Canon A710, Pany TZ1 or other?

[Setter Dog]

I'm replacing a Sanyo C5 hybird camcorder/5MP camera and hoping for some specific advice from a user. The Sanyo has 5X zoom, electronic stabilization etc. It records 640/480 videos in what I consider acceptable quality. Advantages of this Sanyo are the small size and 41min video on a 1GB card.

I've studied reviews until I feel like I can recite them verbatim. The camera I like that seems to have everything in video and stills, viewfinder etc is the Canon S3. Unfortunately, it is simply too big for my purposes. I need something I can carry in the shirt pocket of my hunting shirt and use with one hand, primarily taking pictures and videos of hunting dogs in action.

I've pretty well decided on the Canon A710 since it supposedly has the best video of any of these cameras (though zoom restricted while taking video). I like the idea that it has a viewfinder and AA batteries. I am also considering the Panasonic TZ1 for greater zoom and unrestricted video zooming etc. The Pany has wide screen video but that's not relevant to me. I have heard that the Panasonic videos don't compare to those of the Canon. Not sure how I'd ever know for sure unless I had one of each?

I know someone will recommend that I get a camcorder instead of a camera but this isn't practical for my usage. I need both in one package. I own and have used several digital cameras and camcorders,....... am keeping my sons outfitted with my discards! What I have learned for sure is that minor technical differences in megapixels, compression etc can seem very important before making a purchase. The main lesson I've learned, however, is that the best camera is the one you have with you. Size is important to me.

I'd sure like to hear comments from users of either the 710 or the TZ1,....or anything else for that matter.

Thanks, folks!

[Setter Dog]

Didnn't get a response so thought I'd post again on this subject.

I ordered the Canon A710 today. My hesitation had been the fact that it didn't zoom during video recording. So, I looked at about 100 of my video clips I'd taken with my Sanyo. I was surprised to find that only on four of them had I zoomed! On those four, the zooming made three of the clips worse and on one marginally better. So, that was all the encouragement I needed to order the Canon ($318 at Onecall, matching Amazon price). This should be pretty much ideal for my purposes,......at least until I find a new model irresistable.

Not that anyone is terribly interested, but I plan to post a review of the video performance of this camera....in actual field conditions....in a couple of weeks. For size and convenience, it's the only thing I could find with IS that matches my Sanyo. It has the advantage of an optical viewfinder as well as other improvements.

[cvicisso]

Not too long ago, I was looking for almost exactly the same thing you were... a true 'hybrid' device - able to take great photos and acceptable video - that I could tote anywhere in my pocket and reasily replace the AA batteries from anywhere on earth in a pinch. My 'prime directive' was exactly the same as yours:
The main lesson I've learned, however, is that the best camera is the one you have with you. True... true. I also debated the A710, but after handling it, decided that it just wasn't small enough - plus, as you mentioned, you can't zoom while shooting video. Anyway, to make a long story short[er], I eventually realized what I knew all along but just refused to accept: my purchase would have to be a compromise in some respect[s]. What I ended up compromising was the max zoom (just 3X - although I can still zoom - optically - while shooting video), image stbilization, and the AA batteries. I sacrificed these for the sake of size and waterproof-ness.

I've got a few minor gripes, but overall I think that buying my Pentax Optio W20 was the right call (for me). Like you, my most important requirement was just having a camera with me. Since I'm on the beach a lot, this also meant I had to worry about not just size - but sand and water as well (mostly sand). The W20 is totally waterproof and there's no protruding lens (that sand could get stuck in), and it EASILY fits in my pocket. The SD800IS was on my short list for a while (I would LOVE to have a 28mm lens and IS!), but it was the sand and water that eventually swayed me to the Pentax. OF course, the price was right too.

There are no manual controls :mad: , but the plethora of menus really covers most situations... except low light. I'll probably end up getting a Fuji F30 for this purpose when the prices come down (after the F31fd spreads through the market). So... that means another compromise: having to choose which camera to bring depending on the expected situation. Oh well... I guess it makes life interesting.

Let us know how your purchase turns out!

