Worthy replacement for a Canon PowerShot A80?

[ibex333]

My compact finally died. It was bought back in the late 90's and lasted all the way till now. CCD is dying, image on LCD and on the output photos is distorted and purple. New CCD is only $11 on ebay, but after watching a repair video on You-Tube I realized I dont want to waste such a huge amount of time for a repair that wont necessarily resurrect the camera.


Anyway, the most important thing for me is INDOOR performance. I bought several compacts in Costco during sales, and returned them all because of horrible grainy images. Also, what's up with today's cameras over-exaggerating colors? I want natural looking photos.

How can it be, that a camera more than 10 years old produces much better images than many if not all of today's compacts in the same price range? I made some posts on other forums years before, and the answers I got boiled down to:

a)Compact cameras cant produce good low light images - Get an SLR. (not true, because my A80 produced great indoor images, and they were never grainy) And I got an SLR already. I want a compact too!

b)You dont know how to use a camera. Learn to make good shots! (Uhh... I used auto most of the time, and still got great images. Even at night! Never played with all that ISO crap or whatever it is. Just selected settings for what was best for night/indoor shooting according to manual)

c)You need to use the flash, you need to take pictures within flash range, and you need to lower/raise the ISO. (Heh.. I never had to touch that setting on the A80, why should I do it now? I got great shots within 5 meters or so using the built in flash, and that's good enough for me.)

So basically, I need a camera that:

1)Is CHEAP. $100 or less. Maybe a little more if it's worth it. Used, is just fine.

2)Has an optical viewfinder(a must) Hate taking pictures with just LCD.

3)Uses AA Batteries (not a necessity, but would be nice to have)

4)Does NOT produce grainy images indoors. I cant stress this enough... My A80 never made grainy images!!! No seriously, it is true!
I dont need to take pictures of people or objects at night far away. (I am talking about photos at night clubs, bars, restaurants, apartments, etc.)

5)Uses CF cards (Again NOT a necessity, but would be nice to have since I got these left over from my A80)

6)Has a sturdy body. Metal? Just like my A80 did.


As always, someone may come in and say.. "Just get a used A80 on ebay and shut up." No thanks. I want to get something different this time.

Thanks.


PS: If someone wants to fix my A80 and use it, it's yours for the price of flat rate shipping.

 

[Spoooon]

For curiosity's sale, post a sample picture.

 

[ibex333]

For curiosity's sale, post a sample picture.

Sure, I can do that. As soon as I find something that is forum worthy.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

How can it be, that a camera more than 10 years old produces much better images than many if not all of today's compacts in the same price range?

Pulled up an old review of the A80:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/canon/powershot-a80/canon-powershot-a80-review-5.html

He's bragging about the "under $400" street price. How do you get "under $100" for the replacement? Canon doesn't sell a camera that is under $100.

The A80 lens is f/2.8 at its widest, there are a number of cameras that will match this or do better. Look at Canons in the $200 to $400 range.

JR

 

[ibex333]

Pulled up an old review of the A80:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/canon/powershot-a80/canon-powershot-a80-review-5.html

He's bragging about the "under $400" street price. How do you get "under $100" for the replacement? Canon doesn't sell a camera that is under $100.

The A80 lens is f/2.8 at its widest, there are a number of cameras that will match this or do better. Look at Canons in the $200 to $400 range.

JR

Yes, indeed I paid $400 for this thing back then. But I figured I can get something similar to it used.

 

[hippy]

Why not try to have it fixed for free? Canon has a recall on A80 CCD issues till the end of this month.
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/cusa/...geKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024801e74fe

 

[ibex333]

Why not try to have it fixed for free? Canon has a recall on A80 CCD issues till the end of this month.
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/cusa/...geKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024801e74fe

Thanks, but...




We made an announcement in October 2005 about our free repair services to address a problem with the CCD image sensor used in certain Canon digital cameras and camcorders. However, as the service period for these product(s) have now ended, kindly note that we will no longer provide such free repair services for the affected product(s) below after it’s end of repair service date.


Update:


Heh.. Get a load of this...

So I emailed Canon about a repair/replacement and they refused to fix for free but offered the loyalty program. I called them and was told that they have NO POWERSHOTS IN STOCK. So I cannot get anything under loyalty program except for a refurbished A 1100 for $72.00+taxes fees and shipping, when it costs $60 on Amazon(not refurbrished!!!)

The rep spent a long time trying to convince me to buy their NEW A800 for $89.99 when a brand new one on amazon costs.... $85!!!

No thanks Canon. Not very nice to try and overcharge customers trying to take advantage of the loyalty program.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Thanks, but...




We made an announcement in October 2005 about our free repair services to address a problem with the CCD image sensor used in certain Canon digital cameras and camcorders. However, as the service period for these product(s) have now ended, kindly note that we will no longer provide such free repair services for the affected product(s) below after it’s end of repair service date.


