Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Black)

My last digital camera was a Kodak EasyShare DX6340 3.1 MP - a nice little point and shoot at the time, but that was seven years ago! Although it still works like a champ, I decided it was time to upgrade to something a little more compact than the picture quality and also offers better HD video *. I spent over a month of shopping around, looking for Canon, Panasonic, Sony and models, and played with the idea of ​​sacrificing the small size (and high-definition video) to go with the new Canon G11. Finally, I decided on the new SD940 IS as a reasonable compromise between size, features and image quality. I'm very glad I bought this thing - so far I have not been impressed!

This thing is small - approximately the same size and weight as my old Motorola RAZR phone (folded closed). However, he feels very solid. Despite its compact size provides outstanding performance. It starts up fast, flexible menus, and shot to shot delay is minimal. The picture quality is very good - nothing extraordinary, but not insignificant either. I shot a series of photos on the proof of the last two days and I'm pretty satisfied. Macro shots are so incredibly sharp and detailed. Outdoor school sun, I noticed some developers "purple fringe" areas of high contrast (dark green leaves of a tree against a white cloud had a noticeable purple halo around it, when zooming in image). I do not know what other P & S cameras of this size is necessarily better with a fringe of purple, but I thought it was very uncomfortable. In my monitor colors looked very natural, unsaturated or water. I tried some manual settings below ISO 400 and did not notice any grain or inaccuracy problem. Obviously you can not expect SLR quality with an S & P, but I'm very happy with the photo this is.

The aspect that this camera is really high-definition video. Of course, I wanted above all to take the picture, but I wanted the flexibility to change video when the moment demands. For such a small camera, the quality of HD video is incredible! Very fluid movement, fresh and clear audio! The video is better in brightly lit situations, of course, but does well in low light and if you do not mind a little grain in the picture. You can choose from several options for saving memory and high-definition standard definition (which automatically switches to widescreen format). While the optical zoom can not be used in video mode, you can use the 4x digital zoom while recording - a nice little bonus. Video files are generated files. MOV that I was able to import into iMovie on my Mac in a simple (and soon!).

The control buttons are indeed small and flat, but no problems to manage (it helps if the nails are not too short). People with large hands or too short can have a little more difficult. I'm still getting used to the navigation menus on this, but it seems pretty intuitive. I spent 10 minutes reading through the "Getting Started" guide that comes with it, and it was useful to delineate the basic features, but there is more that the guide does not cover. * Not * using a battery of its own, but the charger is, fortunately, very compact and charge the battery capacity in 90 minutes. I do not mind the battery must be removed from the loading chamber. So far, after two days, I have not exhausted the battery, so I can not comment yet on how long the battery life is, but mine has lasted several hours use and still going strong.

This may not be the most versatile camera on the market - full manual controls are limited - but easy to use, high quality P & S camera with HD video and crisp, I think it would be hard to beat the SD940 IS. Is extremely small and lightweight and does everything that most casual users want. It can be a bit pricey compared to some others, but worth every penny. By the way, if you intend to use the high-definition video, make sure you have a class 6 or higher SD memory card for best results. (Low grade cards may not be fast enough to capture the flow of information being recorded on the card). Do not skimp on the card - cheap off-brands are not always reliable and may die soon, with their irreplaceable photos and videos with them. I have a small SanDisk Extreme III 8 GB Class 6 card to go with this and a great job!

Highly recommended!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 12.1 MP Rugged/Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue)

This camera has exceeded my expectations in every way. I had the opportunity to use in the rain, the sea and pool. The image quality is much higher than it is explored, especially underwater. High definition video is very good water up and down. The unit seems robust based on the extensive use of metals in the body. I do not care if I let it go.

Why do I have to buy? Good for about a Caribbean vacation, reviews and specifications. I have the intention to videotape rays and sea soon. At first I bought a Pentax WG-one high definition video was really terrible and image stabilization in the soil. Of course, I am very picky about the quality of high definition video (I do video) and Pentax is not enough for me. So I turned and this unit. Glad I did.

Photos and videos taken with underwater TS3 + are crisp balanced. The seal seems appropriate and does not fail after three hours in the pool and several tours at sea. Pictures taken on the ground are very good and appear 85% as good as a DSLR (which will never replace a DSLR). I like to use and attracts the most is that I can get it wet and do not worry. That may accidentally drop it and do not worry. Plus, I can slip this camera in your pocket-portable.

