Which digital camera would you choose?

[eks6426]

My 5 year old Nikon digital camera broke and is not worth repairing so I''m in the market for a new digital camera. I''ve been looking online and have it down to a few and would like opinions. My main goal is a small, easy to use camera that takes great pictures. I''m not concerned about manual tweaking etc. I want to point and shoot friends & family and vacation photos not to mention jewelry shots for PS. I''d love to be able to take it snorkeling but have a hard time buying an extra case for $200+

Option 1. Canon SD1000 cost around $225

Option 2. Canon SD800 IS cost around $325


http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM?view=6


Is the SD800 IS worth $100 more? Does anyone have any other recommendations--Canon or other brands?

Thanks!

 

[musey]

Date: 9/5/2007 11:36:27 AM
Author:IslandDreams

Option 1. Canon SD1000 cost around $225
Option 2. Canon SD800 IS cost around $325

This is the one I have, and I think it's pretty fantastic. I don't have any experience with the other one though, so I can't really say whether it's better or worth $100 more... just that it's pretty darn great!

The IS has been a dream for me. It helps with point and shoot, you don't have to take time steadying your hands, just point-shoot-done. This was great on our Hawaii vacation a couple months ago, when I really didn't want to take time taking pictures, but wanted to have tons, at the same time. It's pretty feature-packed, too. The macro mode works fantastically (all my diamond shots have been with this camera, if you've seen any of them--and it is HARD to take pics of asschers!).

The camera I had before was an Olympus, and I just had a world of trouble with it. The viewscreen started doing strange things and eventually was completely worthless (all, of course, just after the warranty was up). I've had the Canon for about 9 months now with zero problems. So, I [/i]wouldn't[/i] recommend Olympus as an alternative... (not that you were considering it, anyway)

 

[strmrdr]

Canon SD800 IS between those 2.
The A570IS is a little bigger but a little cheaper.
The 720IS is another good one.
The canon s5 IS is my favorite p&s and the one I want but it is larger than most.

 

[eks6426]

Musey--thanks for the comments. The Image Stablization is the main difference between those 2 cameras and I wasn''t sure it was worth $100 more.

STRM--Those cameras look great (especially the s5 IS but I know myself well enough to know I need small and portable or it will sit in a drawer somewhere!

 

[strmrdr]

I think the Canon SD800 IS will serve you well.
Its likely the best camera in its class

 

[eks6426]

So, I went to look at cameras today. The SD800 is no longer available. It has been replace by the SD870. So, now I''ve got it down to the SD850 and the SD870. The basic difference between the 2:

SD850 has a lense 35mm-140mm and has an optical viewfinder

SD870 has a lense 28mm-105mm (slightly wider lense) and NO optical view finder.


To me, the lenses are really very similar. So, I guess it comes down to how important is an optical viewfinder?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 9/8/2007 7:57:37 PM
Author: IslandDreams
So, I went to look at cameras today. The SD800 is no longer available. It has been replace by the SD870. So, now I''ve got it down to the SD850 and the SD870. The basic difference between the 2:

SD850 has a lense 35mm-140mm and has an optical viewfinder

SD870 has a lense 28mm-105mm (slightly wider lense) and NO optical view finder.


To me, the lenses are really very similar. So, I guess it comes down to how important is an optical viewfinder?

depends on how you shoot.
The optical view finder is prettty pathetic on these small cameras at best.

 

[basil]

I have the SD1000 and I like it. IS is real nice though, in general.

I don''t tend to use the optical viewfinder much. It''s really only useful in very bright lighting conditions (i.e. skiing or sailing or at the beach) where it''s hard to see the LCD.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

I have a 2yr old SD700 IS & love it. Prices are certainly cheaper now, but a couple yrs ago these new ones were just coming on the market. I bit the bullet & paid for the IS feature. It was worth it. So many pictures were saved because of it. Its easy for me to say just buy it cause $100 is a lot. But if you dont plan on switching your camera any time soon, it is worth it. Of course, its my opinion, for whatever thats worth. LOL

Judy

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 9/8/2007 7:57:37 PM
Author: IslandDreams
So, I went to look at cameras today. The SD800 is no longer available. It has been replace by the SD870. So, now I've got it down to the SD850 and the SD870. The basic difference between the 2:

SD850 has a lense 35mm-140mm and has an optical viewfinder

SD870 has a lense 28mm-105mm (slightly wider lense) and NO optical view finder.


