Camera Advice ?

[Harry Da Hamster]

My suggestion. Unless you're a photography enthusiast, dont get a DSLR. It'll spend more time at home than a simple point and shoot camera that will fit in your pocket. I would recommend a Cannon S110 or S100. It's pretty much the best compact point and shoot camera, leaps and bounds better than pretty much everything else in it's size.

 

[Harry Da Hamster]

my desired budget (~$200)

Get a used Canon S100 off Craigslist. Trust me, it'll have much better image quality and low light capture. The cameras that you listed are low end point and shoots with tiny image sensor and a slow lens.

 

[Hoytman]

Otherwise, the Canon ELPH 500 HS is still available new from Amazon, at $170 (or $150, if you don't mind getting it in pink ). Both cameras shoot full-HD (1080p) videos, and also feature manual aperture and shutter controls, allowing you to experiment and learn, if you should, as you put it, "get into it" and want to have more control over your images.

Given the cheap price of entry for what you get the above mentioned camera would certainly be something I'd consider. I would be interested myself for $170 price tag.

 

[SR99]

If you're down to those two, here's a website for head to head comparisons:
Canon 320 HS vs Nikon S6500 - Our Analysis

It shows the advantages of each, and also compares to other similar cameras. Click the other tabs for more details

 

[umi000]

Given the cheap price of entry for what you get the above mentioned camera would certainly be something I'd consider. I would be interested myself for $170 price tag.

It's a good price for a pretty capable camera - heck, I don't need another compact (as mentioned I have the Canon Powershot S100), but I'm tempted to get one, for the kids or something...

If you're down to those two, here's a website for head to head comparisons:
Canon 320 HS vs Nikon S6500 - Our Analysis

It shows the advantages of each, and also compares to other similar cameras. Click the other tabs for more details

Hehe, I like how they put it: "We are not aware of any reasons to consider buying the Nikon Coolpix S6500 over the Canon ELPH 320 HS." It's not quite that bad - it does have a longer zoom range than the Canon

 

[swanicyouth]

I know the are better cameras out their, but the WiFi feature is pretty important.

Will the images loose any quality if transferred via WiFi? I read something on the Cannon that lead me to believe it does.

 

[SR99]

Will the images loose any quality if transferred via WiFi? I read something on the Cannon that lead me to believe it does.

Can you post exactly what you read? In theory, it shouldn't since it's just a digital file transfer at that point...it's either all transferred OK or it's not. I suppose it's possible Canon decided to automatically convert it to lower resolution just for WiFi transfers (to speed up the transfer since it would then be a smaller file), but you'd think there'd be a setup option to override that, if that's what they've done.

 

[swanicyouth]

Well, just to put a close to this thread, I will tell you what I ended up with (for now). First, I began to get the notion that the whole WiFi transfer of pictures is not without issue. I read more than one review where the WiFi didn't work, didn't work right, compromised the pictures, etc... One person even mentioned Nikon's WiFi won't work with IOS Apple devices, even though they advertise it as such. So, I decided to ditch the WiFi.

I ended up getting a Sony WX 150 P & S camera. I picked this because it was available locally (Costco) and it was cheap enough that if I decide to replace it in a few month's it's no big loss ($150). Feature wise, it seemed to be just as good as the Cannon 320/330 HS Elph, or even a bit better for less $$$ (minus WiFi).

So, this is also my first time using AG (not Tapatalk) to host upload photos. It's sort of a test:

 

[swanicyouth]

Well, I guess the test worked. Here are the specs of this camera:

