In the market for a digi Camera

[Eagle]

Libby, congratulations, it's great to hear that you've "made the plunge" and decided to give the digital format another try. Digital Camera technology has advanced a lot in the last few years, and I think you'll find a big difference!

I'm happy, but I am suffering some buyers remourse. I do that all the time.

Don't be too hard on yourself. I wasn't overly familiar with that Camera (especially as it was just introduced in May 2005 and there aren't many Reviews yet). However, I found this item from the U.K. and thought you might be interested:

"Verdict

Overall image quality is extremely good, with superb natural colour reproduction, consistently accurate exposure and minimal lens distortion. The Pentax Sliding Lens System, although an admirable piece of optical engineering, does have something of a reputation for barrel distortion and corner blurring at the wide angle setting, however it looks like some improvements have been made this time around because these problems appear to have been all but eliminated. Another problem which plagues many high-performance cameras, the dreaded purple fringe, is also thankfully kept to an almost invisible minimum.

The Optio S5n is a third-generation product, building on a very successful line of cameras, and is certainly one of the best ultra-compacts on the market. It is extremely well made, has a long list of useful and entertaining functions, superb handling and image quality, and it even looks nice. It’s not the cheapest in its class, but you’re getting a lot of camera for your money, and in a very small package." (Italics emphasis is mine).

Keep in mind, that's only one Review but it sounds like an excellent Camera! Not only that, but in checking the spec's I learned that it is supplied with a "world Charger" which also charges the spare battery (although the Docking Station can only charge one Battery at a time if the Camera is also connected), so you're all set to travel! It does need a Plug Adapter, but that's not a big deal. You'll need a couple of Memory Cards, but Future Shop often has those on sale. I picked up a 1 GB Card not too long ago for quite a reasonable price (about $80.00 from what I remember -- I'm using it to store MP3 Files on my T3, which I'm quite enjoying!).

I'm sure once you go through the manual a couple of times, you'll be quite familiar with all the "bells & whistles" of your new Camera. One thing you might consider for practise, is to try a self portrait -- I haven't seen a picture of you in the "Pictures of Us" section?

Have fun and happy shooting!!!

[camera]

Has anyone had any experience with a Sony? I've been looking at the Cybershot DSC-H1. Anyone else looked at this one or can recommend something similar?

[knicole]

Whoops, that is why you shouldn't post when your still not quite awake. My name is not camera.
Any responses to my above post would be welcomed.

[Eagle]

knicole, I'm not thoroughly familiar with the Sony DSC-H1 but from what I've seen it's an excellent Camera. I had a look at the www.dpreview.com listing for that model, and it was given the coveted "Highly Recommended" rating (which is the best rating possible on dpreview). It was also rated highly in the review at www.steves-digicams.com. Be sure to also check the User Forums at both those sites (Canon Talk and Sony Talk), as comments from other users of a particular Camera model can be very revealing.

You might also look at the Canon S2-IS which is very similar in terms of features and performance. The S2 has an articulating screen, which some people really like. From what I could see in the reviews, both models are fairly close in terms of performance. The Canon is better with some features and the Sony with others.

I just bought a Sony DSC-W5 for my Son and was quite impressed with the features, design and bulid quality. I checked the reviews thoroughly before purchase, as I wasn't too familiar with Sony products and wanted to make sure before buying anything other than Canon (my usual choice). Sony's thoughtful designers also provided for an external flash and lens adapters for the W5, which greatly improves it's flexibility and functionality.

Have a look at both the H1 and S2 in your local shops to determine which one fits your needs and preference the best. IMHO either model would be a good choice.

Be sure to read some of the other Posts in this section, with regard to travelling with digital Cameras. You'll need extra Batteries, Memory Cards, and some sort of Case. You'll also need to consider how to transfer images when the memory cards are full.

Hope this helps. Let us know your impressions of the Camera you buy, as it may help others here.

Cheers!!!

[knicole]

Thanks for the advice. I've found a lot of good information on those sites, and the forums there unearthed a lot of info and opinions.
I think I will go for the H1 and I will be sure to offer my thoughts when I've taken it out.

