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Hello everyone, well as some know I am having my 4th baby in just under 2 weeks. Now this one has to be a Caesarian which means i'm limited with movement etc. I would love to take photos of the new bubs but don't really feel that comfortable taking my gear into our local general hospital. There is no where safe to lock up items and I believe my gear to be too valuable (all up around 6-7k) obviously i wouldn't have all of it, but still I don't want it in there with a high chance of it being knocked off by some local twitt. Plus my husband would have no idea what goes on what, or how to do more then switch it on. Last time he used it to take a few pics of the car, they turned out interesting to say the least!! So i need some advice from other men or women who may know a thing or two.

I would love a compact camera in general (you know those occasions where you just don't want to lug a big dslr and lenses around for) and so my husband can take some photos too. But I am picky, I can't just go buy a nikon coolpix and be happy. My mother has one and it drives me mad. I would love to know some advice on what you men and women could suggest. I'd rather not spend a fortune, I mean I love the fujifilm x100 but thats a bit pricey for something I wont use a huge amount. The Olympus Pen - i'd look at but to be honest I've never really shown interest in any of these new mirrorless cameras. So I could really do with some advice. If you've had good or bad experiences i'd love to know about it so I don't learn the hard way!
Just remember it has to have some auto features for the hubby. But i'd love it to have some freedom for me to get creative if I so choose! (hence why I liked the x100 so much). All advice would be awesome and appreciated greatly. Thanks folks, look forward to what the replies might be!!

bigsarg7 wrote:I am having my 4th baby in just under 2 weeks

Most people wait at least 9 months between bubs. (Twins etc excepted)

I think what you are looking at is something in the high end PHD. So something like the Panasonic LX-5 (I have this one) or the Canon G-11 (or whatever number they are up to now) Samsung have one too, as do Sony. Another option might be the New Nikon V1. I had a quick play & was quite impressed. And you can use all your Nikon lenses on it (with suitable adapter.)

As usual, once you have decided your target niche, you will need to play with them in person to decide which one makes sense for you. That's why I ended up with the LX-5 rather than the technically better Canon and Samsung offerings at the time.

I guess you need to work out what you might use it for after you leave the hospital! I had lusted after a G12 for some time but as my G5 was perfectly functional, I took it to Bali instead of my DSLR kit for many of the same kind of reasons you give above. However I found that while it is a "compact", it still really needs a bag or a strap and so I found that I wasn't very spontaneous using it while on holiday - but that's just me and that may not be an issue for you.

Having rethought things I decided to buy a Canon S95 and I'm very happy with it, and it really is a pocket camera that I now take everywhere. It shoots RAW and HD video, has manual settings, exposure compensation etc etc although with a small sensor I won't be making any billboard posters with the images (it is still at the larger end of those in compact cameras). The Canon S100 has now been released and I read an article that suggested the improvements over the S95 were significant and enough to justify an upgrade (to the author, not to me ).

These days we are spoilt for choice so it may be a tricky choice - good luck! Oh, and good luck with the baby too .

From what ive seen in comparison shots the s95 outperfoms the s100 anyway so its a good choice. For me, the x10 looks fabulous. I was surprised how big the x100 is personally. Not much smaller than a d5100.

mr Darcy!! U made me have a good old laugh!!

I've had a look at the lumix lx5 it too looks nice. Just don't think I can convince my hubby that the $$$$ would be well spent on "another camera" as he says. He thinks his iphone4s is good enough to capture bubs but I just continue to disagree. Lol might need some hints here fellas as to how best win him over to my side of the argument!!! Lol

I will look into the other cameras suggested and try work on the pros and cons of each and check out some reviews and then go hands on at trying them out in store and seeing which feels best as I really am picky, too picky some might say.

In regards to future use eg once out of hospital and home and moving about, I'd like to use it at weddings I attend as a guest as I just find it annoying to have my d700 or d200 there as I kinda feel like I have to excell at them and give them to the bride n groom where as if I'm attending as a guest I'd like to just take some quick clicks get what I want without having to lug around my gear in a dress etc. I'd also like to use it for simple quick shots of the kids and bubs, I mean if I wanna get really technical and special I'll use my dslr. Also my hubby n I like to buy cars and sell them as our investment until we buy another house so I take quick picks of car for car sales etc and I hate having to use my gear to do simple quick shots like that. So yeah it'll get used frequently, not as much as my dslr's but it'd be nice for it to fit into my soon to be nappy bag/handbag, without tipping the pram backwards in weight!!!

