Please help me decide

[snowman]

between the Canon Powershot S3 IS which seems to be massively popular here and the Canon Powershot A710 IS.

I currently have an old Sony DSC P30 (woohoo, 1.3 megapixels or something like that) with a 3x optical zoom, so anything will be an upgrade. Before abandoning film I had a Pentax K1000 with a couple of switchable lens (ebay calls them "vintage, from the 80's" now and geez that makes me feel old).

Mostly I use them to take family pictures, scout pictures etc...you know, snap shot type stuff. Generally I don't print my pictures. Instead I like to burn DVD slide shows to share them.

I used to really enjoy photography and learning new tricks, etc. I would maybe like to again...now that I wouldn't have to worry about film developing prices, but time & current equipment make that difficult right now.

I like the S3, but I'm not sure if its more camera than I need (or will be able to figure out how to use). The A710 looks all right but only has a 6x zoom.

I know there are a lot of S3 users on this board. How is it for user friendly & learning curve? Our WDW trip isn't until August, so I have time to learn how to use the camera.

Has anybody tried the A710? Is it user friendly? Did you like the quality of the pictures?

I have a bad habit of being a "gadget geek" and keeping that in mind, I don't want to make my camera decision merely based on which one has the best "bells and whistles". With about a $60.00 difference in price I could afford the S3...I just want to make a well informed final decision.

Thanks for any help.

 

[HLAuburn]

I just bought an S3. I am by no means a photographer (just aspire to be a decent one) and so I also was concerned that the S3 would be "too much" camera for me. I LOVE it! I haven't figured out all the in and outs yet, but it takes great pictures in auto mode, and I love playing with the other modes, too. The manual isn't overwhelming, and it comes with a "Cliff's Notes" version, too, for quick reference.


I know where you're coming from b/c I did a lot of research before buying, but I'm very happy with the decision to get the S3. Go for the S3 - you won't regret it!

 

[AndrewWG]

I don't know of the A710 IS, but I am sure you will love the S3IS unless you want a smaller camera. I am guessing that the A710 is smaller although I don't know that for sure. The S3 will give you the 12X optical zoom and will also afford you the opportunity to get back into "real" photography by using the manual modes if you so desire. Again, the A710 may have these modes as well but I don't know.

Both cameras are most likely just as "user friendly" as each other as Canon doesn't change all that much from model to model, but personally, I think you can't go wrong with the S3.

In reading this review I just gave, I guess it isn't much help but I'll post it anyways.

Andy

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Just a thought, do you still have your lenses for the Pentax? If so you could look at the Pentax k100d (dslr). You would be able to use your lenses, the quality of a dslr, and it would be digital.


If not, I would go for the S3 IS.

 

[ukcatfan]

Just a thought, do you still have your lenses for the Pentax? If so you could look at the Pentax k100d (dslr). You would be able to use your lenses, the quality of a dslr, and it would be digital.


If not, I would go for the S3 IS.

I was thinking the same thing about the Pentax. There is also the cheaper K110D model that is less than $400 with the kit lens. Without lens only saves around $7 at Buydig right now, so getting it with lens is certainly worth it especially b/c it is probably wider than anything left over from your film days being 18-55mm.

Kevin

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

If you've already got good Pentax lenses, the Pentax DSLRs is probably the best bet for you (quality-wise).

But, if you aren't interested in a DSLR, I'd vote for the S3 over the A710 ... longer zoom, higher shot speed and better movie mode as well as the flipping-rotating LCD which comes in handy.

The pictures taken by the two cameras will be very similar -- noise at the higher ISOs are about the same and you aren't going to use ISO800 without noiseware.

Both cameras have the same shooting modes (everything from full Auto to Manual and a number of "scene" modes in between) so there's really no need to worry about being "too much camera." It is bulkier, though.

Personally, I find I do way more shooting between 6x and 12x than I do from 1x to 6x ... having the long zoom is great when you need it!

 

[snowman]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I didn't realize that the lens from my Pentax Film K1000 would fit the Pentax K110D body. I have the generic telephoto lens (28-something) and bigger zoom but I'd have to check it to be sure what its numbers are. I still have the camera body and 2 flashes for it...I just don't use it anymore because I do most of my shooting digital.


Thanks again...and I'm still open to input.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I didn't realize that the lens from my Pentax Film K1000 would fit the Pentax K110D body. I have the generic telephoto lens (28-something) and bigger zoom but I'd have to check it to be sure what its numbers are. I still have the camera body and 2 flashes for it...I just don't use it anymore because I do most of my shooting digital.


Thanks again...and I'm still open to input.

The lenses will work, but the flashes are not recommended. They now use a different kind of flash metering, so they would have to be used in full manual mode. There has also been concern that the old flash units work at a different voltage level and can damage the DSLR, but I have heard of some people using them without problems.

If you go up to the K100D (only about $50 more due to rebate on it with kit lens), then you get the same thing as the K110D plus in-body stabilization. That means that every lens that you put on it can be stabilized.

Even though you have lenses, I suggest getting the kit b/c on the Pentax DSLRs, you have to multiply your lens focal lengths by 1.5 to get the effective focal length. Your 28mm zoom might make you feel like you just cannot get wide enough when it acts like a 42mm. The kit starts at 18mm making it effectively start at 27mm. Plus, at only a $7 upgrade, how can you pass it up.