To me, the lenses are really very similar. So, I guess it comes down to how important is an optical viewfinder?

The image stabilization feature is absolutely worth spending more for. I know it's no longer a consideration for you (since your two choices now both have IS), but for folks who are still without IS, it's totally worth the extra $$.

For your most recent query, Island, I think the viewfinder is a non-issue and isn't really a deciding factor.

To me, the deciding factor should come down to what kind of pics you take most often......people photos or scenery/landscape photos.

If you'll use it mostly for people pictures(parties, pics of the kids, events like graduations, etc), the SD850 makes more sense because it allows you to get closer (140mm), making for better composition.

If it's going to be used more for scenery (i.e. photos of mountains, grand canyon, cityscapes), then the wider (28mm) lens of the SD870 will be more useful.

Most Average-Joe point-and-shoot customers use their cameras for vacations (scenery) only 1-2 weeks a year and use it for family photos/events the rest of the year, so for most folks, the SD850 will be a more logical choice.

 

[eks6426]

I finally resolved the camera issue. Last night my husband and I went to Best Buy and bought the Canon SD870. I anguished over the choice since Sunday when we saw them and finally chose the 870 because I liked the slightly wider angle lense better and decided I never used the viewfinder anyway. Furthemore, both my husband and I liked the button layout and the "feel" of the 870 better...totally intangible things but that''s what ultimately made the final decision. The sales guy knocked $50 off the price plus we got an instant $30 gift card so really $80 off a camera that just came out Aug 20.

The funny thing is when we got home I was swapping our SD card out of the old camera that had stopped working. The old camera was a Nikon3700. It''s been a great little camera and I wasn''t really ready to replace it. I figured I had another year to go. The Nikon had been giving a "Lense Error" message whenever we turned it on. Took it to a camera store and they said not worth it to fix it. We''ve retried turning it on & off several times and still got the same error...well last night as I was dealing with the SD card into the new camera my son turned on the old Nikon and it worked. No error message. Just like normal. I have no idea why. He didn''t do anything other than turn it on. I put the SD card back in and took pictures. It seems to work fine now. Of course I had already opened the box on the new Canon so if I return it I have to pay the restocking fee...

My 10 year old son being the ever helpful child, pointed out how much better the new camera should be...more megapixels, the image stablization etc. Then offered to take the old one off my hands for me Not sure about that option but I had to laugh....It still kills me though that waiting even a few months probably would have made Canon even less expensive and better for my budget but we''ll probably keep it anyway.......

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am looking for a new camera too and it is overwhelming! How did you get him to give you a lower price? Wow, $80 off is awesome! Hope it works out for you.

 

[eks6426]

Tacori--On Sunday we were looking at both the 850 and the 870. The 850 was on sale for $50 less than the 870. We asked what the difference between the 2 cameras was and the guy said they are basically the same. So, I asked if they could give me the sale price for the 870 and suprisingly the guy said yes. We went back last night on Wednesday because we knew the same salesperson was working last night. He honored what he said for the $50 off plus the sale in the ad this week for the 870 was the $30 instant gift card. He gave us both the $50 off plus the $30 gift card. The extra $30 gift card made the 870 cheaper than the 870 which made the decision even easier.

We''ll be testing out the camera this weekend at my husband''s sister''s 60th birthday party so I''ll give a report next week.

 

[strmrdr]

It sounds like the lens was stuck on the nikon then got jarred lose at some point.
It is often a chipped gear in the lens drive and will repeat itself.
Give it too you son too use it may last 1 day or may last a long time but its not trustworthy for events you really want a picture from.

 

[eks6426]

strm--That''s exactly what one of my friends at work said to make me feel better. I guess that makes sense and I would hate to be on vacation or at my step-son''s graduation next spring and have the LENSE Error pop up again. I''m going to get a neck lanyard to hook onto the old camera for my son and then let him us the camera in a supervised environment to see how he does. Maybe we''ll take some fall nature walks.....