Product Specifications
Recording

Media Type : optional “Memory Stick Duo” (No movie recording), optional “Memory Stick PRO Duo” (Mark 2 only for movie recording), optional “Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo”, optional SD Memory Card (Class 4 or higher), optional SDHC Memory Card (Class 4 or higher), optional SDXC Memory Card (Class 4 or higher)
Still Image Mode : JPEG
Still Image Max Effective Resolution : Approx. 18.2 Megapixels
Still Image Size 16:9 : 13M(4896×2,752) / 2M(1,920 x 1,080)
Still Image Size 4:3 : 18M(4896×3,672) / 10M(3,648 x 2,736) / 5M(2,592 x 1,944) / VGA
Panorama Still Image Size : HR(10,480 x 4,096) / Wide(7,152 x 1,080/4,912 x 1,920) / Standard(4,912 x 1,080/3,424 x 1,920)
Sweep Multi Angle Image Size : 2M (1,920 x 1,080)
Video Mode : AVCHD 60i:24M FX/ 17M FH(1,920 x 1,080/60i) / 9M HQ(1,440 x 1,080/60i) / MP4:12M(1,440 x 1,080/30fps)/ 6M(1,280 x 720/30fps)/ 3M VGA(640 x 480/30fps)
Photo Capture from Movie : Yes
Dual Record : Yes
Audio Format : AC3 (Stereo)
Microphone/Speaker : Stereo/mono
Wind Noise Reduction : Off/on
LCD Display

LCD Type : 3.0" Clear Photo™ LCD (460K dots)
Brightness Control : 5(Bright) / 4 / 3(Std) / 2 / 1(Dark)
Histogram : Yes
Grid Display : Yes (Off / On)
Drive System

Self-timer : Off / 10sec. / 2sec. / portrait1 / portrait2
Shutter Speeds : iAuto(4" - 1/1600) / Program Auto(1" - 1/1600)
Burst Mode : Approx 10 fps at 18.2MP (Maximum 10 shots)
Advanced Features

Anti Motion Blur : Yes
Sweep Panorama : Intelligent Sweep Panorama / 3D Sweep Panorama / Underwater Sweep Panorama
Face Detection : 8 Faces (Auto / Off / Child Priority / Adult Priority / Key Selected Face Memory)
Smile Shutter™ technology : Yes
Image Stabilization : Optical SteadyShot™ with Active Mode Image Stabilization
In-Camera Editing : Trimming / Red Eye Correction
Intelligent Auto : Yes
Shooting Tips : Yes
Background Defocus : Yes
Superior Auto : Yes
Tracking Focus : Off / Auto
Blink Detection : Yes
Picture Effects : HDR Painting / Richtone Monochrome / Miniature / Toy camera / Pop Color / Partial Color / Soft High-key / Watercolor / Illustration
Power

Battery Type : LITHIUM ION NP-BN 3.6V
Battery Capacity : typical: 2.3Wh (630mAh), minimum: 2.2Wh (600mAh)
Number of Still Images : typical: 2.3Wh (630mAh), minimum: 2.2Wh (600mAh)
Power Consumption (in Operation) : Approx. 1.0W
Power Requirements : AC 100V to 240V, 50/60 Hz, 18W
Camera

Camera Type : Compact zoom
Optics/Lens

Lens Type : Sony G
Aperture : f 3.3-5.9
Optical Zoom : 10x
Focal Length (35mm equivalent) : Still 16:9: 27.5-275mm / Still 4:3: 25-250mm / Movie 16:27.5-275mm(SteadyShot Standard), 27.5-385mm(SteadyShot Active) / Movie 4:3: 33.5-335mm(SteadyShot Standard), 33.5-469mm(SteadyShot Active)
Lens Construction : 9 elements in 7 groups
Minimum Focus Distance : iAuto:AF(W:Approx.5cm(0.16') to Infinity, T:Approx.150cm(4.92') to Infinity) / Program Auto:AF(W:Approx.5cm(0.16') to Infinity, T:Approx.150cm(4.92') to Infinity)
Aspheric Elements : 4
Clear Image Zoom : 20x
Macro Mode : Yes
Steady Shot Mode:Active : Yes
Focus Control

AF Modes : Multi Point AF /Center Weighted AF / Spot AF / Tracking Focus / Face Tracking Focus
AF Illuminator : Auto / Off
Flash

