I'm very happy with the Canon S90 from a usability point of view. But I've never been that happy with it from the point of the optics it packs, and the image limitations therefore imposed.
Before I switched to the S90, my main 'compacts' were the Leica D-Lux 4 and the M8.2 - both of which were capable of producing excellent photographs (just not apparently in my untalented hands) and neither really suited my needs as a very casual snapper - both just weren't 'rapidly deployable' enough for me.
What I'm really after is something like a modern day version of the Sony DSC-V1 - something that took markedly better pictures than regular compacts of the day, was feature laden for use when I have time but with sufficient automation not to compromise immediate snapping usability - which I still haven't quite found. The S90's close, but what I'd be effectively looking for is the controls/features of the S90 with the D-Lux 4's optics, which isn't huge.
Should I re-look at what's out there? And if so, which should I be looking at?
Discussion about
So is it time to have another crack at the 'better-than-S90' compact?
I own the Canon Powershot G12 and I have been absolutely floored by the performance of it. I'm by no means a great photographer, but I take a lot of pictures of my products (computers) indoors and not always in ideal light. The G12 has been very forgiving of my lack of photography prowess and takes wonderful pictures seemingly every time on auto mode. If I get too close, it auto swaps to macro mode for me, which is a huge plus. I have been most impressed with the flash, which I use extensively, as it is not too bright or dim, and always seems to illuminate the photo subject without washing it out. It has a lot of features, but I'm the last person to go about rating those, as I love this camera for it's ease of use, not customization options. It also has a wonderful recovery time, and is ready for the next picture almost instantly. Hope it helps.
Thanks for the reply, but it's been a year and a lot has changed. I'm no longer looking but hopefully your answer will help anyone else stumbling across this thread.
Personally, I ended up sticking with the S90 and adding a Leica X1.
Personally, I ended up sticking with the S90 and adding a Leica X1.
