camera options .......

Try the Canon Ixus it's a great little camera, easy to use & you can buy underwater housing for it for a reasonable price. I mainly use mine as an underwater camera now I have an SLR. Reply to this

The G12 is already out. The G series generally has excellent image quality and decent low-light performance (usually a problem with point-and-shoots), and gives you manual control over most functions if you so wish. Downers are the price (G12 is about £370, so you could probably pick up a G11 for maybe £320), bulk (you won't fit it in the average pocket), and x5 optical zoom (pretty short).

You might also want to have a look at the Panasonic TZ10 (~£230) and the Canon SX210 IS (~£200). These both have much bigger optical zooms (x12 and x14 respectively, I think) and are genuinely pocket-sized, however they don't have the same DSLR-like controls as the G series. I don't think they can shoot in RAW format either, which might be a factor if you're planning on any post-processing in something like Photoshop.

All 3 have HD video, if that's important to you.

I've used the G11 as well as an earlier model in the TZ range. My advice would be that if you're interested in photography, then choose the G series. If you simply want something to take pictures with, I'd go for one of the others.

It's also worth checking out reviews on sites such as dpreview (more technically-oriented) and Amazon (more consumer-oriented). Whatever you choose - and without wishing to state the obvious - make sure you read the manual several times over, and try out all the camera's functionality before you go. You won't want to spend time on this when you're actually travelling, and there's nothing more annoying than missing a shot because you didn't know how to set the self-timer or turn on the red-eye reduction or whatever. Reply to this

thanks for the great replies everyone! :-)

we have been looking at the cannon sx12 IS, however, some reviews have said that its too patchy, probably due to too many mp's and shooting on a bright day wasnt that great which is no good for the travelling to hot countries. there are many great reviews for it as well so we are undecided about that one.

the cannon g series do look good, although a little bulky for what we want, maybe its the way to go to get amazing pics, looking at g11 id be worried in case id snap the screen off or it would break.

good point alaric about getting a tough camera :-)

just got to have a look around. Reply to this

Hi,

Take a look at: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q42010highendcompactgroup/page18.asp

This review compares side by side two of the three cameras I can personally recommend. The Canon S95 and the Panasonic Lumix LX5.

Although these two cameras are at the top of their game (and price brackets) I would personally rather spend a £100 more on a great camera, than skimp and regret it later. You're going to have some amazing memories, don't buy a cheap compact when your spending your time and money on a great trip... otherwise you'll find yourself writing "You had to be there to appreciate it...!"

These cameras have great low light performance, excellent image quality, useful features, usable zoom ranges and great screens. Many DSLR owners use them as their compact carry round and I use the LX5's predecessor the LX3 at the moment. I also shoot Nikon, but whilst their DSLR's are great, their compacts are poor in comparison.

As per some of the advice above, don't get woo'd by some of the marketing hyperbole. You won't need more than 10MP unless your planning on exhibiting your work at billboard sizes. Look for a zoom which starts at 24-28mm. It will allow you to take pictures close to your subjects, such as buildings and group shots without having to stand miles away. 20x zoom sounds great, but how often are you really going to zoom in on just the spire of a building as opposed to taking a picture of the whole thing?

Happy Travels.

James
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A decent zoom will enable you to take detail shots that would otherwise be impossible - this is invaluable if, for example, you're taking pictures of well-known tourist sites that have been photographed to death in the past, as a detail shot is likely to be the only way you can get a new "angle" on the subject.

Camera shake isn't a problem (at least not with a x12), assuming that you make attempts to stabilise yourself as well as use the camera's inbuilt image stabilisation.

Ultimately, I guess it comes down to what kind of photography you're into. Go to a camera shop and play around with some of the models there and see what seems as though it will fit best. Reply to this

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all your helpful replies!

Been looking at Cameras today out shopping and have fallen in love with Cannon S95 and the Sony NEX 3. The Sony one is one of those compact system cameras with a detachable lense and we really liked it.

The problem is - between the two the price difference isn't that much, its just the security issue that is worrying us. When I first started planning the travelling I didnt want to take anything too gadgety with us to draw attention to ourselvs. An iphone and an Amazon Kindle later and that promise is slipping. The Sony camera isn't too bulky as such but the lense does stick out a bit, and its not one of those cameras you can just zip up in a pocket when your not using it.

Am I worrying too much? Should we get the Canon becasue it'll be safer but not as good photos or should just risk and have some amazing photos? Reply to this

I have just returned from 6 weeks in the Middle East and Europe and I saw hundreds of tourist trying to take photos using a small digital camera that had only the screen on the back of the camera. In the bright sun light I saw dozens trying to "frame" a photo but unable to do so due to the bright sun. I noted the cameras had no viewfinder thus the photographer was limited to what he/she coculd see on the screen. It's no different for me as I too can't see the subjects being photographed due to the bright sun light. As a back up I have a Sony camera I purchased sometime ago that has both the viewfinder and the screen. Sure makes outside photography a lot easier. Of course these small digitals are certainly not up to the standards for the large digital cameras---which in the long run are not all that heavy and last for years. Reply to this

You will regret it if you don't get the better higher quality camera. These photos will be memories for a life time and you don't want to cut corners.

Besides when you post photos we want to look at amazing photos. 😊 Reply to this