I need to replace my Canon SD630 with a newer camera, but I'm not sure which to get. Among the models I am considering are the Canon SD780, Canon G10, and the Panasonic Lumix LX3.
My old 630 took pretty decent pictures, had a nice screen, was reasonably quick to focus and shoot, and was compact enough that I didn't mind taking it around with me. What I hated about it, though, was that it could not be zoomed (well, you could use the digital zoom, but who wants to) or focused in movie mode, and of course it came out just a hair before SDHC cards became the norm, so I am stuck with 2GB SD cards.
The 780 seems like it takes comparably decent pictures - nothing special, but they do seem better than the 630. I also notice that the focus adjusts itself even in movie mode, and it can be zoomed if need be. I don't tend to use the zoom much, but it's nice to know that it's there if I decide I must commit the faux pas of zooming while shooting video. That said, it's not a big step up from what I have now. It's very compact and seems decently rugged, and it can use SDHC, all of which makes it something I'm considering but not set on.
The G10 seems like a good camera to me, but it's a little big. I could tolerate this if it is rugged enough to take some hauling around, and if it takes really great pictures. It doesn't shoot HD video, which makes me not like it quite as much.
I've read some pretty good things about the LX3. It seems like it would still be compact enough that I wouldn't mind taking it with me everywhere I go, but not quite as compact as the 780. What I have not found, however, is whether the camera will continue to autofocus when shooting video. Or, for that matter, if I can adjust the zoom while shooting video. I've heard that the image quality is really quite good, but not stellar at high ISO. I also haven't heard much about the video quality - the only mentions indicate that it is good, but they only say so in passing. I really like what I've heard about the camera, but I haven't gotten to see one in person, which makes me hesitate.
I am by no means a professional photographer, and I have no aims to becoming one. I would just like a quality camera to carry with me that will let me record my memories, whether in stills or video. I am not currently interested in a dSLR, though I will be one day. I would like to keep the price around $500 US. I want to be able to use the camera for years to come. I am specifically interested in quality images in a variety of light levels, quality video, the ability to focus while shooting video, the ability to use the optical zoom while shooting video, and I would prefer that it use SDHC rather than compact flash or memory stick.
If anyone can share their opinions or experiences with the 780, LX3, or any other cameras that may work for me, I would really appreciate it. Thank you in advance.
My old 630 took pretty decent pictures, had a nice screen, was reasonably quick to focus and shoot, and was compact enough that I didn't mind taking it around with me. What I hated about it, though, was that it could not be zoomed (well, you could use the digital zoom, but who wants to) or focused in movie mode, and of course it came out just a hair before SDHC cards became the norm, so I am stuck with 2GB SD cards.
The 780 seems like it takes comparably decent pictures - nothing special, but they do seem better than the 630. I also notice that the focus adjusts itself even in movie mode, and it can be zoomed if need be. I don't tend to use the zoom much, but it's nice to know that it's there if I decide I must commit the faux pas of zooming while shooting video. That said, it's not a big step up from what I have now. It's very compact and seems decently rugged, and it can use SDHC, all of which makes it something I'm considering but not set on.
The G10 seems like a good camera to me, but it's a little big. I could tolerate this if it is rugged enough to take some hauling around, and if it takes really great pictures. It doesn't shoot HD video, which makes me not like it quite as much.
I've read some pretty good things about the LX3. It seems like it would still be compact enough that I wouldn't mind taking it with me everywhere I go, but not quite as compact as the 780. What I have not found, however, is whether the camera will continue to autofocus when shooting video. Or, for that matter, if I can adjust the zoom while shooting video. I've heard that the image quality is really quite good, but not stellar at high ISO. I also haven't heard much about the video quality - the only mentions indicate that it is good, but they only say so in passing. I really like what I've heard about the camera, but I haven't gotten to see one in person, which makes me hesitate.
I am by no means a professional photographer, and I have no aims to becoming one. I would just like a quality camera to carry with me that will let me record my memories, whether in stills or video. I am not currently interested in a dSLR, though I will be one day. I would like to keep the price around $500 US. I want to be able to use the camera for years to come. I am specifically interested in quality images in a variety of light levels, quality video, the ability to focus while shooting video, the ability to use the optical zoom while shooting video, and I would prefer that it use SDHC rather than compact flash or memory stick.
If anyone can share their opinions or experiences with the 780, LX3, or any other cameras that may work for me, I would really appreciate it. Thank you in advance.