Learn more about this camera:
1) Do not expect to record his jump shot in pool. The units of seals are not intended to impact on the water. Do not put it in water, as a stream or a massive wave.
2) sand, one grain of sand stuck in my shutter button the camera and not act like he was trying to concentrate all the time (did the other buttons on the camera useless). The camera comes with a small brush and I used to take the sand. It works well, but the whole experience was not a fun time. At least I posted this for others.
3) If used at sea, remember to dive into the water faucet when done according to instructions. Allow to dry before opening. Take your time.
4) follow the instructions for the unit of care, such as making sure the joints are clean before entering the water.
5) Buy Chums (float Amazon search camera), especially if you intend to use it in a pool. He came out of my pocket a few times and luckily I had a CHUM attachment, which allows you to float rather than sink.

I love this camera.

Canon SX30IS 14.1MP Digital Camera with 35x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 Inch Wide LCD

I bought this camera as a replacement for my Panasonic FZ-35. After taking hundreds of pictures - including some side by side comparison with the FZ35, this is my impression.

The Canon image processor is better color balance and capture the overall picture of what FZ35 - the images are brighter and thus capture more details otherwise lost in the shade or just a trend FZ35 has a scale of gray processing in order to achieve the superb clarity is known that the FZ35.

Having said that - do not recommend using the automatic setting of the Canon. Your choice of focal point in the image tends to create images where the background is equally likely to be the focus of the subject. Generally, focus is on the edge of matter instead of the subject. Sometimes this can work to improve clarity, improved depth of focus a little sometimes creates a picture in which nothing is in focus, and sometimes makes the camera focus on "edgy" topics actually can not be everything - like a light pole in the background records, trees in the background, etc. In playback mode you can select a screen showing the camera focal point - which may help explain why some of your images look like they do in Auto. Automatic mode also adjust the color of an image when you are face recognition to improve skin tones, but the truth is the color balance of the Canon is so good anyway that it is almost unnecessary and sometimes tends to over compensation for their overall image is a sickly green / brown color.

However, if you change your car P - or any other event of the selection or the mode dial to SCN, these features are automatically turned off annoying and you can get some really great photos. At this point, the camera uses a single central focus frame (the size and position of which can easily be adjusted manually to suit your theme if you wish) and you start to get more pictures as expected. In addition, options for customizing the Canon, as with the expansion of activity, color options, easy adjustment of virtually all shooting functions, along with the zoom range makes this camera even better in the classroom. My only complaint with the SNA is that I wish there was a "sun", but that is easily created in the menu where you can choose colors to highlight in red.

Canon normally produces very clear, but Canon usually processes to maintain the balance of color compared to the edge of class to ISO speeds, so sometimes the images get a bit messier than those of us who use The FZ35 can like - on the other hand red is red instead of turning black. You can limit the ISO manually to what you prefer, with the easiest to use the ISO button.

To add a protective filter lens, polarizer, etc., you have to buy the 67mm adapter to do so (FA-DC67A Canon) - and good luck finding one!

This camera, like all others in this class struggle with poor light conditions due to its small sensor. However, unlike the competition, Canon allows you to mount an external flash, which explains this problem very well if you're willing to pay the fee. The way I see it the cheapest option of $ 1,000 - $ 3,000 DSLR that can reach up to 6000 ISO for low light conditions.

Globally, Canon is definitely a step ahead of anything else that was there - but it has its peculiarities is to be alert and avoid. The opportunity for creativity in a camera / lens is really incomparable with anything else out there. The ability to go from 1 cm away from macro to 35x superzoom the flip of a switch can not be found on any other camera, combined with a selection of scene, such as fisheye usually not found in other cameras as and a wide range of color options not found in the canon of the competitors in this class is a great tool for creative photography. Thus, while the SX30 is certainly not perfect picture quality can sometimes be less than $ 3000 to your lens digital SLR + (although for some photos you need to expand / blow-up to notice the difference) - in together is worth supporting the limitations of other factors. One caveat - if you are looking for an easy to use point and shoot that can not be your best choice because of his intelligence, often poor in the Auto. If not, would have been 5 stars.