tx photo mom
12-14-2006, 06:30 AM
I currently have a Canon Rebel which I use as a point and shoot. I got it in order to get the 200mm zoom, so I can get decent pictures of my kids in school programs and playing sports. I also have a digital Olympus C770 ultra zoom. I have only used it for posed pictures. It doesn't have as large a zoom as I'd like, there is a significant shutter delay (no good for any moving subject) and has serious problems focusing in low light situations.
I was planning on buying a digital Rebel so I could use my existing lense. Then as I learned about image stabilization in the newer lenses and thought about buying a new camera and lense, I started looking for other options. I stumbled across the Cannon Powershot G7 and then this web site, so I'm asking for help in trying to buy the right camera.
Budget - $400 - $1000
Size - small is nice, but I want to make sure I can get the equivalent of the 200 mm zoom. I'm not sure how much I lose going from 28 mm to 35 mm on the wide angle end.
Features - 200 mm equivalent zoom, the face recognition feature sounds nice, the ability to make digital movies would be nice (then I'd only have to take 1 camera to the school programs?)
How many megapixels - sufficient for 4x6 up to 8x10 prints, also for onscreen viewing, so 6 is probably sufficient.
* What optical zoom will you need? equivalent of the 200 mm zoom
* How important is “image quality” to you? 8
Do you care for manual controls? would like to learn but haven't
General Usage
* What will you generally use the camera for? family pictures: school activities, kids sports, family gatherings (indoors) and vacations
* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? 4x6 with the occaisional 8 x 10. I've never had a photo I've thought good enough to print for wall display.
Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? Yes. School programs seem well lit, but the camera usually responds to them as low light.
Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? yes
Miscellaneous
Are there particular brands you like or hate? No
Are there particular models you already have in mind? the G7 or S3 IS just from a little bit of research. I haven't researched other brands because my consumer reports friend says cannon's are always near the top in the ratings.
(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? image stabilitzation, perhaps the face recognition and I'm interested in the movie capability if it means I could leave the camcorder at home.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
I was planning on buying a digital Rebel so I could use my existing lense. Then as I learned about image stabilization in the newer lenses and thought about buying a new camera and lense, I started looking for other options. I stumbled across the Cannon Powershot G7 and then this web site, so I'm asking for help in trying to buy the right camera.
Budget - $400 - $1000
Size - small is nice, but I want to make sure I can get the equivalent of the 200 mm zoom. I'm not sure how much I lose going from 28 mm to 35 mm on the wide angle end.
Features - 200 mm equivalent zoom, the face recognition feature sounds nice, the ability to make digital movies would be nice (then I'd only have to take 1 camera to the school programs?)
How many megapixels - sufficient for 4x6 up to 8x10 prints, also for onscreen viewing, so 6 is probably sufficient.
* What optical zoom will you need? equivalent of the 200 mm zoom
* How important is “image quality” to you? 8
Do you care for manual controls? would like to learn but haven't
General Usage
* What will you generally use the camera for? family pictures: school activities, kids sports, family gatherings (indoors) and vacations
* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? 4x6 with the occaisional 8 x 10. I've never had a photo I've thought good enough to print for wall display.
Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? Yes. School programs seem well lit, but the camera usually responds to them as low light.
Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? yes
Miscellaneous
Are there particular brands you like or hate? No
Are there particular models you already have in mind? the G7 or S3 IS just from a little bit of research. I haven't researched other brands because my consumer reports friend says cannon's are always near the top in the ratings.
(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? image stabilitzation, perhaps the face recognition and I'm interested in the movie capability if it means I could leave the camcorder at home.
Thanks for any help you can give me.