Point and Shoot - Assistance please

[Butts]

Having never owned a point and shoot, hence no reference point, I'm now in the land of "NO IDEA".

Mrs Butts is due with our first baby in a couple of weeks, and she will need a camera.
An SLR will be too unwieldy for her to lug around, she'd like something that could comfortably fit inside a reasonable sized handbag.
Image quality must be excellent, she's asking for SLR quality but won't get it, limited to Canon and Nikon.

I through myself to the mercy of your personal experiences with ANY of the following:-
Canon PowerShot G11
Nikon Coolpix L110
Nikon Coolpix P6000
Nikon Coolpix S710
Nikon Coolpix S8000

Preference, based around applying my SLR experience is either the Canon G11 or Nikon P6000.

Happy for anyone to pipe in with any other models worthy of consideration, budget is quite generous.

Many thanks in advance.

[dmdigital]

Both G11 and P6000 are good. Bit on the bulky side from what you described the needs to be. Have a look at the Panasonic range too.

Also consider a micro four thirds camera like the Olympus or Panasonic. These have interchangeable lens ability without the bulk of an SLR. The Panasonic GF1 or the Olympus E-PL1, E-P1 or E-P2 are all worth considering. Also the lenses from one brand can work with the other brand.

[Butts]

Both G11 and P6000 are good. Bit on the bulky side from what you described the needs to be. Have a look at the Panasonic range too.

Also consider a micro four thirds camera like the Olympus or Panasonic. These have interchangeable lens ability without the bulk of an SLR. The Panasonic GF1 or the Olympus E-PL1, E-P1 or E-P2 are all worth considering. Also the lenses from one brand can work with the other brand.

DM,
Agree on micro four thirds, yet alas "she who must be obeyed" pooped the idea.
Panasonic apparently she's not fussed on, something to do with some experiences her friends had had.

Cheers for the input though.

[Cap]

I own a Nikon Coolpix S200. Whilst the camera seems to be OK, I must say that POS cameras are not Nikons strength! If I was to buy another POS camera, it would be Olympus or equivalent.

Of course mine is now 3 years old or so, maybe Nikon have picked up their game since then.

[dmdigital]

Leica M9 perhaps?

Actually as for Panasonic, they get a very good wrap. Leica and Panasonic are very closely aligned and some of the Leica's are basically identical to Panasonic models.

As much as I really like Nikon, they don't make great P+S.

[Butts]

Interesting comment about Nikon and PS Stooge!

Leica M9!!! Ha.
I like your train of thought DM, but BUDGET aint that grand.
I may as well give her my 1Ds MKII and stick the 17-40 on it!! Wouldn't cost me a cent.

Okay, Olympus seems I need to have a serious look at.
Thanks guys.

[dmdigital]

Get an Olympus E-PL1 and then you can tell me if I should get one too

So when you said "budget is quite generous", you didn't mean Leica generous?

Leica M9 ~US$7000
Leica 50mm f/0.95 ~US$10,500

[Butts]

Get an Olympus E-PL1 and then you can tell me if I should get one too

So when you said "budget is quite generous", you didn't mean Leica generous?

Leica M9 ~US$7000
Leica 50mm f/0.95 ~US$10,500

Generous, as in for a point and shoot, around $700.

EPL-1 aint going to happen.

I've sussed out the Panasonic DMC-ZR1&3 series.
Decent reviews, might have to sway Mrs B to re-consider.

Food for thought!

[Chucaro]

Canon G11 is an excellent camera a league over a "Point & Shoot cameras"
Believe me......I like Nikons

[Brettsky64]

G'day Butts, I have recently bought a Olympus U tough $230 under water to 1.5 and drop proof, to similar, I take it every where weather Im canyoning, hiking swiming doesnt matter, sweat all you like all over it or in your case kids dribble, bath time shots no need to worry if there is an unexpected splash, incredibly close close ups, need I go on. Worth a look