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Archive through January 10, 2008

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2008 ~ Mar. 2008: All Things Technical: The Help Desk: Digital Camera/Photography Help: Archive through January 10, 2008 users admin

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Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 5:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I have the predecessor, the Canon G6 and it is great. It is a shame I do not utilize all the features. Even still, I come out with nice photos! Only drawback is that it is bulky... But it's nowhere near as pricey as a digiSLR....

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 5:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Here's a link to the conclusion page of the G9:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/page20.asp

By the way, they call this kind of a camera a prosumer. (Half professional/half amatuer consumer.)

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
You might want to go with one of the less expensive SLRs like the Canon Rebel or the Nikon D80? They are both good camera bodies. I don't think I would get the really inexpensive Nikon (I think it is a D40).

Most of the pros use either Canon or Nikon so I'm not as familiar with the other companies SLRs.

Not to be blunt, but if you and Charlie are smart and interested in learning how to use it (and I think you both are) you won't have any problem at all.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 5:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
It's funny when people describe the Canon G6 as bulky, Julie. I agree that it is bulky compared to many of the compact point and shoots but it is tiny compared to the big SLRs and lenses.

I agree that the G6 or G9 are both good cameras as well and you can get wonderful results with them.

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Jimmer. I'm positive we'll go with either Canon or the Nikon D80 after I see what the camera guy has to offer. Thanks for your vote of confidence in our learning abilities. Not to be blunt myself, but your confidence is not unfounded. Charlie got his physics BS and MS simultaneously so he was out of school by age 22. I just skipped 1-1/2 years of college having gotten all those credits when I was in high school.

Julie, thanks for posting models and prices. Whatever we get, I'll use every feature for certain. I cannot wait!! Oh, to answer your question, I won't be going for the point and shoot.

Cinnamongirl
Member

01-10-2001

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 8:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cinnamongirl a private message Print Post    
Hey Julie, I was just out to buy my new camera and the salesperson really thought I should buy the Canon SD1000 as opposed to the Canon A720, said I'd be much happier with it.... so darn it all I'm so confused now...I left with neither. LOL.. will think about it for a couple more days.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 8:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
What were the reasons that the salesperson gave you, Cinnamongirl?

Tess, I think you would be happy with either one. If money isn't a concern you might also want to consider the Canon 40D. It has a better build and some nice features, IMO.

Cinnamongirl
Member

01-10-2001

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 8:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cinnamongirl a private message Print Post    
Well, mainly that the batteries were WAY better, lasted way longer. Being a 7.1 as opposed to the A720 being a 8.0 will give me basically the same quality picture but the 1000 will let me take WAY more pictures. That actually wasn't an issue with me cuz I download my pictures onto my computer quite often so getting 300 instead of 200 doesn't matter. The A720 has a lot of features that many people don't use (which would be me) The 1000 is perfect for regular point and shoot...that and it fits just about anywhere..pocket/purse..I don't know, he was kinda pushing it which I thought was funny cuz its cheaper than the other..

Accck, I just don't know, I can't make a decision to save my life... LOL

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 9:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
My Canon Powershot SD1000 arrived today! Sheesh, I just decided on a whim to buy it less than 48 hours before it arrived. I was out all day and have not had a chance to look at it yet. I will tell you one thing right now that I absolutely LOVE about it, having only just looked in the box, and that is the charger! It is tiny. It is travel round the world portable! I am quite happy with my current HP R717, except if it were just a bit more tiny, I would love it more. BUT, the charger is a real pain in the neck. It is heavy and huge, a real downer to travel with when one might be going for three months in a 22" carryon. I see the generic batteries are real cheap on ebay, so I will buy at least one or two more.

Tess, once I had already bought and scandalized Bigdog by buying a new camera with absolutely NO research other than what I am sure Spongebob must have done for the both of us, Bigdog said I should have got a Canon G9. He said that is what our semi-professional photographer friend just got for his wife. I did look at it during the period when I thought surely my new camera had not shipped yet, and I could still cancel it. It is not what I want, but it might be good for Tess.

Actually, Tess, you might indeed want a point and shoot. Most of them are fine to take pictures on auto-mucken and then they have all sorts of things you can customize to take better pictures for those who have the talent for it. Even I do a bit of customization every now and then. Ahem, I will have you know I know what Macro mode is AND how to use it. <swells up to twice normal size>. And I know how to turn off the auto flash.

