28 January 2008, 13:12 in PC Hardware & Gadgets
Choosing a new camera
My Casio EX-Z1050 camera served me well until recently. Since it was damaged at a concert, I have been looking for a replacement ultra compact camera. If it’s too big or heavy it will end up being left at home.
The EX-Z1050 featured a 3x optical zoom and 10.1 mega pixels, and I was very happy with it. It was compact and lightweight, easy to use, had long battery life, and most importantly, it was easy to take good pictures with. The downsides were that the screen was hard to read in bright sunlight, and the flash wasn’t very powerful so it was only useful at very close range.
I think that most cameras available from reputable manufacturers are pretty decent these days; it would be pretty hard to buy a lemon. However, doing a little research before spending your money is always worthwhile. Two websites that are particularly useful for camera news and reviews are Steve’s Digicams and Digital Photography Review. I like Steve’s best cameras section, which lists some of his picks for the various categories of cameras out there (e.g. DSLR, Prosumer, entry level, ultracompact, etc), as it can save you time by narrowing down your choices.
Here are some of the models that I considered. I’ve included a link to the review at Steve’s Digicams for each, along with the approximate price they were available for on eBay (prices in Australian dollars, including shipping costs):
- Casio EX-Z77, 7.1MP, 3X zoom, ~$214. Seems like good value; I think it would be an excellent choice for a camera to take snaps at parties or concerts. I would be less worried about losing or damaging it due to the lower cost.
- Casio EX-Z1080, 10.1 MP, 3X zoom, ~$290. Basically a slightly updated version of my old EX-Z1050. I feel inclined to either go with the cheaper EX-Z77 or the slightly more expensive IXUS 75.
- Canon IXUS 75 (also known Powershot SD750), 7MP, 3X zoom, ~$310. Seems like a nice blend of compactness, photographic capability, and low price.
- Canon IXUS 860IS (also known as Powershot SD870 IS), 8MP, 3.8X zoom, ~$420. Looks like the most capable of this lot, the most notable feature being a 3.8X optical zoom compared the others’ 3X, however it is also the most expensive and the largest/heaviest. With my current track record of breaking and losing things, I thought it was overkill, and wanted something even more compact and a bit cheaper.
I ended up going for the Canon IXUS 75. It received excellent reviews and features has a 3X optical zoom, 7 mega pixels, a nice big 2.5 inch screen, and seems like good value for money. I received it today and I’m thrilled with it. It is attractive, compact, the screen is big and clear, and it is very easy to use. Recommended!
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I’ve been thinking about getting an IXUS as well. Really like their flash performance at night. Doesn’t wash out the colour too much.
The IXUS 70 is cheaper though…same features but
1) Smaller
2) Optical viewfinder
3) Not as aesthetically pleasing
4) 2.5” instead of 3” screen
Comparison
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07022202canonsd750sd1000.asp
— Kz Mar 3, 08:31 am #