Digital Camera

Klorgnum

So I've been bitten by the photography bug and I want to get a digital camera. The problem is, I don't know too much about them. I want something to mess around with really, that I can throw in a pocket and take wherever, so small and cheap is the ideal. That said, I'd like as much control over how it takes pictures (file format, exposure settings, bracketing, etc) as possible. I'd just be keeping the pictures on my computer, so the resolution doesn't have to be too high.
I'm really intrigued by the CHDK project for Canon cameras (Firmware enhancement that adds a ton of features and lets you script even more), is there anything else out there like that? I'm mostly interested in doing HDR type stuff, so I imagine the extra features from CHDK would be pretty useful.
I skimmed some of the other digital camera threads here, it looked like the Powershot A570 is pretty popular (and CHDK compatible). About how big is it? I'd really like something I can slip in a pocket and forget about.

Thanks

saltiness

The Canon A570 or whatever the newest iteration of it (A590?) is a good bet. The dimensions of it can easily be obtained by looking it up wherever you would buy it. CHDK isn't really necessary for any of the uses you listed but it can be fun to mess around with and the RAW capabilities can be useful in difficult shooting situations although the RAW converters for it are not totally spectacular.

Dark Moon

saltiness wrote: »

The Canon A570 or whatever the newest iteration of it (A590?) is a good bet. The dimensions of it can easily be obtained by looking it up wherever you would buy it. CHDK isn't really necessary for any of the uses you listed but it can be fun to mess around with and the RAW capabilities can be useful in difficult shooting situations although the RAW converters for it are not totally spectacular.

This. The A570 and its modern equivalents aren't quite pocket-size small, unless you have large pockets, but going any small requires sacrificing so much in terms of manual controls that the camera is quite useless for anything but snapshots (I'm looking at you, Canon SD line).

If you have the money, the Canon G9 is pretty much the best point and shoot ever. But for the $400 or so it costs, you could probably buy an old used DSLR and kit lens, which would be infinitely better in terms of image quality and flexibility. Check your local classifieds.