Camera tsuris
I use a Canon Powershot S2 IS digital camera for the SOTD shots, but this morning, regardless of which memory card I inserted, I get “Memory Card Error”. So I tried a shot with my little subcompact camera but, as you’ll see, it’s not up to the task.
I am contacting Canon USA about a possible repair, but in the event that proves expensive, I’m also camera shopping. I know some of you understand cameras much better than I.
Some desiderata: I like a viewfinder rather than the big screen on the back. I like optical zoom. I don’t need the camera to be compact. I do a lot of interior shots, but also outdoor shots as well. Here are some candidates:
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS – $400, which seems pricey to me.
Nikon Coolpix P100 – $350. The newer version, the Nikon COOLPIX P500, is $380 and might be the wiser choice.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 – $290, more like it
Fujifilm FinePix S2800HD – $235, getting there
Fujifilm FinePix S2950 – $180. Now we’re talking.
In looking through the reviews for these and other cameras, I note that Fujifilm cameras are frequently slammed for bad-quality interior shots, which of course are most of my shots.
UPDATE: Repair is going to be $150, so a new camera looks more plausible.
To replace my Canon (repair would have been for me a min. of a $120, for which, according to the fine print, they would give me a refurbished unit that might not even be of the same model but one which Canon considered comparable), I got a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 after an excellent review in either the WP or NYT (I think). Watch the amazon electronics pricing — it jumps up and down hourly. Like trying to buy plane tix. But it doesn’t have a view finder. I decided to do without because otherwise so good. And is compact, which is nice for me because I don’t have a 2nd camera.
TYD
20 July 2011 at 5:19 pm
Yeah, the minimum repair fee was $149, which I took as their ante. I do like having a viewfinder, though. I have trouble with the LCD screen, especially in sunlight.
LeisureGuy
20 July 2011 at 7:32 pm
I no longer understand dedicated pocket cameras in the age of the cameraphone. I say go SLR or get a good camera on your phone. Or both!
scottfeldstein
21 July 2011 at 7:17 am
I wouldn’t have described any of these as pocket cameras—they would require capacious pockets. Also, I think digital pocket cameras these days seldom include a viewfinder.
LeisureGuy
21 July 2011 at 7:50 am
SLR is overkill for SOTD shots, but you will have a lot of fun with it in other situations. Good SLRs are flooding the entry level price point, and if you go that route we can help you pick a good lens to start out with. Otherwise, I like the Canon SD series with no viewfinder. The macro is generally excellent, and the low light shooting is more than tolerable. After a week, you won’t even miss the viewfinder.
Dirty Texan
21 July 2011 at 11:25 am
I believe the camera I picked is not an SLR, but rather the next step down, sans flip-up mirror. I ended up getting the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS, which is not classified as an SLR (I believe).
LeisureGuy
21 July 2011 at 11:50 am
You should be really happy with that new camera. It works like an SLR in that the viewfinder shows what the lens “sees,” but it is doing it with the CMOS rather than the mirror. f2.7 will be nice indoors, and the manual focus will be fun in macro shots. I look forward to seeing your new artistry on SOTD shots.
Dirty Texan
21 July 2011 at 6:06 pm
I fear that you won’t see much change in the artistry insofar as my contribution goes. But I’m very interested to try it out myself.
LeisureGuy
21 July 2011 at 7:19 pm