Digital Camera Shopping
I am in the market for a new digital camera. My previous camera was a Canon PowerShot A75. I bought it last November, and a few weeks ago, the shutter and zoom button (a combo switch) started acting up. Finally, they just stopped working all-together.
When I bought the camera from OfficeMax, I also purchased the replacement plan that they offered, and so in about 2 weeks, I will have an OfficeMax gift card in hand for the cost of the camera (around $200).
I would like to upgrade my camera a little bit, and have some Christmas money that I can put with the gift card to get a better camera. The question I have is what should I get. I liked the portability of the powershot, and it took pretty good pictures for a 3.2 megapixel camera.
My ideal camera would be a digital SLR of some kind. I like the Pentax *ist series, and already have Pentax-mount lenses that I could use with it. However, $800 is a little out of my price range for right now. I would like to stay in the $300 - $400 range.
And so begins my delima.
On one hand, I would love something as portable and powerful as the Canon PowerShot SD400. It seems to have great image quality and is small enough to carry anywhere. I was also really happy with my other Canon PowerShot, so it would seem natural to stick with a brand/model that I am familiar with.
On the other hand, I am attracted to something like the Kodak Z740 because it has a great zoom (10x). This would make for some great depth of field photos and feel more like an SLR just because of the great zoom range. I am also considering something like the Canon S2 IS, but it my be a little out of my price range as well.
So I am torn between portability and a brand I trust and the bigger zoom with a brand I have little experience with.
November 28th, 2005
I had almost the exact same dilemma a while back. You might want to read my thoughts and what I ultimately decided here:
http://jeffcroft.com/blog/archives/2005/08/new_camera_cano.php
The bottom line is there’s just no way to get the portability of the ultra-compacts with the long-zoom of the SLRs and prosumer models (such as your S2 IS). It sucks, but that’s just the way it is.
November 28th, 2005
Thanks for the link Jeff. I am leaning more towards the SD400 anyway. I have an old Pentax K1000 (old school manual) that I can use if I really want to shoot more than just snapshot pics.
Go Steelers!
November 28th, 2005
My sister has the Powershot SD400. It takes pretty good pics and its small enough to carry around in your pocket. For some reason, I’m just not a huge fan of the Canons.
I had a Sony DSC-T1 for about a year and a half, then the LCD screen went out this summer so I sold it on eBay for half what I paid for it. I really never liked to pictures the Sony took and I would definitely never buy another Sony camera.
Since I no longer have a camera, I’m in the market as well. I’ll only buy an ultra-compact because I would never take a bigger camera with me anywhere.
I have several friends with different model Casio cameras from the Exilim line. They take good pictures, have big ass screens, and are very user friendly.
The Panasonic DMC-FX9 seems like a nice camera too.
Check out dpreview.com and also this post:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000023065431/
Oh, and GO COLTS!
November 28th, 2005
Yeah, I have been reading through the reviews on dpreview.com.
I was happy with my Canon A75. I am going to be looking at one of the Exilim’s tonight when a friend comes over to visit, so I will see what I think of it.
I have just about ruled out anything that can’t fit in my pocket. I have an old Pentax 35mm SLR with a nice set of lenses I can use for anything fancy.
My wife’s great aunt had one of the Sony Cybershot cameras over Thanksgiving and it seemed nice, but the flash was pretty weak on it, so I know I won’t be looking at Sony.
December 9th, 2005
Of course you’ve probably already made your purchase, but I want to put in my 2c for the S2 IS purchase. I’ve used a Canon S1 IS for 2-1/2 years and love it. The S2 has the 12x optical zoom (mine has 10x + 3.2x digital zoom) and a higher megapixel that the S1 (mine’s a 3.2 which is plenty large for my uses). The size is plenty small, though I had to buy a $16 hip-pack which slips onto my belt because this camera ain’t gonna fit in your pocket (well, a ski jacket perhaps). BTW, Office Depot is running a 15% rebate offer (ends 12/10) for the S2. Also, there are buy-it-now prices of $260 for the S1 model. Good luck!
December 9th, 2005
Thanks Curtis.
Actually, I haven’t purchased a replacement yet. I am still waiting on Office Max to send me my reimbursement stuff.
At the rate they are moving, it could be January before I get a new camera!