My Point & Shoot just died and I'm looking for a replacement. Google has this list of top rated P&S cameras which I thought was very helpful. If anyone has any direct experience with these 4, I'd appreciate any input.

I'll be packing it hunting but also plan to use it for general use, family & trip photos. Good HD video is a definite plus.

1. Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera
2. Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera
3. Canon PowerShot S100 12.1 MP Digital Camera
4. Canon PowerShot G12 10 MP Digital Camera

Thanks!
Eric

I recently got a Nikon Coolpix AW100 from Joel @ Camera Land. I did a lot of research and went with this one for a P&S pocket camera.

16MB
Full 1080P HD video
5X optical zoom
28-140mm lens
Waterproof to 33 ft
Shockproof
Vibration reduction
A real GPS and world map
Much more

Check it out.

Bob

Bob, I like those specs. Thanks, I'll check it out.

Eric

The S100 and G12 you have listed are pretty different camera's. You might think a bit more about your priority's. The g12 is a high end point and shoot with a flip out screen. It's nearly twice the size of the S100 but has more options and bells and whistles. It's often seen as a good 2nd camera for someone used to shooting with an DSLR.

The S100 is more "pocketable" camera that has a rep. For good image quality in a small camera. IIRC it will also shoot in RAW which is a big help if you want to adjust your photos before you print them.

There are also other camera categories for "super zooms" and weatherproof camera's. They've got some that can shoot hd video underwater.

If you want the smallest that takes good pics I'd try the s100. If you want the most control go with the G12. If you are rough on stuff and/or snorkel a lot you might look at a waterproof. Lots of camera's, lot's of Niche's depends on what your priorities are.

I have an earlier version of the G12 the G9 and much prefer it to the smaller P&S camera's I own. it's still pocketable but takes better pics. They are soon coming out with a new larger sensor version called the G1x that I'm going to buy as soon as I can get my hands on one. I have DSLR's and my priority in a P&S is the best image quality in something that's pocketable.

Good luck! .......... Dj

One other thing to remember, more Megapixel's doesn't necessarily mean better pictures. Sometimes say a 10 or 12 MP camera might take sharper more color saturated shots than a 16 or more MP camera. Unless you plan on poster size blowups anything 10 MP and up is fine. if you want Poster size blowups you won't be using a P&S anyway. :-)

...........dj

Dj, like you I'm looking for best image quality in something that is pocketable! I have a DSLR for "best quality" photos, but I don't plan to haul that beast around as much as I would a P&S.

Eric

You might want to check out the G1x on dpreview or the like then. It's big for a P&S but I think it should ride in a pocket better than a 4/3rds or the like. I've gotten some of my favorite pics with my G9. I love my DSLR's but some people are intimidated by them and don't act as natural as they might if you just pull a P&S out of your pocket. I think the g1x should be available March-ish.

Oh yea, remember that startup time and shutter lag can be an issue with some P&S camera's................dj

The G1x looks very cool! http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_g1x

Dpreview has some good forum chat on all these cameras. Thanks for the tip!

BTW, the S100 looks pretty darn good, too!

Eric

go to best buy or wherever and look at them. FEEL them. see what you like.
I recently bought the Canon ELPH300 for pics inside the house. Works very well but I think I would be disappointed if hunting photos of wildlife. would work great for after the shot pictures, though. Video is HD and very good also. EASILY fits in a pocket also.
If your old one was a canon, your "learning curve" on the controls will be less with a new Canon (probably).

yea the IQ and the f/2.0 lens on the S100 is tempting me too. I may end up with both.

I like the idea of the Waterproof/tough camera's but most of the lenses on them are slower in the f/3.5 range......dj

I have the Canon PowerShot SD 4500IS and couldn't be happier. I chose Canon in the first place as they got the best reviews, and after I dropped my last one in a river in Alaska, I bought this one which was even better than what I dropped.

After I got back from Alaska, I dried it out, it works fine, but I gave it to my son and bought the newer Canon.

This Canon I am now using has a 10X optical zoom, 10 MP and that is all you can wring out of these small P&S cameras.

