SONY p-100/p-93 vs. CANON a-85/a-95

[ragweedfan]

Sony-p-93 Or P-100

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Can't decide if the p-100 or p-93 is the best value. The diffences I have found are the lens and battery types. Should I go for the p-93 and use the $dif for accessories or just get the newer p-100? And are there really that much difference in these cameras. Will primarily use for family (new baby) type pictures but the comments on video capabilites has turned me to sony from Canon-A95. Thanks for the help in advance,JJ

update, went to buy the p-100 at a retail store this weekend to find that they weren't in stock and only available online. And it was also cheaper than p-93 so the $ difference is no longer a factor- so, one more week of research or advice before this weekend would be helpful. Not set in stone that this is the camera I want, are there any others in this"class" of camera. (also looked at kodak 7630, kodak 7440, and canon A-85/a-95. Thanks for the input, JJ

[gary_hendricks]

Sony-p-93 Or P-100

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Can't decide if the p-100 or p-93 is the best value. The diffences I have found are the lens and battery types. Should I go for the p-93 and use the $dif for accessories or just get the newer p-100? And are there really that much difference in these cameras. Will primarily use for family (new baby) type pictures but the comments on video capabilites has turned me to sony from Canon-A95. Thanks for the help in advance,JJ

update, went to buy the p-100 at a retail store this weekend to find that they weren't in stock and only available online. And it was also cheaper than p-93 so the $ difference is no longer a factor- so, one more week of research or advice before this weekend would be helpful. Not set in stone that this is the camera I want, are there any others in this"class" of camera. (also looked at kodak 7630, kodak 7440, and canon A-85/a-95. Thanks for the input, JJ

I think the Canon A95 is a better bet. Here's what impressed me with this camera:

- the fold out lcd (makes taking photos of yourself easy)
- the macro zoom function (i can get decent shots at less than 6 inches with this)
- the picture effects (sepia, black and white, vivid colour etc)
- f.stop, iso speed and shutter speed (you can adjust these all manually!)
- uses 4 AA batteries (cheap as chips to buy rechargeables and when they get old, just get some new ones - no mucking around with dodgy internal batteries - and you get about 400 pictures per charge, even more in low power mode)
- panoramic images (can take a bunch of shots in panoramic mode, then the software included, which i think is great, stitches them all together beautifully to make great panoramic images!) you can even turn then into quicktime vr movies!
- easy to use
- plenty of preset lighting situations to select from

[debtman7]

I'm looking at both of these as well.

The sony p-100 is almost exactly what I want. The only thing that has prevented me from going out and buying it is that it seems to like to use a 1/30 second shutter speed on indoor pictures, resulting in inevitable blur. To get around this it's recommended you set it to program mode and bump up the ISO.

I like the size of the camera (unlike the canon A series, it will easily slip into pockets on your jeans) and the fact that you can add on lenses (I like to use polarizing filters for our tropical vacations). But I don't want to have to fiddle with it to get good indoor pictures.

On the other hand, the A series offers more manual controls and the add on lense capability, and takes great indoor pictures, but with that bumpout for the hand grip, it's not exactly what I'd call pocketable. Granted it's about the size of the Nikon I've had for years, but I've always wished my Nikon was smaller too...

I'm debating just waiting a few years to see if anything closer to my needs ever comes out :)

[Digideb]

Ah, I can't wait to see what they do with digicams in 3 yrs. At the pace they've been "evolving", I'm hoping to see some incredible stuff.
I want a digicam about the size of a pack of cigarettes that'll do everything an "SLR-type" camera will do! I know, someone better pinch me 'cause I'm definately dreaming! :D

[voomo]

I think the Canon A95 is a better bet. Here's what impressed me with this camera:

- the fold out lcd (makes taking photos of yourself easy)
- the macro zoom function (i can get decent shots at less than 6 inches with this)
- the picture effects (sepia, black and white, vivid colour etc)
- f.stop, iso speed and shutter speed (you can adjust these all manually!)
- uses 4 AA batteries (cheap as chips to buy rechargeables and when they get old, just get some new ones - no mucking around with dodgy internal batteries - and you get about 400 pictures per charge, even more in low power mode)
- panoramic images (can take a bunch of shots in panoramic mode, then the software included, which i think is great, stitches them all together beautifully to make great panoramic images!) you can even turn then into quicktime vr movies!
- easy to use
- plenty of preset lighting situations to select from


You may have just sold me on the A95!

[EAP]

I'm looking at both of these as well.

The sony p-100 is almost exactly what I want. The only thing that has prevented me from going out and buying it is that it seems to like to use a 1/30 second shutter speed on indoor pictures, resulting in inevitable blur.