Flash Modes : Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off
Flash Coverage : ISO Auto: Approx.0.2m to 3.7m(7 7/8 inches to 12feet 1 3/4 inches)(W) / Approx.1.5m to 2.2 m(4feet 11 1/8 inches to 7feet 2 5/8 inches)(T), ISO3200: up to Approx.5.9m(19feet 4 3/8 inches)(W) / Approx.3.4m(11feet 1 7/8 inches)(T)
Interface

Memory Card Slot : MS Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC Compatible
HD Output : Mini HDMI
USB Port(s) : Micro USB, Hi-Speed USB(USB2.0)
TransferJet : Send: Yes (Single / Select , U2/CEH/CN1 Version), Receive: Yes (U2/CEH/CN1 Version)
Imaging Sensor

Imaging Sensor : 1/2.3" Exmor® R CMOS Sensor
Processor : BIONZ®
Pixel Gross : 18.9MP
Effective Picture Resolution : 18.2MP
Color Filter System : RGB primary color filters
Viewfinder

Type : None
Exposure System

Metering Modes : Multi Pattern / Center Weighted / Spot
Exposure Compensation : Plus / Minus 2.0EV, 1 / 3EV step
Scene Mode(s) : High Sensitivity / Soft snap / Soft Skin / Landscape / Night Portrait / Night Scene / Handheld Twilight / Gourmet / Beach / Snow / Fireworks /Pet Mode /Anti-motion blur / Backlight Correction HDR / Underwater
D-Range Optimizer : Standard
ISO : Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800
White Balance Mode : Auto (Intelligent) / Daylight / Cloudy / Fluorescent 1 (White Fluorescent Lighting) / Fluorescent 2 (Natural White Fluorescent Lighting) / Fluorescent 3 (Day White Fluorescent Lighting) / Incandescent / Flash / One Push,One Push Set
Convenience Features

Red-Eye Reduction : Auto / On / Off
Erase/Protect : Erase: Single / Select / Date / Folder / AVCHD, Protect: Single / Select / Date / Folder / AVCHD
Weights and Measurements

Dimensions (Approx.) : W x H x D: 3 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 7/8" (94.7mm x 56.4mm x 21.6mm )
Weight (Approx.) : 4.7 oz. (133g)
Weight(Approx) (Main unit only) : 4.1 oz. (117g)

******************************************************

Some reasons I ended up with this over the others (see previous screen shot comparison):

1. Price: A bit cheaper than the others. I won't feel bad replacing in a little bit with something much better. I could have easily spent double for maybe a little better camera.

2. I just didn't like how the Nikon felt

3. The zoom on this seems much better thasn the other 2

4. It's much smaller and lighter.

5. Battery life is much better than the Cannon

6. More megapixels / resolution than the others

7. Supposedly betting light sensitivity (low light pics better?): Better by "2 f stops 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO (still not really sure what that/ISO is.

Some more IPhone pics of the new camera:

*** Right now I'm having a hard time uploading pics from an IPhone to AG. It worked a few times, but now it won't work. It says images uploaded successfully - but I can't see them. Not sure.

 

[swanicyouth]

Test picture with new camera (waiting to be told to go to a camera forum)

Took pic with new camera, just point and shot. Them uploaded to iPhoto and transferred to my iPhone ( where I like to do reviews from anyway). Used TAPATALK as the image host.

For some reason, AG will only upload certain pics in "upload photos".. I'm assuming the files are too big for others?

Edit: Well, it does look at least a little better than an iPhone pic.

 

[SR99]

Looks like a pretty good price. Don't worry about the fuzzy edges in the reflections in your black paint. It's not the camera it's the orange peel texture in the paint.

You know, it's all your fault that I'm now considering buying a new camera:laughing:

 

[swanicyouth]

Looks like a pretty good price. Don't worry about the fuzzy edges in the reflections in your black paint. It's not the camera it's the orange peel texture in the paint.

You know, it's all your fault that I'm now considering buying a new camera:laughing:

Thanks?!