Opinions on Canon PowerShot models, please?

[mmessler]

I am looking at buying a new digital point & shoot camera before my next Disney trip in a couple months. I own a Canon DSLR and I'm fairly loyal to the brand, so I've been looking at Canons. I'm trying to decide between the Canon A630 and the Canon A550, they seem to have almost identical features, but the difference in price is about $100. Only very distinguishable feature that's different (from what I can tell so far) is the fold out and swivel LCD on the A630. Admittedly, a pretty cool feature, but not really worth it, I think, for $100 if everything else is identical and the image quality is good on both. Mainly going to be using this for traveling, still going to use my DSLR for my semi-pro work and photography classes.

Advice, please and thank you? Or direct me to any online reviews of the A550 that you're aware of, I can't seem to find any, as it's a newer model than the A630.

 

[Jeanne B]

Before I bought my A610 last spring I looked at one of the A5x0 series and it seemed cheaper looking, and it was smaller, too small for my hands, so I went with the A610 which I love (although we use it mostly for snorkeling now with an u/w housing since I purchased the S3 later for more zoom).

Here's a link to an A550 review I found on steves-digicams...

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/a550.html

 

[ukcatfan]

Only very distinguishable feature that's different (from what I can tell so far) is the fold out and swivel LCD on the A630. Admittedly, a pretty cool feature, but not really worth it, I think, for $100 if everything else is identical and the image quality is good on both.

First, at Buydig (very respectable and honest) it is only $40 more at $226. I would pay that for the swivel screen. I have had two with it (S1 and S2) and it is great. I am only 5'5" so it helps me get over the crowd when needed. It keeps me from having to get dirty if I want a shot with the camera low to the ground. I also started using it in low light to stabilize the camera more by holding it up against my chest and composing with the swivel screen. It seemed to keep it more stable to me. I don't do it much, but it is also nice if you want a self portrait.

Kevin

 

[Jeanne B]

If the A630 is only $40 more than the A550 at buydig than I agree with Kevin about spending the extra. The swivel screen is a great feature and buydig and their sister site beachcamera are very reputable (I purchased my A610, S3 and most recently my Pentax dSLR from them).

 

[bettydau]

We love Canon cameras. We now have the Elph PowerShot 500, but moved up from 300 & 400. We've bought them for other family members, we liked them so much. Takes GREAT pictures. My dh and I each have one and took 300 pictures last month at WDW and DCL! Ours latest is over a year old, and uses a compact flash card, which is fine for us. But if we "update" I think the newer ones use sd cards. Which means we have to have new chargers. Right now these are fine though, and would highly recommend Canon.

 

[mmessler]

First, at Buydig (very respectable and honest) it is only $40 more at $226. I would pay that for the swivel screen. I have had two with it (S1 and S2) and it is great. I am only 5'5" so it helps me get over the crowd when needed. It keeps me from having to get dirty if I want a shot with the camera low to the ground. I also started using it in low light to stabilize the camera more by holding it up against my chest and composing with the swivel screen. It seemed to keep it more stable to me. I don't do it much, but it is also nice if you want a self portrait.

Kevin

I will check out those sites, thanks for the tips. I'm probably going to buy from Circuit City only because I have a large gift card credit from trading in an older camera I had. But there it's $100 difference, I'm going to keep checking out prices though. Thanks also to the poster above who gave the URL for the review.

 

[jann1033]

looks like the 630 is 8 mp vs 7, and has a larger lcd screen as well as a higher shutter speed and the swivel screen http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A630/A630A.HTM circuit city is $70 more than the best buy site at the link... YIKES!

 

[mmessler]

I'm just learning about all the meanings of some camera specs. Please, if someone can simplify for me. The main differences in the specs of the camera :

Shutter speed : 15-1/2000 versus 15-1/2500 How much difference is that really, is it noticeable?

CCD size : 1/2.5" versus 1/1.8" In plain english? Size of the sensor matters, this much I know, but is this a big difference?

LCD size/res. : 2", 86000 pixels versus 2.5", 115000 pixels The size doesn't matter much to me, really, for a camera I would only be using part time. But the image res., would this significantly impact my ability to really see what I have shot?

The A550 uses 2 batteries, the A630 uses 4. I've heard some people who complain about the weight of a camera using extra batteries. Now, keep in mind, I've been lugging a DSLR around. Am I really going to notice extra weight of 2 batteries? My main concern with portability is fitting something into a small case that I can sling over my shoulder while on vacation and not lean to the side or get stuck in a theme park ride vehicle.

Trying to do all the research and opinion seeking I can while waiting for my gift card to come so I can go camera shopping, thanks all for "listening" and the advice.

 

[ukcatfan]

Shutter speed : 15-1/2000 versus 15-1/2500 How much difference is that really, is it noticeable?

CCD size : 1/2.5" versus 1/1.8" In plain english? Size of the sensor matters, this much I know, but is this a big difference?

The A550 uses 2 batteries, the A630 uses 4. I've heard some people who complain about the weight of a camera using extra batteries. Now, keep in mind, I've been lugging a DSLR around. Am I really going to notice extra weight of 2 batteries? My main concern with portability is fitting something into a small case that I can sling over my shoulder while on vacation and not lean to the side or get stuck in a theme park ride vehicle.

Shutter: you will not notice

CCD size: the 1/1.8 will likely give less noise

Batteries: I have heard that the 2 cell models tend to run a little slower esp. when it comes to flash recharge

Kevin

 

[mmessler]

Shutter: you will not notice

CCD size: the 1/1.8 will likely give less noise

Batteries: I have heard that the 2 cell models tend to run a little slower esp. when it comes to flash recharge

Kevin

Thanks Kevin, esp. on the CCD size, I wasn't sure whether the larger # or the smaller # was better. I was figuring as much about the batteries, so all around I may end up going with the A630. I don't think I'll notice much with the weight.

Am I correct in thinking a 4 battery model would take more pictures before needing new ones than a 2 battery model? Seems to make sense.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks Kevin, esp. on the CCD size, I wasn't sure whether the larger # or the smaller # was better. I was figuring as much about the batteries, so all around I may end up going with the A630. I don't think I'll notice much with the weight.

Am I correct in thinking a 4 battery model would take more pictures before needing new ones than a 2 battery model? Seems to make sense.

The CCD size is listed as a fraction, but most people do not realize it. Eveyone knows that 1/2 is larger than 1/8 for example.

The four cell model uses more power than the two cell one, so it will likely be about the same.

Kevin