Camera Recommendations

**andyC** · 12-06-2006, 08:03 PM

I'm looking at getting a new digital camera for Christmas. I have read many of the other threads regarding cameras, and found alot of useful information, but I just wanted to check and get some opinions first-hand. I'm pretty much fixed on a Canon.

My criteria are:
-good for skiing/snowboarding
-able to fit in jacket pocket
-fast pictures (minimal lag between shutter and capture)
-high quality photos
-possible lens compatibility?

I'm a senior in HS so I'm sure between I will be using it for all-around stuff between graduation, summer, and college next year.

Maximum price would be about $400.

My top-runners right now are the A610 and the A710, but I'm really open to any other suggestions. From what I've read, some people feel that the more megapixels you go in a compact the more noisy it makes the pictures, and also makes it slower, so I'm considering going around 6 or 7 mp.

Thanks for any help you can give here.

Jong.

**PNW Skier** · 12-06-2006, 09:39 PM

I've got a SD500 (the SD550 is essentially the same camera) and it's been a great backcountry, sled ski, and general party picture camera. It doesn't take near as awesome pictures as my D70 but it's also 1/4 the price and about 1/10 the size/weight. The 550s seem to be able to be had for really cheap now too.

That being said I have a buddy who had a A series camera for a while and beat the piss out of it. It took sweet shots and held up to some pretty good abuse. It is a larger camera though so harder to fit in a pocket.

**summit** · 12-06-2006, 11:33 PM

I just bought another A610 to replace the A610 that died... I couldn't justify a G7 which would otherwise be my top choice because:
1. I need replacement touring boots and alpine boots
2. I just bought a 17-55mm 2.8 IS
3. My past 4 P&S cameras each lived <18mo

A710IS has unacceptably slow fps.

If you have the money, if you have no DSLR, and if you do not abuse your gear like I do, get a G7 instead of an A610. Otherwise, get an A610... an A620 if you need the MP

-----
PNWSkier:
SD550... only a 3x zoom which is a bit on the slow side... and no manual controls... but it is very compact which is nice... can you use it easily with gloves?

**seanpistol** · 12-06-2006, 11:41 PM

i got the SD600 from newegg.com for $225 shipped. such a sweet little camera.

**Deep Days** · 12-07-2006, 03:26 AM

My s2 is has treated me pretty well. Slightly bulkier than the a610 and comparable cameras (I usually wear it around my neck under my shell jacket), but I have been pretty impressed with the image quality. Lots of customizablility for if you want to learn to shoot for real. Also can take converters for wide angle and tele lenses as well as filters, which can be gotten pretty cheap. AND I can shoot in ski gloves, particularly spring gloves. Fairly big "on" button and big shutter as well as controls to change aperature and shutter speed. Smaller, more elaborate settings are harder. Battery life is pretty good with NiMH batteries. Burly little thing, too. Taken some spills, and it hasn't complained.

go to dpreview.com for some in-depth reviews on good cameras. I did a side-by-side on the s2, s3, and a-610, and the s2 was the best for me. 5.something megapixels (plenty for TGR posting and looks good on prints), 2.3 fps, super quick zoom, and lots and lots of features. Not to mention the price isn't bad. $259.98 [/plug for my camera, heh]

NOTE: The S2 is slow to track in sequence mode. You lose the subject. Something tells me this might be a setting that can be fixed, but my experience with sequence mode trying to follow a moving subject (i.e. a skier) has been much more of a spraying-bullets tactic than I would like. Summit, does your 610 do this?

If I wasn't looking for manual mode setting (ISO, aperature and shutter speed), I would have gone the route of a610. Not sure about megapixels governing image noise though. Good question. Anyone know the answer?

Canon = sweetness.

DISCLAIMER: THIS ADVICE WE HAVE GIVEN YOU REQUIRES YOU TO POST STOKE! NOW GO SHOOTING!!!

(But seriously, have fun.

)

**summit** · 12-07-2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Deep Days

NOTE: The S2 is slow to track in sequence mode. You lose the subject. Something tells me this might be a setting that can be fixed, but my experience with sequence mode trying to follow a moving subject (i.e. a skier) has been much more of a spraying-bullets tactic than I would like. Summit, does your 610 do this?

This is because you have to use your EVF (electronic viewfinder) to track the subject and there is a lag between the CCD and the EVF. The EVF is nice because you are viewing TTL. The A610 uses a lower quality optical tunnel finder which has perhaps 70% coverage and is subject to paralax, but it is not subject to lag. EVFs take much more practice to overcome the lag. Honestly, I didn't realize the S2 had an EVF until I used yours this year.

If I wasn't looking for manual mode setting (ISO, aperature and shutter speed), I would have gone the route of a610. Not sure about megapixels governing image noise though. Good question. Anyone know the answer?

The A610 has full manual, av, tv modes just like the S2. The S2 does have some other controls and features, most notably a much faster and more powerfull zoom lens. It also has image stabilization (which you turn off for action but is key for landscapes).

MP vs noise is really more about pixel density so you are considering the number of pixels vs the size of the sensor. The more pixels on a chip, the smaller each pixel sensor is, the more prone to noise it is. Newer sensor technology and processing technology help reduce the issue but don't eliminate it.

A610 A620 SD550 and G7 all have 0.56" CCDs
A710 SD600 S2 S3 all have 0.4" CCDs

OK... then take that and consider their resolution and you can figure things... The S2 and the A610 are 5MP... in theory the S2 will have a little more noise. The G7 has more noise because it is 10MP but you get more resolution. If you reduced the image to 5MP, would the noise be worse than an A610 or a S2? Probably not.

**smmokan** · 12-07-2006, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by seanpistol

i got the SD600 from newegg.com for $225 shipped. such a sweet little camera.

Yep- I have the same camera... $240 (on a major sale plus coupon) and its pretty killer. I've taken some decent skiing shots in crappy shadows and they came out well.