<p>
</p>
<p>The Canon S100 has the option of fully manual operation and I’m sure other compacts do as well (Leica anyone?).</p>
<p>garland,</p>
<p>I am thinking of purchasing the canon that you mentioned tonight.
have you had any of your images printed yet? if so, did they come out great?</p>
<p>If you want a true point and shoot, the Canon S series (I think S110 is the latest model) is considered to be one of, if not the best point and shoot out there. It is pricey, but picture quality is fantastic.</p>
<p>As others have mentioned, the new mirrorless and micro four thirds cameras are becoming very popular now. They are slightly larger than a point and shoot, but have larger sensors and more features. But if you want the best image quality and control over your photos, you will never beat a DSLR. Point and shoots just don’t come close - they can’t, given sensor size, lack of external flash, non-detachable lens and other issues. Someone else mentioned depth of field - to have a truly nice narrow DOF and bokeh, you need a prime lens (i.e. not a zoom lens) with a wide apeture. If you want to do action shots, you’d want the high frame rates you can only get on DSLRs, etc.</p>
<p>Icaurus, I have a great canon point and shoot which takes amazing photos. Thinking of the 500 because I want something that is not an SLR that has great zoom that I can take on trips and such. Trying to stick under 250. It also has a manual mode that I think will be fun to play with. I have a regular SLR and do still break out the film from time to time. ;)</p>
<p>Sent from my Nexus 7 using CC</p>
<p>I have had a Pansonic Lumix for years, I love the extra zoom and great lens, but my kids convinced me to get a Canon when I got a new one as the colors are so good. They all take tons of photos and see tons of their friends photos and feel the Canon’s have the kindest colors for faces & they are right.</p>
<p>Another Canon P&S vote from a Nikon DSLR aficionado. Also Olympus has an enthusiast compact out now and Panasonic has some as well. Overall I’d say Canon.</p>
<p>I have several different Canon point and shoot models, a compact Canon mid-way between a point and shoot and an SLR, and two Canon digital SLRs with about a dozen different lenses (many bought in a feverish spending spree before an African safari). Not to mention my trusty old non-digital Nikon SLR. The only pictures I ever take are on my cell phone. </p>
<p>That reminds me, I’d better go check the batteries on all of my different cameras.</p>
<p>FG–no, I actually haven’t gotten around to printing any pictures, sorry. Still love the camera, though.</p>
<p>The main criteria I have for picking a point and shoot camera is the type of battery. I already have a fancy charger and a pile of Sanyo eneloop NiMH batteries (AA and AAA). So I don’t want a camera with a proprietary battery pack/charger. For years, Canon powered their point and shoots with AA batteries. Recently, they’ve switched to proprietary batteries, so I switched to a Nikon the last time (two AA batteries).</p>
<p>Can’t say that I see any big difference. I think these cameras are all pretty much the same. Both the Nikon and the Canon have fairly complete manual override settings, but – honestly – I use a point and shoot camera mostly as a point and shoot camera. Family snapshots, quick photos out hiking, etc.</p>
<p>Bought the camera. It’s charging now!</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID BIONIC using CC</p>