Topic: My New Camera

[iPPi]

So after my deliberation, I decided to go with the Canon SD800 IS.  It fits right into my pocket, got image stabilization, a built in battery and the new DIGIC3 processor so I'm very impressed with it.

This is my first digital camera though so I elected to go with something that was easy to use, and this one is just a really simple point and shoot.  It's got lots of options for what I need it to do and stuff.

So far so good.  Runs great, really fast response and start up, the optical zoom is great, and image stabilization works.  Some minor complaints include the fact that there's no case for it included, 16MB SD card included is too small (I got a 256MB card though and am contemplating getting a 1GB card), and the LCD screen is exposed.  My friend just gave me a screen protector though so it's all good.  Anyway, I took a lot of macro and general scenery shots of Calgary, so lemme post em below.

These shots are all using the automatic settings.  The images have been resized to 1600x1200.







I found some of my old mini toys, so I took a macro of them too. 

[Quemaqua]

Screw it.  I need a new fucking camera.  What'd it cost you?  I haven't looked at cameras seriously in a long while.

[iPPi]

$450CAD + Tax for the camera itself.

Paid another $24 for a hard case for it, and my friend gave me an LCD screen protector.

[angrykeebler]

LETS SEE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE!

[Pugnate]

My sister wants to buy either this or something from Sony.

[NatchDan]

Cal-Ga-Reee

[Raisa]

Who's NatchDan?

Nice pics..  I like the one of the old mini toys best


Hmm...  okay, what's a good place to host pics?  I've got enough pics to give you a week in Raisa's life.  Days are too varied so I'm doing a week.

[Jedi]

My sister wants to buy either this or something from Sony.

I believe any camera store with a salesmen who knows his trade, would tell you that Canon have the better lenses. I had one guy tell me straight up that out of the 2 cameras I was looking at that the canon IS S3 I had in my hand was very similar in features to the Sony version, but that the lenses were better (in the canon). I had to give the guy some credit they would have made more money out of me if I had bought the Sony.

[Pugnate]

Actually they both use the same lens. The difference is that Canon has better photo quality in darker conditions, but the latest Sony revisions corrected that, though the Canon still has a slight advantage in darker conditions.

In most conditions the are equal. The Canon has some better software extras, and the buttons are easier.

She actually wanted the SD600 but had to go with the Sony equivalent because they are the only ones covered by warranty here. Also the Canons they had were the ISX versions that are for the European market. They are the same as the SD series but with different brand names. But yea the camera looked cheaper versus the Sony. The LCD didn't look as good either for some reason. 

[iPPi]

I'm loving this camera.  It's fast, and it takes nice pictures.  I've been using it on and off for a couple of days now and it's great.  Here are two more pictures from the other day.

[Jedi]

Yeah I'm pretty sure Sony uses Carl Zeiss lens' and Canon produce their own. Out of the two cameras I was looking at, this was the case for but I'm not sure if the same applies to SD600 types.

[Pugnate]

No you are right, only the Sony uses Carl Zeiss. Sorry for the confusion.

Also iPPi those are great. I dragged the pic to the link bar to really appreciate it.

[K-man]

I have used Canon digitals exclusively for years.  IMO they're the most consistent when it comes to picture quality and camera durability.

One of these days I'm going to invest in a good SLR

[NatchDan]

Yeah, Canon are the best in terms of value for money, I find.

Also I'm... Me, Raisa. I met Que during FAWM.

[Quemaqua]

We migrated from other forums, Dan, and many people ended up getting new names here and such, so Raisa probably thought you were somebody who used to go by another moniker.  Our little community has survived I think 4 or 5 forum moves since the beginning.

[NatchDan]

Aha. I've been on a forum like that before. Worked my way up to co-admin on it, before it self destructed yet again. xD

[PyroMenace]

I don't think that will be likely to happen here, unless Que goes berserk and Keeb takes over as the most active poster while getting drunk.

[Jedi]

At the very most if D stopped posting we'd only lose the games board 

[Raisa]

Yeah, Canon are the best in terms of value for money, I find.

Also I'm... Me, Raisa. I met Que during FAWM.

Okay... you're not a girl masquerading as a guy are you?

[ren]

The horizontal traffic lights weird me out

[Quemaqua]

But everything's better horizontal!  Giggity-giggity-giggity!

[NatchDan]

Okay... you're not a girl masquerading as a guy are you?

I'm not going to ask why you ask, but no, I'm not.

Also, Que: That produced a noise somewhat but not entirely like snerk.

[Pugnate]

I went and bought this today. Checking out pictures right now. Not amazing in low light, but a decent purchase overall.

[Pugnate]

Well I am going to returns this tomorrow. The IQ especially in less than decent light is really bad. It is very grainy though the colors are fair. I returned the DSC W900 by SONY for this, and while it is better, the camera is apparently worse than the SD700. Trouble is that they've kept the same sensor yet went higher on the mp.

I think the SD900 is what I'll try tomorrow or the Sony T-100 which is getting rave reviews. Overall I am pretty disappointed with this, though not as disappointed as I was by the W900 which had horrible output.

Check it:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=22780292

edit:

Well I wasn't imagining it. The SD800 is garbage... it is blurry as anything in anything remotely less than ideal light. Look at these comparisons between the S700 and the S800:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd800is/page5.asp

And here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd900/page6.asp

Man I am really ticked. All these stupid fucking camera companies are just upping the mega pixels and it is destroying the image quality. It is a race for the MP without a thought for the consequences.

[Jedi]

I wouldn't put too much stock in your last statement (while it might be right) these SD models aren't exactly the pack leaders. I suppose for the simple stuff their fine but I don't believe Pug, you fall into the category of simpleton point and shoot, "the more MP the better ... right?!" type users. Perhaps the SDs just aren’t for you, I know their garbage for I want but I don’t bag Canon over it I actually prefer their gear to say Sony etc.

[Pugnate]

Well definitely when it comes to SLR cameras Canon and Nikon lead the pack. Sony provides nothing close to Canon in SLR or semi pro cameras. However in terms of mainstream they are a bit behind.

Also note I am not only talking about Canon. I actually bought the DSCW90 and the DSCW80 before trying Canon, and if you read my post you'd note I said the Canon SD800 was a lot better.

The DSCW80/DSCW90 and the SD800 are all in the same price range. However all three of them don't better by their predecessors even though they are $100-$150 more expensive.

Like I said, the SD800's picture quality is behind the SD700! While the DSCW80 and the DSCW90 in many cases are being the DSCW55.

From what I've read, the focus has been on megapixels so much that IQ has taken a hit. Anyway I am going to be returning the SD800. Anyone have recommendations on any other cameras?

So far the SD800 is definitely better than the Sony W80 and W90, but I have a Canon S60 lying around, and I swear to god the pictures are about equal. Again I wasn't ripping Canon.  The comment about megapixels being the focus was on any mainstream camera.

[Cools]

If you are really concerned about photo quality, invest in a decent dSLR. Even an entry model will give you far better pictures than any point and shoot (P&S) camera will. For example, look at the Nikon D40 or the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Both are amazing cameras and are just a bit more expensive than a new P&S.

Mega pixels mean nothing, it's all about the optics. There's a learning curve with an SLR and if you get serious, it can become an expensive hobby.

You can get a cheap body to start with and save for better lenses later on. Lenses and proper use of flash and available light will have a much bigger impact on your photography than more mega pixels in a newer camera body.

Here are some examples from a photoshoot I did last Wednesday. Taken with a "cheap" Nikon D50 (6mp).