If you love it, why change? More MP? Let me tell you about the "more MP is better myth." Because that's what it is, a myth.

The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels without a corresponding increase of chip size, causes them to lose light sensitivity. Sure, there’s more data on the chip, but the chip can’t absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality.

Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."

And when you consider at 99%+ of pictures are usually snapshots, you don't even see the benefits of that much MP unless you're enlarging to 11x14 or above. So what's the point? I mean, it's like driving a Ferrari through town. Sure, you can do it and it's cool and all, but you don't get to experience any of that horsepower you've paid for.

Now granted, there are newer cameras out there, some great followups like the Canon S95, the Panasonic LX5, even the new kid on the Nikon S block - the S6000 and the S8100.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't move on for a new camera just because you think you need more MP.

Given just THESE TWO options, I'd have to choose the W80. The Nikon S500 has a slow autofocus, going as long as .8 second, compared to the W80's .3 second. This will cause occasional S500 pictures to be blurry. The MP and zooms are similar, the W80 has better performance, with faster startup, faster picture-to-picture times, etc. The image quality on the Nikon is slightly better, but it's negligible. Low-light shooting on both are pretty bad, with the Nikon suffering from blur without a tripod, and the Sony suffering from high noise reduction at higher ISO's (>400).



Overall, the Sony W80 is a better value. But at $200-$230 (that's what I came up with for prices on these two cameras)... you can get the Canon SD750. Or the Fuji F31fd (if you can find it, since it's been replaced by the F40fd). Or the Canon SD800IS (which I have, and love, but it's about $270).

Hello,



I would prefer the Ixus 850is because it has wide angle lens. It allows you to take architecture and indoor pictures, also wide panoramas of landscapes. The camera also has optical viewfinder that allows you to see the frame much better and reduces the time to get the camera ready for a shot.

I don't see alot of professionals out there shooting SONY cameras. They are using either Canon or Nikon. It's really that simple. Nikon has superior glass. Also, Nikon relies on a more standard storage technology whereas Sony tends to try and box their customers into proprietary options.



Given all this, why would anyone want to settle on SONY and pay the premium for that 4 letter word?



Get the Nikon, IMHO.

As with anything, your mileage may vary. And as you grow with the camera, you become more comfortable with it's features, your photography improves.

I don't know, Josh. I'd have to contend with that. I'd match Olympus, for example with Sony anyday. That's not Nikon, mind you, and of course, again, your mileage may vary, but I'd prefer a camera that doesn't rely on proprietary memory cards and format encoding that Sony attempts to force their customers into.



Give me a camera company that makes cameras over an electronics company vying for market share anyday.

Well, that may well be. It wouldn't be the first time a camera maker missed the mark on a model. ;)

Well now basing on the fact that you have had a sony model in the past, you may want to go with the new Sony camera you are looking at now. You would be able to understand the terms and features faster and easier if you got another Sony model rather than upgrading to the Nikon. So it may turn out that by your circumstances the Sony may be easier to use because you have had one in the past. I took a look at some of the photos you have, and hey, they look good. Keep it up for sure. The Nikon's menu system is for the most part well set up and easy to work with but if you've had a sony I'd say stay with them. Well at least if you have for the most part been pleased with your other Sony model. Hope this helps, and sorry for the other complications regarding what we have already answered to this question.

Thanks for the replies.



I am sure about two Sony Cameras. DSC W55 & DSC W80. However, I would now only like to check out a few Nikon Cameras.



Can anyone recommend me few of the latest models from NIKON, which would also be a little easy to use. I agree Nikon has a slight edge considering the cost factor, since there are more open options with accessories like SD Cards.

I have to disagree with "the learning curve" in any Coolpix model camera. The advantage of the coolpix line is that you have the auto mode which allows you to simply point and shoot, and end up with pretty good pictures, almost right out of the box. They then bundle a ton of manual features that you may want to start playing with later (I believe, for example, that the l12 offers manual white balance, which is REALLY nice). My very first digital camera was a coolpix 600 which was a 1.2 megapixel camera. Since then, I have had a 3 megapixel cannon, a 4 megapixel fuji, and a a 3.2 megapixel fuji. I have used friends and family members pro-sumer olympus camera, a few different Kodak cameras, a sony camera an HP camera, and a few other cheaper cameras.



