Canon A540, A630, or A710?? This is my first digital camera purchase, but I enjoy photography and expect to use this camera quite a bit for a variety of purposes.I'm intrigued by the a710's IS function, and it's longer zoom, but is it worth the extra cost? I'm also interested in the manual options, but how are the auto functions and "ease of use"?I've done tons of side-by-side comparisons, so I'm pretty familiar with the specs, but I'd really appreciate any suggestions/ opinions.Thanks! Canon A540, A630, or A710?? This is my first digital camera purchase, but I enjoy photography and expect to use this camera quite a bit for a variety of purposes.I'm intrigued by... » Read More Canon A540, A630, or A710?? This is my first digital camera purchase, but I enjoy photography and expect to use this camera quite a bit for a variety of purposes.I'm intrigued by the a710's IS function, and it's longer zoom, but is it worth the extra cost? I'm also interested in the manual options, but how are the auto functions and "ease of use"?I've done tons of side-by-side comparisons, so I'm pretty familiar with the specs, but I'd really appreciate any suggestions/ opinions.Thanks! « Show Less
1790344
I am considering the same three cameras. I went to CNET.com and they have reviews for all three of these cameras. Just click on REveiws and then DIGTAL CAMERAS. CNET provides some inside information about digicams. It was very helpful in helping make a decision. The website also explains the difference between optical and digtial zoom. I am going to purchase the A710 because it has image stablization because I often take pictures free hand. There is a Canon A570 IS with the same thing at a less price.
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Theresa,If you're talking about this photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjw333/305607400/in/set-72157594390957283/it was taken with an extended exposure which cased the blur.By the way, thanks for the kind words about my pics. I'm glad that you like them.
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The image stabilizer will not help get rid of a blurry shot that is caused by motion. For that you need a faster shutter speed to freeze the motion. The image stabilizer does help when you are taking pictures with a slow shutter speed and a non moving subject.
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I've been flipping back and forth between the SD800 and the A710. And, your pics are now making me lean towards the A710. Two must-haves for my first digital camera are a view finder and image stabilization. Just one question for you, cjw333. I noticed that a couple of your motion shots were blurry. Was the stabilizer on? Thanks for sharing your photos. They're awesome.
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I purchased the A710 IS and I am very happy with it. The deciding factor was the ability to add either a telephoto or wide angle lense to the camera. Which I thought is a great idea. Also I like the color swap feature and I can change the sound effects assoctiated with different actions. Its pretty funny. The only thing that I miss on this camera that my Kodak had was the ability to crop on the camera. Which is no big deal because, I have software that does that and so does the software that comes with the camera. All in all I say this is a way better camera than my Kodak. Plus the ability upgrade the lenses and the zoom is incredible. It is really great camera for the price! I purchased the A710 IS and I am very happy with it. The deciding factor was the ability to add either a telephoto or wide angle lense to the camera. Which I thought is a great idea. Also I like the color swap feature and I can change the sound effects assoctiated with different actions. Its pretty funny. The only thing that I miss on this camera that my Kodak had was the ability to crop on the camera. Which is no big deal because, I have software that does that and so does the software that comes with the camera. All in all I say this is a way better camera than my Kodak. Plus the ability... » Read More I purchased the A710 IS and I am very happy with it. The deciding factor was the ability to add either a telephoto or wide angle lense to the camera. Which I thought is a great idea. Also I like the color swap feature and I can change the sound effects assoctiated with different actions. Its pretty funny. The only thing that I miss on this camera that my Kodak had was the ability to crop on the camera. Which is no big deal because, I have software that does that and so does the software that comes with the camera. All in all I say this is a way better camera than my Kodak. Plus the ability upgrade the lenses and the zoom is incredible. It is really great camera for the price! « Show Less
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I haven't posted any pics on the Amazon A710 site yet. However, when I do take pics I do make sure I have the stabilizer on. The coolest feature is the the Color Swap and Color Accent. I have been playing around with that.
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You want the A710 IS. There is just no comparison to the others.The other two are only 3x zoom and lack key features. You will hate yourself the next day. For the $40 difference, how many photos do you think you will take? A thousand, 5 thousand? So the cheapest one will save you a penny a shot?And the Canon cameras have so many features that typically are only found in big, expensive Digital SLRs.
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The types of photos you took were helpful for analyzing image clarity, color tone and low light performance. Thanks for posting!
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I bought both of these camera's the G7 for myself and the A710 for my father. On paper they are almost the same camera however out of the box there is a big difference. The A710 is a great high-end point and shoot camera, it takes normal AA batteries which can simplify the daily use of the camera i.e. on holiday no need to worry if you packed the charger or not, etc. The G7 has a better image quality. Also there are some mega high level configuration settings for the photographer enthusiast, 1st person and 2nd person flash etc. The A710 is lighter and more portable while the G7 is quite a bit larger and has a significant weight to it. Hope this helps. I bought both of these camera's the G7 for myself and the A710 for my father. On paper they are almost the same camera however out of the box there is a big difference. The A710 is a great high-end point and shoot camera, it takes normal AA batteries which can simplify the daily use of the camera i.e. on holiday no need to worry if you packed the charger or not, etc. The G7 has a better image quality. Also there are some mega high level configuration settings for the photographer enthusiast, 1st person and 2nd person flash etc. The A710 is lighter and more portable while the G7 is quite a... » Read More I bought both of these camera's the G7 for myself and the A710 for my father. On paper they are almost the same camera however out of the box there is a big difference. The A710 is a great high-end point and shoot camera, it takes normal AA batteries which can simplify the daily use of the camera i.e. on holiday no need to worry if you packed the charger or not, etc. The G7 has a better image quality. Also there are some mega high level configuration settings for the photographer enthusiast, 1st person and 2nd person flash etc. The A710 is lighter and more portable while the G7 is quite a bit larger and has a significant weight to it. Hope this helps. « Show Less
525781
I think it is the best camera out there but a lot of money to spend if your just getting into photography I would start with the 7D its close to having a lot of the same features and costs a lot less at around 1300.00 I have both and shoot wildlife photography and find most of my shots come from the 7D with the 100-400 lens which I carry on my lap while road hunting for photos of wildlife ...I suggest the 7D first
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I'm kind of in the same situation Hamlet. They both look great, and I can't decide which one to pull the trigger on. I have a Canon XTi DSLR that I use and love but I want something smaller for travel and one of these seems to fit the bill. Did you make a choice yet? If you have what one did you pick up? I'm also looking at the Sony HX5V.
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I don't think the T300 is in the same class as the G10 and LX3, in terms of features and image quality. I'm a Canon guy and I really wanted to get the G10. But it was a marginal improvement over the G9. And the low light performance is still lacking. I tend to shoot a lot of indoor and night time pics, so the LX3 was a better choice for me. But if you're more of an outdoor daylight shooter, the G10 blows the LX3 away. And I have to say that Canon has a better menu system and user interface. The Panasonic UI takes some getting used to. I would highly recommend browsing through Flickr to get an idea of the image quality that comes from each of the cameras. It should help you decide on the best camera for your needs. And Amazon uses automated scripts to adjust pricing. If a Marketplace reseller offers it for a lower/higher price, the Amazon price will drop/increase by X dollars. So if you're looking for the best price from Amazon, it helps to be a little obsessive and check every half hour or so. :-)
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You should be able to compare the specifications and reviews and decide what fits your photography needs. There are obvious differences in size and the number of dials/buttons for example. Being an A700 user, ergonomics is one of the reasons I went for the A77. There are others that I thought important such as the better AF module, but you may not care about it.The bottom line is, if you can't look at the specification list of the A77 and immediately identify some things that you need, then you don't need the expense of the A77. You may also wish to look at the A57 and soon to be announced A37. You should be able to compare the specifications and reviews and decide what fits your photography needs. There are obvious differences in size and the number of dials/buttons for example. Being an A700 user, ergonomics is one of the reasons I went for the A77. There are others that I thought important such as the better AF module, but you may not care about it.The bottom line is, if you can't look at the specification list of the A77 and immediately identify some things that you need, then you don't need the expense of the A77. You may also wish to look at the A57 and soon to... » Read More You should be able to compare the specifications and reviews and decide what fits your photography needs. There are obvious differences in size and the number of dials/buttons for example. Being an A700 user, ergonomics is one of the reasons I went for the A77. There are others that I thought important such as the better AF module, but you may not care about it.The bottom line is, if you can't look at the specification list of the A77 and immediately identify some things that you need, then you don't need the expense of the A77. You may also wish to look at the A57 and soon to be announced A37. « Show Less
2055505
I am trying to decide between these 2 cameras too (G7 and A710). I take lots of photos of pets - both inside and out, but cats are strictly inside, so I avoid a flash with them. I am looking for great quality photos and something easy to use. I have been using a Canon G2 (3MP) for a loooong time and I need a better camera (plus the G2 has been acting up). I have also historically had trouble with black dogs and cats, so any advice regarding that dilemma and the better camera would be appreciated. Also, why is a G7 more expensive than a G9? Thanks.
