Which compact camera ?

[greenanrol]

I'm looking into buying a compact camera to use as a lightweight alternative to my dslr for habitat and butterfly shots, anybody got any ideas ?

[Pete Eeles]

Why don't you want to use your DSLR for butterfly shots?

Canon Powershot G series (I have a G9). It has quite a few features you'll find in a DSLR - such as a shoe for a flash unit, as well as the ability to shoot "RAW". It'll do movies too

Cheers,

- Pete

[eccles]

I have seen some astonishing close ups taken with the Canon G series. They're expensive but if money is no object then I'd second Pete's recommendation.

[wavelea1]

While I understand that carrying a DSLR and adequate lens around can be a burden it's my experience that with compacts the delay between pressing the shutter release and it actually operating often denies getting the pic that you set out to get - the butterfly has moved.

I have been out with others that use compacts - and with some success but you will need to be prepared to be frustrated and on bright warm sunny days such as now when they are very active you need an instant picture.

[greenanrol]

Thanks, this camera is to take out on daily walks with the dog, quite a few times I have wished I had taken a camera with me that fits in a pocket.

[Vince Massimo]

Hi Pete,

I am looking very carefully at a Canon G10 as my next purchase and was heartened by the recommendations made by yourself and Eccles.

I have looked at the specifications but cannot find one particular detail. Assuming that the G10 works very much like the G9, can I ask if your G9 allows the use of the inbuilt flash when in macro mode? If the answer is no, I do not think it will put me off, but it would be nice to know.

Thanks,

Vince

[Pete Eeles]

Assuming that the G10 works very much like the G9, can I ask if your G9 allows the use of the inbuilt flash when in macro mode?

Just tried it - and the flash does indeed work in macro mode.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Vince Massimo]

Thanks Pete,

That settles it. I'm having one!

I assume that you have an accessory flash as well.

Cheers,
Vince

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Pete,

That settles it. I'm having one!

I assume that you have an accessory flash as well.

Cheers,
Vince

Nope - just use the builtin flash when required. To be honest, for "serious" work, I use my DSLR (Canon 30D).

Cheers,

- Pete

[Vince Massimo]

Hi Pete,

Of course you do - silly me

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

Vince

[Dave S]

I bought a Canon G9 on the recomendation of a couple of people on this site and found it to be perfect for my needs.
The downsides, not to me but some people maybe, are it is quite bulky and heavy compared to some others and it has an awful lot of features that I don't know how to use but to someone who uses a DSLR I guess this wont be a problem, it really should come with a user manual and the excuse that canon give about saving paper is ridiculous since mine had about 10 different booklets all in different languages instead of just the english one.
Personally i'd give it 9 out of 10 and I haven't seen any better pictures from another compact. It also uses RAW which I haven't tried yet but gather that it's very popular with camera buffs.