Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

So I've had my Sony Cybershot for a few years now...and it blows. I really don't like it. So I'm looking to get myself a new digi camera. I've browsed through the boards and have noticed most of you say that Canon > *. Help me make the right choice. I am by no means a good photographer, nor do I know mucha bout them (such as, shutter speed, yada yada). Nonetheless, I would love to learn more, especially with my new upcoming camera. I plan on staying within the $500 range. I have heard nothng but great things about the Canon SD500, but I just noticed that the new SD550 has been released. I went to BestBuy today and they had it on sale for $449. Do you guys think this would be a wise decision? Also, what does Point & Shoot mean? Or megapixels? I noticed that this camera is a 7.1 megapixel camera, which holds a hell of a lot less pictures. Can I take pictures with a smaller megapixel? I would like to have this thread open not only for a purchasing decision, but also so that people can help me with the basics of these cameras...give me pointers/tips and what not. Also, do you think a 1gb memory card would suffice? What brand, etc...? I'd appreciate it you guys!

`John

Sarlacc

hmmm you want to start learning more about photography, and this will be your primary camera.

Look in the new s80 or previous gen s70 to get what you want. Great camera, awesome design, easy to use, and has greater manual control for when you want to experiment. Better lens as well.

I really only recommend the elph line to people who already have a larger camera and want something pocket size.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

Thanks sarlacc...does anyone else have any input?

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

it looks like this camera won't be available until October...I was kind of looking to get a camera ASAP. Is the S80 much better than the SD550?

ChodTheWacko

Point and shoot is a weird term, it doesn't mean anything. It means
you don't have a billion options to select, you just point and shoot. However you can always point and shoot any camera in most conditions.

Megapixels is how big the biggest picture size is. More megapixels generally mean more detail, although there are a billion other factors that determine how good a picture is.

1 Gig should be plenty - you don't need to be shooting at full resolution all the time. Unless you get an SLR the brand/speed of the memory card doesn't make much of a difference because your camera generally can't write to the memory card that fast.

If you have an interest in photography in general, I'd also advise the S70. The SD550, like most pocket cameras, lack various functionality that is nice to have, like selecting shutter/aperture.


There are various decent 'how to select a digital camera' guides, like
http://www.viewz.com/shoppingguide/digicam.shtml

But Here's a pretty important question:
What specifically don't you like aobut your Cybershot?

- Frank

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

Well...I've had my Cybershot for a few years now, and over the years it's been mishandled by myself and others. Meaning, it's been dropped a couple of times, and when I have it in Picture mode, it sometimes just shuts off on me. Also, I'm not too satisfied with the picture quality. The modes on the camera suck, it's rather bulky, and I really just don't like it.

The problem I'm having right now is that I have $150 in best buy cards for my birthday to go towards a camera. Plus, I have a coupon that expires today at best buy which is good for an additional 10% off. So I figured that the SD550, which is on sale for $449, minus the 10% would be a pretty good deal. Also, I really want to get a camera like ASAP, because I've been wanting a new one for a while, and this is a birthday gift for myself (which my bday was on Aug. 14th). I hope this makes some kind of sense. BTW, thanks for that little tidbit of info Chod!

vp911

I just bought the SD300 and it is excellent so I can highly reccomend getting the Sd550 as it can't possibly be worse. Amazing camera.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

thanks vp911 for your input

vp911

I suppose I could speak for the SD500 also - About a month ago I purchased 6 of them for the local high school. Amazing camera. It is a little bigger than the Sd300 that I have, but the pictures are amazing quality.

G-UNIT

I have the SD200, great camera!

ChodTheWacko

Well, I only see the S60 on bestbuy.com, not the S70. I guess I'd choose the SD500 over the S60.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

it's actually the SD550 that they have in

Winterwaves

One other thing to remember, that seems to confuse people a lot, is the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom. If you want zoom, the biggest X number optical zoom is what you want. Digital zoom just means blowing up the picture like you would in Photoshop. The more you zoom in, the more pixellated it gets. Not good.

I hate the marketing games these companies play with this. "24X Zoom!" Yeah, and then you find out it's 4X optical and 20X digital.

I have a Canon G3 with a bunch of add-on lenses -- macro, telephoto, wide angle, polarizing filters -- and I still love it. My next camera will be a Canon also. Can't go wrong with a Canon.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

So I just got back from BestBuy, and I bought the Canon SD550! The problem is that there is only a 14 day return policy, and if you open it, there is a 15% restocking fee: fuck that!

While I was there, I asked the guy when he thinks they should be getting the S80 in, and he mentioned that he "heard" in a few weeks, however he can't be certain. So now I'm sitting on my ass, wondering if I should wait to see if they get the S80 in and return it?

The SD550 came out to $449 with my 10% coupon + tax. I should be excited that I just got the SD550, but since they mentioned the S80, I don't know what to do?? Damn, life's hard, haha.

