Not that you want a GoPro, i get that, but as I learn to use mine in the beginning I too did not like the warped images, so I went into the Field of View menu and changed it to Medium which gives me nice flat images just what I see. I just watched a couple hours of fishing video I shot on Friday and Saturday and it looks how I want it. You can change the field of view.
Karin
I know nothing about GoPro's except they provide interesting helmet-cam video on whitewater runs and ISIS assassinations.
I suppose I could easily research this, but do they have elementary still photo features like:
- zoom lens
- macro capability
- single shot, burst modes, and self-timer modes
- adjust exposure modes from auto to shutter priority to aperture priority
- change ISO and exposure compensation
- AE and AF locks
- change white balance
- change focus area (center-weighted, matrix pattern, single point, tracking, etc.)
- HDR and backlighting adjustments
- integral flash with various manual, fill-flash, and other automatic settings
- pixel size, picture size and picture quality adjustments
Virtually all modern P&S cameras, many much less than half the OP's $500 limit, have these now very basic features and a lot more.
Changing topics to zoom lens P&S cameras, you're not going to get much more than a 4X optical zoom with any of the
classic top five because these cameras have to be compact with internal mechanisms. They may not have some of the features I've listed above.
If you go with a non-waterproof, very high optical zoom camera, which many canoeist wildlife photographers do, you will be sacrificing compactness, light weight and the ability to use a very small Pelican case.
It all depends on what you want, which can end up meaning multiple cameras.
I decided to go back to one camera for all canoe and land uses. For me, this meant a fully featured P&S zoom camera, which has a viewfinder plus a multiply-adjustable view screen, and which can fit in a jacket pocket, big pants pocket or a small Pelican box. To go this one camera route, I sacrificed waterproofness and very high optical zoom.
The finger ring prevents the camera from slipping out of my hand in the canoe and also clips into a companion neck lanyard, so I don't have to keep putting it back in the Pelican box or my pocket. I recommend that inexpensive accessory for any lightweight camera. (Sorry, shakey photo with my phone.)
P.S. on edit: Since people have expressed interest in the Amzer ring/lanyard attachment, I should point out that I actually hold the camera in my other (right) hand, so my pinky would be near the ring attachment point, where my thumb is in this picture.