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Low light point and shoot. $300

post #1 of 15
6/24/11 at 10:53pm
Thread Starter 
$300 ish

Amazing low light. Did I say amazing, no flash, no grain low light shots?

Good optical zoom

Don't give a rats about vid

Thx
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post #2 of 15
6/24/11 at 10:59pm
Canon s95
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post #3 of 15
6/24/11 at 11:28pm
In that price range, the Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS (f/2.0) or Canon ELPH 500 HS (f/2.0). The S95 (f/2.0) runs about $425 and is much better than both. If you can find a S90 (f/2.0; around $350) they are also very good. The Panasonic Lumix LX5 is excellent (f/2.0; around $425) as is the Samsung EX1/TL500 (f/1.8; around $425). The Olympus XZ-1 (f/1.8; around $450) might not be as good as the S95/S90, Lumix or Samsung, but it is smaller I think. The Lumix and the Samsung are both larger than the S95/S90.
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post #4 of 15
6/24/11 at 11:38pm
Audio, if that's what you want, then what you need is a FAST lens -- no P&S has a large enough sensor size to get low-grain lowlight. Combine that with doing it while zoomed and you are up a technological creek, since lens speed falls off as focal length increases, not to mention the fact that the more you zoom, the less is in your field of view to reflect light into the camera. Two suggestions: 1) Tolerable zoom but not in your price range: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 2) Barely more telephoto than a normal field of view, but excellent lowlight: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (which you can get for $300 on ebay) Why are both my suggestions the same camera, basically? It has a fast Leica lens that is f2.0 on the low end. But they both suffer with minimal zoom ability, though the LX5 is much improved, it runs around $700. Perhaps there are some options with the interchangeable lens 2/3 sensor systems, but the lens alone will be over $300. ~ H
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post #5 of 15
6/24/11 at 11:42pm
Oh, this is interesting: http://www.dpreview.com/products/nik...s/nikon_cpp300
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post #6 of 15
6/25/11 at 12:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiophilia View Post
$300 ish Amazing low light. Did I say amazing, no flash, no grain low light shots? Good optical zoom Don't give a rats about vid Thx
the LX3/S90/LX5/S95 will be ok in low light, even excellent but you'll have to really know what you're doing - meaning you have to maximize basic photography skills and go fully manual and know shutter speed/aperture/ISO to figure out whats best. if you're looking for something to snap away in bracket mode and fully automatic in low light with low ISO then well $300 is basically a point a shoot camera so you're limited by that tiny sensor. unless you're using a tripod and doing static shots you're limited to more grainy higher ISO shots in the low light regardless. bump up to $500-$600 and you can start getting exactly what you want without any fuss... think sony NEX/Lumix GF1/GF2/olympus EPL series... shoot away with those babies in low light and you'll get great shots just because of the larger sensors and maybe/probably faster lenses.
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post #7 of 15
6/25/11 at 12:32am
if you're willing to go refurbished you may be in luck with the EPL-1 with a 14-42 lens. $329! basically you can do the low light P&S with lower ISO (less grain) and still have it be small enough to port around for parties/get togethers easily enough. adorama has it on sale now $329: http://www.adorama.com/IOMEPL1B14BR....m_source=gbase or brand new for $399: http://www.adorama.com/IOMEPL1B14B.h...m_source=gbase its an older model but will definitely be more than enough camera if you're intended use is point and shoot stuff.
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post #8 of 15
6/25/11 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
Many thx from this newb for the gracious and informative replies. Cheers, a
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post #9 of 15
6/25/11 at 4:17pm
How decent is this camera? I like/need something with really good zoom. Most of the pics I take are from the air so.... http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-...8970669&sr=8-2
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post #10 of 15
6/25/11 at 4:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilot View Post
How decent is this camera? I like/need something with really good zoom. Most of the pics I take are from the air so.... http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-...8970669&sr=8-2
Can't help on the camera as zoom isn't my thing (though you should read the most excellent reviews at www.dpreview.com) -- but I wonder if you've ever heard of a pretty great book about photography from airplanes called "Window Seat." http://www.amazon.com/Window-Seat-Ph.../dp/0596100833
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post #11 of 15
6/25/11 at 4:50pm
Yeah I've checked dpreview and they didn't have one for that model Haven't heard of that book actually, I'll probably pick it up. Thanks!
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post #12 of 15
7/16/11 at 5:46am
Thread Starter 
I picked up the Nikon P 300 for the low light and macro. Both turned out to be absolutely superb. If you need both tenets as badly as I do, it's a great choice. But, after a while, I decided to check out the Nikon D5100 DSLR. It was so light (important lugging around audio and car shows) and the macro and low light equally as good as the P 300. It has much better glass and can do so much more, so, I returned the P 300 and am very happy with my first DSLR.

500
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post #13 of 15
7/17/11 at 2:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRINI View Post

Canon s95

+1

I love my s90. I never, ever use my flash.
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post #14 of 15
7/17/11 at 5:41pm
Here are three compact cameras with a f:1.8 aperture:

http://nikonrumors.com/2011/02/08/comparing-f1-8-compact-cameras-samsung-tl500-olympus-xz-1-and-nikon-coolpix-p300.aspx/
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post #15 of 15
7/24/11 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by arced View Post


+1

I love my s90. I never, ever use my flash.

ya me too.... s90 or the newer s95. Super compact, retractable lens, excellent in low light or almost no light! I practically never use the flash.
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