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I'm thinking about getting a new camera... but here is my dilemma. I really love the Canon SD700 IS I currently use, it's small but quite versatile and powerful. Most of the shots in my photostream were taken with it.
Back in the analog days I had a Pentax MX body, with several lenses, including a fantastic 35-205 zoom lens that I used most of the time (I also had a 28mm, a 50mm and a 105mm). Plus the tripod, filters, cables, the whole works. But the whole gear was cumbersome to carry arround, so I eventually stopped using it. By the time I got married and had kids, I was doing mostly "social" photos, and a point-and-shoot camera was more than enough. But the children grew up, and I resumed my old passion...
When I started taking pictures again, now in the digital era, I first started with low-end cameras (still took some nice pictures with them - e.g., my Porto shots), and moved up to the SD700. But I miss a couple of features, mostly a stonger telephoto lens, the ability to do bracketing automatically, and eventually being able to take raw format pictures.
But I'm not ready yet to go back to the full DSLR format, and shlepping all that equipment around. So I am considering getting a larger format, super tele camera such as the Canon S3 (now S5), or G7. There are equivalent models from Sony and Panasonic, among others.
My question is, does anyone have experience with this kind of camera? Any advice?
I would love to hear your feedback!
Sue Salem ~ Light/Shape/Color says:
I don't have any experience with the ones you list. But your note caught my eye because I also have the Canon SD 700 IS. At least half my stream on flickr is with that camera. In March, I got a Nikon D80 because I wanted more control over DoF and exposure/bracketing. I couldn't be happier with this camera!! BUT... there are times when my P & S Canon is still the one I take with me e.g., long hikes or as my "just in case" camera (gotta have it with me, "just in case") My $.02 is to get a good DSLR for times when you're doing serious shots and when the expense/size of the camera isn't an issue. Then keep using the SD 700 for other situations (you certainly do quite well with just that!!!) Good luck with your decision.
David de Groot says:
It lasted me 18 months before it's limitations spurned me to upgrade. Namely the lack of RAW support and the 15 sec max exposure, not to mention the horrendous noise above ISO 200. I believe the S3 and S5 improved on the noise issue (nowhere near as much as a dSLR, but that's a limitation of sensor size).
The awesome zoom range though was magnificent. From very close macro to the equivalent of a 436mm telephoto, with image stabilisation. For versatility, this little camera can't be beat. As an aside, it also does VGA quality movies (up to 9mins long).
However, I've moved on, I do carry around my dSLR everyday (much like I used to carry around the S2 IS). It does weigh more, but I've gotten used to it.
Bigoode [Frozen account] says:
400D
M8
G7
it depend what you need to do first i guess...
Hildegard Rasch says:
MEINE THEMEN : NATUR, MALEREI, GUTE PHOTOGRAFIE, U.A.
Daniel Schwabepro replies:
Gracias por los comentários.