I'm going to the islands at the end of the month and I'm looking to buy a new digital camera.

While on a trip to China this summer my teacher (who happens to be my advisor) dropped my camera (Canon Powershot SD700 IS) on the Great Wall and broke it.

Price isn't really an issue because I really want quality.

What is the best pocket digital camera on the market right now?

7/8/2008 2:58:25 PM

1.) optical zoom is key - look for something 10x or higher, digital zoom doesn't mean jack
2.) quality glass is important - my experience is with leica, but zeiss is good, too
3.) image stabilization is a GREAT feature...canon IS is #1, with panasonic's megaOIS a close #2
4.) megapixels are relatively unimportant...if the sensor is the same size on two cameras with different megapixel ratings, you're not going to get a better picture out of the higher one

obviously, i'm a panasonic fan...canons have the best image stabilization, but lack (IMO) quality glass, and the optics are more important to me than the image stabilization

my biggest complaint with panasonic cameras is the noise at high ISO levels...the reason i don't really care is because i've yet to find a compact camera that takes good low-light shots in the first place, and, in general, if i'm taking low-light shots i'm using a tripod with a low ISO value so the point is moot...i take almost exclusively high-light and/or outdoor shots (which is what it seems like you'll be doing), so for the money, i (personally) think you'd be hard-pressed to beat something like the DMC-TZ4 (~$205) or DMC-TZ5 (~$260) in terms of value

also, the panasonics use SD/SDHC cards (up to 32gb), so you can pick up a 4gb 150x for ~$15 on sale...normally, i'd say that didn't matter because you're not going to fill up 4gb with minimally-compressed JPEGs all that quickly, but the TZ5 takes HD movies (1280x720) at 30fps, and that can really suck up space

[Edited on July 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2008 3:37:09 PM

^ good advice.

if you want a decent p&s. i am a fan of:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1363


SHOCKPROOF (6.6FT).
Accidents happen. A rugged metal body and revolutionary shock-absorbing construction are designed to withstand a 6.6-foot fall, drop or other mishap.

WATERPROOF (33FT).
Innovative waterproof seals and gaskets allow you to take underwater movies and amazing pictures in a pool, lake or ocean.

FREEZEPROOF (14°F).
Perfect for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and other winter fun, this camera is winterized to perform at below-freezing temperatures.

CRUSHPROOF (220 LBF).
With a rugged body and reinforced LCD, the Stylus 1030 SW withstands up to 220 pounds of pressure so your camera and images are protected.

3.6x WIDE-ANGLE ZOOM LENS.
A wider field of view ensures you’ll never miss anyone or anything in your shot. Great for shooting landscapes, underwater scenery, group portraits and amazing panoramic pictures.

2.7” HyperCrystal™ II LCD.
With improved contrast and color reproduction, the HyperCrystal II LCD offers a more accurate and precise image display, as well as an extra-wide viewing angle and increased visibility in direct sunlight.

[Edited on July 8, 2008 at 3:44 PM. Reason : noobed all over myself]

7/8/2008 3:43:00 PM

^^http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/

Was just looking at that one.

~300$

Quote :

"9.1 million effective pixel / 10.7 million pixels total 1/2.33" CCD 10x (28-280mm equiv.) Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom MEGA OIS image stabilization 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios Venus IV Engine processor High Resolution (460,000 pixel) 3.0-inch LCD Movies up to 1280 x 720 pixels (HD) @ 30 fps 22 scene modes plus a 'clipboard' mode for travelers "

[Edited on July 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2008 3:43:20 PM

^ aha, i just edited to include that...i didn't know that it took HD movies, but that's pretty hot

when it comes to digicams, i am a panasonic fanboy through-and-through

[Edited on July 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2008 3:45:58 PM

^this is the same except with wifi:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0804/08041601pansonictz50.asp

I mean what other brand has 10MP, 10x zoom, 3" display, and 720p video recording?

7/8/2008 3:53:48 PM