What do you do with your camera?

[luvmyfam444]

I bought a camera!!! after all the reivews I read from people & searchs I decided to stick with Canon...though I would have like to have spent more $$, dh kept me under $200 (BEFORE charger, mem card) so we bought the Canon A 510...and so far I LOVE IT!!!! can't beleive all the things it will do!

Do any of you have this? or 1 similar?

Do you usually just keep it on Auto for your photos or do you change the settings to Kids/Pets, indoor, etc, etc???

DO you ALWAYS use the LCD screen or do you use the viewfinder always & turn the LCD on just to check the photo? I dont' want to waste batteries, but then I DO want to take decent photos...with my mom's Kodak I'm ALWAYS cutting off someone's head! (and that's WITH The SCREEN!!!)

 

[Sorcerer Figment]

What do you do with your camera?

Take pictures with it, of course!
Sorry, just had to do it.

But seriously, I always keep it on auto. It makes me feel dumb to think a camera can take better pictures than I can, but hey it works! I typically use the viewfinder up until the last second, then switch on the screen to make any last minute corrections. Also, I don't know about your kind, but I keep rechargeable batteries in mine. That way I really don't have to worry about draining them.

 

[ukcatfan]

If you are regularly using auto, start practicing with "P" mode at home to start learning the features. That is how I started with mine and now I usually stay in "Av" mode unless I can not get the results I am looking for and then I use "M". The scene modes can be useful for those situations.

I say get a couple extra sets of batteries and use the LCD screen. I do not know about your camera, but if the viewfinder is optical, it may not show you exactly what the final picture will be. The closer you are, the worse that this effect can be. I have the S1 IS and it has an LCD viewfinder. The benefit is that this effect is eliminated, but the quality of what you see is less than optical.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I've got a Canon A75 and it was perfect for me. It has very similar features to your camera, and the same megapixel rating. I have found that megapixels are so highly over-rated and 3.2 is perfect for me. My pics blow-up to 8x10 crystal clear and, really, how often do you print pics larger than that?

My biggest advice is to really force yourself to sit down with the manual and go over the features and play with it as much as possible before you leave (and don't forget to throw the manual in your suitcase as well!). I'm a pretty tech/gadget oriented person and I did this - and even with my decent experience and reading through the manual once I still flubbed quite a bit on the first trip I used it on.

Good luck! Sounds like you made a sound purchase!

N.E.D.

 

[tlbwriter]

I have a Canon A95 and I always use the LCD rather than the optical viewfinder. It's bright enough that I can see it easily during the day, and it lets me watch the action without having a camera stuck on my face. I generally keep it in Auto mode. Does yours have the little wheel on top to select modes? If so, check every once in a while to make sure it hasn't accidentally been nudged into a different mode.

 

[Ronda93]

I like framing with the viewfinder, but I'm kinda old school that way... most of my cameras weigh two pounds or more ; )

The decapitation problem with other camers should be eliminated, but try it all out.

The biggest advantage you already know about, battery life. I don't know about your model, but mine take these oddly shaped, available nowhere rechargable batteries. I always have spares and try to conserve the battery when ever possible.

If the camera runs on AAs or something that's readily available use the screen.

BIGGEST THING TO REMEMBER - most digital cameras record an image in 3:4 ratio. Most printers and albums still use the 2:3 ratio. If you plan to make prints keep the top and bottom edges free of important content.

 

[Greg K.]

I have a Canon A95 and I always use the LCD rather than the optical viewfinder. It's bright enough that I can see it easily during the day, and it lets me watch the action without having a camera stuck on my face. I generally keep it in Auto mode. Does yours have the little wheel on top to select modes? If so, check every once in a while to make sure it hasn't accidentally been nudged into a different mode.

You like your A95? I'm preparing to "go digital," and I have my eye on it. (I'm also mulling the IS-1, but think it may be too big and fancy schmancy for what I need.)

Whaddya think of your camera? Especially for Disney pix??

