Which Camera?

[zachp]

My girlfriend dropped her camera and broke it so i'm in the market for a new one(point and shoot), i've narrowed my choices down to 2...Canon powershot SD870IS(8 pixels) and Canon powershot G9(12 pixels).

I'm moving to AK in a couple months and I want a nice camera that still takes decent pictures while using zoom. The G9 wins in optical zoom with 6x vs the 870's 4x. The g9 weighs twice as much but is pretty light for thar much camera packed into a point and shoot frame. I don't have much experience with cameras but i'm researching and slowly learning. I'm sure that 90% of the pictures I take the SD870 is going to be fine, but for some of the picturesque places in alaska I might want a nicer camera that will take pictures that look better when blown up. Will the g9 take that much better pictures than the 870 that will justify the $175 price tag difference?

So which camera would you choose for Alaska...I'm not going to be lugging a DSLR around so that's out of the question, i just want a nice point and shoot that I can get the most out of.(I think i just answered my question).

Thanks,

Zach

[DTro]

Also check out the Panasonic Lumix.

Might want to ask this over in the Photo Sharing forum as well.

[zachp]

Thanks Dtro, I was going to list it in the photo sharing board but figured since i'm looking for information this would be a good one to start with...i'll post there too.

I should have listed the panasonic DMC-TZ5 as another possiblity as it has 10x optical zoom which I think would be nice. I've always had/used canons so i'm more comfortable with them but I'd be willing to try out the tz5.

[slipperybob]

The easiest answer generally is look at the physical optics. Generally the bigger the optics the better the quality, but prism matertial, coatings and everything else can influence that. Generally canon's don't pollute the picture with photo enhancing software.

[Mike Wallace]

If you just want point and shoot, and you are going to Alaska, and you like to fish, the Olympus Stylus 790 is waterproof and shockproof.

[protiller]

Zach I recently purchased the Canon SD1100 IS. For $220 it's an excellent camera. As far as lenses it's 3x optical 4x digital. I bought it because it's small, I can fit it in my pocket and it's 8mp. More than enough pixels to enlarge photos. As M. Wallace stated, take a look at the Olympus Stylus 790, wateproof, shockproof, freezeproof and crushproof. Nice camera for $300. I looked but didn't purchase due to the fact of Olympus's xD card. I wanted the SD.

[goose89]

I came close to getting the Olympus Stylus 790 also. My old Canon PS A95 recently "died" during my Rainy River trip.

I replaced it with another Canon PS 720 (for wife and regular picture taking) , but also got a Pentax Optio (waterproof) for the boat / outdoors. Great little camera that I won't have to be ultra careful with.

Didn't go the Olympus route because of the poorer picture quality and the propriety xD card. SD is nice.