hwblanks
12-17-2006, 06:31 PM
After lugging my rather heavy Fuji s602z around Key West during the week of Thanksgiving, I've pretty much decided that it's time to get a smaller camera with similar features. I've already done quite a bit of looking around online and have narrowed the brand down to Canon, but I've having a hard time deciding which model would be best.
Although I don't get out and shoot as much as I would like to, I consider myself a hobbyist who is really into nature photography. Of course, I enjoy taking pics at family events, as well as of my 2 cats.
One thing I'm concerned about is outgrowing my camera as I continue to grow in my skills. All the cameras I'm considering do have manual functions, as well as decent lens lengths and the capability of using add-on lenses and filters, which are all important to me. Image stabilization is also a plus.
Here's what I think about the different models I'm considering:
G7--Like that 6X zoom with IS. While a hotshoe is not that important to me, it might be nice to have one just in case I decide that the onboard flash isn't enough for the indoor pics. Looking at it, it appears that some of the manual features can be accessed from the buttons and dials on top of the camera instead of having to go though menus and menus to get to them. I really don't need 10MP of resolution, but I figure that I can always set it to a lower resolution.
A710--for the features similar to the G7, including the IS, the price is nice, but I'm a bit concerned at how easy the manual features are to access whenever I would want to use them. Also from some of the other postings I've read, it sounds like the image quality on the G7 might be a little bit better, but is the whole package worth $200 more? The resolution on the A710 is plenty for me and I also like that it takes AA batteries.
G6--besides being able to find one on eBay for somewhat less money than a G7, from what I've read, it sounds like the lens might be better than the G7. With the lens on the G7 being longer, would the fact that it's slower than the G6 make a real difference in image quality? The only drawbacks of any note on the G6 is that the lens is shorter (4x vs. 6x), but that could be remedied with a teleconverter (or is using the teleconverter too much of a hassle?) and that the G6 doesn't have IS. I do like the fact that it takes CF cards, so I wouldn't have to get a new card format and reader.
I probably won't be buying my camera until after Christmas, so I'm in no real rush. I've posted my Fuji on eBay, but I've got a small Nikon digital and a Minolta film SLR to tide me over once the Fuji sells.
Any help would be much appreciated. :)
Heather
Although I don't get out and shoot as much as I would like to, I consider myself a hobbyist who is really into nature photography. Of course, I enjoy taking pics at family events, as well as of my 2 cats.
One thing I'm concerned about is outgrowing my camera as I continue to grow in my skills. All the cameras I'm considering do have manual functions, as well as decent lens lengths and the capability of using add-on lenses and filters, which are all important to me. Image stabilization is also a plus.
Here's what I think about the different models I'm considering:
G7--Like that 6X zoom with IS. While a hotshoe is not that important to me, it might be nice to have one just in case I decide that the onboard flash isn't enough for the indoor pics. Looking at it, it appears that some of the manual features can be accessed from the buttons and dials on top of the camera instead of having to go though menus and menus to get to them. I really don't need 10MP of resolution, but I figure that I can always set it to a lower resolution.
A710--for the features similar to the G7, including the IS, the price is nice, but I'm a bit concerned at how easy the manual features are to access whenever I would want to use them. Also from some of the other postings I've read, it sounds like the image quality on the G7 might be a little bit better, but is the whole package worth $200 more? The resolution on the A710 is plenty for me and I also like that it takes AA batteries.
G6--besides being able to find one on eBay for somewhat less money than a G7, from what I've read, it sounds like the lens might be better than the G7. With the lens on the G7 being longer, would the fact that it's slower than the G6 make a real difference in image quality? The only drawbacks of any note on the G6 is that the lens is shorter (4x vs. 6x), but that could be remedied with a teleconverter (or is using the teleconverter too much of a hassle?) and that the G6 doesn't have IS. I do like the fact that it takes CF cards, so I wouldn't have to get a new card format and reader.
I probably won't be buying my camera until after Christmas, so I'm in no real rush. I've posted my Fuji on eBay, but I've got a small Nikon digital and a Minolta film SLR to tide me over once the Fuji sells.
Any help would be much appreciated. :)
Heather