Best digital camera <$300

nomar05 · 08-12-03, 09:32 PM

I'm in the market for one and I'm considering the Canon PowerShot A70.

Anyone care to chime in?

TIA

08-12-03, 10:20 PM

I would recommend Canon also. I reviewed similar cameras a few months ago and picked a Kodak then a Canon. I bought the Kodak because I got a good deal on it. The Kodak works OK but sometimes I wish I could have gotten the Canon.

NBC NCO · 08-13-03, 12:40 AM

I bought a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P72, about 2 months ago, it takes great Pics, and is right at $300. I will send you some photos if you want to see an example.

deftech · 08-13-03, 02:05 AM

The Canon A70 is what I've had my eye on as well. All tests that I've read have reported battery life about 3x longer than other cameras in the same class. And the pic quality is one of the best in the class as well. With a price to be had around $300 or less.

tutut17 · 08-13-03, 02:16 AM

i use a canon a70, and its worth it. it uses CF card that allows me to view the pictures taken from my a70 into my ax. ;)

purejoy · 08-13-03, 10:39 AM

guys/gals for what its worth i am gainfully employed by canon and am pretty knowledgeable on the cameras and photo printers

feel free to pm me any questions you have regarding them and if i dont know the answer i will find it for you

slothdog · 08-13-03, 10:57 AM

I've had a Powershot A60 (same as A70, but 2MP and slightly lower zoom) for a couple months now and have been extremely happy with it.

Synth · 08-13-03, 02:48 PM

Check www.dpreview.com to compare cameras. www.digi-darkroom.com is also good for advice

08-13-03, 03:02 PM

Yo Synth!

haven't seen you in awhile! nice to see again. I love the sticker you have send me, I love it and people at work are really jealous :D

thanx again!

I have a trust digital camere with 3.3 megapixels and it does its work fine. I only paid 100 dollar for it...

08-13-03, 03:56 PM

For what it is worth....

I had a canon A70 for about 5 hourse beofre it broke. the littel shutter that is suppoed to protect the leanse got all jammed and would not move. this little lense cover is power by a small moter of some sort and i found after having the camera for a very short time, it was broken. the camer was not banged or dropped, just happened. the lense cover felt cheep, but in fact it was cheep.

just a word of caution....the good old fashio "put it on, take it off" leanse cover is still the best way to go if you ask me.

if you can find one the G2 is an excellent camera....was selling i think for 450 canadian dollars when i last saw it, but cause its been replaced with the new G3 (which is also 999 dollars GRRRRR) there is no G2 to be found.

purejoy · 08-13-03, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gms

if you can find one the G2 is an excellent camera....was selling i think for 450 canadian dollars when i last saw it, but cause its been replaced with the new G3 (which is also 999 dollars GRRRRR) there is no G2 to be found.

the g3 has also been discontinued due to the g5 release so now is the time to buy it as well

nomar05 · 08-13-03, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Check www.dpreview.com to compare cameras.

Thanks!

Conclusion - Pros
Good resolution, about as much as we could expect from a three megapixel
Good consistent metering
Low image noise at ISO 50 and 100 (ISO sensitivity higher than indicated)
Good color response, better overall balance than most, especially blues and greens
AF Assist lamp
Usable macro performance at telephoto
Easy to understand controls, simple layout
Good build quality, solid feel
Detailed LCD monitor, although no anti-reflective coating
Good startup time, good shot-to-shot times (good buffering)
Fast magnification in play mode (up to 10x)
Easy access to most often change settings via FUNC menu
Wide range of manual controls belies its 'entry level' label (almost an affordable G1)
Impressive night exposure ability (up to 15 sec exposures)
Long movie clip mode (up to 3 minutes including audio)
Amazing battery life
Superb value for money

Conclusion - Cons
No histogram in record review or play mode
Auto white balance should be better
Underexposed flash shots
Annoying mirror surrounding LCD monitor
Slight chromatic aberrations visible
No image parameter adjustment
No orientation sensor (seen on other recent PowerShot's)

Overall conclusion
Detail Rating (out of 10)
Construction 8
Features 9
Image quality 8
Lens / CCD combination 9
Ease of use 8
Value for money 9

Highly Recommended

I think I know what I'm getting for my birthday ;)

Synth · 08-14-03, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wannahave
Yo Synth!

haven't seen you in awhile! nice to see again. I love the sticker you have send me, I love it and people at work are really jealous :D

thanx again!

I have a trust digital camere with 3.3 megapixels and it does its work fine. I only paid 100 dollar for it...

I have been working on various boats in the North Sea for the past few months. I have a few days in the UK then 3 weeks at hone in Canada from next weekend. So I won’t be around too long.

08-16-03, 03:57 PM

I have a sony Mavica FD92 and i love it, imho sony makes the best consumer digital camera and it also delivers pro results

nomar05 · 08-16-03, 05:08 PM

hmmm....just came from a party where I got to try out an A70 first hand. It's pretty nice, but someone else there had a .46 inches thin Casio Exilim (no optical zoom though). That led me to the Casio Exilim EX-Z3 Digital Camera with 3X optical zoom.

Dell has the Canon A70 for $279 and the Casio Exilim EX-Z3 for $369. Maybe there will be some stackable coupon codes soon

. Something like what I missed on Aug-13 => Dell Home: digital camera deals w/ 10% + $30 off $350 stackable coupon code: 83A6A1914329

I'm still leaning towards the A70.