Help me choose

[Tony 1]

In the market for a new digital camera.

 

Narrowed it down to two, the Canon A80 4 meg pixs

and the Sony DSCP10 5 meg pix the memory sicks for the Sony are a bit pricey nearly double the price of the compactflash memory which the Canons use:(

any advice to help make the final decision, both come out about £280.

 

 

Regards Tony

[Excalibur]

My son just got a cheaper Sony. Yes the memory is dearer, and it is quite complicated to use in manual (appparently easiest to set it on auto)but the rechargeable batteries last for ages, and the picture quality esp in low light is stunning. My brother has a Canon, which eats standard batteries.

[Steve Burke]

Copy of an earlier post of mine:

 

I recently bought a new digital camera and batteries/charger after doing a considerable amount of research, including looking at a huge number of independent test reports.

 

Everything pointed to buying a camera that uses AA size batteries as they're obtainable more or less anywhere in the world.

 

NiMH type batteries are rechargeable and work out very cheap to run. I bought 2 sets of 2200mAh ones in AA size so I've always got a spare set with me, and recharge them as soon as I get home. Bear in mind that NiMH batteries have to be discharged and then recharged several times before they reach their maximum life. You'll need a spare set as they give off full power for a long time and then suddenly stop rather than fading.

 

The batteries and chargers that did well in field tests are called Powerex and mine came from http://shop.mahaenergy.com/store/store.asp

 

As for the camera I bought a 4 megapixel Canon A80, especially for fishing. Unlike most digitals, Canon ones focus in the dark, as do most from Sony plus odd models from other makers. Bear in mind that many fishing photos will be taken in poor light or even darkness. Unless way out, you can manipulate images that are wrongly exposed, but there's not a lot you can do to an out of focus shot.

 

The A80 also has an LCD screen that you can flip round that makes self-portraits a doddle - you can actually see yourself on the screen as you hold a fish! I use this in conjunction with a Kaiser air release and adaptor, which I find miles better than an infra-red remote. The adaptor clips on using Velcro as, like almost all compact cameras, the shutter button on the A80 isn't threaded.

 

With the A80 you can even add an audio note to each picture - something I find useful to record the details of the catch. You can also make movies with sound.

 

Uploading is quick and easy via the standard USB cable provided.

 

Whilst it can be used as a point and shoot camera, the A80 can also be used in semi-auto and full manual mode, including manual focussing. It's got a 3X optical zoom which focusses to 2ins, as well as a digital zoom, and also takes accessory wide-angle, telephoto and extreme close-up lenses plus filters. There's even an underwater case available for divers!

 

Most of all it takes great pictures. As has already been pointed out megapixels aren't everything. The electronics, lens and software are just as important, and all are first rate. Amongst the big bundle of software included is PhotoImpression for editing photos, and you can also print direct to many printers without going via a computer.

 

I paid just £277 for mine online which included a 32mb card. At the same time I bought an extra 128mb card for an additional £28.

 

If this is too much the A60 & A70 are almost identical except that the LCD screen can't be flipped round, and offer 2 & 3 megapixels respectively. Guide prices online are £130 & £219 respectively. The former price is a steal for a camera with both point and shoot plus full manual control.

 

I'll be doing a full review for Angler's Net when I've finished field-testing these products. However my first impression are that they're the perfect items for fishing photos.

[Peter Sharpe]

I've used a Pentax Optio 550 to take photos for magazine covers. I've taken photos for hours on end, using flash and with the monitor on. I've yet to see the monitor on the lithium ion battery show any drain at all, although I obviously charge it up fully before going out. They're £499 retail, but you can get them for much less on Amazon. The highest quality pics are 14.4 megabytes though, so you will need a few high spec flash cards.

Perhaps one of you experts out there can explain this: if I use TIFF resolution I can only get 8 pics to a 128Mb card. If I use the highest quality jpg setting I can get about 24 pics. They both come out at 14.4Mb, so how's that possible?

[Gillies]

Both camera's take great shots - though I found the Canon was a lot nicer to hold I found, user friendly, and had better features.

 

It may also eat the batteries more - but if you know that - 2 sets of rechargables and your laughing

 

Though - what ever you choose, you won't be dissapointed - I would say a cost/performance is the key factor.

 

Gillies

[Tony 1]

Cheers guys thanks for your input,one further question, my Wife likes to take pictures of wild flowers etc in macro mode, do digitals work well in macro mode.

[jeepster]

i've only got a cheap kodak 1 mega pixel and it works great in macro mode, long as theres plenty of light, getting so close to your subject means you need it. i'm on the verge of ordering a sony dsc-p72, 3 mega pixel and 3 x zoom for about £170 seems like a good deal

[Colin Brett]

I have a Sony DSC P1 3.3mp £545 three years ago. It has worked fine and I have had lots of use from it. I am just starting my third battery so they roughly last 18 months.

The flash is OK up to 5 feet over that it's useless. I tend to print A4 size photos and these are fine except if taking sunsets and landscapes in low light. The prints tend to pixelate. Also objects in landscapes seem to have a second or lighter edge to them. Probably down to me.

Sony have probably sorted out flash problems by now??

My boss has a Fuji 5000 which he reckons is the dogs do dahs, uses XD memory and you can get Uniross 2300 batteries and a fast charger off Ebay for around £20.

 

Colin

[Tony 1]

Just an update, opted for the Canon found one on-line for £264 phoned up my local Jessops who price matched it, their price was £289 also sold me a Sandisk 128mb memory card for £19.99 also they threw in 8 quids worth of free processing vouchers.

well worth a call to your local Jessops before you buy .

Once again thanks for your help lads

 

[ 04. February 2004, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: Tony C ]