How much difference am I going to notice between 4X and 6X optical zoom?

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Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,342
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I'm trying to decide which Canon A-series camera to get. The only digital camera I have ever used extensively is the A70 and I like it a lot.

For the most part I've narrowed it down to the A530 and the A700. A530 is 5 MP and 4X zoom, and the A700 is 6 MP and 6X zoom. The 6X zoom intrigues me. Is it really worth another $120 for a slightly above-average user? I like to screw around with the manual settings, but right now I don't really know how to adjust them correctly (though I would like to learn). The 1 MP difference doesn't concern me much as I don't plan on printing many of the shots I take, and the ones I do will be at 8x10 max size. Thanks!

I should add that I will be taking this camera to the national parks in the southwest this summer, so would a 6X zoom help a lot for scenery shots there?
 
H

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
wouldn't scenery shots be more wide angle, to take in as much of the vista as possible?
 
JEDI

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
why not try one of the shirt pocket size nikon(?) cameras that do 10x optical zoom?

best buy and compusa have models on display for you to look at and compare the zooms.
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,342
104
106
Originally posted by: HN
wouldn't scenery shots be more wide angle, to take in as much of the vista as possible?
Click to expand...

Hmm, true. Though it would be the opposite if I was trying to focus on a specific rock outcropping.
 
yhelothar

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Just walk closer if you want more zoom.
Click to expand...

I suggest you try this when photgraphing the grand canyon
Click to expand...

lol people always bring this up when I suggest using legs for zoom.
How often are you going to be photographing something like the grand canyon? And you DON'T really want high zoom for the grand canyon, but very wide angle should be a far greater importance.

Yes you could always crop too if you wan't more "zoom"
 
S

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
 
B

Brackis

Banned
Nov 14, 2004
2,863
0
0
Originally posted by: Sluggo
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
Click to expand...

S2 for 304+ Tax..... :splooges pants:

Go for that!
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,389
8,547
126
what are the 35 mm equivalent focal lengths? it's the only real way you can tell. an 'x' zoom number means jack squat. a 2x 'zoom' lens from 25 to 50, while starting out at a pretty wide angle, only goes up to a normal perspective with no telephoto at all. a 2x 'zoom' lens from 35 to 70 has neither a particularly wide or particularly telephoto angle.
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,342
104
106
Originally posted by: Sluggo
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
Click to expand...

There isn't anything anywhere really on the A700...it's too new right now.

You mean Nikon S2 I presume?

Good idea JEDI. I will go to the store next week and check that out.

How cheap can I get a wide-angle lens? These Canon 58mm adapters seem to only be about $25. That still leaves me $100 for a lens and maybe (should I get one?) a filter.
 
B

Brackis

Banned
Nov 14, 2004
2,863
0
0
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Originally posted by: Sluggo
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
Click to expand...

There isn't anything anywhere really on the A700...it's too new right now.

You mean Nikon S2 I presume?

Good idea JEDI. I will go to the store next week and check that out.

How cheap can I get a wide-angle lens? These Canon 58mm adapters seem to only be about $25. That still leaves me $100 for a lens and maybe (should I get one?) a filter.
Click to expand...

Canon s2 IS.... 10x zoom, image stabilizing, and 6 mp IIRC.
 
P

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
0
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Just walk closer if you want more zoom.
Click to expand...

I suggest you try this when photgraphing the grand canyon
Click to expand...

lol people always bring this up when I suggest using legs for zoom.
How often are you going to be photographing something like the grand canyon? And you DON'T really want high zoom for the grand canyon, but very wide angle should be a far greater importance.

Yes you could always crop too if you wan't more "zoom"
Click to expand...


Ok...then try this one...your at a sporting even in the eleventy billionth row and want to take a picture of some of the players. You gonna walk onto the field?

