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Newbie to digital cameras - opinion on this Canon point-and-shoot?

VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+...&skuId=9347405

It's within my budget, seems to have good resolution, and zoom. (Check out one of the reviews, he has a picture of with and without zoom, pretty amazing.)

I'm pretty new to digital photography, don't want to get an expensive digital SLR yet. Just a nice compact, decent resolution and battery life point-and-shoot.

My dad gave me a digital camera two years ago, but it's an entry-level Kodak that takes lousy 640x480 pictures and eats batteries like there's no tomorrow. Digital cameras have come a long way since then.

Any pros and cons with this camera that I've picked out?

Edit: Amazon.com reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...DateDescending
There are a couple of disturbing reviews claiming poor picture quality. And then a discussion link about an error E18 lens error, which basically means that the camera is junk.

Canon page: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=320&modelid=18138
Interestingly, they have an icon for "Windows 7 ready", but clicking on the drivers link, only offers a selection of XP and Vista (x86/x64). No windows 7 downloads.

A review: http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_a1100_is_review/


I was also considering a Fuji Finepix series camera, any opinion on those?
 
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Also look at the SD1200 IS. You lose a little bit of zoom, but it's a lot more pocketable.
 
I agree with the SD1200. Though I wish they didn't change the shell so much from the SD1100. The new SD1200 feels almost toy-like thanks to the plastic controls on the back. The SD1100 isn't nearly as bad.
 
I've tried out the A1100IS, I can't speak to the picture quality on computer since I didn't get to that point, but using the camera was simple enough. The camera itself is somewhat large compared to the SD line, but for me it was still pocketable, just not really with other things.

Going to agree that the SD1200 is nice. If you can get it on sale it's even better. Given this camera as a gift twice and it's been greatly loved both times.
 
seems canon hasn't put any effort into the A series since the A590/A650 heyday. digital cameras may have come a long way in the last two years, but the A1100 doesn't appear to be any improvement over the A590. nominally higher resolution but i bet the sensor was already close to outresolving the lens at 8MP. for that price i'd get something smaller, metal bodied, and that comes with a rechargeable battery.
 
Well, I bought it. 🙂

The size is fine for me, I have big hands.

I also bought an 8GB SHDC PNY memory card that was on sale for $25. I could have gotten one online for cheaper, but I would have had to wait for it to be shipped.

I'm testing the SDHC card in a USB reader, and I'm a little perplexed. According to Wikipedia, SDHC class 4 cards (is marked C4 on packaging), are supposed to be 4.0MB/sec write speed MINIMUM.

I'm running vconsole.com's flash memory tester program, and write speed is approaching 4MB/sec as a limit, but has yet to actually reach it.

Also, I had less than 8000000 bytes on the card, so it's not even a real 8GB card. 🙁
 
randomlinh said:
It is a real 8GB card. It just depends on what math you subscribe to and if all parties involved agree to that math.
Click to expand...


Formatting in different file systems can vary in size as well.



Can't go wrong with a Canon A-series camera though. I still use my 5-year-old A85 from time to time. As far as digicams go, it's ancient. It still takes great looking photos though.
 
Got my wife a A1100 6 months back.
Very little red eye compared to last Canon.
Suggest you buy battries by the case.
 
great pick on a new camera. i've been with strictly canon digi cams for the past 7 years and all have been great. i'm currently using a sd1100 IS for daily point-and-shoot
 
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