Compact partner to my 1D
Discussion
Don't particular fancy taking my 1D skiing 
I'm not good enough a skier to risk it.
So, to that end, I want to get myself a compact of some sort to take places I shouldn't take the biggun (and to be fair, I'm lucky I've not had it nicked on various occassions such as stumbling around the City part of London at 1 in the morning rather inebriated, snapping away).
Doesn't have to be Canon. But I used to have an Ixus V which was rather nice, even with a tiny lens in it, it was a cracking piece of glass, so I've experience of those.
Budget around the 250 mark. Doesn't need to be huge megapixels, but a fairly versatile zoom would be handy (although I've been tempted with the fixed focal length Ricoh in the past). No need for video. Would prefer the option to have fully manual settings but not been in this area for a while, so no idea if any of them come with it - Av and Tv would do at a push.
Couldn't give a monkeys what it looks like, but I think given the activity, a "traditional" compact, ie square and flat-ish, would be preferable to an SLR "looking" one.
Compact Flash preferable simply due to already having the cards.
Over to the floor
I'm not good enough a skier to risk it. So, to that end, I want to get myself a compact of some sort to take places I shouldn't take the biggun (and to be fair, I'm lucky I've not had it nicked on various occassions such as stumbling around the City part of London at 1 in the morning rather inebriated, snapping away
). Doesn't have to be Canon. But I used to have an Ixus V which was rather nice, even with a tiny lens in it, it was a cracking piece of glass, so I've experience of those.
Budget around the 250 mark. Doesn't need to be huge megapixels, but a fairly versatile zoom would be handy (although I've been tempted with the fixed focal length Ricoh in the past). No need for video. Would prefer the option to have fully manual settings but not been in this area for a while, so no idea if any of them come with it - Av and Tv would do at a push.
Couldn't give a monkeys what it looks like, but I think given the activity, a "traditional" compact, ie square and flat-ish, would be preferable to an SLR "looking" one.
Compact Flash preferable simply due to already having the cards.
Over to the floor
. Highly reccomended. From what I've read, the S80 would be ideal, albeit a little over budget, but trying to find one is a nightmare.
Ixus 750 is a little down the range - I think I can get more for my money - but it's currently the back up
Having said that...I've just seen the Ixus 800 IS Didn't know they were doing that in the compacts...
Ixus 750 is a little down the range - I think I can get more for my money - but it's currently the back up
Having said that...I've just seen the Ixus 800 IS Didn't know they were doing that in the compacts...
Edited by graham@edinburgh on Wednesday 20th December 00:06
Lots of deals around. Will probably be more coming if Xmas sales comments are anything to judge by. I agree with the previous suggestions. On the other hand there seem to be a lot of good choices out there.
Sticking with Canon sort of makes sense as they have certain ways of offering colour which others don't follow so at least you get to process stuff in a relatively consistent way.
The option of a Pro1 crossed my mind but it's not shirt pocket size. Used on eBay for around the 250-300 mark these days. RAW and CF cards. 8Mp. 28-200mm equivalent lens. Or Canon S3 IS which is a about the same size as the Pro1 but likely to still be a little over £300 so blows the budget anyway. (Has been known to sell at around 280 before now.) Does have a 37 - 432mm equiv. zoom though ...
Mostly SD cards for the shirt pocket size - smaller and faster memory. Very cheap these days too - 1Gb for £8 and 2Gb for about £16.
Sticking with Canon sort of makes sense as they have certain ways of offering colour which others don't follow so at least you get to process stuff in a relatively consistent way.
The option of a Pro1 crossed my mind but it's not shirt pocket size. Used on eBay for around the 250-300 mark these days. RAW and CF cards. 8Mp. 28-200mm equivalent lens. Or Canon S3 IS which is a about the same size as the Pro1 but likely to still be a little over £300 so blows the budget anyway. (Has been known to sell at around 280 before now.) Does have a 37 - 432mm equiv. zoom though ...
Mostly SD cards for the shirt pocket size - smaller and faster memory. Very cheap these days too - 1Gb for £8 and 2Gb for about £16.
I got an S80 on ebay last month for £300. New, but delivery took a while as was an Asian import (not UK as the advert stated 
).
Quite frankly, in my opinion the S80 is too big to carry with you all day skiing, but there is an alternative...
On Saturday, after having the S80 for 2 weeks I dropped it, lens down. The S80 was very dead. P*ssed off? OOOOOH YES!
On Sunday I went into a shop to purchase it's replacement and got an IXUS 900. This is smaller, lighter (ok to take with you all day when skiing), has most of the same features, and a few more and appears to take as good pictures.
