Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I know this has probably been asked before, but I'd appreciate some good input. I recently purchased a Nikon S9700 camera that should have worked out well, but didn't work out at all. The VR didn't work and all my images were soft or seemingly out of focus. And when viewing images on the LCD screen, if I zoomed in on them for detail, the image would adopt a sort of checkerboard pattern! Don't know what that was all about, but there is something seriously wrong with that camera, so I am returning it.

So, back to my question. I am looking for a good pocketable digital camera with a decent long zoom with a price of $300.00 or less. I am considering abandoning the Nikon brand and thinking either Canon or Panasonic Lumix. It doesn't need to be an overly complicated camera, as I use that kind of camera for mostly snapshots, especially when I'm on the motorcycle which doesn't have room for packing a bulkier DSLR or my FZ200.

Any good suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

The only pocketable cameras I would consider don't really have a large zoom range.

Canon s110 or s120
Sony rx100
Olympus xz-2 (can be had for $239 refurbished)

Kuzano

The long zoom is the biggest limitation to "pocket" camera's..

Two questions come to mind. How big a pocket? How much zoom.

When I rode, I almost always had a tank bag. A smallish bridge camera always fit in the top of the tank bag.

Also, there are more than one mirrorless camera's on the market that fit the bridge category.

One is the very small PEN... E-PM2, which body wise is about the size of many P&S. The lens however keeps it from fitting in a shirt pocket. Perhaps a jacket pocket.

I purchased a refurbished E-PM2 with 14-42 lens from the Olympus refurb page at their web site for $299.

You'd have the same sensor and process engine as in the Olympus EM-1... in the m4/3 interchangeable lens category. Superb image quality, Live view focusing (magnifies the center portion of the image for focus), In Body stabilization that works!!! And more.

I'd encourage you to look at Olympus PEN or other small mirrorless.

Me.... before I found mirrorless and Olympus, I just had huge pockets sewn on my jackets, thigh of my pants and some heavier duty shirts. Then I carried the smallest DSLR, which in fact was Olympus again. Olympus is the creator of SMALL and reasonable price.

Their Micro 4\3 camera's are super capture and dinky.

Gosh, even one of their "Tough" series P&S may meet your criteria.

Link to Olympus refurb page:

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/reconditioned-cameras.html

This refurb outlet page also shows the camera that was mentioned in the first responder post.....The xz-2, at $239.99 which was originally a $600 camera.... Ahh, the benefit of "refurbished" and a warranty, for a while.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Check out the Fuji XP70. Only 5x zoom, but waterproof, shockproof, dustproof and freezeproof.

MW

If you want a view finder check the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1. Very similar to Canon S100/120/130 in size weight and fuction. PLUS a viewfinder

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I bought my son a Panasonic ZS30 with 20x optical zoom. He needed it to take pictures and videos of my granddaughters at school performances.

$320 at http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS30-Digital-Camera/dp/B00B3YSW5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416070892&sr=8-1&keywords=zs30

He does very well with it. He is not a post processing RAW shooter, but his "snapshots" survive enlargement to 13x19 inch prints. The video stabilization is quite good when he needs that.

Panasonic has replaced the ZS30 with the ZS40. I don't know what changes were made. It might be that the ZS40 is a little larger with more zoom.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

I have a Canon SX130 with Image Stabilization that I really like because of it's bridge camera functionality in a point-and-shoot package. 12 MP sensor with 12X zoom. BUT...it doesn't have a viewfinder and it doesn't record RAW.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I've had a Canon Elph in my pocket for roughly a decade now. They have the limitations that come naturally from having a small sensor, but they do all the things you'd expect of a real camera, such as stop most motion.

However, Canon apparently decided to compete with cell phones and no longer puts a viewfinder on that family, so I won't buy another one of these ... in fact, I may just follow Canon's implied suggestion and use a quality cell phone - if you don't really need zoom, the prodigious processing power of a cell phone gives really good pictures for its size.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Any thoughts on the Sony A5000? Costco is currently having a special on that camera for $449.00, includes the body, 16--50 and 55--210mm lenses. Seems tempting. I would prefer the A6000, but I can't afford it at over $600.00.

Bob Grove

I am looking for a good pocketable digital camera with a decent long zoom with a price of $300.00 or less.

After considerable comparisons of reviews, I settled on a Canon SX-700 HS and have never looked back. 30X zoom, 16 MP, excellent optics, and intuitive to operate. $299.99 at B&H.

Good luck!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The A5000 doesn't have a built-in EVF, and as far as I can determine, there is no add-on EVF for that particular unit. I'm not saying that will be a deal-breaker, but you might want to consider one of the more advanced NEX units, because they do have an add-on EVF.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

I have the RX-100M3 and have read all kinds of complaints from owners of the M1 version about battery life. There's only a few gripes on the M2 &M3 versions. Sony changed the DSP for the M2 & M3 and updated the camera's program. They also reduced the max analog zoom of the lens to 70mm.

I think what you have with the pixelization problem, is low res and you've turned on the digital zoom. There's no pixelization when you turn off the digital zoom and only use the analog zoom of the lens.
Most small pocket cameras have a long lag time to autofocus and set up when the shutter button is pushed, but the RX-100M3 & M2 are really quick. This model also uses a larger sensor (1") to aid in low light). Another choice to consider is the Panasonic Lumix. They have a new version with a 4/3 sensor that's rated highly. Both the Sony and the Lumix are not cheap but they are well built. If you're only going to be shooting JPEG, then the Canon SX-110 seems to fit the bill but the zoom is a bit small.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Yes, there is no way to find a camera that will meet all needs; for many years, the only way I've met my non-inclusive needs is to have two cameras, typically a DSLR and some kind of pocket camera.

Jazztrader

I have the S100, which I got refurb at Canon, and it's great.

Not quite as pocketable, but still very compact, is the G15. It's a bargain refurb this week at Canon, for $230. OK but not great viewfinder, hotshoe, and dials. Has a great reputation for image quality. Shoots RAW, as well.

mmeador

My suggestion would be a Canon SX-50. I think Walmart has some left for about $300.