Expert: John Oliverio - 11/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: I'm from New York and I'm planning to get a new camera for Christmas but I'm not
sure what I want. I know I want to use it for taking pics of the city, my
neighborhood, friends, family, events, things like that. I have an Olympus
camera now it's pretty good but it's better outside than inside.
I have a list of cameras but I'm not sure which one to choose:

Sony Cybershot DSC-t99 or TX7 or TX1 (I'm not sure how I'll like the touch
screen??)

Olympus SP 800UZ (this one looks good)

Samsung tl225 (i like the dual view)

Canon Powershot SD3500IS

Nikon Coolpix s80

As you can see most of them are touch screen. All in all I want a camera good
for taking pictures inside and outside, self-portraits, cite seeing and
family/friend events. Any helppp? Thanks I'd appreciate it!


ANSWER: Indoor photos are a problem for many point and shoot cameras.  That SP800UZ is a good example of an outdoor camera.  

Right now the best pocket camera for low light is the Canon SD4000.  It doesn't have the touch screen but you'll love the image quality.

John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So I shouldn't get the SP800UZ if I want good photos for the inside?? & that seems like a good camera. I'm not really familiar with touch screen cameras, do you know anything about them?

ANSWER: You can take good photos with the SP800UZ inside.  But you could take better ones with the SD4000.  You must be careful how much zoom you use when in low light with the Olympus.  

There isn't that much different about a touch screen camera.  Instead of buttons you have a touch screen.  Kind of like an iPhone.  In my experience only the younger folks like the touch screen cameras.  They get on my nerves.  I'm always having to clean the screen and I constantly hit controls by mistake.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh okay, good to know! Yeah i was figuring the screen would get dirty with touch screen. I saw the canon sd4000 has panorama assist, do you know what this is?

Now I'm stuck on 3 cameras to get:
Olympus sp800uz
Canon sd3500
Canon sd4000
do you really recommend for me to get the canon sd4000?

Answer
Well, the only reason to go with the Olympus is if you really want the big zoom.  As for 3500 vs. 40000....  the 4000 has lower signal noise (grain) at high ISO (film speed)...  good for low light.  Low light is where most people are disappointed with these kinds of cameras.  But if you really want the touch screen then of course the 3500 is a good deal.  Canon is trying to move them so they have a $30 rebate on it for the holidays.  It should sell for about $270 which is quite a bit less than the 4000.  Don't be mis-led by the pixel count on the two cameras.The 14mp in the 3500 is what causes it's poorer low light performance.  The fact that the 4000 only has 10mp is in its favor.

John