So whats the current view on the best super compact?

[Mr Noble]

I've still not bought a new compact and struggle on with the micro screen on my Pentax optio S4. (which is ok)





Going to the bright lights of London this weekend with the Mrs and don't want to take the SLR but feel the Pentax is a bit tired after 4 years of use.





I want one thats pretty tiny and that has a 28mm equiv. wide angle lens.





Any views?





I do like the look of the Ricoh Caplio R6 I must say. Its tiny and has a huge screen and a 28-200mm lens!



Greg

[Arif110]

28mm was a principal criterion when I was looking, recently.

Boils it down a lot.

Went for the Canon Ixus 850IS - and love it!



Arif

[holloway_dave]

After doing quite a bit of web research, I just got myself an IXUS 850 (SD800 actually since I got it in the US) because I was sick of lugging around the DSLR.

The 28mm equivalent lens is great. The Image Stabilisation is also worth having. It's not real good at high ISO (anything above 400 really), but I'm pretty happy with it.



It's not quite as thin as other ixus's or one of the Sony T series, but I think the 28mm and IS was worth the trade off.

[TuscNick]

Panasonic

[le gravy noire]

contax t2. zeiss glass, solid titanium construction, aperture priority, whats not to like?

[lowdrag]

The lens on the Contax. It is 38mm and not 28mm as requested

[le gravy noire]

lowdrag said:

The lens on the Contax. It is 38mm and not 28mm as requested

Apologies. The memory sticks are a bit chunky too.

[le gravy noire]

Also worth pointing out that disliking it on that criteria would be, for want of a better word, moronic.

[Typhon]

le gravy noire said:

contax t2. zeiss glass, solid titanium construction, aperture priority, whats not to like?

How do you think it compares to the T3 and Ricoh GR1?

[le gravy noire]

Typhon said:

le gravy noire said:

contax t2. zeiss glass, solid titanium construction, aperture priority, whats not to like?

How do you think it compares to the T3 and Ricoh GR1?

I have not used either of those, but from what I gather when I looked into them before I bought it, the T2 was better than the T3 as an overall package and the Ricoh was great but fixed at 28mm which is a bit wide as a fixed length I think. For me it was actually a toss up between the yashica T4 and the contax, but I think the contax has the edge. Overall it's an awesome camera and I've never regretted buying it. The perfect thing to carry about on holiday or whatever for some fun, brainless snaps.

[CVP]

TuscNick said:

Panasonic

Agreed, just replaced our ageing IXUS with a Lumix TZ3, "28mm" wide at the bottom end, 10* optical zoom and image stabilisation. Warehouse Express £250. Small enough to chuck in pocket.



Not had much time to test drive yet btu have a week off next week so will see how it performs in the field.



Being like I am I had kept all the packaging and bits for the old IXUS and as I keep my kit in good nick it's made a perfect birthday pressie for one of my young nieces. Pikey uncle but at least I chucked in a 1GB card too.



Chris



Chris

[Mr Noble]

Looked at the TZ3 but thought that a cam with 8.5 million pixels thats only got a 1/2.35" CCD must be rather noisey?

Surely that should have used a 1/1.8" or bigger on a high end cam like that. I suppose they couldn't get it to be compact and have a 10x zoom with a big CCD.


It seems to me, after months of research, that no one has produced a "really good" digi compact for the "photographer" yet.

As "Black Bisto" says, maybe the contax and other similar cams are the only option. Just not small enough for my tight pockets.

I'll keep waiting.


Just wish they would stop this stoopid megapixel race! They have just released a 12 million pixel compact point and shoot! Who the hell in their right mind needs 12 million pixels in a compact zoom!!!! FFS, its daft!!

G

[CVP]

Mr Noble said:

Looked at the TZ3 but thought that a cam with 8.5 million pixels thats only got a 1/2.35" CCD must be rather noisey?

Surely that should have used a 1/1.8" or bigger on a high end cam like that. I suppose they couldn't get it to be compact and have a 10x zoom with a big CCD.

True, as I say not managed to give it a good test drive yet. As it's really for snapping / general abuse I suspect we're not going to print bigger than 6*4 or 7*5 anyway so noise may not be too much of an issue.

Chris

[pikey]

IXUS 900.

Really nice - small, light, battery lasts forever and a great lens for its size. I've been very happy with the results. With the titanium case (optional) it's pretty tough.

The "10 megapixel" feature is silly though - the CCD is the size of a gnat's arse!