YADCT: Questions

[pontifex]

I've been looking at digital cameras online all day. I currently have a Canon Powershot S200 (2 MP).

I've read some other threads on this forum and there were many cameras mentioned. One that kind of caught my eye was the Canon Powershot S2 IS. The only problem I have with it is that it uses 4 AA batteries. How long do the batteries last? How do they compare to a similar camera that uses a li-ion battery instead?

I like the smallness of my S200 but I want something that will give me way better quality, but I also need something in the $300 or below price range.
I've also been looking at the Canon SD400, 450, 500, and 550 since they are very much like my current camera.

I hate trying to buy stuff I don't know much about and when I don't have the money for anything really decent.

 

[pontifex]

no help or advice today?

 

[Ornery]

1. Worth a look...

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Ornery

1. Worth a look...

thanks for the suggestion

but wow, where the hell are all the digital camera gurus? i figured i'd at least get an answer for the battery question.

 

[Ornery]

AA NiMHs are a buck each, so buy a few sets and you're good to go for days! That's the least of your worries. Worry more about low light focusing performance, and in the case of that Panasonic, higher ISO noise.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Ornery

1. Worth a look...

FTW

Get rechargables. Batteries should be your last concern with a digital camera.

 

[montanafan]

I'm not really familiar with the S2 IS. Heard good things from people who had the S1 IS though. You should be able to get one of them new and really cheap.

For quality photos from a more compact camera you can't beat the Fuji F10, especially in low light. The F11 is out now, but why pay more when the F10 is so good.

As for batteries, I like the Duracell Ultra for digital. They're better than any NiMHs I've ever used, but this is in a flash not a camera. The flash's recycle times are really quick with them.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: montanafan
I'm not really familiar with the S2 IS. Heard good things from people who had the S1 IS though. You should be able to get one of them new and really cheap.

For quality photos from a more compact camera you can't beat the Fuji F10, especially in low light. The F11 is out now, but why pay more when the F10 is so good.

As for batteries, I like the Duracell Ultra for digital. They're better than any NiMHs I've ever used, but this is in a flash not a camera. The flash's recycle times are really quick with them.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

heh, that fuji f10 is basically a canon sd ripoff (in outer design anyway)

 

[pontifex]

ok, this is probably a stupid question but i really don't know much about cameras (as i mentioned before).

so what exactly gives really clear and crisp images? is it a certain feature or a mixture of features?

there's so many cameras with so many different features and prices, its ridiculous for an unknowledgable person to try to figure out what to get. i've looked at cnet reviews of several of the camera's i've been looking at. they all seem to get around the same score, for the most part.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: pontifex
ok, this is probably a stupid question but i really don't know much about cameras (as i mentioned before).

so what exactly gives really clear and crisp images? is it a certain feature or a mixture of features?

there's so many cameras with so many different features and prices, its ridiculous for an unknowledgable person to try to figure out what to get. i've looked at cnet reviews of several of the camera's i've been looking at. they all seem to get around the same score, for the most part.

Are you looking for a long zoom?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: pontifex
ok, this is probably a stupid question but i really don't know much about cameras (as i mentioned before).

so what exactly gives really clear and crisp images? is it a certain feature or a mixture of features?

there's so many cameras with so many different features and prices, its ridiculous for an unknowledgable person to try to figure out what to get. i've looked at cnet reviews of several of the camera's i've been looking at. they all seem to get around the same score, for the most part.

Are you looking for a long zoom?

well, i'd like to have something with more than a 3x optical zoom

 

[Ornery]

I've been looking at digital cameras online all day...

I like the smallness of my S200 but I want something that will give me way better quality.

...I also need something in the $300 or below price range.


The more research you do, the more you'll understand that $300 probably won't cut it. It's possible, but there will be serious compromise.

You've already run into the trade off of smallness VS quality. Almost no amount of money will compensate for the lack of lens size in a pocketable camera. That tiny lens leaves you with very little light getting to the sensor. That means slow shutter speeds and a hard time focusing in lower light. Smallness takes away from zoom capability, with no place for a hotshoe, lens attachments and sometimes not even a tripod mount! In return, you have to pay extra for the miniaturization, but you have something that fits easily in your pocket or purse. IMO, you might just as well use the camera in your mobile phone!

Bigger glass means bigger bucks without exception. Electronics keeps dropping in price, but good glass never will. The higher end cameras are going to stay up in price, because of the lens assemblies. Those 10X - 12X zoom cameras are actually bargains when you consider what they can do. A few quirks should be expected when you look at the low prices they're asking for them.

Those cameras have stolen the show from great quality 7MP, 4X optical zoom cameras that cost as much. Having that long zoom without needing a tripod is hard to beat, and probably the best bang for the buck for most people.

 

[myusername]

I'm looking for a similar camera for the same price range, and have managed to narrow it down to the Fuji F10 and the Sony W7. Both are similar in size and style, and both have comparable image quality at low ISO. After studying the samples at dpreview, I would say that they both offer image quality comparable to any of the Canon SD series - particularly considering the price point.

The F10 offers better performance at higher ISO's and has a slightly better white balance, but it lacks an optical viewfinder, and uses a propietary rechargable battery. However, the F10's battery is remarkably long-lived. The F10 takes XD(yuck), whereas the Sony takes Memory Stick(yuck).

In my particular case (this is a wedding gift), I am inclined toward the W7, because it takes AA batteries, which given the active lifestyle of the couple, would be more useful than something that must be tethered to their wall every night. If the F10 took AA's, it would already be on a UPS truck to me.

Now I just need to convince myself that it is OK to purchase from the company that distributed an auto-install rootkit with it's audio CD's ...

 

[Ornery]

Either seems like a total waste of $300, no matter what battery or memory format they use. You're paying good money for poor performing, tiny cameras. There's got to be plenty of competition at half that price that can perform as poorly.