Here is an example of a pic I took using the full 10x zoom of my camera from the back of our bball arena

Text
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,342
104
106
Originally posted by: ElFenix
what are the 35 mm equivalent focal lengths? it's the only real way you can tell. an 'x' zoom number means jack squat. a 2x 'zoom' lens from 25 to 50, while starting out at a pretty wide angle, only goes up to a normal perspective with no telephoto at all. a 2x 'zoom' lens from 35 to 70 has neither a particularly wide or particularly telephoto angle.
Click to expand...

A530 is 35-140 mm. A700 is 35-210 mm.
 
O

OdiN

Banned
Mar 1, 2000
16,430
3
0
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Just walk closer if you want more zoom.
Click to expand...

I suggest you try this when photgraphing the grand canyon
Click to expand...

lol people always bring this up when I suggest using legs for zoom.
How often are you going to be photographing something like the grand canyon? And you DON'T really want high zoom for the grand canyon, but very wide angle should be a far greater importance.

Yes you could always crop too if you wan't more "zoom"
Click to expand...


Ok...then try this one...your at a sporting even in the eleventy billionth row and want to take a picture of some of the players. You gonna walk onto the field?

Here is an example of a pic I took using the full 10x zoom of my camera from the back of our bball arena

Text
Click to expand...

Get yourself a press pass FTW!@

Or BUY dSLSR!
 
S

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
Originally posted by: Brackis
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Originally posted by: Sluggo
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
Click to expand...

There isn't anything anywhere really on the A700...it's too new right now.

You mean Nikon S2 I presume?

Good idea JEDI. I will go to the store next week and check that out.

How cheap can I get a wide-angle lens? These Canon 58mm adapters seem to only be about $25. That still leaves me $100 for a lens and maybe (should I get one?) a filter.
Click to expand...

Canon s2 IS.... 10x zoom, image stabilizing, and 6 mp IIRC.
Click to expand...


Yep, I got the Canon S2, and its 12x zoom ;) but only 5MP
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,342
104
106
Originally posted by: Brackis
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Originally posted by: Sluggo
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
Click to expand...

There isn't anything anywhere really on the A700...it's too new right now.

You mean Nikon S2 I presume?

Good idea JEDI. I will go to the store next week and check that out.

How cheap can I get a wide-angle lens? These Canon 58mm adapters seem to only be about $25. That still leaves me $100 for a lens and maybe (should I get one?) a filter.
Click to expand...

Canon s2 IS.... 10x zoom, image stabilizing, and 6 mp IIRC.
Click to expand...

:Q That is a good price! I would jump on it in a second if the S2IS wasn't so damned big. That doesn't look like the sort of thing I would want to carry around all day while on vacation. The A70 gets annoying enough at times.
 
S

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Originally posted by: Brackis
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Originally posted by: Sluggo
I dont think i would be a huge difference, but try checking out sample shots on Steves or dpreview and see if they have sample pics at full zoom for each model.

I was thinking along the same lines, and just decided to bite the bullet and get the S2 from Dell tonight. $304 + tax, free shipping. Basically the same body size, and double the zoom.
Click to expand...

There isn't anything anywhere really on the A700...it's too new right now.

You mean Nikon S2 I presume?

Good idea JEDI. I will go to the store next week and check that out.

How cheap can I get a wide-angle lens? These Canon 58mm adapters seem to only be about $25. That still leaves me $100 for a lens and maybe (should I get one?) a filter.
Click to expand...

Canon s2 IS.... 10x zoom, image stabilizing, and 6 mp IIRC.
Click to expand...

:Q That is a good price! I would jump on it in a second if the S2IS wasn't so damned big. That doesn't look like the sort of thing I would want to carry around all day while on vacation. The A70 gets annoying enough at times.
Click to expand...

Well (admitting to my consumerism here) I bought a Canon SD450 from Dell 2 weeks ago, that I thought would be a nice pair with the S2. I have the smaller one for a pocket camera, and the larger model for zoom pictures and other stuff.

Having lugged around a Canon A95 while walking around on vacation and stuff I am more of a ultra-compact person. But on occasion, you really want a high zoom camera, or you can make your wife lug it around in her purse :)
 
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