Camera?

[Lamnidae]

I do really enjoy the components in the Canon S95..... however I'm not a super big fan of the ring control on the front of the camera --- it's slow to adjust the optics... and more novelty than anything really useful, the same controls can be put on the camera elsewhere (and honestly with a P&S i'm not trying to use the viewfinder, holding like a DSLR does nothing for me).

[Flexin]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

The new Olympus E-P3 has a small built-in flash and a fairly big screen, but is better used with the accessory viewfinder. It also focuses fairly fast. The earlier versions in this camera line didn't so you can get one at a good price, but it might not perform the way you want it to. The Panasonic Micro Four-Thirds cameras also focus fairly quickly. My measure of focus speed, in this case is being fast enough to catch a kid at play. They aren't up to motorsports performance speeds.

It has a focus assist lamp. The flash isn't very powerful, but it can also act as a controller for an off-camera flash. I did a Christmas family portrait session with this camera and a couple of external flashes, on stands with umbrellas.

I took a couple of quick shots. This is now my "travel kit"; Olympus E-P3, Olympus 17mm F2.8 pancake, Olympus 14-42mm F3.5-5.6, and Panasonic 45-200mm F4.0-5.6 IS. To give an idea of scale, the E-P3 is 5 inches across.





The advantage of any removable lens system is that you can buy the body and one lens, that you think you'll need immediately, and then add to it later on. At this point all of the major manufacturers are jumping on the old-style rangefinder body shape as a mirrorless multi-lens system.

I'm glad I asked for help. You reminded me about one of the things that is most important to me. That is the speed of the focus. I missed some good shots of the kid because of this.

It would be nice to have a camera that will start fast and be able to get the shot I want before it is gone.

James

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by Flexin

I'm glad I asked for help. You reminded me about one of the things that is most important to me. That is the speed of the focus. I missed some good shots of the kid because of this.

It would be nice to have a camera that will start fast and be able to get the shot I want before it is gone.

James

I figured that, which is why I mentioned it Obviously the best focus speed you're going to get is from a DSLR, but a full-sized body isn't always the most convenient thing in the world. There are good deals on the Olympus E-P2 right now earlier Micro Four-Thirds camera), and it's a great little camera, but it neither has a built-in flash, nor will keep up with a kid. I'll likely be setting mine up as a permanent product shooting rig, once I get my gear properly set up.

Ultimately you'll want to go to a camera or big-box store and see what feels best, but do your research first. In a big box store they'll not have a clue about cameras, only wanting to sell you what they're pushing that week/month. In a camera store they're more likely to try and sell you on whatever the salesman is getting an 'incentive' (read 'kick-back') on from the manufacturer, that month. That means some Canon or Nikon body that, while it'll probably do the job, may not be the best choice FOR YOU.

[EpyonXero]

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/898...s-roundup-2011