Please recommend a camera to me

[lpbaker]

I am an artist (oil painter) and I need a camera for two main purposes;
1) Taking reference photographs - everything from landscapes to macros
2) Photographing my art (my paintings range from 6" square up to 30" or more)

For many years I've had a Fujifilm S5500 (SLR-shape 4mp) that I've been very happy with, but this year I wanted something with more MP. I ended up with a Pentax Optio W90 and it has been a huge disappointment - it takes nice landscape and macro photos but for some reason it takes horrible pictures of my art - the colours are all wrong, the resolution is fuzzy, it either completely loses the canvas texture or drastically exaggerates it. It's not a question of lighting - the same painting in the same location on the same tripod photographs beautifully on my S5500 or my wife's Nikon P90. I have read and re-read the manual for the W90, tried more settings than I can remember, all to no avail. I don't have the time or inclination to try further, I just need a camera that's going to work with little fuss.

I don't want to go to a full DSLR. I want a camera that's in one piece that I can keep in my bag to pull out whenever I see a scene I might want to paint. With that in mind, I have been looking at the Fuji HS20, especially since I've been so happy with the S5500.

But before I proceed -- what other cameras would you recommend in the same price bracket? (~ $600)? I'm probably best with an SLR shape as I have large (and not especially steady) hands so I find it easier to hold.

Thanks,
Lindsay

[kiwi]

http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod2975.htm?ctype=2&gclid=CKeRzujI16oCFcsE4godD2rd7Q

[KeeFy]

Dpends how much you want to spend and what's your priority.

A few i'd recommend but not in order.

Nikon P300/P7000
Panasonic LX3 (old but still good)/LX5
Canon S95/G12
Fuji X100
Leica D-Lux 5
Sony DSC-HX9v
Panasonic GF-2
Sony Nex-5/3/c3
Olympus E-P3

If you do some research and compare the list. A few will stand out more than the rest.

For me the S95 is great for portablity and great photos. Highly recommended by most places.
If you have money and want portability. Leica Dlux 5. Slightly edges out othe s95 overall ... but costs 3x more.
If you want a little more out of your camera and almost dlsr level with interchangeable lenses. You can't miss out on Micro 4/3 like the GF-2, Oly EP-3
If you want DSLR quality but in a smaller form factor. Sony Nex-5/3/C3
If you want good quality photos with great styling but no zoom. Fuji X100

[lpbaker]

Thanks guys -- having spent a lot of the day looking at Youtube videos and Flickr, I'd say the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100V is at the top of my list right now, and only just over budget at $649. Any opinions on this camera?

[kiwi]

Try Cnet, dpreview, engadget etc

Million and one sites out there doing camera reviews.

[reaction]

I've played with the Nikon P7000 and can rec'd it highly. Also its built in ND filter will be great for landscapes. It's easy to use and even the manual settings are easy to set.

I don't generally look at compacts that don't take SD cards, so I can't really comment on the Sony. Also note that super-zooms while always attractive with big numbers (35x!!!!) always have worse quality, and they also have the smaller sensor. Given it's not even vaguely pocketable, I think it's neither here nor there. Go bigger or smaller.

[KeeFy]

http://snapsort.com/cameras/Sony-HX100v-competitors


If you want to do side by side tech comparisons. I like this website.

EDIT: Do take it with a little bit of salt as well... sometimes their scores are a little off.

[colinbm]

The Sigma DP series have a large DSLR size sensor, 5 times bigger in physical size, then most of these compacts. Think of it as a compact DSLR :th3:
http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/category781_1.htm
Col