2004 ELECTION... for a Digital Camera!

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Name brand flash is less than $100.00, and Vivitar's are less. Who needs one? Anybody who wants decent pictures from weddings and similar venues!

id rather spend the money on a better camera then try and learn flash photography on the fly

and thoes flashes are nothing compaired to this beast

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"With no auto focus assist lamp, the S1 IS unsurprisingly had a few problems focusing when shooting in low light, although the manual focus feature allows you to combat this. Poor lighting conditions also made the EVF harder to use."

A point & shoot camera may not need a hot shoe for external flash, but being able to lock focus in dim lighting IS a must, especially for a $300.00 investment, which is getting away from "FIRST digital camera" territory anyway. Why waste $300.00, when $75.00 more will handle that issue and more? No need to "upgrade" anytime soon, and get consistant high quality shots, one after another, right from the start.

Edit: Oh yeah, the S1 IS is what Adul used to shoot these...

Yeah, I made the mistake of recommending that camera to my Dad, because he wanted something with a zoom lens, movie mode, and lots of manual options. The low light focus problems and crummy built-in flash drove him nuts, and he's planning on dumping it on eBay now.

 

[Ornery]

I would NOT forego a top end product, just because I may have trouble down the road. There are ways to deal with non responsive companies:

SEARS REPAIR PROTECTION AGREEMENT

Sears Rocks!!!

• Just wanted to let you know that excellent service that Sears provides...
  
  
  I purchased a F707 camera from them about 1.5 years ago for about 800 dollars along with a 2 year protection plan for 150 dollars. Lately I've been having some intermittent issues with my camera. I was planning to hold off until the F828 was in stock but decided to return my camera anyways since there has been alot of issues concerning noise and CA that people have reported on.
  
  But anyways returning the camera was absolutely painless. I didn't even have to explain why I was returning it. He just needed all the items that came with the camera back. The really cool part was "exchange" receipt yielded a 100 dollar rebate and also 15 free digital prints fromhttp:// http://www.searsphoto.com. Not only that but since technology gets better and cheaper the F717 was cheaper than what I bought th F707 for so I got 35 dollars credited to me! To put the icing on the cake my 2 year warranty is good until may. So whenever the F828 gets to Sears I'll return my F717 for a F828 and repurchase a 2 year warranty for my next upgrade.

"...learn flash photography on the fly..."

You put the flash on and take pictures as usual! You get more battery life from your camera, and MUCH further and wider reach with the flash. Yields far better pictures than the built in flash, and that's ALL you really need to know. Of course, if you buy a camera with no hot shoe at all, you'll know you're pretty much screwed!

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Ornery
I would NOT forego a top end product, just because I may have trouble down the road.

Do not believe the word "forego" was used, or anything remotely resembling it.

Product support should be a factor in any purchasing decision. Unfortunately, not all retailers offer the same level of protection that Sears appears to on the surface, and not all users will have access to Sears as a purchasing option.

Certainly the end user should take this, as well as a number of other factors, into consideration when deciding.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Ornery
Name brand flash is less than $100.00, and Vivitar's are less. Who needs one? Anybody who wants decent pictures from weddings and similar venues!

id rather spend the money on a better camera then try and learn flash photography on the fly

and thoes flashes are nothing compaired to this beast

I agree...for someone who's still learning photography that $50 is better spent on a better camera or a larger CF card.

 

[Ornery]

"Certainly the end user should take this, as well as a number of other factors, into consideration when deciding."

If I had the slightest concern about the quality of the product, I wouldn't buy it in the first place. That's why I generally never buy extended service plans. I buy the best quality I can find, and take my chances. I'd only buy Sears protection plan for the "upgrade" factor. Believe me, if I were wronged by Sony and their product, they would eat it, not me. (I have ways... :| )

It's like I was told when shopping for my first video camera, back in 1984. The first and foremost concern, is how well it shoots video. The bells & whistles are a distant concern. Even the price is a secondary concern, because if it can't do what you want it to, it doesn't matter how little you paid. If you pay $300.00 for a camera, and it can't shoot well in low light, or can't add an external flash when you need to, it doesn't matter one tit how well the company stands behind it. You've just wasted $300.00!

 

[Phokus]

Doesn't costgo also have a generous return/exchange policy on electronics?

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Phokus
Doesn't costgo also have a generous return/exchange policy on electronics?

If referring to Costco, yes. They do indeed.

Believe me, if I were wronged by Sony and their product, they would eat it, not me. (I have ways)

I suppose the rest of us receiving poor support should not be insulted, as we are obviously completely inferior beings.

 

[Ornery]

I can't explain here how I'd deal with these types of situations, but if anybody wants to PM me, I'll be more than happy to spell it out.