Guess We're Keepin' This Damn Canon Powershot S50 - UPDATE: No We Aren't!

[funks]

if you are taking lots of night shots..

Get a cam with a fast lens (like the Canon G2,G3, Digital Rebel) and a hot shoe for an external flash.. Simple as that 🙂

 

[Ornery]

We've already got a full size, very capable, prosumer type camera, but we want another one that's pocketable. The S50 is even a tad bigger than ideal.

 

[kami333]

You have to make a compromise somewhere.

 

[Ornery]

It just seemed to me, that these digicams have been out for quite a while. Usually, electronic equipment gains abilities and drops in price over time. I figured a $400.00 camera ought to be pretty well rounded by now. 😕

Well, actually it's the limitations of the lens that's bugging me. Maybe there's not much that can be done, since that's not something electronics can help with.

 

[fyleow]

A wise man once told me:

Originally posted by: Ornery
Sounds like you want your cake, and eat it too. Either you get a point and shoot, that fits in your pocket, or a serious camera that has to be toted around in a bag. You can spend quite a bit of money either way, but you'll have to choose which way to go.

😉

 

[oldfart]

Originally posted by: Ornery
We've already got a full size, very capable, prosumer type camera, but we want another one that's pocketable. The S50 is even a tad bigger than ideal.

Yup. I found this out the hard way. Do you want a full featued big lens camera with good indoor light capabilities, no red eye problems and a hot shoe, or a small to tiny camera that fits in your pocket?

Pick one, or the other. Nothing will do both.

Again, thats why I git the S400. It is actually small enough for a pocket. The Sxx and Axx are a little on the big side for a really pocketable camera. S400 takes pretty nice shots for its size. I'll have it with me while skiing this weekend. That is what it is nice for!

I'll get a 2nd camera that will be full featued, nice lens and a hot shoe for a nice flash setup. Right now, it may be the G5 or I might spring for a Digital Rebel. The G5 has an f 2.0 which is pretty good and a 4X zoom which is 140mm at the long end. The DR, is looking more likely the more I look at it. I'm hoping the price drops a little bit. The 420EX flash looks like a good one to go with either camera.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: fyleow
A wise man once told me:

Originally posted by: Ornery
Sounds like you want your cake, and eat it too. Either you get a point and shoot, that fits in your pocket, or a serious camera that has to be toted around in a bag. You can spend quite a bit of money either way, but you'll have to choose which way to go.

I really had no idea these pocket size cameras were that limited. Even when I said that, I assumed you could easily take a decent picture on an overcast day. I had no idea that would be taxing a $400.00 camera's limits!

 

[dartworth]

Ornery. I figured you would like reading this.

Why Your Camera Does Not Matter

I figured it would be fitting for a few people around here😉

Knowing how to do something is entirely different from being able to do it at all, much less do it well.

We all know how to play the piano: you just press the keys and step on the pedals now and then. The ability to play it, much less the ability to stir emotion in those who hear your playing, is an entirely different matter.

Don't presume the most expensive gear is the best. Having too much camera equipment is the best way to get the worst photos.

The more expensive cameras and lenses don't do much of anything significant for the huge increases in price.

 

[StageLeft]

I'm keeping my Fuji s5k, even though I hate that tiny little white speck (easily photoshoppable though)! I've come to realize that it would be nice to have more megapixels (it has only 3), but anything above one is a waste for internet anyway, and in terms of prints 3 megapixels should be solid up to 8X10 (going to send some images off soon and play around).

I've been taking a few night shots with my camera and I love it at night! The damn thing has better eyes than I do, and amplifies light that I can't even see, when set at night mode. I will post a picture later if anybody is interested, but unlike with my old camera, come 2004 Christmas I'll be able to take pics of people's light setups.

 

[dartworth]

Skoob, post all the pic you can. We love looking at pics.

Congrats on the new camera and thanks for sharing your experience with it.

 

[Ornery]

Skoorb's camera has a decent zoom range, and bright enough lens, that he can frame his final shot right in the camera, so there's no need for more megapixels. These small cameras, with 3X zoom range, frequently can't get close enough to the subject. To get the final image you were after, you have to crop it. All of a sudden 3MP ain't enough!

If you're only going to have one camera, and you care even a little about the quality of your shots, better just skip the pocket cameras... especially the ones with no manual shutter speed overrides!

 

[StageLeft]

Concerns such as this make us wish we had about a thousand bucks, so that we'd not have to settle at all 🙂

 

[Ornery]

Even $1,000.00 won't help, if you want one that will fit handily in your pocket, yet take GOOD pictures ALL the time. Well, a tripod can cure most of the problems with a small camera, but it won't fit handlily in a pocket!

 

[Ornery]

Ordered two NB2L EQUIVALENT BATTERIES at 10:00PM Monday night. Got an email confirmation within a few minutes and shipping confirmation, with tracking number the next day. Order arrived today (Saturday) via USPS. First battery is in charger. Already into the trickle charge phase, which I will leave till tomorrow.

What's the best way to torture test this battery VS the Canon battery that came with the camera? The brand new Canon battery has only had two full charges so far...

 

[Ornery]

The dim light focus issue is more than I could live with. Tried like crazy to get Sears to sell me a DSC-P10 for the same bundle price that OfficeMax was selling it for, but they wouldn't do it. I particularly wanted the Sears Replacement Agreement, but I guess that's over.

Finally decided the SONY DSC-V1 is the way to go, and it's only a bit more than the P10. Just ordered it from ClickForDigital, (3 Resellerratings). I'm waiting for their follow up call to sell me more crap, but I expect to have the camera before too long. Fingers crossed...

I'll try to return the batteries to SterlingTEK. I'll need another Li-Ion for the V1, so maybe he'll help me out. Hope my sister can use a 256MB CF. Probably more than she needs, but I'll cut her a deal 😉

BTW, anyone interested in the F717, might want to check out buydigitaldirect.com. $589.00 plus $100.00 rebate. One fellow bought his through there, no problem. I found out about that while searching for V1 info.