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

I was recently in the same situation as you. I needed to upgrade from my 3-4 year old 3MP Fuji point and shoot. I didn't know anything about photography. I looked around online and ended up with the Canon G6. It's been taking some good pics IMO... much better than my previous cam:


Hi-Res Picture


Hi-Res Picture


Hi-Res Picture

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

Those are some pretty nice pictures, I must say. So do you think the SD550 will be a good choice? Isn't it the newer SD500 model, which everyone says is really good? Or should I hold off for the S80? BTW, I'm assuming the G6 is a nicer camera than the SD550 as well, correct?

JJ4Short

www.dpreview.com

Anyways after looking at the g6 sample pictures on that sight...fuck point and shoot I want a g6

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

any thoughts on what I should do w/ the camera??

GreenMonster

Take lots and lots of pictures... Use different settings, and figure out what works and what doesn't... read up on the web, and take more pictures...

I've been a bad boy, and haven't really used my Canon S2 IS that often. My brother has been hounding me to take some pics, so he can compare them to his Canon A520...

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

lol...no that's not what I meant...I meant from my question in my post before that:

GreenMonster

Hit up fatwallet and slickdeals...

I waited months before I caught a deal on my canon... I hate paying retail...

Billiam

Only you can tell yourself what to do since it really boils down to your own priorities. If you really want to "learn photography," then the camera with more manual settings (S80) is the way to go. However, a whole hell of a lot of people that are in to photography also have pocket cameras so that they can carry something with them at all times. So even if you get the S80, you may still end up wanting something like the SD550 after a period of time. The choice is yours and yours alone.

BTW, unless you're planning on routinely getting prints larger than 8x10's, it's doubtful that you'd ever notice the difference in resolution when looking at prints or at images resized for screen viewing.

FiftyFive

i had my canon powershot a95 for a few months now, and i love it!

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

I've seen the G6 for less than $400. I paid $475 shipped back in March or April.

ChodTheWacko

S80 = tastes great
SD550 = less filling
G6 = brick

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

lol....I'm not TOO sure I understand the analogy...I'm assuming you're saying hte S80 is pimp, SD550 is pretty good - just not as pimp, and the G6 is a heavy mofo

Winterwaves

lol...when I saw the G6, I went, "ooh, look how compact it is compared to my G3." I actually didn't like the feel of it in my hands; it felt too cramped. But yeah, I can definitely feel like a brick around your neck after a while.

Billiam

^^^ I see your future... it does not have a DLSR in it.

Sarlacc

^

ryder1650

I'm in the market for a compact camera too. Right now I have the digital rebel (1st gen) and want a small one to take to parties etc. I like the sd550, but im afraid that because im so used to being able to tweak the settings with my DSLR that I will not like the SD550. I guess the s80 would make more sense for me then?

Sarlacc

Nah.

I have DSLR and sd400 which I perfer to the SD500/550 cause its smaller and thinner and easier to put in your pocket.

Its nice to have simple point and shoot for everyday use. The only I dont like is when Im on a set and I have to use a flash, which can annoy everyone else, lets everyone know you are taking pics....because its smaller optics dont handle low light very well. so no flash = blurry photos.

Other then that I love it.

ryder1650

Sweet, so I guess the new SD450 would be perfect for me then? I guess if I need a higher res pic I can just use the Rebel. Also, do you recommend upgrading to the new rebel xt, or is mine alright for now? I think that Dell deal is still active for body only.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the pictures the rebel takes with a 420ex flash attached to it are much better than anything one of the SD line cameras can do...

Sarlacc

SD450 will probably get the job done just fine.

I know nothing of the of the digirebels. Im in teh nikon world for SLRS, and I havent been keeping up too much on that end lately.

ryder1650

Cool, I think I will go that way because its $100 cheaper than the 550. When I bought mine the D70 wasn't out yet, plus my dad had some Canon glass that he lets me use.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

well, I bit the bullet, and I decided to open up the packaging yesterday, lol...

Man, the camera is so small, and the screen is HUGE! It looks fucking awesome. I will try and take some pics today and post them up I'm very happy with it, and I think it will do just fine.

JJ4Short

GET A HARD CASE
if you read the reviews for the SD series on cnet a lot of them complain the screen cracks easily. I went and picked up a hard shell digi cam case for my sd400...I dunno if it will fit your camera but its tiny and fits mine perfectly

vp911

Do you have a link to the actual product ordering page for that? I bought the sd300 recently and have been looking for a nice case for it. Thanks

JJ4Short

http://www.gsmcellular.com/product.a...eyword=SK-HS-5

Sears

Ebay

I paid $15 at Ritz Camera
Here are a few links I basically searched "hard shell digital camera case" in froogle

heres a picture in comparison to my cell phone...cant take a pic with the camera for obvious reasons

vp911

Cool, thanks