I have the Canon Powershot SD600 and I very rarely use it. I use my iPhone, since I always have it with me, I know it's always charged and I have a Mophie Juicepack if the charge is running low. Carrying my Canon, an extra battery and charger is inconvenient, and I usually forget one of them.

I do like the Canon, and frequently take it when I travel, but then I don't use it. It's small and easy to use and takes good photographs.

momj47 - thanks for the reply and information. Does your iPhone take good pictures? I have always wondered about the quality of cell phone pictures. Since I have a photographer's background, it is all about the quality.
Clare

I have a Sony DSC-H9 Cyber-shot, which is 8.1 megapixels (fine for my use) and a 15X optical zoom. It also has image stabilization, which does not work 100% of the time. I very much like the batteries, and they are still available. I only have one memory card for it because it holds 4 GB, and I never get close to filling it, although I never use it for movies. I mostly leave the settings on automatic, and then the camera picks the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and adjusts for light source. It does a great job of adjusting color for different light sources, and I had to do this manually for my previous Sony camera, which was an F707 that I bought about 12 years ago, and it was $1000 back then as well. I was doing professional photography back then (for furniture product mostly), and so it paid for itself. It only had 5 megapixels, however, but that was the most you could get back then.

I bought Sony products party because DB works for Sony and get me great discounts at some of their inventory sales. They have the best employee sales just before Christmas, but they have an on site store at the studio with mostly refurbished items for about half price.

Sorry I don't have anything newer to tell you about, but DB and I were looking at camera at Office Depot yesterday and were shocked at how cheap they have become - even the video cameras. I will say, however, that I do like the Lithium ion batteries that come with Sony cameras. I almost never use a flash, but I do keep a backup battery, since I use my camera at work and may not have time to let it charge.

We went to Office Depot to look at cell phones (since I do not have one currently), and I'm thinking that I might get one with a camera, since they do not cost that much. I'm only going to get the cheapest phone service, however - and NO texting! Kevin pays $25 for three months of service, and that sounds about right for me as well, especially since I've been doing fine the past few years without my cell. As I am having more health issues, however, I felt it might be good to get one - but never an iPhone - I don't like the way they keep too much track of you.

Lars

Clare, I can't help you, but I put "digital camera or iphone?" into Google and got a bunch of very interesting articles.

I ended up buying a Canon PowerShot ELPH-100 because Costco was having a sale of $70 off with 4GB card and camera case included. I looked at the other Canon PowerShot S100 and couldn't see that it was worth $400. I am getting cheap in my old age. LOL. And I think this will be fine for what I want to use it for which is mainly a camera to carry in my handbag to shoot impromptu pictures. I have my old, but still working fine, almost profession Nikon if I want to do some serious photography.
Clare

Here is a link that might be useful: Canon PowerShot ELPH-100

I have found these features very useful:

1. Ultra wide angle - Most of the time the camera is used inside a room. with a wider angle, you can get everyone's face in the picture.

2. Articulated view finder - this will allow you to take picturtes of yourself, take pictures with the camera raised above your head, etc.

3. Remote control - this well allow you to take multiple pictures of you with the group without having to run back to set the self-timer each time. This will also allow you to take very sharp pictures without any motion to blur the image.

dcarch

Enjoy, it's a good camera.

For most of my needs, the iPhone is more than adequate, I've taken hundreds of pictures with it. If I'm trying to something specific and have time to prepare or I want to use the tripod, I'll use the Canon, but the pictures aren't really any better, unless I want to zoom. The Canon has a greater zoom.

Hmmm. Elery's iPod Touch takes lousy pictures, they're all blurry. Or maybe it's Elery, LOL.

Mine is a Canon Powershot SD1000 Elph. It's 3 years old, I think, and it's been dropped, slammed in the seat of the Jeep (which resulted in a cracked display), generally abused but it's like cast iron, it just keeps on working.

It also takes pretty good pictures very simply, which I like, I'm not patient enough to fiddle. Hopefully, yours will be as durable as mine has proven to be.

It does have special batteries and a charger, but I haven't had to replace a battery yet, I'm assuming they are still available.

Annie

The Canon Elph 100 was a nice little camera but I am taking it back. I need more than 4X zoom. I am going to pick up at Best Buy this afternoon the Nikon Coolpix S8200. It was a jump in price to $249 but not as bad as $400! It has 14X optical zoom and 16 MP but is small enough to carry in my purse. I looked at it at Target yesterday but it was listed at $300. I hope I am happy with this one! (Or DH will shoot me. LOL)
Clare

Here is a link that might be useful: Nikon Coolpix S8200

I think the Nikon is a much better choice - I agree that 4X optical zoom is not enough the 14X will be much better. It appears that most of the settings on this camera are automatic without manual overrides, but you probably do not want manual settings when you just want to take a quick picture. I pretty much only use manual overrides when I use a tripod.

Personally, I prefer to carry a camera in a camera bag instead of a purse, but DB will carry his small one in a pocket. I carry a small shoulder bag instead of a purse, and things still get lost in it, if only temporarily. My camera bag will fit on my belt, which makes it that much more convenient.

Lars

Lars - I will carry it in a camera bag in my purse. I carry a rather small handbag for the exact reason you stated, in the big ones things get lost. And I don't wear a belt. That works for DH and his cell phone though, he has it in a case that slips onto his belt. I wonder, do any women wear belts any more except for decorative reasons on dresses?
Clare

Cell phone camera is such a good idea.

Now if they can make a digital camera that you can make phone calls. LOL!

dcarch

I think I finally found a winner. I am going to be posting shots from the other cameras too. The Nikon coolpix S8200 does great zoom shots and can get good closeups of flowers and that wasn't even on the macro setting. I posted some pictures here. Great detail on the sweet alyssum and that was a zoom taken from a standing position.

The gazebo close up one was taken from the deck at the top of the property. The gazebo is almost at the bottom. You can see the difference between using the zoom and taking it wide open. Also see the property denuded of trees. DH has been cutting down all the Monterey Cypress but that is another story.

Clare

Here is a link that might be useful: Camera comparison