$400 Camera contenders

[TimberWolf7.62]

Time for a new camera. I'd like to be able to get a single camera that would be good as a high quality point & shoot but also offer some features that I could play with, like time exposures (yes, I do have a tripod), some macro, stop-action, etc. Seriously, the vast majority will be more or less point and shoot with maybe some bracketing.

The reviews on the Nikon Coolpix 510P seem good and it's $400 but what else is out there that's comparable?

[butcher_block]

maybe a used DSLR its a gateway drug but you can use it in full auto or slowly pplay with all the settings and while not top glass the kit and budget lens offerings will still be better then any of the point and shoots

dont let anyone tell you that a 3 year old DSLR is no longer any good i get lots of good shoots with my sony A330 (10.2MP) and have only started to think about upgrade so i woudl have video option

kelly has a canon sx30 IS or something or other and it takes great shots but can be a bit noisy compared to my dslr (to be expected as it has higher MP on a smaller sensor )

[chrisa62401]

Panasonic lumix range of mirror less cameras are a good DSLR alternative.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-.../ref=pd_cp_p_1

[Chief]

Recently bought a Canon S100 review here. It has raw mode, which allows you to change white balance or tweak exposure after the shot is taken. Posted some shots taken with it in this thread.

[Magnaminous_G]

For about $500, you can get into mirrorless compacts. They have large sensors and sophisticated processors like DSLRs, but they are much smaller. You can do everything with them, including shooting in full manual mode and all the other modes.

mode: full manual
focal l: 34mm
shutter: 1/15
aper: f5.0
iso: 200
white balance: custom manual

[AR-Trvlr]

Panasonic lumix range of mirror less cameras are a good DSLR alternative.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-.../ref=pd_cp_p_1

The Olympus cameras in the same micro four-thirds (aka "m43") mirrorless format would also be a good option. You should be able to find a E-PL2 with 14-42 zoom for under $400.

[Magnaminous_G]

+1.

Olympus micro 4/3 cameras are awesome. The old knife saying, "The best knife is the one you have on you," is especially true for cameras. I like the small size of the PEN with a pancake attached for street and travel photography because it is discrete. Here's a pic I took with an Olympus micro 4/3.

"Traditional knife makers in Xinjiang province"
Xinjiang, China, October, 2011
E-P1
full manual mode
34mm
1/400
F5.0
iso200
wb 6000k