best compact/ultracompact camera

[user]

hello

can you tell me please the best compact/ultracompact camera available today?

thanks

[grepmat]

Film:

Contax T3. Magnificent 35mm f/2.8 lens that is every bit the equal of the best SLR varieties and arguably superior to the Leica compacts. Extremely compact. Elegant. Titanium skin. Lovely viewfinder. Nice aperture priority dial. Just a few compromises, but nothing that a good photographer can't overcome.

Digital:

None suitable if you desire DSLR quality.

[user]

Film:

Contax T3. Magnificent 35mm f/2.8 lens that is every bit the equal of the best SLR varieties and arguably superior to the Leica compacts. Extremely compact. Elegant. Titanium skin. Lovely viewfinder. Nice aperture priority dial. Just a few compromises, but nothing that a good photographer can't overcome.

Digital:

None suitable if you desire DSLR quality.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=146146\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I am basicaly interested in digital

[Tim Gray]

I'm about to vote with my $$ for the Canon G9.

[grepmat]

The difference between compact digital cameras and the smaller DSLR's is huge. Compact digital cameras will do o.k. at base ISO in bright outdoor conditions, but will be miserable for all other purposes. Even when used under optimal conditions, you would wince at the difference between any of them and a compact DSLR.

All compact digitals entail serious compromises and there's simply no clear winner. If you must still use one, you will have to do your own research as to which one best suits your needs. Start with the Canon models, though. Perhaps look at Fuji too. Some, like the previous gentleman, will say that the Canon G9 is the best of the bunch, and that's probably true, but it's rather large and heavy and its results are still far inferior to, say, a Nikon D40x. The Sigma DP1 sounded promising, but that's been vaporware for over a year now.

Good luck.

[user]

indeed, I was about to buy one G9

there are 3 cameras from Canon with almost the same features, same lens, etc

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controll...modelid12=15658

the most important difference is that G9 has RAW

I dont this justifies its price difference

also I saw this
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page11.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page15.asp (F31fd offers similar quality to Nikon D50, not to say D40)

this Fujifilm Finepix F31fd is far superior to Canon SD800

if the difference between F31fd and SD800 is preserved in F50fd and SD950, and if the SD950 is almost the same as G9, you see there is an issue

Sigma DP1 is my first choise, I dont think its vaporware, it's just in testing stage right now, but it doesn't have optical zoom at all!!!

[picnic]

indeed, I was about to buy one G9

there are 3 cameras from Canon with almost the same features, same lens, etc

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controll...modelid12=15658

the most important difference is that G9 has RAW

I dont this justifies its price difference

also I saw this
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page11.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page15.asp (F31fd offers similar quality to Nikon D50, not to say D40)

this Fujifilm Finepix F31fd is far superior to Canon SD800

if the difference between F31fd and SD800 is preserved in F50fd and SD950, and if the SD950 is almost the same as G9, you see there is an issue

Sigma DP1 is my first choise, I dont think its vaporware, it's just in testing stage right now, but it doesn't have optical zoom at all!!!
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You really need to see and handle all 3 of those--they are pretty different.  The G9 is aimed at more advance photographers--as I see it as a 'complementery' camera--not the only one, altho' lots of folks choose it as their one and only since they prefer small and want a very capable camera.  

Consider it at ISO80-200 and other compromises but surely a good choice of the 3 for use where a DSLR may be inappropriate or even not permitted.  I saw some concert pics from a quite capable photographer in the UK that were quite good.  I was pretty much amazed--he could not have taken in his 1 series cams.

Diane