I'm debating just waiting a few years to see if anything closer to my needs ever comes out :)

If you like the Sony, buy it. Then, you can buy something else in a few years if your "dream" camera comes out! I believe most digital camera purchases mean some sort of compromise, but don't let that hold you back from getting something. I debated, and researched, and drove myself nuts trying to make a decision. What I REALLY wanted didn't exist (4-5 MP camera that takes EXCELLENT photos even in dim light, AF illuminator, at least 4x zoom, full manual controls, good shutter speed, and has a polycarbonate underwater housing accessory, somewhere between $300-$400). I finally got sick of it all and bought the Canon A-95. I compromised on zoom, a bit on size, and a bit on shutter speed, but it has everything else I wanted. So far, I am loving it. I'll get some good usage out of it, thoroughly enjoy myself in the process, and hopefully my dream camera will be out in a few years when I can justify another camera expenditure!

[debtman7]

If you like the Sony, buy it. Then, you can buy something else in a few years if your "dream" camera comes out! I believe most digital camera purchases mean some sort of compromise, but don't let that hold you back from getting something. I debated, and researched, and drove myself nuts trying to make a decision. What I REALLY wanted didn't exist (4-5 MP camera that takes EXCELLENT photos even in dim light, AF illuminator, at least 4x zoom, full manual controls, good shutter speed, and has a polycarbonate underwater housing accessory, somewhere between $300-$400). I finally got sick of it all and bought the Canon A-95. I compromised on zoom, a bit on size, and a bit on shutter speed, but it has everything else I wanted. So far, I am loving it. I'll get some good usage out of it, thoroughly enjoy myself in the process, and hopefully my dream camera will be out in a few years when I can justify another camera expenditure!

I know, I'm still debating. I almost went and got the new Canon A510 which is one sale at Office Max this week for $150, a deal I couldn't pass up. But of course, no office max within 100 miles has one and there are no rain checks as it's a while supplies last deal (the A75 is also at $150, for anyone looking).

The only thing I like better about the sony is the size. Everything else I like the canon. I think the A510 might win, I don't need more than 3.2 MP and at $200 I can live with the fact that it's not my ideal camera. I'm waiting for the review to pop up here and then I'll have to deal hunt. At $150 it's a no brainer, but I don't know if I'll find that kind of sale again.

[randall_d]

I know, I'm still debating. I almost went and got the new Canon A510 which is one sale at Office Max this week for $150, a deal I couldn't pass up. But of course, no office max within 100 miles has one and there are no rain checks as it's a while supplies last deal (the A75 is also at $150, for anyone looking).

The only thing I like better about the sony is the size. Everything else I like the canon. I think the A510 might win, I don't need more than 3.2 MP and at $200 I can live with the fact that it's not my ideal camera. I'm waiting for the review to pop up here and then I'll have to deal hunt. At $150 it's a no brainer, but I don't know if I'll find that kind of sale again.

Where did you see an ad for the A510 for $150 at Office Max?

[debtman7]

Where did you see an ad for the A510 for $150 at Office Max?

If you look at the office max ad, it lists on the last page the A75 for $150. If you look at the SKU numbers for that ad, there are two listed. One is for the A75 and the other is for the A510. The A510 is not really advertised, but the SKU is listed and it is on sale for $150 right now. Only problem is, like I said, most of the stores haven't even gotten the 510's on display and when I checked, the nearest store that had any was about a 2 hour roundtrip drive and wouldn't ship it to a closer store. And the store said since it was "While supplies last" that they wouldn't give a rain check or substitution.

Now, some people have reported being able to call the staples online store number and get them to match the in store price (it's listed as $199 online), but there have been varying reports of this working. And a few people, don't ask me how, managed to get them to substitute the A85 (for $150). They must be smooth talkers, I had no luck on that...

Alternatively, you could also try and get some other store to price match, but since only the SKU is listed in the ad and office max is likely to be sold out, I'd give that a 50/50 shot of working...

[kazaan]

If you like the Sony, buy it. Then, you can buy something else in a few years if your "dream" camera comes out! I believe most digital camera purchases mean some sort of compromise, but don't let that hold you back from getting something. I debated, and researched, and drove myself nuts trying to make a decision. What I REALLY wanted didn't exist (4-5 MP camera that takes EXCELLENT photos even in dim light, AF illuminator, at least 4x zoom, full manual controls, good shutter speed, and has a polycarbonate underwater housing accessory, somewhere between $300-$400). I finally got sick of it all and bought the Canon A-95. I compromised on zoom, a bit on size, and a bit on shutter speed, but it has everything else I wanted. So far, I am loving it. I'll get some good usage out of it, thoroughly enjoy myself in the process, and hopefully my dream camera will be out in a few years when I can justify another camera expenditure!

Hey EAP....and debtman

i am in the same boat :)

i was all set to buy the p200 (whopping 400$ not to mention accessories) when the a510 came along....though less Mp and poor movie mode ....well about the size if you put p200 in camera pouch its not pocketable either..so its all the same...

but a510 has all possible manual controls!! if canon would have added DIGIC II to it and made 30fps movie I would have gone for it straight away.

i am hoping canon / sony release something 300$-ish camera with good movie, reasonalby compact size and good manual controls. Its not improbable looking at A510.....they cud have made movie mode better :mad:

looking forward to the PMA event over the weekend.

kaz.