Need Camera Help! PLEASE HELP ME

[becca-becca]

My DH and I purchased a Canon A530 for our Christmas present. I am unhappy with the "flash charge" or "flash recycle" time. In our house at night using a flash it is usually between 15-20 seconds. I feel this is ridiculous. My husband has a Fuji Finepix S7000. It is great. However, he does not want to lug it around Disneyworld. I am trying to find something similar in a pocket size camera. I have a few specifications that I will list. I would love it if someone could help me. My preferences are listed in order of priority.

1. We already purchased 4 SD memory cards which have all been opened and rebates sent for, so I really want a camera that takes SD cards.

2. Budget is no more than $350 for camera itself.

3. I want to be able to take indoor flash pictures of my kids at WDW and at home without having to wait 15-20 seconds for the flash to recharge. I can not stand that. I think 5-6 seconds tops is about what I can tolerate.

4. We need it to be small, the Fuji Finepix that I mentioned above is to heavy to lug around WDW around our neck (it hurts after awhile) and DH refuses to take it. So, I want one pocket sized or close to it.

5. I would prefer it take regular batteries (AA or AAA) so that I can easily purchase or replace a battery if it goes out. I am not really interested in specialized batteries, althouth this requirement is not as important as the ones above.

PLEASE! Any help would be greatly appreciated. We leave 3 weeks from today.

 

[ukcatfan]

That sounds a little too long for that model. Our old A70 and A520 were faster than that. It could possibly be defective. Also, are you using NiMH batteries, lithiums, or standard alkalines? Alkalines will slow the entire camera down. Lithiums typically produce the fastest operation of the camera, but are more expensive than rechargeable NiMH cells.

Kevin

 

[becca-becca]

I put in NiMH batteries and it makes no difference. Even out an outdoor shot with afternoon light (4 pm) on auto, it took 20 seconds for the screen to quit being black and for me to be able to take another picture. This is unacceptable to me. Am I being unreasonable? Any suggestions regarding my first post on this thread?

 

[Master Mason]

my son has the camera, and his cycles much faster than that.... I think you got a dud.

 

[becca-becca]

my son has the camera, and his cycles much faster than that.... I think you got a dud.

Thank you. Anyone else have a suggestion about what to exchange it for? I am now leary of the A530 and A540.

 

[sherry66]

I have the 540 and when the bateries are starting to go the "lag time" is longer.I would try new batteries.

 

[robertchance]

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a530.html

 

[Jeanne B]

As Master Mason said, I think you got a dud!! I have the A610 and it performs nothing like what you're describing and the A series cameras get great reviews. I would highly recommend sticking with Canon.

 

[Charade]

I put in NiMH batteries and it makes no difference. Even out an outdoor shot with afternoon light (4 pm) on auto, it took 20 seconds for the screen to quit being black and for me to be able to take another picture. This is unacceptable to me. Am I being unreasonable? Any suggestions regarding my first post on this thread?

You said it takes 20 seconds in AUTO? Try using P mode. We have the A620 and while it doesn't cycle as fast as my Nikon D70, it doesn't take more than a few seconds with the flash. Less without.

What brand memory cards are you using?

 

[becca-becca]

We are using SanDisk and Panasonic. Is that a problem? I thought those were good cards. We did replace the camera last night with a Canon SD630. It works much, much faster for the flash recharge, like 3-5 seconds.

 

[ndelaware]

I just tried both of the A540s I bought my daughters for Christmas. They both are using the batteries that came in the box and niether one took longer than 3 seconds to be able to take another flash picture and that was in "Auto" mode. I am sure you had a dud.