Digital Camera Question

courtney323 · #1 14th January 2005, 08:49 AM

Our Digital Camera recently broke on us (Olympus D550-zoom), and we are looking for another.

I am looking to spend probably no more than $300 and was told that the following top brands are the best:

Canon
Nikon
Pentax

I am leaning towards the Canon A85 model, which has 4.0 megapixels and 3x optical zoom, i think 3.6x digital and a 1.8" LCD screen

Anyone have any comments on this model?? Anyone have any suggestions for a different (better) model??

Thanks

**Boxerworld** · #2 15th January 2005, 10:48 AM

Hi Courtney,

The Canon A85 is a fine compact digital camera

You can read some reviews about it at
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/a85.html
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...hot_a85-review
Even the A75 is great. I was thinking about it as a all day camera easy to carry.
The A95 can be fun to use with its rotating LCD. I have that kind of LCD on my Canon Pro90 and Nikon Coolpix 5000 and they are very useful for taking photos of dogs from the ground or insects etc. The A95 is below 300 I believe.
There is a review of the A95 on the two sites mentioned above and on http://www.megapixel.net/reviews/can...95-review.html and http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona95/
Then get a 512 mb compact flash and some good rechargeable batteries

courtney323 · #3 15th January 2005, 08:52 PM

Wow - Thanks so much for all of the useful information Olly!

I'll get right to reading!

Courtney

**Boxerworld** · #4 16th January 2005, 05:04 PM

More reviews to read below

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/a70.htm (all Canon A version in fact)
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A85/A85A.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A75/A75A.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A95/A95A.HTM

courtney323 · #5 18th January 2005, 08:54 AM

Thanks again, Olly.

After reading the links you posted, I actually think I will go with the A95 model. For just a little bit extra, I can get 5.0 megapixels, with 3x optical and 4.1x digital zoom.

I'm excited now!!

Thanks again,
Courtney

**Boxerworld** · #6 18th January 2005, 09:45 AM

I too think the best is the A95, mostly for its rotating LCD

Forget the digital zoom as it doesn't give great results. It's like enlarging a photo on a computer!
If later you want to have more zoom, you can add a lens converter to the A95 (from Canon, you would need to get the optional LA-DC52D conversion lens adapter and then the TC-DC52A 1.75x tele converter lens so your 38-114mm becomes a 67-200mm).

courtney323 · #7 6th February 2005, 09:10 AM

Olly,

I looked at this camera yesterday at the store. I must say, the rotating LCD is very nice!

I've decided to go back and purchase it before our trip in March.

Thanks

**Boxerworld** · #8 8th February 2005, 03:27 AM

Hi Courtney,

It might be remplaced very soon:
http://www.megapixelworld.com/board/showthread.php?t=12
Still, an excellent camera!

Lael · #9 29th March 2005, 08:17 PM

Hi Courtney,

Did you end up buying the Canon A95? What do you think so far? My husband and I borrowed a friend's A95 for a trip we took this last winter and LOVED it. The rotating LCD is what sold it for me.

We're not photographers, so we really don't need anything extravagant. The rotating LCD is a must though. My husband will be taking pictures of archives during his travels for the next... well... probably the rest of our lives.

So he needs a camera that can pick up that fine detail on close pages and is easy to travel with. It would also be our camera for 'family' trips and such. We are considering the A95, so I wanted to see what you thought.

Also, if you don't mind me asking, did you get it for under $300?

Thanks.

Cat

stacynmel · #10 29th March 2005, 08:50 PM

We currently have a 4 MP Gateway that works pretty well but we were thinking of upgrading and I was wondering why no one mentioned any of the Sony DSC cameras? I have used friend's in the past and have found that they take some of the best pictures I have ever seen, digital or otherwise.
Just curious if anyone has had any negative experiences with the brand.
Thanks.

courtney323 · #11 30th March 2005, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Did you end up buying the Canon A95? What do you think so far?

Cat - Yes we did. Unfortunately, it did not arrive before our recent trip to Mexico. Currently it's sitting at my husbands office where it was shipped to, so I have not used it yet. I will post some photos for you to see when we do use it.

With shipping, etc. I believe the total cost was $320.00. It came with a 32MB Compact Flash (memory) card, so I'll have to purchase something larger.

Lael · #12 30th March 2005, 10:02 PM

Thanks Courtney. We need to buy a camera sometime before the end of May, when my husband leaves for his trip to Argentina. If you take any pics with it before then, let me know how it works out.

I'll let you know if we get the Canon A95 and how it works for us.

Cat