Suggest digicam 12k - 15k

nac

nac

Forerunner
Hi!

I am planning to buy a digital camera. But I have never owned a camera before. I have clicked few snaps with my friend/relatives digital camera. That's all my experience...

Since I don't know anything about digital cameras, I googled and read some information about digital cameras.

* I am a beginner in photography. It's interesting but I don't think I will develop interests on photography or I will want to learn. So a Big NO to DSLR/Interchangeable lens type cameras.
* And I don't want Ultra/Super slim cameras as it is expensive.
* I think point and shoot camera (Basic) is enough for my need/want. But I would like to consider buying Advanced P&S with manual focus/adjustments/controls and/or Mega/Super Zoom.
* It should have features like White balance, Image Stabilization, face/smile detection, red eye reduction, night/low ligt mode, anti-blur, scene presets, Self timer among others.
* Manual adjustments includes ISO, Aperture, Shutter, Zoom
* I am not going to print a flow-up, So 8 megapixels would enough, I guess.
* Video is not the main thing. So decent audio/video capture is enough.
* Memory card slot should be compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC
* Design - I would choose the bulkier one when there are two pieces (one is compact and another is bulky) available with same features/price tag. I have no problem in design. It can be compact or bulky.
* Maximum budget around 12 - 15k. It doesn't need to be in this range, it can be even lower than this if there are cameras which satisfies my needs/wants.
* Brand - It can be any popular brands.

I would like to know something about digicam before buying it. So I think I'll take one week or two to get to know about digicam. Your suggestions/advice would really be helpful.

I will go with Basic Point & Shoot Camera or Advanced one with Manual controls (Preferably higher zoom of around 8x and above). Not in between. So your suggestions can be in both the segments.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

To narrow down my choices, I started with Sony

Out of 13 available cameras, 3 are out of my budget. In the rest, I couldn't able to scan the entire spec sheet quickly and correctly. So I started looking for cameras with manual controls. Up to my ability (to look) I get two cameras DSC HX7V/B and DSC H70/B. Rest all are Auto, i-Auto etc.

In Sony - Two models HX7V and H70

I am not sure about ISO manual controls. It says auto and 100/200/400.... I don't know whether it is fully automatic or semi-automatic (Presets - which we can choose from). And I don't see memory cards in the bundle. Don't we get memory cards with the camera when buying. :(

Nikon - Out of 19, I get one here. Coolpix P300

Canon - Here I get two, Powershot SX130 IS and Powershot SX150 IS

I couldn't go in depth with other brands. I am thinking of checking Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung, Fujifilm, Kodak. So far, I have narrowed 5 models from three brands. If you think I have missed any models in those three brands, please let me know. And give me your views about these 5 models and/or the models you think which is better than these 5 models.
 
canon 220 HS is a better on to Canon IXUS 130. I personally have the 130, but the 220 has got lot many more features almost both feature in the same price range.
 
aks_rokr said:
go for hx9v and its around 16000
Click to expand...

:( It's out of my budget. Actually, I thought of around 12k. I know it's highly impossible to get it exactly at 12k. So I relaxed up to max of 15k. HX9V is way out of my budget.

abracadabra said:
canon 220 HS is a better on to Canon IXUS 130. I personally have the 130, but the 220 has got lot many more features almost both feature in the same price range.
Click to expand...

I am little confused. In Canon, there are two 220HS (Digital IXUS 220HS - Rs. 10995/- and Powershot SX220HS - Rs. 15995/-). And in Canon, there is no IXUS130 (May be it's discontinued or I don't see this model in Canon's website).

So I am guessing like this... Since you said both have the same price tag. Digital IXUS 220HS (Assuming this is the one you suggested) and Powershot SX130 IS (Assuming this is the one you think that I narrowed down - actually I did) are priced Rs. 10995/-

As you said there are some positive points when compared like higher ISO sensitivity, better f.no, light weight, compact... But there is no manual control in IXUS 220HS
 
Thanks for the links Abrac and Harlem...