Here is some video and a few pics, just double click on the bear...

I'm also a Canon fan. I'm on my third one now. The first two are still fine and working perfect. One of them, an 870IS survived a dunking in a creek two years ago while dragging a buck out of the bottom of a ravine and never missed a beat. The cell phone and cigar in the other pocket didn't fare as well and were chicken chow mein!

My current Canon P&S is the G12. I just got it a month or so ago and am still learning what it can do. So far, the results have been terrific. I was concerned that it might be to big for my uses but no, its just fine. Yes, it is bigger than my 870IS but not too big to fit in a coat or vest pocket. In the summer, I can always grab the smaller one if I need to.

The 870IS is a tough little camera and, seeing how robust the G12 is I don't think you could hurt that one either.

I have about 4500 clicks on the 870IS in about 3 years and already have about 1100 on the G12!! Only wish the thing came with a paper manual.

Eric,

I have a G11 and it's simply the cat's pajamas. I'd imagine the G12 to be even better.

It's a wee bigger than the others you're noting but it also has the ability for full-manual operation. (if you're into that sort of thing) and you can shoot in RAW format. (the others you mentioned might have this feature too)

You wouldn't think the flip screen would have a bunch of use - until you've tried it. Hold it over your head, put it on the ground etc. and you don't have to be a contortionist to see through the the viewfinder.

I had one of the earlier G series Canons (forget the model now) and that flip screen is fantastic.

I do not think I would consider a camera without this feature now. It is that useful.

With the flip screen, you can leave your tripod at home, then simply hold your camera against something, or on something on the ground -- swivel the screen to see what you are doing and you are golden even at very slow shutter speeds.

The current Canon G series have even larger flip screens than mine did -- even better!

John

Cool pics and video, Shrapnel, and SKane it looks like the G11 is doing real well. That's a great fire pic. I think the G12's should come down in price even more so that's definitely an option I'll be considering.

My last camera was a Panasonic Lumix... I thought it took decent pics outside, but indoor it would go into ISO mode and everything would get fuzzy. I had to send it in to get refurbished after my wife accidentally dropped it, and just a few days ago I got a system error where it won't focus. I'm ready to toss it and move on to something better. I really enjoy taking macro shots, wide angle landscape and HD video.

Eric

Here are a few cool shots from a Canon S100 I found online:




Source.

I picked up a S100. So far I'm impressed with it, lots of flexibility, creative modes, Slow Motion HD etc. etc. It will take a while to figure out all it will do. Here's a few quick practice shots.

Smith and Wesson Model 41's:



Bentley:



Focuses close enough to show I need to clean this!




So far I'm quite impressed with it, especially as small as it is. My only real complaint isn't really related to the camera. To use the RAW files in Photoshop Express it requires an update which can't be performed automatically, you have to manual hack it a bit to get it to work, just a bit of a PITA.

...................dj

The S100's Slow Motion video seemed like a neat idea so I did a little test shoot:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cQ0jkUitmU&feature=youtu.be



The resolution is all that great but still not too bad for such a small camera. :-) ...................dj

Since you guys are putting up some of yours...........here are a few attempts from my G12.

Butt end of an old bamboo rod..



Black dog in snow. A tough one for me..



NULA on a fence post..

Lawdwaz, thanks for the pics! I think that the "butt end" pic in particular shows what a fine camera the G12 is!

I'm really looking forward to the G1x.................dj

Cool photos with the S100 and G12. I was comparing these two models at dpreview today and both seem very capable. I was amazed at the quality of some of the shots I saw.

That slow motion video is badass!!

Funny thing happened tonight... I fixed my camera that I thought had a fatal system error. But now I want to toss it in a lake and get something new. LoL.

Eric

FWIW Ericxx, IMHO go ahead amd buy a S100 now and then a G1x in a couple months. The S100 is an awesome small camera and the G1x will also have it's features worth investing in.................dj

Dj, I may just do that.

A few more SWEET photos using the S100 (found on dpreview). It's pretty cool how a little pocket camera can get photos like this.

