I want a small EASY TO USE camera for my day pack. I don't want to adjust anything just shoot pictures.
What do you recommend?

Canon S95

The Canon S95 is a great camera.

But, if you are like me and want something that does a great job outside, especially for hunting and things that are relatively far away, there is nothing to touch the Panasonic TZ10.

It is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, takes very high quality pictures, has a 12X optical zoom, and takes very good HD video clips as well.

I normally have one of these in my pockets almost all the time.

Especially while hunting.

Saeed is right about the overall versatility of the Panasonic, but unlike Saeed, I'm pretty much unable to hold these little cameras stable enough to consider using the long lens option, so it's wasted on me. Also, if you do get one, buy an extra battery to keep with you since they discharge pretty fast with all they stuff they need to power (GPS, etc).

Just over $200 new or $150 used Cannon A1100IS.
Got one for my nieces 9th birthday, very nice little camera.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Po...id=1286718240&sr=8-1

My Canon Powershot A520 is old as far as consumer gadgets goes. But it has point-n-shoot capabilities and fits in a shirt pocket. 4MP's and a 4x zoom are good enough for trophy photos.

But the big thing I looked for over and above the number of pixels and how far the zoom zoomed, was battery life and using conventional batteries...like the ever present almost everywhere double A type.

I would steer away from a camera like the S95 which uses a battery pack, although rechargeable. I like the option of popping in fresh AA's that I brought from home when hunting in a far off country.

A word about batteries.

I probably take more photos in any given day on safari than any of the other people we are with.

But, my battery seems to last a lot longer than any of them.

I get the camera out, take the photo I want, then switch it off.

One day we shot a hippo, and while we were recovering it, I noticed practically everyone that had a camera. Holding it in their hands, fully powered, and just talking to each other.

I asked one friend why did he not switch his camera off.

He said "It does that automaticaly"

I discovered why their batteries never last as much as mine do.

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:


I would steer away from a camera like the S95 which uses a battery pack, although rechargeable. I like the option of popping in fresh AA's that I brought from home when hunting in a far off country.

Or, you can do as I do and buy a second rechargeable battery and take both, charged, with you when hunting. They don't sell AA batteries in the bush. And two fully charged batteries will get you several hundred photos. There is more chance there will be a generator in a hunting camp than an AA cell battery store.

I carry 6 battery packs and a car charger, or for Cannon camera 3 sets of AA recharged and a new set of Duracells "just in case".

I have had very good luck with my Nikon L20. It is small and compact,easy to use, takes great pics and goes along ways on a pair of AA's.

I picked up a Nikon Cool Pix S8100 I will put it through it's paces next week hunting elk in New Mexico.

Saeed,

Thanks for the heads up on the Lumix cameras! I just sold my Canon SX200IS and got one.

Bob

Bob,

I think you will like the Lumix better than the Canon.

Another vote for Lumix

Look at my report - all pics and a vid (watch in HD res) taken with Lumix TZ7 (TZ10 will give you TZ7 + GPS coordinates of every pic taken):

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7481090541

P.S. Take in account I had a Buffalo to shoot as well so a video is a bit shaky .

This vid of piglets is a better reference (also watch in HD):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpWRKNoa-lQ

Something very useful when in wilderness http://www.rei.com/webservices...9-_-31835-_-datafeed