AND... it's within your budget www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Digital-Camera-10-0MP-optical/dp/B000IMD246
). Quite frankly, in my opinion the S80 is too big to carry with you all day skiing, but there is an alternative...
On Saturday, after having the S80 for 2 weeks I dropped it, lens down. The S80 was very dead. P*ssed off? OOOOOH YES!
On Sunday I went into a shop to purchase it's replacement and got an IXUS 900. This is smaller, lighter (ok to take with you all day when skiing), has most of the same features, and a few more and appears to take as good pictures.
AND... it's within your budget www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Digital-Camera-10-0MP-optical/dp/B000IMD246
pikey said:
On Sunday I went into a shop to purchase it's replacement and got an IXUS 900. This is smaller, lighter (ok to take with you all day when skiing), has most of the same features, and a few more and appears to take as good pictures.
Jacobs web price for this is £259.99.
Apparently more in the shops though but I suspect some negotiation possible.
I thought the S80 did RAW though? 900ti not as far as I am aware.
The S70 did RAW but the newer S80 isnt RAW compatible
The S80 is a fantastic camera, many settings available
There are still some on ebay new if you are interested..........
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Power-Sho
I have the S80 as a pocket friend running alongside my 20d SLR
I sold my ixus 700 as it didnt have enough manual settings for my liking, It was a good camera though so id think the newer ixus models are even better now
The S80 is a fantastic camera, many settings available
There are still some on ebay new if you are interested..........
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Power-Sho
I have the S80 as a pocket friend running alongside my 20d SLR
I sold my ixus 700 as it didnt have enough manual settings for my liking, It was a good camera though so id think the newer ixus models are even better now
My dad has the Ixus 800 IS and I was very impressed with the quality from such a small camera.
I've also recently bought a Canon A640 which in fantastic and only cost £220 from Warehouse Express. 10M pixels, 4x zoom, manual features and a great flip out LCD screen which sounds like a gimmick but has proved to be really useful.
I've also recently bought a Canon A640 which in fantastic and only cost £220 from Warehouse Express. 10M pixels, 4x zoom, manual features and a great flip out LCD screen which sounds like a gimmick but has proved to be really useful.
Graham,
I was in the same boat as you, going boarding in January and didn't want to take my D80 + £3k worth of lenses with me.
Ended up going for the Canon G7, nice optical zoom range (35mm-210mm 35mm equiv.), image stabilized lens (that really works, I was impressed), full manual modes, 10MP and 80-1600 ISO range (although like most digital cameras over 400 is a waste of time).
The only downers are there is no RAW mode and (although used to it) no flip out screen. On a personal note I think the handling could be slightly better, the body is too shiney, could do with a more grippy covering in the holding areas rather than just a thin line for rubber (too used to my decent handling Nikon!). The excellent viewing screen also stands proud and I can see that could be a problem for getting damaged.
I love the Rangefinder camera style though!
If you shop around you can get a G7 for around the £300 mark, Amazon currently £309, great value for money!
I was in the same boat as you, going boarding in January and didn't want to take my D80 + £3k worth of lenses with me.
Ended up going for the Canon G7, nice optical zoom range (35mm-210mm 35mm equiv.), image stabilized lens (that really works, I was impressed), full manual modes, 10MP and 80-1600 ISO range (although like most digital cameras over 400 is a waste of time).
The only downers are there is no RAW mode and (although used to it) no flip out screen. On a personal note I think the handling could be slightly better, the body is too shiney, could do with a more grippy covering in the holding areas rather than just a thin line for rubber (too used to my decent handling Nikon!). The excellent viewing screen also stands proud and I can see that could be a problem for getting damaged.
I love the Rangefinder camera style though!
If you shop around you can get a G7 for around the £300 mark, Amazon currently £309, great value for money!
Any reasonably good 6-7 megapixel camera will probably do, but I think there's only one compact that takes CF cards so you probably will have to buy a new memory card.
I don't fall too often so I stuffed my Fuji E550 into my inside pocket when skiing last year and got the snaps below. Full MASP options and 4x optical zoom so you've got good control over it. Even the newer 9 megapixel E900 model is on offer at £130 in Amazon at the moment and will probably go cheaper still in Jan/Feb.
I don't fall too often so I stuffed my Fuji E550 into my inside pocket when skiing last year and got the snaps below. Full MASP options and 4x optical zoom so you've got good control over it. Even the newer 9 megapixel E900 model is on offer at £130 in Amazon at the moment and will probably go cheaper still in Jan/Feb.
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