I just spent a week carrying a Canon S95 in my pocket while on vacation: it rocks! I particularly like that it has a high maximum aperture (f/2 at the wide end) that, when coupled with the image stabilization, allowed me to handhold pictures down to 1/10s exposure with no shake. I didn't use the flash the whole trip and most of my pics were taken indoors in restaurants or outdoors in the evening while walking around town.

The G-series Canons are nice, but their lenses are slow so that's a deal breaker for me.

My thinking on point and shoots is simple: they're narrowly useful tools for use when larger, heavier and more intrusive cameras simply won't work. I don't expect my S95 to do it all (though it can do a whole lot); instead, I bought it solely for shooting pictures indoors, in poor lighting, without flash, in RAW format for processing later in Adobe Lightroom.

I sold my Lumix and am now officially without a camera.

I've been doing a ton of research and am looking at the Canon S100, the G12 and the new G1X.

I'll probably go with either the S100 or G12 since they're both around $400 as compared to the $800 G1X. The G1X looks awesome and has a LARGE sensor, but I don't like the 20 cm macro focus length, as compared to 3 cm in the S100 and 1 cm in the G12. The S100 has better video and a better processor than the G12, but I've been so impressed with some of the sample photos of the G12 it makes me wonder where the better deal is. Also, with some of the new S100's there were a few bugs reported (greenish hued LCD screen for some, some softness in the corners, etc.). Dpreview went through 3 or so S100's during their review.

DJ, any regrets on the S100 or would you still go for that (or the G1X) over the G12, for a 1 camera man?

Thanks,
Eric

I really like the S100 but I'm not planning on using it as my only camera, I have others and am planning on a G1x to supplement it. And then I have a couple DSLR's too.

I think if I only wanted to spend $400 I might go with the G12 because of it's fold out screen................dj

Thanks, DJ. I hope to get my hands on one at Best Buy to check it out in person.

Cheers,
Eric

Eric, for you I think it's going to be a matter of which is most important to you. A smaller camera with a faster lens or a more versatile one with a hot shoe and fold out screen. Both are good camera's..................dj

+1 on that DJ. The S95/100 are very fine pocket cameras but for a "one camera" guy the G1x or G12 is the better choice. Of course, the best thing would be to buy both There are some smoking deals on closeout S95's right now.

The S100 is working extremely well for me.

I have had a powershot sx120 for several years. Great little camera!

It's a tough call.

I'm exploring all options and am also looking at the Fujifilm X100.

It takes great pics, although, it's a fixed (no zoom) lens and macro is 10 cm.

Good review: http://zackarias.com/for-photographers/gear-gadgets/fuji-x100-review/

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1020&thread=40662554

Is it really fair to judge camera quality from pics on a web site, shot by (probably) a pro?

You could (probably) give me a $5000 camera and I couldn't take pics that good. <grin>

I know what you mean, Lawdwaz. I don't think the shots above were taken from a pro. I've googled images taken from this camera and reviewed a ton of amateur photos - many of which are outstanding. But it's 2x the cost of the S100 or G12, so there's that, too. The Red Square pic with the snow is super cool, IMO.

From what I read the image quality on this camera is incredible, but it has a slow AF and is not the best for action shots.

I took the plunge and ordered an X100 today.

Cheers,

Eric

Great choice! Let us know how you like it.

I certainly will!

Wow, The Fujifilm X100 is a pretty different choice!.............dj

I know, I sacrificed a little in size for the larger sensor.

While not "pocketable" it's still very manageable and should be easy enough to pack and carry in the field. I like how you can get DSLR quality without hauling a beast and having to carry a bunch of lenses. B&H has been out of stock on this camera for some time but they just got a new shipment in yesterday.

Eric

The fixed 35mm lens was what surprised me most. Bet it's sharp............dj

It is very retro in that regard. The lens is compared favorably to the Leica X1 and many DSLR's. I'll post a few after it arrives.

Eric

The fixed lens isn't a drawback once you learn to zoom with your feet

Which works fine except for canyons, cliff sides, carnivorous animals.............


:-) :-)


There are some "Prime" reasons for them though ;-) ......................dj