Ask Engadget: Best point and shoot camera that does RAW?
By Darren Murph 
posted February 11th 2010 10:28PM
posted February 11th 2010 10:28PM
We know there aren't too many non-DSLR cameras that shoot in RAW, but for those out there crazy enough to own one or two, why not throw your impressions below? Go on -- it'll be fun, we promise."I'm wondering if there's a point and shoot camera that would be recommended for shooting RAW. I have a DSLR , and as much as I love it, it's not really fun to bring that when I go out in the evenings. I read somewhere that Canon has one available, but I can't remember which model it is. I prefer to shoot in RAW to give me more options when editing them later. Thanks!"
Canon S90
@EM1 Have to agree. Love my s90
@EM1 Ditto, it is probably your best choice for better quality at a small size (and price).
Put in another vote for the S90. Every picture looks amazing from it, even when photographing ugly places or people! Best fit for me.
@EM1 I'll second that. My wife and I got this camera for christmas and we absolutely love it. We've had a Nikon D70 for years but always found we didn't want to carry it around, and most of our pictures ended up being low quality iphone snaps. Now with the S90 we take it everywhere we go, and it takes amazing pictures. The fully assignable control ring around the lens is AWESOME. Camera is solid as a rock but compact and lightweight (for what it does). Can't say enough good things about it, no problems so far.
@EM1 Without a question. The S90 is the best P&S out there with RAW support.
Also agree with the S90. I researched this a couple months ago, and settled on the S90. Have been using it for several months now and really love it. Great low light shooting, and raw capabilities, and all in a package that can fit in a pants pocket.
@EM1
Ditto. Can't beat the f/2.0 - f/4.9 28mm-105mm lens is great. Add that with the programmable control ring, 3.0" LCD screen and great battery life, it's an unbeatable P&S camera.
@EM1
I've heard great things about the S90. I doubt you can go wrong with one. However, I'd challenge you to NOT waste your time with RAW and instead learn to get the exposure, color, etc. right at the time of the shot; almost every camera's sensor -> JPEG algorithms are better than those in aftermarket RAW converters. Lots less wasted time in postprocessing, memory space, etc.
@EM1 I've only got one problem I've found with my S90 so far. The auto settings in low light often switch to F2 / ISO 500 / no flash. Now most of the people who buy the camera probably won't use the auto settings so much (or will switch to program in cases like this). But because it looks accessible like a regular point and shoot, my wife does use it to take pictures, and the indoor photos are invariably very noisy compared to what they should be.
Yeah you can. The LX3's 2.0-2.8 24-60 (35mm equiv) lens and slightly larger sensor work out pretty well if you're shooting in low light.
@EM1
Honestly after owning both a G9 and an S90, I think the slightly larger package of the G series is worth it to get the fully manual controls at your fingertips and the bigger CCD (less noise at higher ISO's). I'm not saying the S90 isn't an awesome camera, but for the money I would go with the G11 which can serve as a point and shoot AND a decent "prosumer" camera in a pinch. The G11 also has a better lens with a larger aperture range, a flash mount, and the ability to attach extra lenses (although a wide angle is probably the only useful one, there is too much barreling on the extra zoom lenses I've played with).
@EM1 There is no question, the S90 for portability, the G11 if you don't mind the bigger size. I prefer the S90 myself because if I'm going to go big I'm going to use a dslr.
@Josh S By the way the S90 has f2.0 which is really nice at wide angle, and uses the same sensor as the G11 so there isn't much difference in low light performance. They are almost the same camera in a different package. No point and shoot will come close though to even the cheapest DSLR.
@rsmith4321
Im actually in the market for a new point and shoot to replace my canon sd450 from a few years back, but it sounds like some of the cams recommended are bordering on entry level dslr cameras. I just want something slim, simple and does not feel all lumpy in a jean back pocket (that does RAW :).
@BigFatDuck I would knock the D70 like that. We used them for light commercial projects back in. The day and the image quality was great.
@SilverTrumpet Please show some research or facts to support your statement.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
It does HD video too! (at 720p)
@BBuck
1+
@BBuck
Another vote for LX3. I have one and it is fantastic. I bring it with me when it is inconvenient to bring my 5D.
@BBuck
I, too, really love my LX3. The one thing to be aware of when shooting RAW is that the camera performs lens corrections for distortion and fringing in its JPEGs. Depending on the RAW processor you use it may, or may not, correct those issues automatically.
P.S.: You might want to wait a bit I feel like Panasonic will be releasing the LX4 soon.
@BBuck LX3 rocks. Though i consider my GF1 a "point and shoot" (at least moreso than the canon DSLR I have)
@BBuck
as a diehard canon fan, i have to say the LX3 is better than the s90.
