.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd700is/

I did not realize the elf series enabled a RAW format capture. It is not listed in the specs.