Sony vs Canon

Look at it this way:
- Sony is an electronics company that just recently started making digital cameras.
- Canon is a camera company that has been making cameras for over 90 years.

I've used both Sony and Canon digital cameras and I can tell you with confidence that Canon has the better product. Look into the Powershot G2 if you have around $400 to $500 to spend.

I have a G3 a friend has a 717, we both think I'm the smart one.

both cameras are about 6 mons. old.

my 2yo G1 has yet to have a problem or take a poor photo (except when it's my fault).

The CCD is so damn fast i can take flashless images in very poor light and have virtually no blur from moving objects (if they're reasonably slow)

The g2 onwards actualy seem to have less settings etc than the g1, but maybe the other settings are hidden.

I also would never pick a camera without the fold out view screen - great for taking shots from angles you can tget your head to ie, over crowds, or surrepticiously at chest, waist level...

Joe

I just purchased a Canon Powershot A70 on Friday. It works great!! I'm extremely satisfied with every part of it - battery life, photo quality, ease of use, etc, etc. The pictures it takes are just amazing! And the features can't be matched for a camera in this price range.

10/10

for (very) in depth reviews go to >www.dpreview.com

you should decide between the (upcoming) canon G5 and the sony 717 depending on your bugget/needs

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0306/03060201canong5.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf717/

good luck

Yeah, I love my Canon A70. I use it on my last trip in Orlando with the iPower 2100mAh batteries. I can take over 450 pictures without recharged the battery.

If pocket size is your need, then a 4MP Canon Powershot A-series (or S? series) should be good. It's got most of the insides from the more powerful G2 and G3 cameras, but in a more compact size. You don't get the fold out screen (which I can't life without now that I have it) or the option to put extra lenses on, but you do get a nice camera that can also fit in your pocket.

You can't go wrong with canon, IMHO.

Just want to correct some informations, Canon A series, you can put the extra lenses on them.

Has anyone found a relatively inexpensive camera with a 10X *optical* zoom? I found a Sony at Walmart that had a 6X one that was a 2.0 megapixel one (the smallest I'd want to go).

Most of the digital cameras I've seen on the market thus far are around the 2X-3X optical zoom range. Actually I should say all the *reasonably* priced cameras I've seen are in the 2X-3X price range..

Joe C.

I had a kodal 3 megapixel camera that broke after 6 months of having it. :\

So I ended up buying a Canon s400 4 megapixel camera. It works great and it also lets you film and it records sound.

I haven't tried any sony cameras but the reason I bought the canon was because of it's small size compared to the other sony cameras that were much longer and larger.

Put it this way, if you have $800 to blow, get a Sony. Anything lower, get a Canon. Cheap Sony models suck in low light, I've personally seen the difference. Not only that, Sony is stupid enough to stand by the insanely expensive Memory Stick standard that costs 2x as much as compact flash. I currently own a Canon Powershot G3, and the image quality is astounding. I stand firmly by Canon when it comes to imaging. (I own a Canon digital camera, a Canon Scanner, and a Canon Printer.)

Oh and regarding zoom, don't expect much from the digital camera department. I haven't seen anything above 6x built-in. However, on the Powershot G3, you can but telescopeing lenses and other filters, if you need them.

More Looking for the Perfect Camera

Greetings--I'm also wondering about the Sony/Canon debate (along with Nikon/Olympus/Casio...).

It's been hard keeping track of all the online/magazine reviews out there (and i'm not sure how impartial they are, anyway).

I'm interested in the following features (in this order):
1. High capacity -- I don't mind having to dish out a little for a larger memory card/stick/chip/whatever, but I want it to be able to hold some serious photos.

2. Movie mode w/ audio *AND* limited only by space of card -- I'd like to have something where I can record memorable moments on the fly. I'm not doing any serious digital video editing--but I don't want to have to take clips and worry if i'll be able to fit everything into one 30 second shot.

3. Battery: I'd like something rechargable or at least with the option for a rechargable additional battery pack. Something that I could take on a day hike up to Yosemite with and not have to worry about recharging.

4. Compact: The G2 which you guys were harping about would be *perfect* if not for the fact that it seems a little bulky? Pocket size would be *sublime* ... but barring that, something that wouldn't require a separate carrying case. I.e. that I could toss in my backpack... which implies...

5. Durability: I'm a klutz.

6. Decent optical zoom. 3x maybe?

Any ideas? Thus far i've been looking at the PowerShot G2 and the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P72.

Thanks,
Flip
Physics UGrad @ Stanford
(Which probably means I'll resepct Andersen's opinion most, lol)

1. As far as I know compactflash can go up to 1 gig on a card the size 1.5 inch x 2 inches x 2 mm thick.

2. the canon s400 i was talking about above allows you to film and also record the sounds that were made while filming. however it only allows a maximum of 180 seconds of filming. if you want longer you'll have to press the button again.

3. again the canon s400 has a rechargable battery that takes about 1-2 hours to recharge and takes about 80 or 90 photos but probably more since i've yet run out of battery while taking my camera out for filming or shooting.

4. i bought this camera for it's size, it's only about 2 x 4 x 1 inches. so it fits into your pocket

5. i bought mine at best buy with a full warrenty of 4 years which includes everything you might need. if you break it they'll repair it and if they arn't able to do that they'll give you a new one. costed 65 dollars.

6. s400 has a 3x zoom and 11x digital zoom but from my experience after you start on digital zoom up to 11x it's really hard to take clear shots because every little movement your hand makes distorts and blurrs the image even while trying to be very still. :\

Movie capture

Is there any delay between video captures? I.e. If i'm taking a video clip for 180 seconds and I decide I want to continue and take another one immediately afterwards, is there any down-time for the previous clip to be stored into the memory?

Thanks,
Flip

Case for Sony?

... it just seems that the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P72 (or P8 or whatever is decently priced) costs a little more... but it has everything I'm looking for (esp movie capture and small size).

Re: Movie capture

If the G3 is any indication of speed, then yes, there will be a slight pause while writing to the card. However, if you don't mind the G3's bulk, it does record a 320x240 video limited only by the size of the CF card, assuming the CF card is high-speed.

BTW, don't get an Olympus. I checked some of their models, they have horrible chromatica aberrations, and their image quality isn't great compared to a Canon.

hehe here is another one >

http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html

have fun