I have a Canon EOS 400D with battery grip and a Tamron 18-270 lens. This thing is simply HUGE and is difficult to carry around. What I am looking for is a small camera that can fit in my pocket for taking casual photographs. What I have in mind are those cameras with retractable lens that become totally flat when turned off.
Problem is that I have tried some of them and they are very slow to focus and shoot. Some of them are so slow that by the time the picture is taken, the subject has moved out of the frame :smack:
Ok, I do not expect dSLR level response time from such a small camera, but I am looking for those cameras that are faster than average.
m assuming you’re talking superzoom given your DSLR lens choice.
Panasonic ZS5 or ZS7? The ZS series generally gets good reviews and the review says it has good focus speed for compacts. At the end of the day its always going to be a shock though, contrast focus is a big difference to DSLR phase focussing.
This page lets you compare all the cameras you’re considering and it has a performance section where you can see which has the fastest focus times.
He wants a thin/flat camera, so I’m guessing that he doesn’t want an ultrazoom.
All compact cameras will have noticeable shutter lag compared to a DSLR. It will be more noticeable in low light or with fast moving subjects, and much better in bright light with stationary subjects. Just want to set your expectations, this is one of the major advantages of DSLRs. Modern P&S are better than they used to be, but shutter lag is still an issue with all small cameras.
What’s your budget? If you are willing to spend a bit the Canon S90 is a very capable small camera with a big sensor, an excellent lens, and all the manual controls available. Another good choice would be the Sony WX-1, although it doesn’t have the greatest image quality from some reviews.
If you want a less expensive model, the Canon SD1300 is a basic, well built P&S. Also the Panasonic FH3 or the Panasonic ZS3 (if you want more zoom in a slightly larger camera).
There are plenty of other models to choose from if you specify better what you are looking for. Budget, zoom, size, battery life, features, optical viewfinder, touchscreen: they all have their proponents. What are you looking for?
I had a chance to play with the Sony DSC-HX5V/B and I thought it was great.
It’s slim, high zoom (10x) and can take 10 shots in a second. Plus, HD movie, panoramic shots, built-in GPS and great low light shots. This is probably my next point and shoot!
True, but they’re noticeably larger than the ones with smaller zoom lenses. The OP needs to come back and let us know the size he’s looking for.
And bigger zoom lenses tend to have more shutter lag, especially at full zoom or in low light. It’s all a trade off.
A friend just got the HX5-V and it’s a pretty good camera, but it doesn’t quite live up to the hype in the real world. In particular, it’s low light performance isn’t as great as billed. Still, it’s leaps and bounds above the previous Sony offerings. I still think the Panasonic ZS-series is the best compact big zoom cameras.
I went to a shop that had many cameras on display and tried out most of them. The fastest were the Canon Ixus IS100 and IS120. I was about to buy the IS120 but then I tried out a Pentax Optio P80. Just as fast as the Canon, same small size, (almost) same features and almost half the price (140€ vs 260€).
BTW, that shop didn’t have any of the camera models you guys mentioned. And no Sonys at all!
Good luck with the Pentax. I have an older Optio M30 that I’ve been carrying around for years, and abusing the snot out of. It still works great, and I’ve had no problems with it.