Not another toy camera

[_queenie_]

We got our first digital camera last Christmas when I got one for my DD13 (we're slow, I know). We'd like to get another one, it doesn't work very well, but we wouldn't mind having two anyway. The big problem with it (it's a Canon 320 or something by the way, I know the number is in the 300s) is that when you try to take a pic with it somehow it moves and you can't get it to stay straight. It's extremely hard to get a picture, never mind a good picture. Plus, the picture quality isn't very good and it eats the batteries like crazy.

Any new camera suggetions? I'd like to get one that's a good value, instanlty takes a good picture, is fairly easy to use, and has some good features (black & white, color change, panoramic feature, etc). And by value I don't mean that it has to be cheap, I just don't want to spend a whole lot more than $350, $400. What will that money buy you? I would say something more on the professional/advanced side, but not to big. As long as it's not another toy type one (even the Canon wasn't supposed to be). Just need to be able to lug it around WDW next month.

Thanks!

 

[Melissa_E]

I think you will find that most cameras, especially when you get the bigger ones, still eat batteries, especialy if you use the LCD screen. The more you can have that screen off and use the viewfinder, the more life your battery will have. I think when you talk about the camera moving, it is really "shutter lag." What that means is, when you depress the button to take a picture, there is a delay to when the picture is taken and the shutter does its job. If you move before the picture is actually taken, you will find that your pictures are quite blurry. To help this, you want to remain as still as possible or use a tripod to get better pictures. Also, are you allowing the camera to auto-focus by depressing the button part way and then taking the picture by depressing the button again? If you are going straight to the picture, the camera may not have enough time to focus on the correct item before the picture is taken. Also, you might want to play with the different settings to improve pictures.

The picture quality varies because of a few factors, number of pixels and the size of the sensor. The larger the sensor the better the pictures you will take. When you buy your next camera, you want to look for one with a large sensor and more than 6 or even 7 megapixels.

All of that being said, if you want to stick with Canon, you can't miss with the S3 or S5. They are terrific cameras. When I bought my not-so-DSLR but has lots of manual modes camera, I chose the Sony H5 over the Canon S3 mainly due to very small differences in feel and that I was already set up for Sony cameras.

To learn more about the Canon S3/S5, there is a large thread devoted to those two cameras. I'm sure they can help you and you can learn about all of the features available.

Good luck!

 

[_queenie_]

By the way, I just checked, the camera is a Canon A530.

 

[DueyDooDah]

...or you can get a Canon XT with 'kit' lens (definately not a toy camera) at Adorma for less than $400

http://www.adorama.com/ICADRXTBKR.html

 

[pjacobi]

I would not describe the Canon A530 as a "toy" camera. It is certainly a basic, low-end camera, but quite capable of producing good quality pictures given sufficient lighting, including B&W and panoramic.

I haven't tried the A530, but I did test the current model, the A560. It appears to have no noticble shutter lag in outdoor lighting. However, like all A5xx camera, it only has 2 AA batteries, which makes flash recycle time very slow and adding several seconds of shutter lag when using flash, especially when batteries are low.

The Canon A6xx an A7xx series have 4 AA batteries and has much better flash recycle time and reduced shutter lag for flash photos.

You could spend $5000.00 for a new camera, but it is no guarantee of better picture UNLESS you take the time to learn how to use it! Are you prepared to make the mental effort or falsely hoping a new camera would magically solve all your problems?


-Paul

 

[_queenie_]

We've read through the manual a thousand times, but I just want to get an extra camera to have anyway (it really is my DD's), I'm just looking for something a little different. That's all.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> eats batteries

When the camera is turned on, the first thing it does is charge the flash in case you need it. This puts a heavy load on the battery.

Use extra long life batteries such as lithium or NIMH. What you are getting is inability of the camera to work when about a third to a half of the battery's power is used although the battery still works well in a radio of flashlight. With a longer overall life, the first third or the first half is also longer. Ordinary alkaline batteries and ordinary heavy duty carbon zinc batteries often do not work well.

Another idea (might not work with all brands of cameras) Most of the time set the flash to "off" or "lightning bolt with a red slash through it". Turn on the flash only when you need it and turn off the flash before turning off the camera.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm