Which is the best compact Canon camera?

[rvaccha]

Hi,


I am a newbie to Digital photography, or rather photography for that matter. I am currently a MBA student and travel internationally during my vacations.

Basically I want a camera that is sturdy, ease to use and has good features, e.g good clarity, storage capacity, battery life, flash, stabilization. I will be taking pictures of scenery, monuments, friends, random people, thus am likely to be in various lighting and movement conditions. I would also like a nice zoom feature if possible.

I have been recommended the A640 and the G7, I was wondering which is the best compact camera?...one that is easier to carry around than the A640/G7

Thanks,
Andy

[BowerR64]

It kinda depends on the features you want. I think ide go with the A640 or the A710. The 710 has more zoom and has the stabalization but you only need that when you use the max zoom in fairly low light conditions.

THe A640 has 4X has an awsome CCD and a swivel screen. It uses 4 batteries so it will take faster shots. The A710 has 6X zoom and has image stabalization. It uses a smaller CCD then the A640 but its a little smaller and uses 2 AA batteries. I have an A700 and an A610 and they both have good points. I would prefer the 640 and the 710 but i wanted to just try the series first.

The smaller cameras like the SD are nice and little but they lack many features the A series have. For starters they use a special battery pack and i personly dont care for that. You need a special charger and they always seem to be half the capasity as standard AA or AAA NiMH rechargables. Next thing they lack is flash, the flash is so small its very limited on the distance and how wide the flash is. Most of the smaller cameras dont have all of the manual settings the A series have.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/edit/camerasize2.jpg

[Setter Dog]

You should definitely consider the A710. There are reviews online and good comments in this forum. No single camera does everything but this one comes very close.

[Paul79UF]

I guarantee you'll take a small pocket size SD series powershot, such as the SD700 IS (4x optical zoom), with you everywhere you go.

I'm going on a long trip soon, and I replaced my old Canon SD110 compact with both a small SD700IS and the larger ultra zoom S3 IS.

If you don't want to take two cameras, I say go with the smaller SD series so that you never leave it at the hotel/house/apt.

I bought two extra cheap generic battery packs for my new SD700 from http://digicamaccessories.com/, and I hardly ever go through more than one battery pack on a weekend taking hundreds of pictures (& videos), a good amount with flash.

The battery charger for the compact powershots are included with the camera, not a big deal.

Even if you buy one of the other models mentioned above that use AA's like my S3IS also does, you would still want to buy at least two sets of rechargeable Nimh AA batteries and the charger for them. (I recommend getting a maha charger and batteries from http://www.thomasdistributing.com/)

If you're a newbie to photography, don't worry about manual features. The compact cameras have enough settings to play with but not so much that you get confused.

Later, you can always upgrade to a larger camera with more manual features.

Also, the flash on the compact cameras is more than adequate for the kind of night time "friends at the club/bar" type pictures I'd imagine you'd be taking. (I've literally taken over 15,000 of those type pictures during my 5 years at college :D, with various models in the digital powershot line).

Here's my prescription for your trip.

Camera - Sd800 IS, or SD700 IS (3.7x zoom, 4x zoom both with stabilization)

Battery - at least one extra generic battery pack (they're cheap, get two)

Memory - 2gb SD card for about $30-38 from NewEgg.com

----------------

Keep that sucker in your pocket at all times, take pictures of everything, and report back to us when you get back.

:)

[lime240z]

I like the A540. Small, 6 mp, great zoom and I do not like the swivel display that some of the larger cameras have. Price is great too, if that is an issue. Can be found for $199.00. Down alot from when I bought mine.

[BowerR64]

I like the A540 for what it is but i like the A7XX or A6XX better. I guess it depends on what im shooting what ill take.

When i use the A610 i feel im holding a higher end camera. It has that higher class feel. Not sure if its all the metal or what but it just gives me a sence of quality. None of the other canon cameras i have feel like that. Even the S2 and S3 dont have the same feel or sound.

[SpecialK]

Hi:

Since you are right here a DCRP, why don't you read a review or two of the cameras you are interested in and gets the expert's opinion and full comparisons?

I'd go with the Canon A630 or higher. Can't beat the swivel LCD and AA's. The zoom range is a tad limiting, but it great for general shooting.

[harish28]

I own it so i recommend it.. I was also a newbie and this camera helped me a lot to learn and to shoot awesome crispy shots.. Its a great camera, check out the reviews in DCResouce... Moreover its the top rated, favorite and the highest recommended camera by the owner of this website.. See for yourself.. Its definitely my best friend and i'm sure it'll be yours too..

[BowerR64]

Ide rather have the 115,000 pixal LCD on the A520 but the A540 isnt to bad.

[Kuldeep Singh]

I have read great reviews of the G7 on other sites; yet I find no mention of it here... Any reasons?
From what I have read it is perhaps one of the best compact cameras out there.

[SpecialK]

You didn't look very hard.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g7-review/index.shtml