What compact?

[RizzoTheRat]

Off on holiday next month and thinking it's time to replace my old Fuji F35 before I go. I'd like something with a bigger zoom, maybe a few more manual functions, and reasonable low light capability, while still keeping to the small compact format rather than a bigger bridge camera. The girlfiend's got a reasonable DSLR so this one will be the pocket sized one we've always got handy. I'd love to get some photos of the Aurora while we're in Iceland so the ability to do some longer exposure shots would be good.

Any reccomendations in the £200ish price range? Just had a look at a Panasonic TZ30 in a local shop which didn't look bad but online reviews reckon the Canon SX260 is better in low light, though it's 15 second maximum shutter time might not be quite enough if we get some decent nothern lights.

[14-7]

You may struggle with the noise created with compacts when long exposures are used and a high ISO which will be needed to capture the northern lights.

For example:

Taken with a Canon S95 (max exposure 15 secs)


IMG_0739 by 14-7, on Flickr

Taken with an SLR


Stars1 by 14-7, on Flickr


Starry night by 14-7, on Flickr

[CooperS]

Was going to post on the same topic!

[RizzoTheRat]

Agree your SLR shot is better, but your compact one is still way better than anything my current fuji can cope with.