By and far, my favorite camera was my old coolpix 600, despite the fact that it was only a 1.2 megapixel camera. The Nikor lense has an advantage over most other cameras, as its made of glass. The image quality is really that much better. It does an excellent job of picking up different color tones and shades, and produces realistic colors. Prints from the camera will knock your socks off, and to my prosumer eye (not professional, mind you), I think the prints from the Coolpix cameras are well comparable with some of the prints that come from some of the nicer slr film cameras. Just turn off the digital zoom feature.



The newer Kodak cameras produce the second-best quality pictures for a point and shoot camera. They are extreamely easy to use, and throw in a lot of fun features. However, when you go to print out photos, you start to notice unrealistic black levels. The older Kodak cameras are junk, producing some weird colors.



The Sonys I would not recommend to anyone. While Sonys do excellent in low-level lighting, there tends to be noise in the pictures. In better lighting conditions, the Sony tends to over-saturate color. Some people like this, but it seems to be unrealistic photos. The upside of them is that they are fairly easy to use.



The cannon point and shoot cameras probably tie for third place with Olympus. They produce good pictures, excellent color reproduction, and with a steady hand, will give you some amazing pictures in low-level lighting. The reason I am putting these as third place, though, is that they are not as stupid-proof as the Kodaks, and while the image quality is exceptional, is not as good as the Nikons.



I am not at all happy with Fuji point and shoot cameras, particually the A series. These are just cheap cameras, and with the cheap Nikons going for about $120 MSRP, I cannot see a reason to recommend one. Not that they are bad, its just that there are better choices. Most of the Fujis I have seen use the xD memory card, which is quite annoying. These things are so tiny, that I am always misplacing them, and the only thing that uses xD is Fuji and Olympus. Stick with a camera that uses SD or Compact Flash.



The Poloroid that I have now is one that someone gave me, and is absolute junk. While it gets the job done, there are absolutely no advanced features, colors are muted, and even in excellent lighting conditions, pictures tend to blur.



There is not a single other brand I would recommend, every one else seems to be playing the "Me too" game.



Conclusion - get a Nikon. They are cheap enough that in many cases they underprice the competition, for the most part give a better picture quality than the competition of comparable price, and most have both easy and advanced features, so while you can use it straight out of the box, you will have a camera that can grow with you.



Of course, with any camera, I suggest reading reviews, searching for sample pics on the internet, go to the store and physically put your hands on a camera and see if you like it, and, most importantly, knowing what you will be using your camera for.

I am still a little confused about the brand to buy. Getting many a suggestions from people all over. Recently I have also come across another camera which I think I can consider. Canon PowerShot A710 IS. However would like to know a little more about this model.



Can anyone help with this model, as to how good it is....??

I actually just bought the Nikon Coolpix L12 last weekend. Stupidly-simple to use, most of the features are automatic, and works right out of the box. A small annoyance is that you did have to install the bundled software to get Windows to even detect when you hook up the camera. I am amazed at this camera, pictures are very good quality, crisp even in low lighting (with image stabalization, which in very low lighting will up the iso mode, so you may get some graniness on the screen, but the resulting output to the computer is actually quite good. The quality of video if you change it to higher quality in the menu (default is 320x240 at 15fps, you can set it to 640x480 30 fps) is amazing, although will eat your memory card alive.

All in all, this is an excellent camera. My only annoyance with the thing is that it does not have a view finder, you must use the lcd. However, this is okay with me as its quite bright, even in direct sunlight, and has an amazingly good battery life.

I have recently checked out Canon Powershot A570is as well as Canon Powershot A710is. I liked both these cameras. Wondering now, about only few aspects.



Canon Powershot A570is - 4x Optical Zoom

Canon Powershot A710is - 6x Optical Zoom

How does this affect my photography? Does 710 hold any major advantage over here?





Canon Powershot A570is - Macro Focus Range - 30cm

Canon Powershot A710is - Macro Focus Range - 1cm

Macro Focus helps to shoot objects from very very close. Does 710 holds any major advantage over here?





Canon Powershot A570is

Minimum Aperture Wide - f2.8



Canon Powershot A710is

Minimum Aperture Wide - f2.6

I have no idea what is Minimum Aperture Wide? Can anyone suggest?







Video fps -

Canon Powershot A570is - 60fps

Canon Powershot A710is - 30fps



60fps is a major improvement for video shooting?







Tele Zoom (mm)

Canon Powershot A570is - 140mm

Canon Powershot A710is - 210mm



Major difference, but what is Tele zoom and which of the above is better?







ISO ratings



Canon Powershot A570is - auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600

Canon Powershot A710is - auto





Can anyone advice on the above comparision?