Update:


Heh.. Get a load of this...

So I emailed Canon about a repair/replacement and they refused to fix for free but offered the loyalty program. I called them and was told that they have NO POWERSHOTS IN STOCK. So I cannot get anything under loyalty program except for a refurbished A 1100 for $72.00+taxes fees and shipping, when it costs $60 on Amazon(not refurbrished!!!)

The rep spent a long time trying to convince me to buy their NEW A800 for $89.99 when a brand new one on amazon costs.... $85!!!

No thanks Canon. Not very nice to try and overcharge customers trying to take advantage of the loyalty program.

New will always cost more "factory direct" than from Adorama, B&H or Amazon. Give me a link to the A1100 (not refurbished) on Amazon. I can't find it and that's a tremendous deal if it's new. I'll order a few of them.

JR

 

[ibex333]

New will always cost more "factory direct" than from Adorama, B&H or Amazon. Give me a link to the A1100 (not refurbished) on Amazon. I can't find it and that's a tremendous deal if it's new. I'll order a few of them.

JR

I NEVER SAID IT WAS NEW. I said. Not refurbished. Actually, it is not a very good camera according to some reviewers. It has too many megapixels crammed on a tiny sensor which produces graininess.

The A560 used on ebay is a much better deal.

But if you want the A1100, here: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...9129330&sr=8-1

Just dont buy them all out. I may take one, if you give me a good reason why the reviewers are wrong. ; )

 

[JohnnyRebel]

K

jr

 

[Munky]

1) Prepare to spend more than $100 unless you're extremely lucky and find a bargain on a used model.

2) See choices below.

3) Almost every camera uses proprietary Li-Ion batteries these days, with the exception of a few low end models.

4) See the choices below.

5) See #3. SD cards have replaced CF and the industry standard.

6) The ones I listed below have generally sturdy, metal bodies.

If indoor and low light image quality is your top priority, your choice boils down to one of these:

*Canon S90/S95
*Canon G11/G12 (has optical viewfinder, but not a high quality one)
*Panasonic LX3/LX5 (electronic and optical viewfinder accessories available)
*Olympus XZ-1 (excellent but pricey electronic viewfinder accessory available)
*Samsung TL500
*Nikon P7000 (has built in viewfinder)

 

[JohnnyRebel]

1) Prepare to spend more than $100 unless you're extremely lucky and find a bargain on a used model.

2) See choices below.

3) Almost every camera uses proprietary Li-Ion batteries these days, with the exception of a few low end models.

4) See the choices below.

5) See #3. SD cards have replaced CF and the industry standard.

6) The ones I listed below have generally sturdy, metal bodies.

If indoor and low light image quality is your top priority, your choice boils down to one of these:

*Canon S90/S95
*Canon G11/G12 (has optical viewfinder, but not a high quality one)
*Panasonic LX3/LX5 (electronic and optical viewfinder accessories available)
*Olympus XZ-1 (excellent but pricey electronic viewfinder accessory available)
*Samsung TL500
*Nikon P7000 (has built in viewfinder)

Don't forget the Nikon P300 with its f/1.8 lens.

I just don't now about this guy and what he's looking for. First he wants to replace a $400 camera with a sub-$100 camera because he's wanting to get one for the same price. He's amazed that cheap cameras don't do as good in low light than an older $400 camera, he says that Canon has no powershots in stock when their website shows many options, albeit over $100. He says Canon is somehow in bad form to offer him a $70ish option in a Factory Rebuilt camera because you can get a trashy used version off of an Amazon vendor for about the same money -- and it hasn't even been "Refurbished" (as if that is somehow better).

Just odd all around.

JR

 

[Rottie]

save your money and you will love S95

 

[hippy]

The "Repair service date" for that camera expires at the end of this month. I think you talked to the wrong rep.

 

[alkemyst]

S95 would be the best thing to replace the A80 if you were happy with it and willing to spend a comparable price on a new camera.

If not then one of the ELPHs would be great.

I had the A50, 70, 80, (i think another in that series too), then the A620, then the excellent A650IS. That camera got stolen.

Don't know where I want to go now. My iPhone4 is a great camera in normal light or better for snap shots.

While I may buy a dSLR one day, I really can't see it yet. I sold off my complete Canon A1 35mm setup way early in the A50 days to get portability over award winning photo quality.

I will probably end up with the S95 myself. I like the latest G series but it's just not enough over the S95 to warrant the bulk factor. If the S95 had a flip screen it would be perfect for my common overhead and under car shots.

 

[iGas]

I'm bias because I own the S95, and it can be had for just over $300 refurbished.

 

[ibex333]

heh.. well, S95 it is then. Time to save up some money. ; )