Replacing aged Canon A40, but with what?

[brigden]

I'm a decent photographer looking for a feature-rich digicam at around $500. I would prefer something that doesn't use proprietary batteries, and the Canon's 'A' series are at the top of my list. In all honesty, I'd love the new Digital Rebel, but I can't justify the hefty price tag.

The A40 is the only digicam I've ever owned, and in the two years I've used it, I've been somewhat disappointed, especially by the digicam's poor quality in indoor, low-light conditions.

I'm currently (seriously) considering both the A85 and the A95. The S60 and the Sony DSCW1 are also in contention.

UPDATE:

I've decided to spend a bit more and have now left myself to decide between the Canon G6 and the Sony DSCV3. I've read a few previews, but nothing comparitive.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Doggiedog]

I've got an S60 but there is an S70 now.

 

[Anubis]

Did you read your other thread?

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: Anubis
Did you read your other thread?

Yes, but the advice was limited and the thread ended up an unrelated argument between two or three members.

 

[Mr N8]

Canon G5. It should be coming down in price, too, since the G6 just came out.

 

[brigden]

Anyone else?

 

[NFS4]

Here's a question...how does thr G6 compare to the A95?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Here's a question...how does thr G6 compare to the A95?

please tell me you are joking

 

[edro]

How much for your A40?

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Here's a question...how does thr G6 compare to the A95?

The G6 is a lot better. Its the "prosumer" level camera, whereas the A95 is the point & shoot level with some manual features.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NFS4
Here's a question...how does thr G6 compare to the A95?

please tell me you are joking

I was wondering that it offered over the A95. I know it's a higher level camera, but I was wondering what features make it stand out (I know that it has a hot shoe and CF-II support)

 

[FreshPrince]

here's another question...

is the G6 worth the money to replace the G3?

 

[Ornery]

Buy this one! :Q I'm dying to hear if it's any good or not!

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
here's another question...

is the G6 worth the money to replace the G3?

The G3 and G5 were almost identical, except for the resolutions and body styling changes. The big thing that the G6 has upgraded is that it has drastically reduced chromatic aberrations (purple fringing) at the edges of pictures.

Other advantages are faster startup, faster autofocus, smaller and lighter body, and you can choose you RAW image size, rather than having only 1 RAW size.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Buy this one! :Q I'm dying to hear if it's any good or not!

Thats an excellent camera. We just got a shipment of those at circuit city so I got to toy around with it for a little. The lens is absolutely huge! Leica lens are top notch though. Allows tons of light to get in, very good low light quality. Its 5.0 mp so very nice high res pics. I have a canon powershot s1 which is an awesome camera. Not only is the picture quality good, but the video mode rivals a dv camcorder almost (at least in my eyes and others who have seen it). I feel a bit limmited with the 3.2 mp sensor, but you can't have everything I guess.

 

[dr150]

Canon A series cameras have substantial purple fringing.

The s60 has vignetting at widest zoom AND purple fringing. Also has egregious barrelling & pincushioning.

The W1 is your best choice. Only problem is that it begins at 38mm (like the Canon cameras and most compacts out there).

Get the Casio P600 for about $450. It takes great pics, is compact, and has a Canon lens. Also starts at a much more reasonable 34mm.

The larger $~500 Olympus 5060 (27mm) or upcoming ~$650 Sony V3 (34mm) are also exceptional but larger cameras.

Other great cameras for contention is the ~$450 7MP Sony 150 and ~$550 7MP Pentax 750--both fantastic and pocketable.

The upcoming $400 4MP Canon S300 (35mm) is compelling, but S cameras have the dreaded and prevalent E13 error. If you have to send the camera in for repair, expect that it'll never work correctly again.

If you wish zoom, the new $400 4MP Nikon 4800 has received good reviews. It's 36-300mm and is very compact for such a zoom! Nikon also has the upcoming ~$850 8MP Nikon 8400 that starts at 24mm. This lens coul dbe tricky with the barelling....watch out for reviews!


I cannot stress enough that a camera get as close to 32mm as possible at widest zoom. You'll notice a big difference when in cramped picture taking quarters.

Any camera that I recommended above will do a lot better than the other choices. The Sony W1 is great aside of the common 38mm lens.

 

[xEDIT409]

I have the Canon s60, and I absolutly love it.

No complaints. But I am also a photographer newb, so I'm no expert.

But yeah, I haven't had any problems with my s60 yet.

Oh and the manual controls are really nice!

 

[brigden]

I've decided to spend a bit more and have now left myself to decide between the Canon G6 and the Sony DSCV3. I've read a few previews, but nothing comparitive.

Thanks for all the great advice. You guys rock.

 

[kaizersose]

Originally posted by: brigden
I've decided to spend a bit more and have now left myself to decide between the Canon G6 and the Sony DSCV3. I've read a few previews, but nothing comparitive.

Thanks for all the great advice. You guys rock.

how much does the G6 run you in Canada? with all of the price drops, you may be running up into dRebel terratory

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NFS4
Here's a question...how does thr G6 compare to the A95?

please tell me you are joking

I was wondering that it offered over the A95. I know it's a higher level camera, but I was wondering what features make it stand out (I know that it has a hot shoe and CF-II support)

much faster lens that is both wider and longer, for one. the lens is probably all glass while the A series probably uses some plastic elements.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: kaizersose

Originally posted by: brigden
I've decided to spend a bit more and have now left myself to decide between the Canon G6 and the Sony DSCV3. I've read a few previews, but nothing comparitive.

Thanks for all the great advice. You guys rock.

how much does the G6 run you in Canada? with all of the price drops, you may be running up into dRebel terratory

The G6 is $899, the Digital Rebel is $400 more.

 

[Anubis]

your buget just went from 500-700$

you can get a dreb for like 850 just do that

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: Anubis
your buget just went from 500-700$

you can get a dreb for like 850 just do that

Digital Rebel retails for $1,299 CAD, plus 15% tax.

 

[brigden]

Any review sites I should be aware of?

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: Anubis
your buget just went from 500-700$

you can get a dreb for like 850 just do that

Digital Rebel retails for $1,299 CAD, plus 15% tax.

canada? that sucks