Which should i get? Canon A40 ($200) or Olympus D-550 ($250)

[dakata24]

I just cant decide. the Olympus seems to me to be the better deal at OM for $250 that includes a SM reader. 3MP and the reviews are pretty good for it. though it's movie mode is kind of mediocre since it uses Quicktime and only does 30 secs of (no-audio) clips no matter the size of your SM card. I'd have to get a SM card (probably the Viking 128MB for $34 at Amazon - $30 if i can use the $5 code again since i used it buying my iriver slim-x mp3 player)..

then there's the canon a40. 2MP with rave reviews. i wouldnt have to buy any cards since i already have a 128MB compactflash card that is sitting around for my old 1.3MP minolta camera. but only 2MP.. then again, it's only $200 and i can buy accessories like a new rechargable battery charger (current one doesnt have quick charge/discharge so id probably get one of those maha quick chargers)..

Rossman, if you're listening. what would your ferrengi self get?

 

[vi edit]

I say down with smart media! The choice is obvious

Edit: The A40 does movie mode in quicktime as well.

 

[dakata24]

oh. didnt notice that.. hmm. now i re-read that it also does it in 10 or 30 sec clips...

still un-decided though. i do like the look of the a40 alittle more than the d-550. then agian, the d-550 has that flip lens protector/power switch so i dont have to worry about the lens cap..

 

[vi edit]

D-550 images
A40 images

 

[virtuamike]

Neither. Get the Olympus D-700, only 2MP but it has 10X optical, only $250 from OM in HD forum

 

[dakata24]

bump

 

[RossMAN]

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two digicams.

Go for the Canon A40.

Here's an excellent deal on some rechargeable batteries.

 

[Kelvrick]

You seem to like movie mode. Have you considered a Sony P2 or a Sony P51? I gotta respect the Cannons, but they got nothing on Mpeg ex.

<== monkey dance

 

[dakata24]

if rossman says get the canon a40, who am i to argue?

i saw a sample of movie mode for the canon a40 in one of the reviews and i must say it'll be much nicer with audio (something the olympus lacks).. but really dont want to spend an arm and a leg on a sony (im guessing those cost abit more than what im willing to pay for)

ill save a few bucks and get the a40. ill probably never print anything over 4x6 anyways.. and maybe occasionally a 5x7 and once in a blue moon a 8x10 (most likely never).

thanks rossman for that link to the rechargeable batteries.. im heading out to big lots and check that out.

 

[RossMAN]

But I have heard that indoor shots and macro shots on the Canon A40 suck and are weak, so that's something to consider.

If you're a n00b like me that won't really matter.

Definitely check out the Panasonic rechargeables @ Big Lots, I bought one, for $12.99 it's an awesome deal.

 

[dakata24]

just ordered the a40.. im a n00b too and will mostly take outdoor pics so it shouldnt matter much..

came back from my local big lots with no batteries.. all they had were alkalines at the newark, ca store. oh well. i have some nimh batteries lying around somewhere. probably just get a smart charger so i can condition the batteries.

 

[RossMAN]

It's a few more bucks but I would highly recommend this, I've purchased from SunnBattery.com (ptron1) before and highly recommend them.

If you can afford a few more bucks you may want to get 1800 mAH batteries but 1600's are great also.

 

[MWink]

But I have heard that indoor shots and macro shots on the Canon A40 suck and are weak, so that's something to consider.

RossMAN, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to kill you now. Why couldn't you say that BEFORE I bought a Canon A40!?!? I just bought one on Thursday and I will be using it for primarily indoor and macro shots. Oh well, so far I love it. When I was playing with them in the store it seemed like the A40 could take better macro shots than the Fuji Finepix 2650 (which was the other camera I was considering). So far I'm very happy with the A40.

As for batteries, I have also used the GP 1800mAH's from Sunnbattery. They are good but I just found some higher capacity ones. You can get Energizer 1850mAH batteries at BB. I got a pack (actually I bought them with the charger) and they are by far the highest capacity AA's I've found. They tested at 1600mAH! The GP 1800's only test at 1400mAH. ALL the other NIMH AA's I have (Energizer 1200, Telepower 1500, and Nexcell 1600) come in anywhere from 900-1100mAH. So if you want the highest capacity, go with the Energizer 1850's.

 

[bsd]

im looking at the minolta f100, compact, AA batteries, brilliant color and detailing, and subcompact in size. it can be had for 330usd, 4M pixel and 3x optical.

 

[dakata24]

thanks for the link to the batteries/charger. but i ended up getting the maha cf204 charger w/ 4 powerex 1700mah AA batteries at thomas distributing instead.

i think i have everything i need. the canon a40 from OM, canon camera case from gateway for $5.36 shipped and nimh batteries/charger from thomas distrib for $37.

glad i didnt get the olympus or else i would have been spent over $300 after buying the needed accessories.

 

[RossMAN]

MWink - Dell laptops, need I say anymore?

dakata24 - Nice choice on the rechargeable batteries, Thomas-Distributing.com is THE place to get rechargeables.

Enjoy your new digicam and make sure to post pics for all of us to see!