Canon makes a tiny camera like I just got that has an even bigger LCD screen, 3". The one I got today is 2.5" and it looks HUGE. I forget what the model is, but if you look at the Canon ultra compacts, you will find it.

Bigdog and I sometimes combine our talents. I am able to "see" a photo op. Bigdog can do the technical stuff to make it artsy. And then sometimes he "sees" some artsy stuff that I never even notice.

Julieboo, let me know if you have any questions, and I will look in the box for you. Sometime. We have to go get Bigdog a brain MRI tomorrow. Sigh. Not to worry, it is just to rule out some remote possibilities. He is fine, I am sure. He always is. But enough about Bigdog's non-existent brain tumor. When I first held the box inside the shipping box, the Canon SD1000 box, my heart sank. It was SO heavy. Luckily all the weight was user manuals, LOL. I just hope I am not expected to actually READ those things. I like an intuitive camera that I can just punch buttons on, and what I think it should do, it does.

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 10:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
Ok I've decided. I'm taking Jimmer and Juju shopping with me and will take Bigdog out and about to find artsy stuff. I'll keep Charlie as a backup plan for when y'all are busy and I forgot how to turn the dang thing on. How's that for a plan??

Told ya I was smart! hahahha

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 11:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Tess, I just got a Nikon D80. I love it in the Auto mode, and I am currently taking TWO photo courses. One is called "The Functions and Applications of your Nikon DSLR Camera" and the second one is Beginners' Digital SLR Photograpy (which is more about the photography, than the specific camera.

If you get a D80, I am here to answer any of your questions too. We can share experiences!



I had my first of the 10-week photo class today, and it was funny when we all got in a circle and started getting to know our different cameras. There were the Canon people, and the Nikon people (3 Canon, 8 Nikon, 1 Olympus, 1 Sony, 1 weird point-and-shoot who was told because it had manual settings, she could try to take the course). The 3 Canon people had trouble even finding their ways around the menu! We needed Jimmer in the course. We were looking for the settings for what TYPE of image it would shoot (RAW, jpeg, etc.) and nobody could find it! The girl beside me had a 40D and I couldn't find it, and I'm usually good with that kind of stuff!

Anyways, if you get a Nikon D80, just know you're not in it alone, and I'm even taking a few courses with it. :-D

One thing I think you should know about the DSLRs is that you HAVE to use the little viewfinder. I point this out because you mentioned bad eyesight. The thing with point-and-shoots is that you CAN actually use the LCD screen to compose your picture, which is a lot bigger than a teensy viewfinder. Most DLSRs don't offer "live" LCD screens. However, in my readings BEFORE I bought the D80, they had mentioned one non-big-name camera company had ONE SLR that had a live screen. I think it's something about having a second set of mirrors or something. Part of me thinks it was an Olympus, but I really do forget. But I just wanted to put that out there, that maybe the LCD screen might be an important factor in choosing a camera.

With that said, I HAVE seen attachments for the Nikon viewfinder that come out from the camera, and magnify what you see in the viewfinder. So if you REALLY have bad eyesight, and the viewfinder isn't cutting it, you can always buy one of those attachments.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 11:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Here are two SLRs with a live LCD:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse330/

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022609panasonicdmcl1.asp

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 11:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Eeyoreslament said what I was going to say about having to use the view finder with an SLR. The first time I picked up the Nikon D70 I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out how to take pictures using the screen. I finally realized that the screen is for reviewing the pictures and not taking them.

Not sure about the other brands, but the battery life for the D70 is ridiculously long. I have easily had days on vacation where I've taken over 500 pictures and the battery was still going strong.

I think the D80 is the replacement for my slightly older D70.


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 7:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Juju, what all did you get in the box? Everything that Jimmer listed:

• 32MB Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card
• NB-4L Lithium-Ion Battery (3.7v 760mAh)
• CB-2LV Battery Charger
• IFC-400PCU USB Interface Cable
• AVC-DC300 A/V Cable
• Wrist Strap (WS-DC2)
• Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM (ZoomBrowser EX, PhotoStitch, EOS Utility, Driver)
• User Guide
• 1-Year Canon U.S.A. Limited Warranty

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 8:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Okay, now that i have been talking new camera, my sister has decided she wants something new. Here are her preferences:

Small, but does not have to be totally pocket sized.
Viewfinder
Mainly point and shoot
does not want to be overwhelmed with too many manual options.
Is interested in some decent zoom (for things like taking kids' christmas pageant photos from the audience)
wants to take some good action shots at her kids dance recitals and softball games
wants some automatic settings like night, portrait, etc...
does not care about video/movies
clear, crisp photos (but that is a given..)
Wants to not spend more than $250-ish.

