Ok, so my first digital camera ever (nikon coolpix 4600) is now broken (cracked screen) and not really worth fixing. So, now I am in the market for another camera. I occasionally like to take landscapes, artistic shots etc. when I come upon them, but 90% of my photos are just snapshots of myself and my friends.

So, this time I want an Ultracompact, one that I can carry in my pocket easily, that still takes good pictures and looks cool. I have been looking at mostly 2 cameras, with a few other options as well.

#1 - Casio Exilim EX-S500
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0506/05060901casio_exs500.asp


#2 - Canon PowerShot SD450
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0508/05082204canonsd450sd550.asp


#3 - Fujifilm FinePix Z1
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05020803fuji_finepixz1.asp


#4 - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030804sondsct7.asp


I REALLY love the look of the Casio, it might be the most awesome looking camera I have ever seen. It is also tiny. The Canon would probably be the safe choice, I could get it a bit cheaper, and it probably has more solid construction. The Fujifilm is also small and cool looking, not quite so much as the Casio though. The Sony is the most "high tech" of all of them, with the most features and such, but it is also the most expensive.

So, should I take the risk on the slick Casio, or go with the plain yet excellent Canon? or perhaps another choice that I mentioned (or one that I didn't).

4/18/2006 12:24:57 AM

If you get the fuji, you're a moron.

The sony is alright, but not as good as the Canon or Casio. While it's not on your list, I would get the Canon SD600. It's 1 more megapixel than the 450, but more importantly, has less shutter lag.

4/18/2006 12:30:14 AM

SD450 is excellent

4/18/2006 8:39:30 AM

yea, it is... I have the 450, but the 600 is a better camera.

4/18/2006 11:22:18 AM

yea as long as its in the same case... SD200/300/350/450/600?/630? then you cant go wrong

great optics, tiny but quality case, big LCD, almost instant power-on

4/18/2006 12:58:14 PM

So what do you think of refurbished cameras? Trustworthy or not? Example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Casio-Exilim-EX-S500-5-MP-Digital-Camera-Ultra-Thin_W0QQitemZ7607876859QQcategoryZ30019QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also apparently at Dell.com you can get a sd450 for $204 until tomorrow.

http://slickdeals.net/#p7349

4/18/2006 4:12:41 PM

It doesn't get much easier: The Canon.

I own a SD200 and it is outstanding. It's withstood some BRUTAL drops and has been around the world and keeps taking excellent shots. You won't find a better quality camera in this size. The $204 is an excellent price for the Canon, GO FOR IT! You def. won't regret it...and also, it's insanely popular (wonder why?) so you could resell it for only like a $10 loss if you choose to.

4/18/2006 5:07:43 PM

hell, i'll sell you my SD300 for $180, perfect condition - just so i can upgrade to one of the SD600 models

4/18/2006 6:31:39 PM

http://www.digital-lifestyles.info/display_page.asp?section=platforms&id=3185
http://digitalcameras.engadget.com/2006/04/18/ricoh-caplio-r4-superzoom-compact-reviewed/

4/18/2006 6:52:46 PM

i have the canon powershot and i love it. it's really easy to use and takes great pics.

4/18/2006 7:28:03 PM

So, I took a chance on a used Casio, it was $211 total (including shipping) so not a bad price. And the good thing about it is if don't like it I can sell it back on ebay and only lose ~$10-15 since it is already used anyway.

If it doesn't work out, the Canon is always there waiting for me.

4/18/2006 8:15:36 PM

D70s

4/18/2006 8:18:39 PM

Good grief...a Casio?

Seriously what good product have you ever heard of that "Casio" makes?

Wow...

4/18/2006 9:13:41 PM

USED CASIO??

unless this is 1986, and you're referring to a Keyboard, those two words can rarely lead to a good thing.

4/18/2006 9:18:27 PM

Quote :

"Seriously what good product have you ever heard of that "Casio" makes?"

Quote :

"Casio Exilim EX-S500"

but seriously, it's factory refurbished, it has a 2 year warranty, and if I don't like it I will just sell it. It's not like I am throwing away my life here. I like the way it looks much more than the Canon, and this camera has pretty good reviews, except for the ISO mode which is its biggest weakness.

4/18/2006 9:51:06 PM

i can't deal with these bullshit zoom lenses on digital cameras

they piss me off

and the cheaper older ones have worse hand stabilization

4/18/2006 9:53:43 PM

^^ The way it looks?! Are you a woman?

