Compact Camera Upgrade [duplicate]

Question

Possible Duplicate:
What options are there for a camera that's smaller than a full DSLR, but not a point-and-shoot?

I very much like to play with photography, and I'm getting tired of using the usual point-and-shoot camera, so I would like to move on to something better, but I think that DSLR cameras are a little bit too bulky as I like to keep the camera in my pocket so that I'm always ready to shot.

I know about bridge cameras, and several times I've used a Fujifilm that I liked.

What I want, however, is something different: I can survive without the super-zoom, but I would like to have:

• A good sensor that's not too small
• The ability to shoot in low-light conditions
• Maximum flexibility in terms of control; manual settings are a must, but it would be nice to have a remote control (wired is fine) as well.
• Also, since i think that this pixel-mania is useless, i'd prefer a good but discontinued 8 MP to a less quality 12-14 MP at the same price.

All this for a reasonable price (less than a D-SLR) - Am I dreaming?

Answer 1

the canon s90 and s95 were very well respected by slr shooters. recently it got an upgrade to the s100 which apparently is very good.

else, there is the g1 x which should be very good too.

but obviously, they cannot compete with an slr for quality. the "luminous landscape" website definitely has a review for the s90, i am not sure about the newer models.

Answer 2

It is hard to answer this question without knowing how unsatisfied you are with image quality of your point and shoot?

As someone already mentioned, the Canon S100 is as small as you can get to have full and easy to use manual controls. It's image quality is only a little better than the basic point-and-shoot but since the lens is bright you can get away with shooting at a lower ISO. If you want something a small step above, look at the Fuji Finepix X10 which is a pleasure to use because of its mechanical lens.

The next up is to go with a Mirrorless ILC. They all have manual controls but if you enjoy using them, you should get something with good external controls. This will dramatically improve your image quality and ability to shoot in low-light. Here you can see all the light SLDs with dual control-dials and a wired remote.

Answer 3

If you want a camera that's small enough to fit in a pocket, it's going to have have smallish optics, which is going to restrict the physical size of the sensor (larger sensors require larger lenses). At some level you'll have to compromise between the two (size of sensor and overall camera size). Have you taken a look at mirrorless cameras? They are certainly smaller than DSLRs, but they might be too big for your taste.

Answer 4

Does it have to go in a pocket? If so, Canon S100.

Do you want a built-in viewfinder?

Yes, and it should be optical: Fuji X100

Yes, and electronic is fine: Panasonic G3, GH2, Sony A55, Sony A77.

Viewfinder is optional: Olympus EP, Panasonic GF, Sony NEX

I went with the X100 as my preferred compact. I don't regret that decision at all.