Any suggestions? Currently she is interested in the 2 that cinngirl is, the canon SD1000 and A720.

TIA!

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 9:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Julieboo, yes, that is what was in the box.

Julieboo, for the sis, also have her take a look at that Canon G9. I think it has a higher than normal zoom without having to be a huge size for the image stabilizer. Price is not too bad at around $320 on sale some places.

Tess, take Spongie shopping with you, not me. He cares more deeply about this techie stuff than I do.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 11:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
No offense but I don't think the camera your sister wants is available yet, Julie. I guess the A720 would be closest in terms of price and features or the G9.

By the way in general terms, I think the whole megapixel race thing is kind of silly. More pixels does not automatically equate to better pictures.

Cinnamongirl
Member

01-10-2001

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 11:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cinnamongirl a private message Print Post    
Right Jimmer..and thats exactly what I thought yesterday, the more megapixels the better but its just not so, or so I've been told...

still undecided...grrrr

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 12:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Just a little more explanation about megapixels.

The plus to more megapixels:

- More receptors should mean more detail.

Why more megapixels do not automatically result in better images:

- Camera manufacturers often increase the number of megapixels without increasing the physical size of the sensor. That means that the megapixels are closer together, which can result in more noise, particularly at higher ISO.

- The image is only as good as what comes through the lens and what the camera allows you to do, what the camera does with it and what you do with the camera. If your lens isn't as good or other aspects of the camera aren't as good or you're not as good, having more megapixels won't make things better. In fact, it will just make the other shortcomings of the camera or you more obvious. You won't just get crap. LOL – you will get more detailed crap.

- I'm not convinced that the lenses on some of the small point and shoots are capable of resolving enough detail to make increases in megapixels relevant beyond a certain point.

- You have to have a significant increase in megapixels for the difference to be obvious. Going from 7 to 8 megapixels will not make a noticeable difference.

Now granted, the cameras with the most megapixels are usually the latest models and have had other improvements made to them as well. But if someone says Camera A is better for you than Camera B just because Camera A has one more megapixel, then I would question that.

Here is an article with a slightly different look at this if you would like to read further:

The Megapixel Myth

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Ok I just had a flash back to the teacher on Charlie Brown!!!

<no offense Jimmer...consider the source >

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 12:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
LOL - I always do Scooter!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 1:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Right now my sis is totally leaning towards the A720.

She likes the sd1000, but wants more zoom. She goes to a ton of school activities and sports stuff with her kids. (She has 4 kids and is over-the-top with signing them up for activities. Dance, swimming, softball, soccer and more. Luckily they all seem to like their crazy-busy schedules. They are 11, 9, 7 and 5.) Plus she thinks she'll lose the sd1000 in her purse or she'll harm it with all the other crap she carries around in her purse! (She is a nut!)

DPreviews gave it their highest rating. It seems to be a lot like my G6 from what i can tell as far as what it can do.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 1:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Here's another article on the Megapixel Myth:

Breaking the Myth of Megapixels

---------------------------------------------

The A720 would probably be her best bet from a price / performance standpoint. She doesn't care about size (in fact she thinks the small size is a detriment) and she wants more zoom.

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 1:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Why do I come in here?

<runs out before her head explodes>

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 2:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Please remember that DIGITAL ZOOM is fairly useless. Please turn it off on your digital cameras folks!! The only zoom feature you should be considering it the OPTICAL ZOOM.

Digital zoom is the same as cropping a picture which is already at its maximum optical zoom. It can result in a pixelated picture. This is especially bad when you THINK you're taking this super-close pic of your child in a recital, and you get home and it cannot be blown up because it is already such a low resolution.

Maybe Jimmer or Bob can explain that better. I personally don't even understand why camera manufacturers even OFFER digital zoom. I think it's to con the less knowledgeable people into buying their stuff.