I'd wager the lowest end Canon SDxxx would outshoot that Casio anyday of the week, and it's $204 + tax at Dell right now (brand new!) Hate to say it, but you just threw your money away, and to make it worse, it was AFTER intelligent people instructed you of the smart camera to purchase.

[Edited on April 18, 2006 at 9:54 PM. Reason : ^]

4/18/2006 9:54:45 PM

lol

[Edited on April 18, 2006 at 10:20 PM. Reason : camera fanboys, never thought I would see the day!]

4/18/2006 10:19:44 PM

reviews arent very good for the Casio

4/18/2006 10:51:24 PM

I'm the farthest from a fanboy. Let's just say I own more than a Canon-brand camera.

I would recommend Fuji, Panasonic, Canon, and Nikon WAY before I'd ever recommend a Casio. Seriously, Casio.

4/18/2006 11:24:13 PM

Canon SD600 or, if you're a balla, the SD630. Nice cameras.

4/19/2006 1:00:38 AM

i've owned a coolpix and a powershot, and i'd take the coolpix over the powershot

-ZiP!-

4/19/2006 8:53:54 AM

^ I used a Coolpix 4300 for a week and it felt like a Fisher-Price toy. Seriously it was a POS. Just my experience w/ that model, though.

4/19/2006 10:33:38 AM

I have the SD500 now, have owned the SD400 and SD200...all are good cameras. The 500 is a little thicker than the others, not sure if the 450 is or not though

4/19/2006 10:58:03 AM

i have a casio exilim and its awesome, at the time it had the fastest turn on time on the market and the best battery life. im pretty sure its still the slimmest and has the largest screen, but id have to check.

you wont be disappointed with the casio

my only complaint with my exilim is that the shutter covering the lens sometimes sticks. its probably my fault though, im pretty rough with this thing

4/19/2006 11:04:04 AM

I have an Canon A510, two friends have A510s, other friend just got an A610, and I've got a Rebel XT on the way...

I know it doesn't say much for the SD450, but my vote is behind Canon all the way. You really can't go wrong with them.

4/19/2006 10:39:45 PM

CASIO EX-Z750. probably one of the best p&s out there. excellent image quality, mpeg-4!!! video.
and controls by buttons rather than by menu.

4/19/2006 11:17:32 PM

^ That "mpeg-4!!!!" quality is getting railed in the reviews...just sayin'

4/20/2006 7:16:46 AM

Quote :

"I used a Coolpix 4300 for a week and it felt like a Fisher-Price toy. Seriously it was a POS."

I used the 4300 for 2 years and got great shots with it -- great greens (moreso than reds), a lot of clarity. i thought it was a solid camera for the time (obviously out-of-date now).

I was able to resell it as broken for $60 on ebay. It was purchased it new for $420ish in 2003 I believe.

-ZiP!-

4/20/2006 4:56:47 PM

^ Yeah the shots weren't bad at all, I just wasn't thrilled w/ the overall quality of the body itself.

4/20/2006 5:06:12 PM

thats what i love about the SDxxx series Canons, they dont feel like a toy

4/20/2006 5:49:56 PM

Rather than create a new thread ... I'll bttt this one.

Looking at PhowerShot SD500, SD550, SD600 and SD630 and SD700. Any suggesitons why I should buy one over the other? Price doesn't matter.

[Edited on May 4, 2006 at 4:36 PM. Reason : .]

5/4/2006 4:36:27 PM

any that are in the 86.0 x 53.5 x 21.6 mm (3.4 x 2.1 x 0.9 in) case

i know the 450 and 600 is, but the 550, 700 and 630 arent - they are in the bigger bulkier case


so i vote for the sd600

5/4/2006 4:51:31 PM

i'm getting the sd550 for graduation
all i've heard is good reviews.

and while my previous digital camera is a few years old (and therefore a little bulky) i don't think the 550 is bulky at all. i would say its almost too little, but i think little cameras feel funny especially when trying to take one handed shots.

i'd say if you're looking at cameras, why not go and try them out and see which one feels the best?

[Edited on May 5, 2006 at 12:10 AM. Reason : .]

5/5/2006 12:08:36 AM

^
Not for me unfortunately . I'll hit up a couple stores over the weekend though ... good suggestion.

5/5/2006 6:41:57 AM

Though I don't care for Best Buy ... I was able to take a good look at a number of digital cameras they had on display. Decided to go with a Nikon P4 8MP. These things have gotten CHEAP.

5/10/2006 3:31:44 PM