 

[YEKCIM]

My spousal unit and I have an A75, which is the 3.2MP version, but basically the same camera, otherwise, I think. My wife is a pro photographer and I have dabbled in photography for years. This is our first digital cam and we have been very pleased with it. I'm guessing you would like the A95, although there are some newer models out...the A510 and A520. The 510 is 3.2MP and the 520 is 4MP. The A95 is 5MP. We bought our A75 online at www.zipzoomfly.com; www.newegg.com also has good prices on cams and both have good memory card prices and both are very reputable retailers. One thing we like about the A75 is that it uses 4 AA batts, which is good at WDW since you can pretty much shoot all day long on one set of rechargeable AA's. We got a week's worth of shooting at Mickey's World on one 512MB card, but with a 4.0 or 5.0MP, you might not get as many shots. Whichever cam you get, be sure to buy an extra set of batts and an extra memory card. We took two 512's and, as I say, only filled one, but if we'd run out in "mid-park", we'd have been forced to buy another at WDW prices which I imagine are probably 2X what we paid...maybe more. BTW, it might be helpful for you to look at reviews of some of the cams you are interested in at www.steves-digicams.com. This site was instrumental in our decision to buy the A75 over a Nikon or a Sony.

~YEKCIM

 

[sistertrip]

I just bought the Canon A510 yesterday (the 2nd). Haven't opened it yet because I'm still a little intimidated by the whole digital thing. I do know that it's recommended to buy NiMH rechargeable batteries - I got 4 energizers and a charger for about $25. One thing I didn't look for was a camera case - did you get one, and if so, was it hard to find one to fit well? In about 5 minutes I'm going to open up the camera and try all the features that attracted me to the camera, but now I'm so scared of...

 

[WaterWish]

Funny, I was JUST opening my brand-new Canon A510 before I read this post! I did a lot of online research before selecting this one. I read reviews at http://www.dpreview.com among other places. I had an expensive Fuji from way back when digital photography was pretty new, and it crapped out on me. With advances in technology, I'm sure this one is probably a better camera at 1/3 the price. I haven't tried it out yet but it's coming to WDW with me on Thursday 5/5.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I have the Canon A70 and have purchased the Canon A510 for my MIL. I love them both. They take great pictures and are easy to use. I mostly leave my Camera on Auto. But I love the Movie feature that it offers. I have taken several little mini movies of my DD doing something goofy.
Love the Camera.

 

[wicket2005]

I have the Canon A70 a predecessor of the A75, A80, A85 and A95 and it is a smashing camera. I always use the screen, unless it is particularly bright and then I resort to the viewfinder. Battery life with the rechargable batteries is outstanding, they last ages. I have, however, bought a spare set for this year's holiday to Florida so I always have a back up with me. The camera uses compact flash which is one of the cheapest recording mediums especially when compared to memory sticks. I usually just leave it on auto unless I want to use one of the special photo modes, having video with sound is an added bonus too.

I didn't get a camera case with it but already had a Disney one which I used until last summer. Unfortunately, I was caught in a torrential downpour of rain and the water just went straight through the zip to the camera and ruined it. I claimed on my insurance and got another one. This one is kept in an Aquapac bag which is totally waterproof, you can even take pictures whilst it is still in the case and underwater. Though I have not tried it underwater. The bag does not offer protection from bumps but definitely from the rain/water. As we are going to Orlando in July I am expecting a lot of heavy downpours so the camera will be staying in the bag.

I have read that condensation can occur in the camera lense in humid conditions. So I am also keeping little desiccant sachets in with the camera to prevent this.

 

[YEKCIM]

My bro just bought my SIL an A510, which is their first digicam. She is more intimidated by what you do after you shoot, than using the cam itself. She's used to taking a roll of film to the StuffMart and going back in an hour for her prints. Actually, the way the kiosks are automated, it should be easier, faster, and less expensive now. Main challenge will be that, now that there is no film, what do you do for archiving your images so you can format your mem card. I think at least some of the print kiosks will let you burn a CD as part of the process...?

BTW, "my" digital cam is the "digital still" function of my Canon Optura 30 digital camcorder. It has a 2.2MP still imager and the results I got at Mickey's World in December were beyond my expectations, and it sure was nice not having to fool with toting two cameras!

~YEKCIM

 

[ukcatfan]

Do not be afraid of the S1 IS. The controls on it are very similar to the A series of Canons. The A95 does have some advantages over the S1, but I do not think you can beat having the 10x optical zoom with stabilization. The S2 will be out very soon if you are not in a rush. I upgraded from an A70 and I could not be happier. Any of these cameras can run in AUTO mode. Go compare the two in a store and see which one you like more.