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My wife is looking for a camera that she can carry in her pocketbook.

We already own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 (5 MP, 12x optical zoom, IS), but the camera is a little bulky (because of the large zoom range).

So now we are looking for a camera that is thinner.  But I also would like a camera that takes quality images.

Are there any P&S (point & shoot) cameras that use a larger sensor than the normal 1/1.8" or 1/2.5" sensors?  I am hoping to find a P&S camera that uses a large sensor that can give quality images.  Hopefully a sensor that is more along the lines of a low-end DSLR (e.g., an APS-C size sensor).

I think only DSLR and the sony R1 use the larger sensor  (Their is a new Sigma coming out and may the leica rangefinder but these will be expensive).

Other than than, read the article you got that sensor size pic from on DPreview and it says the Fuji is probably the best.

I have only been able to find about a dozen digital cameras with a 1/1.8" - 1/1.6" sensor.  I eliminated some of them because they did not include IS (image stabilization) which I deem critical for using indoors under low light.  It seems that there are only a few non-DSLR cameras that offer a sensor that is significantly larger than 1/1.8".  But they are extremely expensive (> $1000).

So (at this point) I have settled on buying a camera with a 1/1.8" sensor.  I am currently looking at the Canon Powershot G7.  It has IS and the reviews seem very good.


Thanks for the reply. I will definitely take a look at it.  The Fujifilm Finepix F31fd does have a large sensor (at 1/1.7") and it does come Highly Recommended by dpreview.com, but unfortunately it does not have IS (which I believe is a must-have for a P&S camera).

Looks like I am in the market for a new p&s. Kids dropped my old Olympus C4040 and the lens is jammed. Already had it fixed once a few years back for the same problem (kids dropped it again) but I no longer think its worth the $150 it will cost to fix it.

Anyways - this thread already has some excellent suggestions but I am curious. Geopappas - what did you end up going with?

this camera gets my attention quite well.  If i were to buy a compact i think i would pick it - if my budget was high enough.

edit: you beat me to posting.

well i guess we agree on the canon G series then

If you end up buying online, and going through amazon - consider "supporting your habit" and going through the store link on this site

Wow! Thats your short list?   Do all of these have IS/VR? That is important to me also. Thanks and keep us posted.

Leaf - I would love to click an amazon link and support the site...but I do not see one. Do I need to log out?

edit - OK, DUH! I just noticed the "store" link in the menu

I would vouch for the Canon point/shoots with the Digic III sensor - in the current world it produces a very nice highly portable image; good auto exposure, good color, IS. Noisy at lower light levels, yes. I almost always turn flash off, I'd usually rather shoot at 1/15 sec than use the on camera flash.

We've used and upgraded about 6 Canon Elphs at home for family stuff for the past several years. They're so small that they are easy to always have along, as opposed to something a little bigger that a little more often gets left behind because of that.

The SD 850 or 870 is a very nice little camera. I wouldn't try to shoot MS with it, although I do have a few accepted MS images from the 800 or 850.

The common complaint, rightly so, is that Canon could easily add better manual controls (shutter / aperture) to this but so far they have chosen not to.

A bit bigger and the G7 or G9 would offer the same sensor, better lense, and better manual controls.

and a hot shoe for those times you want to put an 550ex on the camera

Really that is complete nonsense in real life! I have the SonyV1 and the SonyV3 both with hot shoe and the dedicated flash. I you used it once with such a flash you will never do it again the handling of such a small camera body with such a huge flash is totally awkward. Also why buying such a small camera if you are going such a huge flash with it the advantage of the small carry around unit is simply gone. If you wanna use such a flash better take your DSLR with a small lens (like a kit lens or so). It would be much better if the would have spent the money for swivel mechanic for the Display such as they did in the 650IS.

That said and back to topic i would also recommend the Fuji F31fd much cheaper and still the best sensor technology for compacts.
The Canon-G serie is way overpriced.

The Canon Tx1 is a bit pricey (> $450), has a small LCD (1.8"), is only 7 MP, and has a small sensor (1/2.5").

At ISO 80 and 100, the shots look pretty good, but if you look at anything at ISO 400 and above, the grain gets pretty bad.

Check out this ISO 400 image (warning large file):

http://dpreview-img.fotki.com/gallery/canontx1_samples/originals/img_3073.jpg

Canon A640 10 MEG

GeoPappas - Well I see now why you have not rushed out and bought one yet. I just looked at image samples of the cameras in your short list (plus a few more) and nothing impressed me either. Even though the camera will be for my husband and not for any stock (and I know I should not be comparing them to a SLR) I still have a hard time getting past the harsh noise most of these models produce. It seems anything past ISO100 and the image really falls apart.

 

I am with Leaf. Canon G7 or similar