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The p7100 takes really nice shots in auto mode. However, it is a touch slower than I would like. Granted, I am comparing it do a D7000...
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This might be too late, but ... I love the A1300. It has a nice quick response and it is small enough to put in a pocket and take backpacking (nice and light). Great zoom and movie feature and the best part is that it still has a view finder so I don't have to use reading glasses when I am taking photos. This is my second camera - I destroyed the last one when I dropped it 10 feet (ALWAYS use the wrist-strap!) OK, so it isn't so great on impact, but everything else is A++++++.
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Sandra, that's what I did -- went from a small Panasonic point-and-shoot to the K-30. I've had the camera for several months now and while I'm still learning, I've gotten quite comfortable with it. The manual is very good and the controls make sense. It's a very different experience, not least because of the size, but I'm glad I decided to buy it. As others noted, you can start with it on auto and experiment at your own pace. The weather sealing is very liberating, so if you decide to get it, I would recommend getting one of the weather-resistant lenses. Good luck!
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Any thoughts for general / home photography? I have a Digital Rebel XSI and recently bought the 70-200 mm F2.8 IS version mainly to photograph school events without the annoying flash, and take closeups of my rapidly-growing kids. I have been going back and forth between the two lenses (24-70 F2.8 vs. 24-105 F4.0 IS) but my instinct is that F2.8 is much better than F 4 even with IS. Any guidance appreciated from a professional.
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I'm an armature photographer.. but have explored both d3100 and a33.. 1) similar image quality.. 2) both do 1080p HD video with auto focus but sony gets a bit warm (hot for some) while video recording.. although I've yet to record for this long 3) sony is a tiny bit smaller.. check out their detailed reviews at dpreview.com.. they helped me make my decision..
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Your responses have been very helpful! I have always used Sony cameras and when looking to upgrade to a good zoom, I find Sony does not have a date stamp on any of their higher end cameras :-( so I'm looking to Panasonic. My question to you is - will this Panasonic FZ18 do well when just set to automatic when used for zooming? I like GOOD pictures...but don't like fiddling with the camera and losing the "moment." Also, what is the difference between OPTICAL zoom and DIGITAL zoom? Thank you.
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I'm also trying to decide if the Canon XS or XSI is right for me. I own the original 6.1mp Canon digital Rebel slr and am wondering if now is a good time to upgrade? I used to shoot primarily landscapes while traveling, but am doing more portraits now that I have kids. The Digic III processor definitely caught my attention, but I'm wondering how much of a difference in the cameras will I notice?
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Let me start with a few obligatory questions: how much experience do you have with photography, what do you want to photograph, and how much are you willing to spend?? The Rebel XT is a great camera. You can start learning on it, and continue with it for a long time. I currently use one. The biggest limitations this camera has are: Slow fps (3) Extremely small buffer if one shoots RAW (I shoot RAW exclusively, and the buffer only holds 4 shots) Small(ish) screen - the 2.5 on the 30d makes me drool... Rear wheel on higher canon models seems more efficient than four buttons Smallish, and plastic construction. Don't let these turn you away - I am a sports shooter, and that is very demanding on the equipment. You said you want to do a little semi-pro; for that reason, I would reccommend the canon 30d for you if you can afford it. The higher fps, bigger screen, larger buffer, better build quality, and rear wheel would all be of benefit. But if you don't want to splurge on the 30d, the rebel makes a fine choice. Don't forget that the newer 400d has come out - it is an upgraded version of this camera. And most of all, remember that the camera can only capture what a lens sees. Invest in some good glass.
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Rent it first to see if it works for you. It works great in low light, but many people find the autofocus performs poorly in low light conditions. A full frame DSLR might work better, but it won't be as light. Finally, the A7 probably isn't small enough to get passed security if you don't have a press pass for the venue.
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I am still looking.... Actually I own the Canon PowerShot A720. This is a wonderful and inexpensive well built camera but .... The responding time is too long for taking picture of children. I use it to take picture of my littler daughter and most of the time I need to shoot several to get the best one.