How important is the face detection feature? The only real advantage 570 has over 710IS is the face detection feature...Is the quality of a photograph taken by a camera with face detection better than that of a camera like say 710 which doesn't have face detection??

I have the face detection feature on mine. It SEEMS to give a better focus on the face when used, but this may be because it gives off a series of flashes before it takes the picture on mine when I use the face detection feature. I actually think what the face detection feature does is instead of focusing in on the central point of intrest, it will focus in on the face. I rarely use this, as most cameras, you center your subject, press partly down on the shutter to focus, then frame your picture. As such, the face detection feature sounds like a toy to me.



As far noise reduction in the processor, this is digital noise reduction then, in which case it may be reducing noise by running a "soften" or a "blur" filter on the image. I would play with the camera some in low lighting at the store and see what happens

Auto ISO is not a bad thing. My point is that I like having both Auto and Manual. Most will never use the manual, but if you want a came3ra that will grow with you as you become a better photographer, you may eventually want manual features.



I played with the face detection thing on mine at the lake today. It makes so much more sense in direct sunlight, especially if you try taking picture after picture after picture. In this case, on mine, you line up a face, or even two (some you can have up to 8 points of focus), then I can snap, move, snap, move, snap zoom in, snap, and so forth, and not have to refocus as the camera is following the face and doing it for you. That is cool, I thought I would have to resetup the face feature for each pic, but that's not the case. Now, I do not know if that is how it is on all cameras, but that is how it is on the nikon coolpix l12. I imagine this feature varies from one company to another.



I just really like the 6x optical zoom, i have not seen a consumer level camera with that high of a zoom level. I LIKE using my zoom, however, with the l12, it takes such high resolution pictues, i can zoom in on my computer and crop, and still have pretty freakin high quality pictures.



Its really up to you.

Gray market usually means the camera was made in China and purchased and shipped over here from a company. As such, the warranty is in force in China, not the United States. So if something goes wrong with it, you'll have to ship it over there for repair.



Product that authorized dealers sell offer in country warranties and local repair options.



In addition, the menus and manuals may not even be in your language!



More information can be found here ( mycamera.com/index_graymark...  ).

I have ultimately bought a Canon Powershot A10is from an authorised dealer. A koOL Camera. No problems as of yet. One task seems to be over for me.



I am now looking to buy one more Camera with a slightly higher configuration, considering the optical zoom or Megapixels.



Have checked the following two:



Canon Powershot S3 IS

6.00 Mpixel

12x Optical Zoom

Macro Focus Range: 0cm

(Seems strange to me, does this mean there is no macro function at all? or that you can almost touch the object while shooting?)

Maximum Video Resoultion: 640x480



Canon PowerShot G7

10.00 Mpixel

6x Optical Zoom

Macro Focus Range: 1cm

Maximum Video Resoultion: 1024x768

Digic III Processor with Face detection feature.



I personally feel, G7 has a definite edge over S3 because of being 10Mpixel camera with Face detection and almost similar macro focus range as S3 and a higher video resolution. Is the 12x Optical Zoom more preferrable?? Any user having knowledge about these to cameras?

I think, 6x zoom would be fine for me, if I am getting it with, a Digic III processor with face detection in a 10 megapixels camera. Canon does not classify G7 as "IS". I hope this doesn't mean, it has no Image Stabilization function. Since G7 is a newer model and with advancements like face detection, I think it should have the image stabilization function too.



And yeah, Video resolution doesn't really matter. A 640X480 video at 30fps is good enough, which G7 has.



Yet there is something that you mentioned above. Its the Speed of Memory Card, you said you had to wait for 10-15 seconds before taking the next shot. Are the memory cards categorized according the the speed? or they come with standard function? If there are different types of memory cards available then can you please list the best one?

Yes I saw that later. However I came across one more model from Canon.



Canon Powershot S5 IS.

8 Mpixel Camera,

12x Zoom

Digic III Processor with Face detection feature.



However I checked the sample images but found it a lesser better than the G7. But where people rave about 6x Zoom, 12x Optical zoom must be...... WOW.....

I came across one more model from Canon.



Canon Powershot S5 IS.

8 Mpixel Camera,

12x Zoom

Digic III Processor with Face detection feature.



However I checked the sample images but found it a lesser better than the G7. But where people rave about 6x Zoom, 12x Optical zoom must be...... WOW.....

Is this a 18x zoom on a consumer-end point-and-shoot camera? That is a higher optical zoom than many SLR cameras