It lacks manual controls :(

Few things I would like to add now...

* NO to touchscreen models.

* Water/Scratch/Dust/Shock/Freeze/Crush proof sounds nice. Ok, if it comes in my budget. :)

Battery - What kinda battery is best? Matchbox(Lithium-Ion) like batteries or Pencil (NiMH-AA) like batteries. Performance/cost wise...

I don't know how much I will get benefited with GPS/Compass.

I was looking for negative points on those five models. Here they are...

Sony - HX7V Sony H70 Nikon P300 Canon SX130 IS

Slow start up - 4 Sec AF struggles in low light Slow Short alkaline battery life

Unique Sony USB connector Slow burst mode rapid loss of aperture while zooming Slower lens

Cannot see anything on display in bright sunlight Sluggish shot to shot performance small battery Lengthy flash recycle time

No external battery charger Below avg battery life Normal sized sensor, lacks RAW support

GPS is not sensitive bad low light photos Auto rotation not built in

only two aperture settings poor videos In-camera charging

Not sharpest 16MP doesn't improve photo quality

Offers minimal manual controls


I don't see any reviews on Canon SX150 IS.

I don't know why there were comparison of Nikon P300 with higher priced cameras.

Now I am gonna check with other 5 brands Panasonic, Samsung, Fujifilm, Kodak and Olympus
 
Canon SX220 satisfies all of your needs. you can see its specifications:
Canon unveils SX230 HS GPS-enabled compact & SX220 HS: Digital Photography Review

And here you can have a look at the image quality compared to other contemporaries:
'Compact Travel Zoom' Camera Group Test (Q3 2011) Review: 10. Compared to (JPEG): Digital Photography Review

Check all the areas, like the hair, the text, the paperclips, etc.
As you can see, it produces sharper, less noisier, and more color accurate pictures. In fact, when it comes to IQ, it trumps them all.

SX220 is just SX230 without the GPS chip. It is available for around 14-15k.
 
Aniket, that is a very good site to compare cameras. Thank you so much.

I checked some other brands. Here they are...

In Olympus, there were no mentioning of Aperture/f.no, Shutter Speed. I couldn't find whether there are any models have manual controls.

In Kodak, there are no models which have manual controls.

Panasonic - Some have price tags and some don't. I started checking models in the order they are displayed. After checking 10-15 models, I feel that Panasonic is heavily priced. May be there are plenty of features, but this price would tear up my wallet. Almost, 2/3rd of the models I checked were out of my budget.

If you guys think that I gone some where wrong checking the models of the above three brands or if you know any models which fits my criteria from these brands, Please correct me/let me know.

Samsung - Out of 32 models, only 4 have manual controls. In that four, one fits my budget "WB600".

Already we have narrowed down 5 models. This is the sixth one.

Fujifilm is yet to check... No price tags in their website. Should look in some other site.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

As aniket suggests and price of SX220 HS is under my said budget (source third party site), I add this model in our pool.

And from Panasonic I narrowed Lumix DMC TZ10 (Panasonic prices are from both official and third party site)
After looking into third party site we take Samsung WB700
From Fujifilm - S3300, S1800, S2950

Now we have total of 12 models in our pool to pick. I don't know how many models I missed which could fit my criteria.

There were not enough information about Olympus models. So I don't know whether there are any models with manual controls in Olympus and in Kodak.

Here are the 12 models

1. Canon - Powershot - SX130 IS
2. Canon - Powershot - SX150 IS
3. Canon - Powershot - SX220 HS

4. Sony - DSC - HX7V/B
5. Sony - DSC - H70/B

6. Nikon - P300

7. Panasonic - Lumix - DMC - TZ10

8. Samsung WB600
9. Samsung WB700

10. Fujifilm S3300
11. Fujifilm S1800
12. Fujifilm S2950

Which is the best one among these digicams? Your help will really by appreciated. Thank you.
 
