good solid point and shoot?

[Daniel Buck]

I don't really care about manual controlls for a point and shoot, but I would however like to beable to compensate the metering, either by focus/meter lock and recompose, or with an exposure compensation dial.

my pet peeve is cheap feeling equipment. I want something solid feeling. I have been looking at the Leica C-LUX 1, however I'm not sure how much I can trust the reviews just because it has the leica name (folks might be a bit biased, if they are a leica lover, I noticed alot of folks just mentioning the name and the heritage, but also how nicely it's constructed). Any other point and shoots that have a nice solid feel, but are still small enough to carry around everywhere? I don't mind putting out $400+ for a good P&S that I can carry around everywhere in my pocket.

RAW files would be nice, but not needed. I'd like at least 4 megapixels, 6 or 8 only if the lens is capable of producing good results at that size. (I don't want resolution just for the sake of more pixels if the image quality isn't good)

Any suggestions?

[Dylan Wiggins]

My wife brought up the idea of a point and shoot for her last night, just something that she can take anywhere and not worry about any settings to get in the way of the photo. The Canon powershot sd630 looks nice to me but I'd also like to hear what people on here like.

[Mike Ditz]

There was a Panasonic that was a rebadged Leica for a bit less. I dunno if they still make it. I used to have an Olympus that was really nice and a friend has a Nikon that makes some great pix with no effort. I still feel like I am trying to figure out my G5 Canon....I've had it for like 3 years. I'd wouldn't buy it again.
Do you want one of those bulky ones that look like a camera? or a tiny flat one?

[Daniel Buck]

There was a Panasonic that was a rebadged Leica for a bit less. I dunno if they still make it. I used to have an Olympus that was really nice and a friend has a Nikon that makes some great pix with no effort. I still feel like I am trying to figure out my G5 Canon....I've had it for like 3 years. I'd wouldn't buy it again.
Do you want one of those bulky ones that look like a camera? or a tiny flat one?

looking for something fairly small, something I can put in my pocket (shirt pocket, or pants pocket).

I have done some reading, and yes Panasonic makes an almost identical camera as the C-Lux, accept for the higher quality build on the body (which is what I want!), from what I have read, the image quality and LCD is the same, but the body quality and maybe a few controlls are different. Any other small point and shoots have a nice solid body?

G5 is to big for what I want.

[John Thawley]

looking for something fairly small, something I can put in my pocket (shirt pocket, or pants pocket).

I have done some reading, and yes Panasonic makes an almost identical camera as the C-Lux, accept for the higher quality build on the body (which is what I want!), from what I have read, the image quality and LCD is the same, but the body quality and maybe a few controlls are different. Any other small point and shoots have a nice solid body?

G5 is to big for what I want.

Actually, Daniel, the C-Lux 1 and the Panasonic FZ01 are IDENTICAL. I own them both. I did a non-technical review here on the site:

http://www.automotivephoto.net/product-reviews/2006/7/7/leica-c-lux-1-from-leica-camera-ag-review.html

I also own the Lumix version of the Leica Digilux 2 - again, they're identical inside and out, with the exception of the Lumix being all black and the Leica being black with silver trim. You can also find my reivew of that camera here on the site.

I like the Digilux 2... it's cool. It is like shooting with an old Leica Rangefinder. I bought this because I wanted a really good point and shoot. It is an awesome camera... but it doesn't fit in your pocket. Fact is, I still feel like I'm dragging equipment around. But it's an excellent camera.

The C-Lux 1, on the other hand, is wonderful. 6mp, Leica lens... and comfortably small. I am really enjoying it. We just got the Panasonic last week for Kristin. Leica was $495, the Panasonic $275.

I love the Leica... and I'd probably buy it again. But I do get a little sheepish everytime I pick up the Panasonic and realize I'd have $200 left over. They are IDENTICAL.

PS: leave room in the budget for a memory card. The Leica ships with a 64mb and the Panasonic only a 16mb. A 512mb or 1gb will cover a full battery charge.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/albums/albuq16/aaz.jpg

[Daniel Buck]

Actually, Daniel, the C-Lux 1 and the Panasonic FZ01 are IDENTICAL. I own them both. I did a non-technical review here on the site:

http://www.automotivephoto.net/product-reviews/2006/7/7/leica-c-lux-1-from-leica-camera-ag-review.html

I also own the Lumix version of the Leica Digilux 2 - again, they're identical inside and out, with the exception of the Lumix being all black and the Leica being black with silver trim. You can also find my reivew of that camera here on the site.

I like the Digilux 2... it's cool. It is like shooting with an old Leica Rangefinder. I bought this because I wanted a really good point and shoot. It is an awesome camera... but it doesn't fit in your pocket. Fact is, I still feel like I'm dragging equipment around. But it's an excellent camera.

The C-Lux 1, on the other hand, is wonderful. 6mp, Leica lens... and comfortably small. I am really enjoying it. We just got the Panasonic last week for Kristin. Leica was $495, the Panasonic $275.

I love the Leica... and I'd probably buy it again. But I do get a little sheepish everytime I pick up the Panasonic and realize I'd have $200 left over. They are IDENTICAL.

PS: leave room in the budget for a memory card. The Leica ships with a 64mb and the Panasonic only a 16mb. A 512mb or 1gb will cover a full battery charge.

Thanks! I didn't realize they both had the same body construction. In that case, scratch the leica off my list and replace it with the Panasonic FZ01 :) So the only difference between them is the lable on the front? Pardon my saying so, but that sounds silly :o

A charge will only last through a 512 or 1gb card? Hm.... I was hoping for a bit longer battery life, I assume you have done some looking around when purchasing these cameras, do any other cameras in this same build quality range and size get better battery life?

[John Thawley]

Thanks! I didn't realize they both had the same body construction. In that case, scratch the leica off my list and replace it with the Panasonic FZ01 :) So the only difference between them is the lable on the front? Pardon my saying so, but that sounds silly :o

A charge will only last through a 512 or 1gb card? Hm.... I was hoping for a bit longer battery life, I assume you have done some looking around when purchasing these cameras, do any other cameras in this same build quality range and size get better battery life?

Hmmm.... it's kind of relative. The battery, after all, is small. :) But, at 6mp, I think that's going to be 300-400 shots, on a gig card, no? (Just looked in the book. .. 320 per charge.)

To me, the plus is the charger size. :) It's a simple tiny block with fold out prongs. The battery is about the size of a compact flash card only thickier. About 1/4"-3/16" -

When I tell you the build is identical... I mean... identical. I could easily grab the wrong one by mistake. Ours are both black.... but the Panasonic's coating has a psuedo rubber feel which is quite nice.

I'm having a ball with this camera.

[Morgan J Segal]

my pet peeve is cheap feeling equipment. I want something solid feeling. ?

looking for something fairly small, something I can put in my pocket (shirt pocket, or pants pocket).

I too like solid build quality on my cameras, so when I bought a P&S a couple of years ago, I bought a Canon Elph. The Elph is small enough, has a metal body and was very solid feeling. The solidness was also it's downfall, it's too heavy to carry around in a shirt or pants pocket. Because of this, I never really take it anywhere because I have to put it in something to carry it with. I can count on my hands how many times I've used it.

The next one I buy, lightness will be a big feature I look for


My 20 cent advice, which is not worth as much as Mike Ditz's $60 advice

[Daniel Buck]

hm... I didn't think about that, the weight of a solid camera.... I may have to hit a few camera stores to see if I can find the Panasonic or Leica and see how heavy they are in my pockets.