Compact digi to complement SLRs

shady · 11 Jan 2009 at 01:58

I have two Canon DSLRs, a 10D and a 30D, and not intending to upgrade anytime soon, but I also use Canon A95 because its discreet and portable. But I want something to replace it. I've got my eye on the Canon A590IS. But I wondered if there's any others out there to be recommended for £100-£200.

Not so fussed about megapixels, anything over 5 is OK, but it needs to have:
a good optical zoom
long battery life
SD and SDHC card compatibilty – a must as one of the main reasons I am replacing the A95 is to use my Eye-Fi card
manual, aperture priority and Program
low shutter lag, fast focus
good picture quality

Cheers

rG-tom · 11 Jan 2009 at 02:04

second hand G9? id try and stretch to a g10 though :x

whitecrook · 11 Jan 2009 at 02:09

mm If it was me I'd be looking at the A range as well. I think the A95 was the best of the 'old school' ones... And is the A590 the best of the new ones?

Only other thing is the IXUS get high praise for being very small and compact.

Guzzidom · 11 Jan 2009 at 10:04

I would wait for the Panasonic LX-3 to drop to about £200 (3 months I reckon) and snap one up.

Edinho · 11 Jan 2009 at 10:40

Just got the 590IS for <£100 with the card and case. Cant go wrong for a point and shooter, anything higher in price for a compact is a bit ott imo. And it has the best configurability of the compacts out there, even if the image quailty is average but not bad.

shady · 11 Jan 2009 at 11:19

rG-tom said:
second hand G9? id try and stretch to a g10 though :x

I did think about a g9, do they take sd cards?

rG-tom · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:48

yes they do

cracking little cameras, really imo cant get better to compliment a canon slr, will even take your flashes etc if you ever wanted to

also, how do you find the eye fi card? do you have msn, id like to have a chat about that if you could

Ta

Tom.

ricky1981 · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:59

I've just ordered an LX3 so will report back as soon as it arrives and I get a chance to play with it.

deshepherd · 12 Jan 2009 at 10:58

whitecrook said:
mm If it was me I'd be looking at the A range as well. I think the A95 was the best of the 'old school' ones... And is the A590 the best of the new ones?

Interestingly at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition that was in Bristol City Museum a couple of weeks back while looking at the equipment info on the details with each photo I saw that amongst all the pictures taken with (very) high end Canons and Nikons there was one "highly commended" photo which was taken with a PowerShot A620!

Attu90 · 12 Jan 2009 at 11:25

Do you actually need to change your A95 ?, if you do id be tempted to go for one of the older G series cameras but they will probably use CF cards but you could just buy a CF card adapter and still use your Eye-Fi card but then you could do that with your A95 anyway and if you bought an adapter you could also use the Eye-Fi in your 10D.

greengiant · 12 Jan 2009 at 19:02

I've got an Canon A590IS as a general camera when I'm just out for a walk / bicycle ride and I'm not wanting to take my DSLR out. Not DSLR quality, but fine for snaps.

Mr Jones · 12 Jan 2009 at 19:05

ricky1981 said:
I've just ordered an LX3 so will report back as soon as it arrives and I get a chance to play with it.

Do report back as I do want some feedback of it

ricky1981 · 12 Jan 2009 at 20:24

Will do, not due to arrive until later this week but actually looking forward to having a nice compact that I can take everywhere. I love my D700 and D300 but it will be liberating to just have something I can chuck in a pocket all the time

shady · 13 Jan 2009 at 21:37

Attu90 said:
Do you actually need to change your A95 ?, if you do id be tempted to go for one of the older G series cameras but they will probably use CF cards but you could just buy a CF card adapter and still use your Eye-Fi card but then you could do that with your A95 anyway and if you bought an adapter you could also use the Eye-Fi in your 10D.

It's starting to get a little rough round the edges, and I have a CF adapter, but it won't fit in the A95 as it's full height, the A95 onloy takes MkII CF card profiles, and it doesn't work with the 10D and 30D due to some incompatibility with the SDHC format. so an SD compact is my only option, or 1D

ATHRoss · 19 Mar 2009 at 13:22

Like others, I really really liked my A95 but unfortunately, it secumbed to the weather (very rainy day).

Tried to dry it out etc but it had died. I like Canon equipment so looked about and, having used an A560 (non-IS) at work, plumped for the A590 IS.

I like the feel of these Powershot cameras, there are big enough for my large fingers but small enough to keep in my pocket.

However, I find that the A590 IS is slow to take pictures, slow to take pictures compared to the A95 and A560, particularly between shots - i.e. trying to take a couple of shots immediately after each other. I find I am missing a few and tend to catch the end of the scene (if that makes sense).

Is this typical of the A590IS, is it an IS thing or have I got a duffer?

Any comments much appreciated.

regards

ATHRoss