I step into some showrooms today to get a rough idea of cameras and it's price. I didn't hear any show room offers to give discount of more than Rs.400/- from MRP. Now I am surprised, how come in online price much lower than the MRP. I even see 28% less than MRP.

And there were only limited models available. If we need any other models, need to order and get it.

When I hear SX130 IS is bulkier, I was thinking cameras of photographers who carry theirs in wedding/reception. It is just little bigger than the compact cameras. We can very well say it is a compact one. If we are wearing cargos, it will fit very comfortable. But it's doubtful with pencil fit jeans.

Out of that 12 models, I could find only 7 models.

S3300 (Boxed) - I didn't see the opened one. - 13.5k

S2950 - This is the biggest piece in our pool - 10k

SX130 IS - 10.5k

SX150 IS - I just saw it in the rack. 13.6k

HX7V - 14.6k

H70 (Boxed) - I didn't see the opened one. - 12.6k

P300 - 14.6k

And almost all the showrooms got SX130 IS. And the best price for this model is 10.5k. And we get 4GB memory card, Pouch, 2*AA Batteries and charger (Brand - Chamelion/Uniross). Only two batteries can be charged at a time. I don't know how good are these brands (charger).

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

I narrowed down one model from each brands.

Canon - SX130 IS

SX150 IS is a upgraded version of 130. Since I got what I need from SX130 IS and 150 is not remarkable superior than 130.

SX220 HS is a very good one. But should I through extra 5k for that? So, I am settling with SX130 IS

Fujifilm - S2950

S2950 and S3300 are better than S1800. And the first two models are more or less equal if we weigh them with their + and -. Since S2950 is much cheaper than S3300, I am settling S2950

Sony - HX7V

HX7V is better than H70

Samsung - WB600

Both WB600 and WB700 are more or less same, I pick WB600.

Nikon - P300

Panasonic - TZ10

Now we have 6 models.

When comparing images of these models from "Product Face-Off"

Zoom - Sony, Fuji and Panasonic shows little unclear image.

Poor lighting - Fuji, Nikon and Panasonic shows grains

Flash - Sony shows a little dim picture

Macro - Samsung and Fuji is seems the bottom two models while Fuji really bad

Fuji looks almost like little DSLR. The biggest among these 6.

Based on these comparisons and few other reason I am cutting down Fuji, Panasonic and Nikon.

Cutting down Sony because it lacks Manual focus.

Cutting down Samsung because of poor Macro and price tag.

Besides, there are some negative comments on SX130 IS like poor battery life and Slow performance I am opting to go for Canon (Of course I have pay extra to get battery chargers and all)

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Can someone here suggest me to get Smart/intelligent battery (AA/AAA) chargers. The one with conditioning/Charging/discharging modes.
 
Finally, I decided to buy Canon Powershot SX130 IS.

Now, I am looking for a best deal. I don't know what are the Case/Memory card/chargers/batteries comes along with the pack.

At least Class 4 from a good brand would do good.
A decent carry case with water proof would do good.
A Smart/Intelligent (with options to condition/refresh/charge at fast rate/Charge at slow rate/discharge/bad cell detection/option to charge with any number of batteries (1-4)/test mode)
Sanyo Eneloop is my first and only choice. I think it comes with 2000 mAH. I am ok with even if it comes at higher rate.

Your suggestion would really appreciated in this regard. Thank you. :)
 
nac said:
Finally, I bought SX130 IS.

Thank you. :)
Click to expand...

Hi!

Good to see the extensive research you have done. I have also done a simillar research for the past one month and have zeroed in on canon sx130 IS. Just came across your post saying you have already bought the camera.

How is the camera sx130. Performance and ease of use especially the battery life which has got a lot of flak from users.

Can you advise me on wether i can go ahead and buy the SX130?

Thanks in advance!!!
 
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