[skye]

Eagle, (and anyone else who would like to respond!)
I am in the market for a new camera. My old one is very basic, 3.2 megapixels. Here is what I am looking for: bigger screen (2.5 I guess, mine is really small maybe 1 or 1.5 inches). Good quality zoom, at least 5.0 megapixels, and small. I looked at that Canon S2 IS you recommended, but that is way too bulky for me. And I have no idea what memory they take, but is there something that takes SD cards? (I already have over 2 gig from my old camera, it would be a shame to have to buy new ones but I will if I have to). Price range: maybe I am being too naive, but hoping in the $500 CDN range (slightly over $400 US I think). Any ideas??

[skye]

any thoughts on the Canon SD550 or 450? How good is a 3X zoom?

[sarahray85]

I just bought the Canon SD450. I'll let you know how it works out once I get it.

[diana]

I am personally looking into getting the SD 550 too. I read some pretty good reviews on it from the web. The SD550 and the SD 450 seem to be similar in terms of its technology while SD550 has a bigger screen and a different design. Seems like it’s a good camera so I’m hoping to buy it after Christmas.

[Eagle]

skye, first of all sorry for the long delay in replying. Somehow I missed your post. On the premise that you haven't yet bought a Camera, a few comments:

Zoom - most of the smaller P & S Cameras only have 3x optical zoom, often with some degree of digital zoom (which is a bit of a gimmick, and should be used sparingly). In terms of "how good" the zoom is, you'll have to decide whether that limited range is something you can tolerate? There are a few Cameras that offer more zoom, such as the Canon S-70 or S-80, which have 3.6x optical zoom along with a more effective wide angle lens. Those Cameras also offer an extensive range of both auto and manual controls, which I find to be a very useful feature. A few models provide up to 5x optical zoom, but in my view this shouldn't be the entire criteria for buying the Camera - you have to assess the whole package based on your preferences.

Canon SD-550 or SD-450 - from what I recall of the dpreview section on those models, they both got very favourable reviews. I think the 450 has a slightly smaller display screen. I think either model would be good (you'll have to decide whether these meet your needs). One other point, I believe many of the newer Canon models are gravitating towards SD Cards for storage, especially the ultra compact models. It certainly makes sense to buy a Camera that uses SD Cards, since you already have an investment in that format.

Diana, have you purchased your Camera yet? The SD-550 looks like an excellent quality product. It is such a compact design, which makes it easy to carry. Again, you'll have to decide if the 3x zoom presents any "limitations" to your style of photography. In my experience it's possible to get some great pictures even with limited zoom, but there are some occasions when it's certainly better to have more range and the capability of using wide angle lenses. This is one of the reasons I bought a d-SLR this Christmas. I find it much more awkward to have to pack a larger Camera around while backpacking, so it's a "trade-off". I will still continue to use my S-50 in some applications - due to it's compact size it's more likely to be with me more often while travelling.

You might be interested in something I learned when visiting a professional photography shop in my local area. One of the owners has a VERY expensive SLR (he's a professional photographer, so needs the best equipment). The interesting part is that he also uses one of the small Canon models when he's just going out for informal trips. It's so compact and easy to "throw" into a pocket. I can't remember which particular model it was (450, 500 or 550?) but it takes EXCELLENT photos!

Anyway, good luck to both of you with your Camera purchases. Let us know what you decided on!

Happy travels!!!

[diana]

I still haven't brougt the camera yet I'm kinda in a dilemma right now since my bf just brought the new Sony N1 and he will be taking it to our trip to Europe in April. I still have my old Sony T1 even thought I would prefer a better camera, I don't know if i should take the plung and splurg on a new camera for myself. But if I do end up buying it before my trip, I'll make a post about how I like it. BTW, anyone know if Canon will come out with a new compact camera anytime soon? (If they do, maybe the price of the SD550 will drop) ;D

[Eagle]

diana, Canon introduces new models on a fairly regular basis, so I expect there will be some announcements soon. The PMA 2006 show starts (I believe?) on Feb. 26, so look for lots of activity and press releases then.

It's highly likely there will be several new P & S models introduced at PMA as well as most likely a replacement for the 20D. There might actually be some price reductions prior to the show (clear out "old" inventory to get ready for the new units). The SD-550 was just introduced in August 2005, so not sure if they'll have a replacement for that particular model?

From what I remember, the 550 received some good reviews so that would be a good choice if that model has the features you want. It might be a good idea for you and the bf to each have your own Camera, as that way you can both take pictures of those things that interest you most. It's a good "backup" too in case there's a problem with one of the Cameras. They're both compact and easy to carry, so size and weight shouldn't be an issue.

Good luck! Let us know your impressions when you buy the Camera.