It has a hotshoe for those times you may want to use an external flash.
Also slightly wider zoom (i like that)
And slightly shorter zoom on the long end 60mm vs 105mm
(usually means better optics)
BUT the quality difference will be marginal compared to Panasonic GF1...which has 5 times more sensor area. As one commentator puts it: fits into a jacket pocket, just not your skinny jeans.
@BBuck
in short...GF1 wins.
I know its quite chunky, but the original post was asking for something to replace a dSLR.
@BBuck Another LX3 fan here. I've long since given up lugging my DSLR about. This is a fantastic camera (as all Panasonic/Leica cameras are I find) as long as you're not looking for something telephoto.
@BBuck Another vote for the LX3. One thing it's missing, however, is any type of remote shutter trigger - I'm not counting the hack adapter you can get on ebay,
@BBuck. +1. The LX3 is an awesome device, have had mine for a while and would have to say the image quality is awesome. Only problems are its pocket-ability and the colour processing which I'm not a big fan of. Not that you'll be worrying too much about that if you're using it for RAW images. HD video is another plus (especially over the S90, don't know why they didn't include this).
Panasonic LX3. Has RAW support and the sensor is one of the best out there for point and shoots.
Ricoh GR Digital, GX200
Leica D-Lux 4
@littlea
If you have deep pockets, then the Leica is for you.
@littlea
not to be a little b1tch here, but.
Expensive Leica D-Lux 4 = cheap Panasonic Lx-3.
one is a really offensive re-bage of a nice affordable camera for those Gucci buying, Coach wearing brand conscious fools out there.
same camera, slightly different body.
kind of like Ford Mondeo = Jaguar X-Type
I have had Lx-1, lx-2, and Lx-3 camera's and they win hands down.
the 1 and 2 had some image noise that could make you insane, but the Leica Dicomar glass, was just to sweet to ignore.
@littlea isn't the LX3 the exact same camera?
S90 all the way.
Best slightly-larger-than-pocketable-camera with extra-wide lens = LX3
Best pocketable-but-not-as-wide = S90
Pretty much any Canon can do RAW with CHDK.
@mattcoz My thoughts exactly. I can shoot RAW with my PowerShot SD790.
@mattcoz Yup, I commented below earlier, that an A640 w/CHDK is awesome because it takes AA batteries.
@mattcoz
Unfortunately CHDK only has stable builds for DigicIII chipped cams and earlier. I have an SD780 IS using Digic4 and it's not yet fully supported. There is an alpha version but it doesn't work fully. Hopefully in the near future this will be straightened out, but it's getting harder to find a brand new canon that has full CHDK support.
CHDK sure brought new life to my older SD500 though! Now it can complement my SD780 for when I need to run scripts!
@mattcoz
+1! I use CHDK with SD1100.
Canon G9/G10/G11
@awesomerobot Yep. I have the G10. Great camera.
@awesomerobot
Definitely the G11. Can't slide into the pocket like the s90, but built like a tank.
Olympus E-PL1
Canon G9 is what I bring with me when I'm walking around. It shoots RAW, has full manual controls, IS, decent video, is supported by the CHDK (Canon Hackers Development Kit) which opens up loads of non-stock features like motion detection, USB remote, intervalometer etc. And super cheap on ebay or craigslist ($300) since everyone else has moved on to shinier things.
I have a S90 and fully recommend it. Same league with LX3 but in much compact body. HD video is not my concern so S90 fits me best. Can get it cheaper a lot than LX3 too.
Leica D-Lux 4. Hands down in my opinion. Best p&s camera that does RAW. Leica D-Lux 4! (Obviously, the Panasonic can't be ruled out either, since it's pretty much the same camera, however, the aesthetics of the Leica makes it better to me).
The Ricoh GR Digital, and Panasonic/Leica cameras are pretty good, but the Olympus E-P series are probably the best. They aren't exactly point & shoots, but they are smaller than DSLRs. I've got an E-P1 myself, to go with my DSLR.
canon S90, no pocketable camera has better low light performance.
S90 all the way. The G series (I had the G5) is great, but less pocketable. That fast f2.0 lens is hard to dismiss. But, it's still a small sensor cam. Being biased toward Canon products, I couldn't recommend anything else. Sorry, but Panasonic will always be a wannabee mfr. no matter what electronic they make. Do they know how to build electronics, no doubt. Do they have the expert engineers/designers that Canon, Nikon and a couple others have, hardly.
Chips and software are just that, but it's good glass that helps make the great shot. Go with Canon S90.