rebuc1

I keep finding that every compact I look at there is a but...... that goes with it. I guess I am being too pick but can someone recommend a pocket or jacket size camera that makes good use of all the features it touts? A $400.00 price is not out of the question IF the camera comes highly recommended. I do want some manuel control, 12 megapixals or better, a lens that zooms in and out with quick focus, a low lag time for both and a good to excellent lens.
Is this too much to ask for today's technology.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

one word Leica.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Depends-- is a view finder a must?
if not the
Panasonic Lumix line uses "Leica" glass, and full fills your other wishes-
I have the ZS8 and love it, for a pocket camera.
16x optical zoom
Manual and automatic modes.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Canon G series. It's a little big for a pocket but still portable. I take as many shots with my G9 as I do with my either my 5D or 7D except where there is motion like birds.

Roy Hakala Loc: Red Wing, MN

I really like my Nikon P7000. It is 10 mP rather than 12, but my reading suggests that this produces better pix on a 1/1.7 sensor than the previous version that had 12 MP. Nikon just came out with the P7100, which has a tiltable LCD screen. On either, the LCD screen is incredibly sharp, and they have an optical viewfinder for bright situations. I rarely find a need for my SLR any more.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Ken Rockwell swears by the Canon S95 - see KenRockwell.com

Phyllis Loc: NE PA

The Panasonic ZS 10 is great with super video ($300), and the Leica D-Lux 5 is even better, but 2.5 times the price of the Panasonic.

jkaye65 Loc: Chico, CA

What ever camera you choose, I would highly recommend that you research the reviews for "battery life". There are so many pocket cameras out there that EAT batteries like crazy.

senad55verizon.net Loc: Milford, NJ

Sinatraman suggests a Leice P&S, but unfortunately not for $400.

A big vote here for a great alternative, the Panasonic DMC LX3 or LX5. It starts with a Leica Summicron zoom lens, but there's also a really great camera behind it.

For wonderful litte jpeg pictures use the iA (intelligent automatic) mode and forget about the technical details.

For real photography and and 10 MP RAW files, use any of the other modes. They're all there, and you can have it as technical as you wish. MPEG? No problem.

The camera and accessories travels easily, it's solid as a rock and the support from Panasonic is really quite good. (Ever try getting help from Nikon?)

Panasonic even makes a high quality eyelevel viewfinder for working those bright sunny days.

All that, wnd you're well within your $400 price bracket. (We'll, the camera plus finder would break the barrier, but not by that much)

I own a Nikon D3 and dearly love it, but the LX3 gets the nod for almost any kind of travel, including a long walk in the woods.

If you can read and understand a manual (an absolute requirement), you won't be sorry.

Peter

drobbia Loc: Near Middletown, CA

Might be good to check s95 vs G series "hans on" at a brick and motor store to help decide. S95 is more of a true pocket camera - they both have excellent results, I'll check the rockwell site.

dundeelad Loc: Originally UK. Current West Dundee, Illinois

I have just bought the sony HX9V for a walk-around camera. It takes 16 megapixel photos and full HD video at 1080p resolution. There is a "M" manual control setting and a "P" program setting but no aperture or shutter priority modes. It has two intelligent auto modes where the camera selects the correct settings for what it sees. for example, indoor low light shots it will set the camera for ISO 800 with no input required from you. It also takes full panorama shots where you just move the camera from side to side. It has an HDR setting where it will merge up to three shots into one picture. When it takes a shot in low light, the camera will take up to four or five shots and select the best one to keep. All automatically. Sony has put all the bells bangs and whistles into this camera. Check out the reviews by typing HX9V into your search engine and read for yourself. I got mine from Amazon for $346 including a case, extra spare battery and a 16gig SD card.
Not a bad deal.

John.

Mel Winner

I use my G12 eighty percent of the time these days. The 5D for the L glass when I feel the need. Of no value to you I would suppose...cheers!

SloppyJoe Loc: Walkertown N.C.

Not to through another monkey in the mix, check out Fujifilm cameras as well. I have J10 model that has been discontinued, but they make some that are a step up from it. It does have alot of manual settings for a point and shoot and does have a rechargable battery that lasts. My mom-in-law has a Nikon L100 (won't fit in your pocket) but it uses 4 AA's and eats them like candy. My best advise is no-matter what you buy, get rechargable batteries.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

definitely the G12. has all the features of high end dslr.

jf65625

You've gotten lotza suggestions. Since price does not seem to be an issue, you might want to check out the newly released Nikon 1. Expensive, but very small and said to be vary versatile.