Kevin

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Part of the beauty of Pentax is you can use all Pentax lenses.

I just got my K100D in Jan and I love it. There is a rebate right now of $50.00 if you buy the K100D and if you opt to add the 50-200mm lens, the rebate increases to $150.00. I believe you can get the K100D, 18-55mm lens, and 50-200mm for $577.00 after rebate (from beachcamera).

 

[Groucho]

With the small difference in price between the K110D and K100D ($4 for body-only and $41 with lens after rebate), I think it's definitely worth going for the K100D. If you pick up the 50-200mm at the same time, that's $50 more you can get back that you can't get with the K110D, completely wiping out the difference in price.

If you're familiar with the K1000, you'll be right at home with the K100D - all your lenses (as long as they're not actually Ricoh-mount instead of Pentax-mount - very unlikely but possible, they'd be marked something like "P/K-R" on the mount) will work just fine, you can run it in full manual mode, or make it fully automatic so it's as easy to use as a point-n-shoot. The image quality will be far beyond that of the other cameras you're considering, due to an image sensor that's almost 15x larger. You can also carry both if you want to do some specific stuff with film - I carried my K1000 and my Pentax DSLR on my last WDW trip and shared lenses between them.

If you want to stick with a point-n-shoot, I believe the Canon A6xx series have a larger sensor than the S3 or other A-series cameras, so should have superior image quality, but I haven't checked reviews for details. For best PnS picture quality, you'll have to go with one of the large-sensor Fuji cameras. These have half-way decent night performance - with the others, you may quickly become familiar with high levels of noise as well as blurring when taking photos at night without the flash.

Most any camera will have an "auto" mode that should take decent photos out of the box, so I wouldn't worry too much about the camera being too sophisticated for you to use - you may not use all its features, but you'll do fine anyway.

 

[snowman]

Well, I made the decision...and my new S3 should be here by the end of the week. I bought a 2G card for it at the same time.

Will that be enough for a WDW trip or should I plan on another?

Any recommendations on rechargable batteries? I'm thinking I'll get 8 NiMH batteries and charger and wondered if anybody had good feelings towards on or another.

Thanks bunches ya'll.

 

[Master Mason]

How long to you plan to be at WDW, will you have a laptop or other way to back up your cards.

If you only go with one, and something happens to it, are you prepared to lose the entirety of your pictures.

What is your shooting style? Lots of folks here would fill that up in a day or less, because they take lots of pictures.

 

[ukcatfan]

Well, I made the decision...and my new S3 should be here by the end of the week. I bought a 2G card for it at the same time.

Will that be enough for a WDW trip or should I plan on another?

Any recommendations on rechargable batteries? I'm thinking I'll get 8 NiMH batteries and charger and wondered if anybody had good feelings towards on or another.

Thanks bunches ya'll.

I personally would go for three sets for a WDW trip. That gives you one in the camera, one extra with you, and one back in the charger in the room.

Beware of the fast chargers. They are convenient, but they easily cut the life of the cells in half or more. You would be buying new ones within a year. The best for them are the 4-8 hour chargers with individual channels for each cell. That prevents overcharge which can also kill a cell.

Kevin

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Well, I made the decision...and my new S3 should be here by the end of the week. I bought a 2G card for it at the same time.

Will that be enough for a WDW trip or should I plan on another?

I doubt one 2G card would be would be enough for a WDW vacation ... I just filled one up, today, in about an hour at a rock concert (both video and stills -- and that was just a couple of songs, too!).

One *could* get you through a day, I think, if you have a laptop to unload your day's shots onto ...
but I wouldn't want to be stuck with just one 2G card!

If you start shooting video with your S3 -- which you should! it does a GREAT job -- you'll go through cards like candy! Also, I find I take a LOT more pictures with my S3 than I've ever taken before (with either film or older digital cameras)....

I'm already planning for two (at l east!) more 4G SDHC cards for our trip in Sept. (in addition to the 512M, 1G and 2G I've already got!) ... you really can never have too many SD cards!

Any recommendations on rechargable batteries? I'm thinking I'll get 8 NiMH batteries and charger and wondered if anybody had good feelings towards on or another.

So long as you get the 2500mAh NiMH's, they're all about the same.

Something new worth trying are the Sanyo Eneloops; they charge just like NiMH (same chargers will work), but they don't lose their charge while sitting in your camera bag.

 

[snowman]

Thanks for the tips.

I will be ordering a couple more 2G cards. I want to be able to shot willy-nilly to get what I want.

And good point on the 3 sets of batteries....that was a thought I had had, but am glad for the reinforcement.

I can't wait for it to get here.

 

[S. C.]

I just bought an S3. I am by no means a photographer (just aspire to be a decent one) and so I also was concerned that the S3 would be "too much" camera for me. I LOVE it! I haven't figured out all the in and outs yet, but it takes great pictures in auto mode, and I love playing with the other modes, too. The manual isn't overwhelming, and it comes with a "Cliff's Notes" version, too, for quick reference.


I know where you're coming from b/c I did a lot of research before buying, but I'm very happy with the decision to get the S3. Go for the S3 - you won't regret it!

I could of wrote this post.

 

[garris3404]

If you don't have a laptop, you can always have the pictures burned to a CD/DVD. The parks will be more expensive. Off-site (Walgreens) will be cheaper.