Advice on P/S Nikon

[Indy]

Hey all, I currently have a Nikon D70
I am looking for a quality P/S Nikon or Cannon. My brother inlaw has let me and my wife use his Cannon SD800 at the Indy 500. I was very happy w/the results, but I feel that all my equipt. is Nikon I would like to stay w/ Nikon.
Any suggestion good Coolpix, keeping in the budget of around $350 or less.
This will be a B/day gift for the wife, she has also expressed that she does not like carring around the D70, and all the additional equiptment when I am carring a big cooler. The race is alot of fun w/some beers!!!!!
I have read many review on Cannon and Nikon, so I am not blind on the situation.
I would just like to hear what others have experienced with p/s cameras

Thanks, for any suggestions.

Indy

[DrJalapeno]

If your wife doesn't mind owning a Canon, then the A710IS may be one of the best compact digital cameras produced today.
It has a 6x image stabilized zoom lens and is one of the few digicams produced today that still has an optical viewfinder, which is invaluable to me.
All for $248 at Amazon

You can read an extensive review of the camera here

[kwatts711]

im with doc. i used to have a nikon coolpix five megapixel and the pictures all turned out bad. it was weird i checked all the settings used flash. they were either blurry underexposed or overexposed. and the blurryness usually occured in low light. but i still used the flash. i own the d80 and love it never had one problem with it. very surprised with it because of nikons reputation. it could have just been that certian camera but i sold it a while back. bought a little canon and use it when i cant take my d80. love it works great.

[Philter]

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kwatts711 wrote:

... i used to have a nikon coolpix five megapixel and the pictures all turned out bad. it ..... it could have just been that certian camera but i sold it a while back. .

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I'm gonna call this operator error and leave it at that.

I'm born and brainwashed Nikon but the p&s cameras in my house are C*n%n models. The A6xx and A7xx series are incredible little gadgets. It's tough to beat the 6x optical of the 710 except to say that B&H Photo has it right now for $238. Some Walmart stores and Circuit City places will price match internet sales against places that have an established showroom which means you may have a chance to save shipping and avoid waiting. Grab a good size memory card - the video feature is fun to play with but sucks up space. Good luck.

[JeffA]

I have to agree that the Canon A series cameras are excellent. A Powershot  A620 was my first foray into digital a year ago.  I still use it as a nice, small alternative to my 5D, when I don't want to lug the whole bag of gear around either for weight or security considerations.

 

It's just anectodtal evidence, but I believe also that the Canons have beetter battery management than the comparable Coolpiix models.  I can get 500+ shots from a set of AA alkalines in my A620, but a firend has a comparable (in resolution, at least!) Coolpix, and has nothing near the battery life I enjoy.

 

Jeff

[MarkD]

I love my Nikon D50 and 35mm SLR's, but when it comes to P&S's, I like the same Canons that others have already named. I fully agree with Dr.J that a viewfinder is a must have. I have never seen a digital camera whose LCD screen can be seen clearly in bright daylight. Also it is hard to hold them steady when viewing with the LCD screen. IS helps produce steady shots, but I have seen a lot of shots that are slanted. Another recommendation is to get a camera with at least a 35mm equivalent on the wide end.

[Indy]

Thanks to all who replied,
I did a lot more research and decided on the Canon A710IS What sold me is the review thru http://www.dpreview.com/.
Like I said this is a gift to the wife and the timing is perfect w/a vacation comming up in the near future. I will be of course be bring the D70 Nikon as a primary, but the A710IS is a primary for the wife.

Once again thanks all,

Indy

[DrJalapeno]

Congratulations!

If you wouldn't mind posting your thoughts on this camera in the future, it would really be appreciated!