Compact Digitals

Hi everyone! I'm Angelo and I need some advise. I'd like to get a compact digital. At this point I want to stay below 400 euro. I'd like it to be an all around camera with good movie clip capabilities. Touch screens don't thrill me. I don't need it to be waterproof. I've read many reviews on Pentax compact digitals but many say that they have issues with shutter lag and image quality at the higher ISO's. The 750z and S6 seem interesting, but again, the same issues came up. Have any of you Pentax compact digital users encountered any of these problems? I would apprciate any recommendations you'd care to offer. Thanks!

I can comment on two models, the S5i and the 750Z.

The S5i is a little small for me and I have trouble keeping it still. Sue has no problem with it and she can produce excellent A3 prints from it. Quite staggering quality.

The 750Z is bigger, but still very compact. This has more resolution and can also produce superb A3 prints. This i can hand-hold with no problems. It also appeals more to me in that it has all the manual setting options i would wish for.

Both cameras have small sensors and it could be that there would be more noise than a DSLR at high ISO settings. But we don't use high ISO settings, so it's not a problem.

I would thoroughly reccomend either of these cameras, and therefore probably lots of other similar Pentax models as well.

However, for the best general handling the Digital SLR is my best choice.

Like John, I have an S5i and the quality is stunning from such a little camera. Shutter lag can be a bit of a problem in certain circumstances but having the shutter button half depressed (the camera is then focused and exposure set) before finally pressing it overcomes this. The only thing that surprises me is that the aperture never seems to stop down very far and no matter what mode the camera is in it always seems to adjust shutter speed, so even in landscape mode you could be shooting at 1/1000 @ F4.5 when 1/250 @ f8 might be preferable, curious.

Ken

Generally, cameras with such small sensors do not stop down far. There is so much depth of field that it's unecessary, excpet for where you want less DOF and then that can be an issue.

f8 is probably the smallest aperture you could expect. Give me a DSLR any day by choice!

I can't answer specifics about Pentax compacts, but I believe they have thier place.

All compacts have slow reflexes and shutterlag, but with good tecnique you can overcome these.

when possible use manual focus or prefocus, then recompose wait for the right moment and fire. use burst mode and your second shot will often be sharper than the first shot.

use the optical finder when possible.
when not possible, open both eyes while shooting and use your ohter eye to track the moving subject, when the af catches up release the shutter.

use a tripod and slowest iso setting...when that gets difficult...add more light...

we had a fellow contact this group a while back asking for photo submissions for Pentax and after he checked some images on my website, he asked about 10 images he liked, and 8 of those had been shot on compact, and evf digicams, (wrong brand) unfortuneatly, I hadn't had my *ist ds2 long enough that many images on my website were older.

Don, the sad thing is that the optical finder on my s5i is truly pathetically inaccurate. It probably only shows 75% of the recorded image and I resent having to wear specs to view the lcd. It is a shame because it is the only thing that lets down a really good little camera. There is no need for it because I also have a Pentax film compact, the Espio Mini, which is reasonably accurate.

Thanks to all of you for your input. I will consider the S5i. I'd just like to ask a few questions about it. How does it do in movie mode? Are the clips smooth or jerky? I read that it is actually water proof. Can any of you that own it confirm that? Have you ever used it for underwater shots? What's the biggest size SD card it'll take? Since this'll be a gift for my wife, I want to make sure that I have my facts straight before purchasing it. Thanks again to all of you for any information you can give me.

Regards,
Angelo

If you want waterproof go for the Optio WPi. A friend took hers swimming (unintentionally) in the canal near Guildford and it came out of the water fine! I've used mine in the drving rain on Helvellyn and it was perfectly OK too.

Thanks for the tip on the WPi. I had read that the S5i was also waterproof. I'm not really interested in a waterproof camera at this point. I'm just curious if the S5i is in fact waterpoof. If anyone else can give me any input on what the biggest SD card the S5i can accept and if the quality of the video clips are smooth or choppy, I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Angelo