Want a New Camera

[jeffblaylock]

That's not enough juice for 10 days, so I got a Promaster Xtrapower Go! SLR charger.

Jeff, I looked for the specs on the Promaster Xtrapower SLR charger but couldn’t find how much it weighed. I am just curious how much it adds to your pack weight

The charger adds 170g/6oz. to the pack. Heavy, to be sure, but good for charging multiple items and, as I mentioned, cheaper than 5 additional batteries. It's not the sort of thing I plan to carry on most trips. This one is unique because of the lack of resupply, and I don't want to look for electricity at some abandoned campground and then, upon finding it, sit around for several hours recharging batteries.

[randell]

I have had the Powershot A70, A95, and A630.  I have been very happy with all of them.  I thought about getting the A650 because it has image stabilization, but I read that trying to cram 12 megapixels in there slowed the camera down.  The specs even show it: A630 (1.9 fps), A650 (1.2 fps).  That being said, I would get the 650IS in a heartbeat since I have been so happy with my previous 3 powershot models.  I still have the A95 and A630, though the A630 gets more use because it is so much faster and offers 30fps video for as long as you want (where the A95 limits you to 30 second videos at 15fps).

Image Stabilization, Face Detection, an increase in megapixels, and a slight increase in zoom seem to be the only feature improvements over my A630, but those are very nice improvements.  Oh wait, I just noticed that the LCD in the A650 is 173,000 pixels whereas the A630 is only 115,000 pixels.  Nice!

The flip out LCD is one of the greatest features of the camera.  It helps get high and low and even side photos much easier.  My wife has told me that whatever point and shoot we get in the future must have the flip out LCD.

[Al]

The flip and rotate LCD on my G6 will be missed and is a common complaint regarding the G9.  Supposedly the large size and brightness of the G9's LCD in large part compensates.  We will soon see.

Al

P.S.  My camera before the G6 was an A40 which my wife still uses and loves.

[presidio]

For photo gear I usually buy from Amazon.com or B&H.  Never had a problem with either, and they both have consistently good pricing.  For used photo gear KEH has proven to be a good source, with good pricing and good customer service. 

Hoodoo,  Amazon has this camera for $304 w/ free shipping.  That deal is probably hard to beat.  B&H is slightly cheaper, but no free shipping.  Looks like a very nice camera.

B&H, KEH and Amazon certainly are among the most established and reliable. The others? Well, it depends. What you have to keep in mind is that all these little hole-in-the-wall places probably have been that way for a long time. Even pre-internet, all the glossy ads in photo mags never told you much about the store, just the prices, and most transactions were by phone. Operating out of a shoebox does not necessarily equal a bad company, but caution is always key. With the advent of the internet, small companies (with big ads) that might once actually have had a store may have decided the overhead of a retail outlet wasn't justified. There are a lot of Amazon and Ebay sellers that operate the same way.

A check of the BBB can be revealing.

The best advice is to always pay with a credit card (not a debit) so that if things go south you can be reimbursed. I once had a $700 transaction do that (not camera related). Did not lose a dime. Some PayPal transactions also have similar guarantees but you have to look at each seller's participation. Sending cash, checks and money orders are a demonstrated way to say adios to your money without any hardware to show for it.

[Hoodoo]

...That being said, I would get the 650IS in a heartbeat since I have been so happy with my previous 3 powershot models...

Thanks Randell, the more I look at this camera the better I like it. 

There are/were a couple of A650's listed on Ebay under $300 but on closer scrutiny, one was refurbished and the other a like new display  model. That is fine but for $20 extra bucks I can get a brand new one with no history of any handling or problems.

Not knowing much about cameras and the fact that all of the price differences are small, I went with the reputable Amazon.com. Besides I have been wanting a copy of “The Tecate Journals” and thus killed two birds with one stone so to speak.

Now for the hard part, learning how to use it. 

Thanks again for everyone's input.

[Al]

Got my G9 today.  Here's a small crop of a shot in the back yard tonight.  Considering the low light, the degree of crop, the limited skills of the photographer and the rate of movement of the little guy with an apparent oral fixation, very nice.



Al

[homerboy2u]

Hey...I like the night vision eyes the dog has...before i forget:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AL !!!...May 16th.

[Hoodoo]

Hey...I like the night vision eyes the dog has...before i forget:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AL !!!...May 16th.

Nice treat for the dog, nice camera for his master! Happy Birthday Al and here is to many more. 

[Al]

Thanks guys and a nice b-day it was.

Al

[Hoodoo]

I think I’m really going to like the 650IS, have a lot to learn though.

This here is Augustus McRae, answers to “Gus” or “Goober” cause he really is one. Nothing like a good roll in the grass.

[Al]

Very nice shot.  Image stabilization is manna from the Photo Gods!

Al

[Al]

Beach composite shots taken in Florida yesterday, greatly reduced in size in order to protect the innocent. 



The Canon Powershot cameras LOVE outdoor pictures with plenty of light and do them justice.

Al

[Hoodoo]

The beach! I haven’t played with the stitch assist function yet, but we are planning a trip to Gulf Shores, AL in August…

One more?



It's dangerous to allow a novice to have a fancy camera.

[Al]

Very nice and great fun when a shot turns out so well!

Al

P.S.  When you do get to the Canon stitch program you will find it very easy to use and in fact the camera doesn't have to be in stitch mode so long as portions of the photos overlap and can be recognized by the program.

[dkerr24]

All these great shots from the G9... should have mine tomorrow in the mail.  I plan on experimenting with the G9, as I'm ready to move up a bit in quality of my photos from what I get from my Powershot A540.  I wasn't ready for a DSLR, and want to keep the weight down for backpacking trips.  The G9 seems to be about as close you can get to a DSLR without the expense and size.