Anyways continued advice or comments welcomed and truly enjoyed. Thanks for looking again!!

If you want something truly compact then the S95 or the Nikon P300 (no raw though) are the pick. The LX5 if you are not too worried about the little bit extra size. If you dont mind a bit larger again then I would go (in this order of preference) Nikon P7100, Canon G12 then the Fuji X10 (simply because it has yet to prove itself to me).

I understand the Fuji X10 should be here at the beginning of December.

I'll be taking a close look at this one myself.

The x10 is at dcw now for 640. I reckon it will outperform the lot of them.

Yeah I agree the x10 does look pretty amazing, the lumix lx5 still has my attention as does the olympus pen series, I think I'd be happy with a G12 too. With the g12, has anyone had much experience with this particular camera? It seems easy enough for hubby to use and yet has all the creative options for me to fiddle with. What do you all think?

I've handled the X10, but have not had a chance to test it in terms of menu functions and image quality. I cannot say I am impressed by the look/feel of the X10. But the image quality should be good.

Pah. Just take the D700 with Tamron 28-75 I reckon. Just keep it strapped to you while you sleep. You wouldn't want sub-par images with a PHD in this sort of situation.

Congrats by the way

My advice relates to the use of contraception ...

Gary -

My advice relates to the use of contraception ...

That comment made my day! Yes well we're onto that one, or should I say he's onto that one!!

Some of the folks around our local hospital aren't the best to even share a room with little alone have any camera gear around!! If i was to take one i'd have to say the d200 as its the easiest and cheapest to replace!! lol

bigsarg7 wrote:Some of the folks around our local hospital aren't the best to even share a room with little alone have any camera gear around!! If i was to take one i'd have to say the d200 as its the easiest and cheapest to replace!! lol

How about a small pelican case that you lock and chain to the bed at night?

bigsarg7 wrote: If i was to take one i'd have to say the d200 as its the easiest and cheapest to replace!! lol

If that's the case I can sell you my D70 then when you're finished with the bubs photos you can turn it into an IR camera

I'd advise against the S95 and go for the P300, and I'm a canon fanboy! haha

But as far as camera goes by, do show and tell for the new young'n! congratulations ahead! (:

I'm assuming you'd want something that could go in a coat pocket.

You've already eliminated the X100 on a cost basis. A NEX5n will be too expensive and not compact enough.

m4/3 is also not compact enough by the coat pocket criteria due to size of most lenses (usually 60mm long). This would not apply to the new Panasonic collapsible lens but it doesn't appear to be available in Oz as yet. Pancake lenses will probably be too expensive. Olympus bodies have the advantage of built-in stabilisation but that's not going to make much difference if you don't go beyond moderate telephoto. If you want top current models, could get more expensive than an X100.

Nikon 1 may be equivalent in quality to m4/3 and that may be an option but it's designed for people upgrading from digicams and all controls are in internal menus so I'm sceptical on that basis. Anyway, it'd probably be too expensive.

I've played with the X10 and being familiar with the X100, it seemed very well laid out and useable. The LX5 is similarly a very well designed camera though the sensor is smaller than the X10. I'd be sceptical of other suggestions in this thread due to small sensor size and reduced low light capabilities.

So, on that basis, the X10 may be the most appealing option.

Thanks guys, still trying to convince my husband that he needs more then his precious iphone camera!!

I've been looking around as well and there is a few I like, just need to make my mind up i guess and then convince him of all the reasons why i want it!

I've minimised the list down to the x10, the lx5, g12, p7000 but all work out expensive in the scheme of things, unless someone has an older version they're wanting to offload..... I'd still consider the Olympus Pen series, I'd be happy with the 14 -42mm as its main lens, but just can't seem to find many for sale used. Same with the others, if there's an older series you have and don't need i might be interested.

THanks still for all the comments, gives me lots to chew on and mull over, especially in this last week!