too complicated…
too big…
Not good macro…
I am going to buy good point and shoot?
Next monday.
Price range 300-700 bucks.
Use for fish and scenery…needs good macro…
Lets hear what you think?
I have the Pentax w30. It’s a great little camera for general photography, but either it is lacking in the macro department, or I am. I have a hard time getting the camera to focus on closeup images. I have to zoom way in and move way back to get even a halfway decent photo. I would rather not have to zoom so much to help eliminate the shake that goes with it. I also haven’t bothered with a decent lighting setup, so that might be part of the problem.
Your photo skills may offset what I see as a liability.
I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.
Lots of features, plenty of manual adjustments if you want them, and fairly intuitive menus. And, the book is only 1/4" thick:D
Kirk
I’ve admired your photos and your location for a long time. I suspect God lives in the Driftless area.
I have a Canon A720 IS (~$185) that pleases me. I believe you’d be happy with the Canon Powershot G9 that’s ~$450. It has many of the capabilites of a DSLR while fitting a shirt pocket, has great defintion (12Mp) and focuses to 1 cm. Check it out at
http://www dpreview.com/review/specs/Canon/canon_G9.asp
Sorry, don’t know why that didn’t light up!
Since the G 10 has recently been introduced the G9 may be available for a few dollors less - get a few more boxes of hooks! Maybe even a Whiting neck!
I have an Aquapac sealed bag for carrying my camera but rarely use it. A neck strap allows me to put my camera in my shirt pocket with very little chance of it getting “drowned”.
Good luck with your new purchase and please keep those pictures coming.
Bill
I put my point and shoots away in favor of my Nikon D40 because of its superior all around performance. But since you are going in the other direction, I suggest the Canon Powershot A580 as an low cost high performance point and shoot that is simple to use, or the Canon SD750 for for a more compact model. Both have good macro as do most point and shoot cameras. These are well under you price range, low enough to get two or three.
Oops! Now I see why it didn’t light up. Try
http://www.dpreview.com/review/specs/Canon/canon_G9.asp
HTH
Bill
i have huge hands
skinny little cameras?
don’t think so.
Have 2 sony point and shoot cameras.
The older sony (V-1) has a better macro than my W-7.
I say DO NOT buy a DSLR.
will not improve a photo that is required in 5 seconds or less.
Len -
I highly recommend the Olympus 850SW. $300 plus a memory card ( about $15 for 1 gig ).
Shock proof from 6’ to a hard surface, waterproof to 10’, and freeze proof to 14F.
The settings are easy to learn and use - lots of useful modes and some not so useful, flash settings, a couple macro settings, will take short movies ( at low resolution ), etc. etc. etc.
There is a 1050SW which ups the resolution and I believe that model also is good for the 6’ drop and 14F but goes to 30’ underwater. For what you seem to do, that is probably overkill, especially considering the higher price tag.
Every photo I’ve posted since early May was taken with the 850SW. I’m sure a good photographer would get more out of it than I do.
John
The Canon Powershot A650, A720, A590, A630, A570 and A580 are all larger than the thin models hand have larger grip areas due to the use of AA batteries. I prefer the grips on these compared to most other point and shoot cameras. They will still fit in shirt pocket but are bulkier than the thin models. All of these also have an optical view finder, which I consider essential since most lcd view screens are difficult to see in bright light. Most camera shops as well as stores like Wal mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. will have examples to check out.
Several of the Canon Powershot A series cameras also accept adapters that allow you to use standard 52mm threaded photo filters, most useful for anglers and landscape photographers is a circular polarizer.
i’m not sure you are gonna find a point and shoot that equals the quality of the D60.
most of photos are stream side
And I am usually in a hurry trying to get that trout back in the water.
The D60 is too big for what i am doing.
I am leaning towards the NEW canon Point & Shoot.
Len, I know one of the things that we both worry about is dropping a nice camera in the water. My next point & shoot that is meant to carry around with me will be waterproof. This camera came highly recomended on another board for people that spend as much time around the water as you do: pentax w30. waterproof…no worries.
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/4228/field-test-jump-right-in-with-the-pentax-optio-w30.html
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3061&review=pentax+optio+w30
Good luck in whatever you decide. I would want to try one out before you bought. At least put your hands on the thing, put it in a pocket, work the controls and see what YOU think.
Rick
A couple of pics of the w30.
The camera is approx 2.5" tall, 4.75" wide and 1" deep.
No viewfinder, but unless you are looking toward a bright light source, you can see the lcd screen well enough to frame your shot.
The button pad on the back is about 3/4" across.
(ignore the big thumbprint in the middle of the screen. 
)
Kirk
Spinner,
Since you are asking for opinions and I have one too, I will lay it out there.
I personally HATE NOT having a viewfinder. Having the screen is great, but it is not always convenient or visible.
The best one I have used actually had the movable screen. The one I had was the Coolpix 8700, but the current model is the Coolpix P80. (Canon and Olympus both have similar models if I am not mistaken.)
I am actually going to be getting an SLR in the near future. This is due to the frustration of catching the sides and back of kids heads.
Good luck in your quest!
If your looking for better macro then a D60 you won’t even come close to finding it in a P&S. Your problem is not the camera, it’s your lens choice. A SLR is considerably faster too, a P&S has a shutter lag and buffer lag time. Just wait until you try to adjust the setting on a P&S with those teeny-tiny buttons. Your trading in your Porsche for a Kia. Poor decision. Your photo’s will suffer.
need a camera with NO lens cap and will fit in
my vest pocket. I didn’t pass one of my own tests.
Right tool for the job.
Len
The w30 is the same size as a pack of Marlboro 100’s.
Kirk
Pentax has come out with a 10 MP Optio the W60. Street price is around $300. I have not used this camera, but the reviews are good.
I agree. A bit pricey, but my dream setup is the Canon 1D (currently, build MKIII) with an EF 24-70 2.8 L lens – a very very nice weather resistant solution. You would need a nice macro lens too (EF 100 2.8 is nice), and eventually the EF 70-200 2.8 IS L lens. I hate shutter lag! If you’re guiding, just carry a camera with you.
When we evacuated for Gustav, our hotel faced DFW airport. It’s pretty cool watching the planes take off at night, and I wanted to try to capture that.
I set the w30 to “Night shot” mode, set the shutter delay to 2 seconds (to eliminate shake), and set it on the balcony rail. I was trying for the streak effect from the landing lights. A couple of times, I got more than I bargained for.
The dots on either side of the streak are the wing strobes.
This last one is shot in auto mode for contrast.
Kirk