For months now, we have been contemplating the merits of buying a digital camera and exhaustively discussing which one would be able to meet our requirements. Mine are simple, I just want to have a digicam that takes clear and sharp images (3.2-4 megapixels would do), a little bit of zoom for taking distant objects, user-friendly, a digicam which enables one to be creative and artistic in his/her shots, and not too small, comfortable to my grip. Hny's requirements are just the same except that he wants a really powerful zoom, around 10X.
Kudos to
google for making the solution to our dilemma available within 0.33 seconds with 6.7 million answers to choose from.
We have categorized our choices into two:
high and low-end digicam, the former meaning dream-on-you-can't-buy-me, the latter, affordable if we pool our money together, yes that's how poor we are. So here are the digital cameras we've been drooling on for months.
1) Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) Cost: $899.00
Sensor: 6.3 mp
This camera is probably the most fundamentally important step for digital SLR's since the introduction of the Nikon D1. It will place digital SLR's into the hands of consumers (with a moderate budget) and will probably also have a very strong negative effect on the $1,000 prosumer digital camera market. Especially considering that the Kit price which includes the new EF-S 18 - 55 mm (3x) lens costs just $100 / €100 more.
The EOS 300D's has a plastic body which lessens the production cost of the camera. In uses pentamirror in the viewfinder instead of a pentaprism which is more expensive.
In addition to this the EOS 300D is the first Canon digital SLR to support a new lens called the EF-S (S = short back focus), this has the same mount and electrical contacts as an EF lens but has a rear element which fits further into the camera allowing it to be closer to the image sensor. The lens elements can also be reduced in size as the imaging circle does not need to be as large, thus EF-S lenses should be smaller and lighter than their 35 mm equivalents. Note that EF-S lenses can only be used on the EOS 300D (so far) as no other EOS camera supports the EF-S mount.(
www.dpreview.com)
From epinion, one of the authors gave this digicam the following ratings:
Pros: Affordable (compared to its predecessors and given its excellent features), 6.3 megapixels, excellent image quality, ease of use, great battery life, includes focus aid for dim/low light
Cons: For the pros--> tha cam doe not have an ISO 50 sensitivity setting, the f3.5 maximum aperture on EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6,
My comments: Two things I dont like about this camera: first, it's a tad too expensive here in the Philippines, and second, it doesn't have a movie mode.
2)Canon Powershot S1 IS Cost: $400.00/P 34,000++
Sensor: 3.2 mp
Basic features:
Announced in February 2004, the PowerShot S1 IS is the long overdue successor to Canon's last 10x Zoom Image Stabilized compact, (the
PowerShot Pro90 IS). It is not only much smaller and lighter, but a lot less expensive - (hardly surprising given the three year gap). Despite the aggressive pricing (the S1 IS is available online for as little as $315) this is a highly specified camera with a feature set that doesn't fall that far short of 'prosumer' models such as the G5 or even the Pro 1. The SLR-like styling and plethora of controls both on-body and in the extensive menu system lets you know this is more than a point and shooter with a big lens. Here's just a few of the key selling points to whet your appetite:
10x optical zoom (approximately 32x combined)
Optical Image Stabilizer
Ultrasonic Motor
Extra-long Movie Mode with enhanced VGA resolution and sound (up to 1 gigabyte!)
Canon DIGIC processor with iSAPS
PictBridge and Canon Direct Print compatible – no PC required
Vari-angle
370 g
(www.dpreview.com)
From epinion, here's the average rating of users:
Pros: Excellent image quality; it has IS or image stabilization to lessen blurs caused by unstable hands while taking pics; has electronic viewfinder, which has a diopter adjustment, great for people who wears glasses; convenient hand grip; excellent design and features; 10x zoom!;
Cons: No RAW/TIFF mode, no super-wide angle (28mm), lens cap might easily get lost
My comments: For a non-pro like myself, the camera not having a super-wide angle is forgivable. It costs P 34,000++ without added paraphernalia (Nimh batteries, charger)
The third camera is the most realistic in terms of affordability, we've been communicating with a seller for days now and hopefully, we would be able to acquire this toy by next week, if negotiations turn out positively :D
3) Canon Powershot A95
Cost: P23,500++
Sensor: 5.0 mp
Basic Features:
Announced in August 2004, the PowerShot A95 replaces the hugely popular A80 at the top of Canon's entry-level range. Although it shares many features with the A80, the new model sports several significant improvements (including some also found on the A85), and in fact offers a feature set that compares well with considerably more expensive models, such as last year's PowerShot G5. The main changes are the sensor resolution (5MP) and a larger (1.8 inch) and considerably higher resolution (118,000 pixel) swing out LCD screen. Other improvements include an enhanced movie mode and a wider assortment of subject-based shooting modes. Let's have a quick look at the main selling points:
- 5.0 million effective pixels
- 3x (38-114mm equiv.) F2.8-4.9 zoom lens
- 1.8 inch 'vari angle' (swing and tilt) LCD
- DIGIC processor
- 9 point AiAF plus flexizone focus
- 14 exposure modes
- Print/Share button & direct print
- Autofocus illuminator
- Part metal body
(http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona95/)
360 degrees view of Canon Powershot A95-->steves-digicams.
Average rating of users, from epinion:
Pros: Excellent resolution; Clean, sharp images; Excellent color reproduction; Reliable focus and exposure systems; Comprehensive range of features; Much improved screen; Easy to use; Good burst (continuous) shooting mode; Easy handling; Excellent flash exposures, though not very powerful; Good build quality and metal casing AF illuminator works in very low light; Excellent battery life (NiMH); Great value for money
Cons: Some purple fringing problems;Inability to deal with wide dynamic range on very bright days; Focus can hunt and is not particularly fast; No TIFF or RAW mode; Flimsy CompactFlash compartment door; Quite noisy at ISO 200 and 400; Zoom is not very smooth - only 7 steps from wide to tele.
My comments: We have seen that purple fringing problem A95 users have commented, it's barely noticeable to the untrained eye. The other problems they have mentioned are things to be considered but given the really low price offered to us, notwithstanding the excellent features the A95 offers, we might get this digicam.
Happy Christmas hehe
Reviews from: www.epinion.com, www.dpreview.com, www.steves-digicam.com.
whoa...detailed article a....mukhang pinag-aralan mo na talaga bun...sana nga maka-iskor na tayo ng digicam of our own before christmas...mwamwa
Do Oda said...
9:58 AM
alam niyo, do and tin (hehe sensya tin..para isahan), try niyo kaya magpabili sa isang mabait na kamag-anak sa states. kasi yung ate ko nagpabili siya sa states lumalabas 5k lang (pesos ha) plus tax na. di ko nga lang alam ang specs pero mukhang maayos naman sa dahilang maganda ako palagi sa digicam pics niya hehe
mungkahi lamang.. =D
Bubbles said...
11:28 AM
hi bubbles! salamat sa suggestion. we've checked the price of the digicam abroad and ur right, it's way cheaper there. We'll try asking some relatives in Canada, sayang kasi almost 10k din yung difference ng price dito saka dun.
salamat uli!! =)
k said...
9:45 AM