[BowerR64]

Why cant you zoom while recording? Even my A540 can, i sent my A700 to canon to see if they could fix it or i would test it but ide think that it should zoom while recording. Seems like an odd feature to leave off.

[Setter Dog]

It's interesting that there are so many great cameras that we are sort of spoiled and can never find anything that is exactly correct. Almost any of these cameras would get the job done but it's sure fun to search out what seems most perfect, then enjoy it.

My daughter has the same camera you do. We researched it thoroughly and the clincher was that she planned to use it on ski trips. Interesting that she's never taken a single picture on a ski trip but has great photos from China, Russia, Korea, Chile, Costa Rica, and places I don't even remember. It that's what we'd been picking a camera for, we might have chosen something else but the little Pentax has worked beautifully.

I think I'll enjoy the A710. It looks quick to put into action and supposedly has a great movie mode. It should certainly be fun until the next model comes along that I can't live without.

I already have my sights set on the Canon S3 with a teleconverter for my next trip to Yellowstone Park.

[Setter Dog]

Bower,...abou the zooming when recording videos, I just learned that from reviews. Very few will zoom during recording because of the noise level of the zoom. The S3 will zoom....the others will zoom, but only digitally.

[BowerR64]

Weird, i just tried my A610 and it doesnt zoom while recording :confused:

Is there a list of the cameras that do and dont?

[Setter Dog]

I don't know about a list but DCResource reviews always states whether or not they zoom while recording. Of the several cameras I've been looking at reviews on, only the Canon S3 zooms. I take that back, the Pansonic TZ1 zooms but at a very slow rate. I was hung up on this until I looked at a lot of my old clips and found that I seldom zoomed while recording. When I did, it usually added nothing to the video. I don't think it's that big a deal but it shouldn't come as a surprise.

Another thing I thought was strange....one review stated that the Panasonic TZ1, although it zoomed during recording, did not change focus. This particular review said it fixed the focus on the first frame. I don't know if this is true or not but that would be a bigger negative for me than the failure to zoom.

My usual use of the video function is taking a bird dog retireving a shot quail. I just leave the zoom on wide angle and the dog gets larger and larger as it brings the bird to me. Obviously, if the camera did not focus during this, it would be a mess.

[Setter Dog]

Well, I bought the A710 as a replacement for my Sanyo camcorder hybrid. I will use this primarily on quail hunting trips for pictures of my dogs in action etc. My primary interest was camera size and video quality.

All I've done so far is some experimenting around the house and I find the camera to be a pleasant surprise. First, it fits in my canvas shirt pocket. It is actually easier to put in action with one hand than the Sanyo. The power button can easily be reached while you grip the camera for taking shots. The only thing it doesn't have that the Sanyo had was the ability to go from movies to stills by just pressing a different button. On the 710, the dial wheel must be used.

I find that I like the "P" setting for stills, primarily because I like the vivid color setting. I also use vivid in movie mode. The 640x30 mode seems as good as most camcorders I've had. You cannot optically zoom in movie mode but the full range of digital zoom is available. My tests show the digital zoom is actually not bad. The 6x optical should be plenty most of the time. I was very impressed with the auto focus during movies. It is much better than the Sanyo.

The only drawback, and I knew this going in, is that the 1GB card only holds 8 1/2 minutes of 640x80 videos vs. 41 minutes in the Sanyo (mpeg 4). The quality of the Canon is enough higher that I will gladly buy a 4GB card or a couple of 2GBs. In the meantime, I'll be carrying the 1GB cards I have. By the way, the Sandisk ultras work great in the Canyon. I had a Kingston, not high speed, which would not capture the videos.

I like the idea of AA batteries and my rechargeables seem to have a pretty good life during these experiments.

The LCD screen is not very good in bright sunlight, but neither was the Sanyo. The Canon has an optical viewfinder, which I consider a great improvement over the Sanyo.

All in all, the 710 seems to be the answer for anyone needing both good stills and videos in a camera small enough for the shirt pocket,......at least the pockets of the shirts I wear hunting and fishing!