Photograph and Camera talk

[Giles]

How cheap?…G

[LandoCal126 0]

Any cheaper than $449?

[Guest]

Lando, if you have a frequent flyer membership or a credit card like Amex, most of these companies have so-called shopping portals. You go through their portal to participating dealers. BHPhoto and Adorama are usually in there. They have among the lowest prices. If the price matches your 449 buy it through the portal, you will get between 2x to 5x the FF points/miles. On such a big purchase that's totally worth the extra five minutes.

Personally, I will wait for the G12 for three reasons: My G9 still is in excellent shape and does great deeds, I want more zoom range than what the G11 offers (otherwise it's close to perfect), 12 is my fav number.

Till

[LandoCal126 0]

Till - Thanks for that. I will most definitely use the one of the mention services. G12 come out in August? Yeah I just need to step it up ASAP! The SD680 is just not cutting it and I have not yet felt the need to go to DSLR but this seems like a good natural progression for myself at this time. And I do have access to the Nikon D80 whenever I want. Cheers

[Tripleterror]

I've always fancied one of these.

[Guest]

Lando, I'm not sure when the G12 will come out. I mean they just started the G11 last August, or was it only in OCtober? I don't recall. It did take them around a year, maybe a bit longer, to go from G9 to G10, and about the same time to go from there to G11. I suspect that they are going to give us a better zoom range and HD video for the G12. I sure hope they keep the swivel screen. If they don't do that, I will snap up a G11 asap.

I am a big defender of a wide angle geared lens rather than a long tele lens for this kind of cam. However, I think if you do that you need to go 24mm not 28 as Canon did. And 140mm in the tele is just quite short. I've used the 200mm tele on my G9 quite often; more often than I thought I'd use it. And when I use it, I find myself sliding into the digital zoom quite often, too.

So, yeah, if you can hold out another half a year or so, the SD680 is not a bad camera, really.

Also, for the shopping portals. This is only worth it IF you do get the same price as elsewhere. You must always calculate that 1 point/FF mile is worth 1 cent. E.g. a $100 gift card will cost you 10,000 points. So say you buy the camera through the portal. The portal price is $500. The free market price is $450. That's a difference of $50 thus 5000 points. Even with the most generous portal scheme you won't be able to get that difference back in points. In that case, buy free market.

Same with airline tickets. A domestic flight is usually 25,000 miles. If the flight booked and paid online is cheaper than $250, book it yourself and pay for it. If it would cost more than $250, use your miles to maximize the value of your miles. This can work especially well for international tickets that are usually 50k miles but usually also more expensive than $500.

Sorry for the OT in camera talk.

Till

[LandoCal126 0]

Till, it is much appreciated! Your opinion helps a ton. And I made a typo early this AM when I wrote SD680. I actually own the SD630. I am scouring the internet for cheaper prices as well as CL for used options.

[Guest]

Used is definitely a possibility.

If I were in the market for a single universally usable camera with travel pretensions I'd look at the following two models. The Fuji HS-10
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/FujiFilm/fujifilm_hs10.asp

and the Panasonic DMC-ZS5
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmczs5.asp

The Fuji is about as full featured as they come with a crazy zoom range, flip screen, hot shoe, HD video, Raw > the works. Fujis are also very well known for good low light capability. It takes AA batteries which is a huge advantage when you are traveling. It's also VERY compact compared to a DSLR with similar lenses. But it won't fit in a pocket. Around $500.

The Panasonic has the most universal zoom range of any sub-compact camera. It is smaller than the G11. The Panasonic Z series of travel cameras have been acclaimed for their good picture quality and relevant list of features for at least two model generations now. Around $300.

Check user reviews on dpreview and do a google on reviews. A used G9 for $200 is certainly something you wouldn't regret, I think.

Till

[Guest]

Very good tip, Simon! Let's see where this is going. As I said, around $200 would be a fair price I think.

[LandoCal126 0]

Thanks Gentlemen and I will be watching that G9!

[LandoCal126 0]

G11 or S90???? Didn't think it would be this hard for me to decide. I think that I am going to end up with the G11 sometime this next week.

[rOeLez]

can anyone tell me how to shoot a jeans with a true colour of it ?
im using G10 anyway , and have a poor skill of photograph

[Guest]

Use it outside. Put jeans not directly in the sun but in a shady place. Leave AWB on Auto. Should work alright. Don't go too close up. The camera will think everything is blue and then adjust the AWB. This might change the color.

[Beatle]

I always put it in the sun…

[Beatle]

Lando - u might find this interesting

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm

[Guest]

And your photos are always VERY good. At what size/resolution do you upload to whatever you use as a storage service?

BTW, Lando, Beatle has the S90 if I'm not mistaken. She can certainly give you some tips. I saw the S90 in the store the other day. I liked it but the size difference would not be big enough for me to justify it over the G11.

[LandoCal126 0]

Damn you!!! Just when I have finally almost decided to get the G11 and you link me to this… Would it be crazy if I ended up getting both?!? If I were to do that I should just go DSLR... Fuck me!

[Beatle]

I always decide on the practical purpose of a camera first. Do I want a cam for on the go or one for photo shootings.
The S90 still fits in a pocket - which is why I went for it instead of the panasonic lumix.
The second thing I compare is the lense. No matter how many pixels - if the lense is crap u won´t get a sharp image.

The only thing that I don´t like about the S90 is the pop up flash - it is exactly where u put ur finger while holding the camera. I got used to it - but I wish with the next run Canon would change that.

I use flickr.

[Guest]

You could wait for the new Fuji HS-10 to come out. Should drop any time now. Specs are super nice! What do you want to use it for? That's the main question. S90 is already excellent but G11 is quite the serious tool. S90's zoom range is rather small. Even G11 is too small for my taste. Need pics in low light without flash? S90 wins. Need swivel screen? G11 wins. Need real flash? G11 wins again. S90 will fit in the front pocket of your jeans. Tightly, but it will fit. Don't put it in the back pocket. You don't want to accidentally sit on it. G11 won't fit. S90 wins. Want to go underwater? G11 has a special case for that.

For DSLR look at the new Canon Rebel (550?), Nikon D40 and D60 but also Olypmpus E620 (really sweet).

[Beatle]

I never zoom….not when using a compact.