Talking about cameras

Finally decided on my next camera. I love the convenience of my old Sony, but I've never been pleased with the pictures--not enough tonal range. I've been doing research and decided that what I needed was a camera that would give me raw files. I know the real answer is to get a DSLR, but I also know I don't want to carry several pounds of camera with me all the time. There are only a few point and shoot models that meet my requirements and some of them are heavier than I want. Yesterday I went to B & H Photo and held three of them in my hands. Reading the specs didn't do it for me.

B & H is on Ninth Avenue and 34th Street. I think it covers a full New York block on two floors. It is owned and run by Orthodox Jews and mostly has Orthodox Jews working there; lots of them. The place is well organized, but tends to be kind of a zoo; crowds of people. Yesterday morning wasn't too bad. I was able to speak to two different sales people without any waiting. The first young man immediately told me he didn't know anything about point and shoot cameras; I was in the wrong place. That was very nice. Too often I've had sales people give me a totally made up line figuring I wouldn't know better.

The second man showed me four cameras that would meet my needs. I promptly rejected one--too big--and spent time looking at the other three. I liked the smallest one best. Haven't bought anything yet. I'm still in research mode, but I'll probably get the Canon S90. Anyone know anything about it?

Comments

[Baileyz]

I'll be no help at all. G has a Canon A590 IS and I have A650 IS that they don't make any more. G loves his A590 which does everything he needs and is light and will fit in a pocket. The "IS" is very important for both of us as we are both shakey. Image stabilization is the be all and end all for these digital camera's as far as I can see.

[Alice]

Well I don't know anything much either. My Canon S30 is so old but works well as a point and shoot, but I'd like being able to get more and sharper detail in photographing tiny things--like flower blossoms and tiny frogs--all things my present camera isn't very good at. So I'll be checking back to see what you decide on, and how you like it. I like Mage's remark on image stablization too, as my hands are a bit shakier now, too, especially after all the stuff I'm going through. Nice to imagine you in NYC and in Chinatown, such a colorful place isn't it??