which camera should i get?

[tupacboy]

So I want to get my parents their first digital camera for their upcoming vacation. i've narrowed it down to the cannon sd500 and the cannon sd20. sd500 = 7.1 megapixles while the sd20 is at 5. sd20 is a lil over $100 cheaper. a lot of complaints on the lcd for the sd500 though, i guess they're super fragile. Which one do you think i should get?

[raimin]

do your parents want zoom?
sd20 has no optical zoom

when it came down to it, i bought my mom a camera with optical zoom.

[AlpineJay]

:stupid: SD500 suffers from the same problem as all large-LCD cameras. The fact that Canon large LCD cameras are one of the most prevalent out there in the market results in more LCD-related issues. If you get her a good slipcase, I honestly don't see why LCD breakage would be a problem. Larger LCDs are more prone to breakage so having the camera in the pocket with other things on it to possibly put pressure on it wouldn't be generally a good idea anyway.

I own the SD400 and love it. I figured that I could do away with 2 less MP but instead getting a smaller camera (not by a whole lot, to be fair, though). I would take it over an SD20 any time.

[Augix]

-no need for a 7.1 unless you are priting posters :P

-the sd20 is cheaper, smaller, faster and lighter (personal opinion easier to use)

-sd500 is not for a first digital camera, slower,less battery life, bigger and more complex to use

in other words parents+first cam = sd20

[tupacboy]

hmm... on my visa i do get "warranty manager service"... do you think that would cover the lcd problems with the sd500?

[wung]

i have the SD20, though it's small, it's a bit slow ... takes a while to startup or to change mode.

what about the SD400? it's a great camera. just wondering why it's not considered ...

[tupacboy]

hi wung... sd500 is on sale :) sd20 is really cheap

[wung]

hi wung... sd500 is on sale :) sd20 is really cheap

i see ... darn ...

[cashrevert]

go big for your parents, it pays for itself :)

[ramazank2]

SD400 all the way

[ArkiStan]

I don't know much about these particular models, but remember, small isn't always good. I've found many of the recent models out there to be too small even for my little yellow Asian tentacles. When it's too small it's hard to handle and you drop it easily.

[Jeffbx]

I don't know much about these particular models, but remember, small isn't always good. I've found many of the recent models out there to be too small even for my little yellow Asian tentacles. When it's too small it's hard to handle and you drop it easily.

Also, not too many people consider this when buying a camera, but the bigger & heavier it is, the easier it is to hold it steady & avoid those blurry shots.

[ramazank2]

But if it is small you will actually take it with you and use it


Also, not too many people consider this when buying a camera, but the bigger & heavier it is, the easier it is to hold it steady & avoid those blurry shots.

[Jeffbx]

But if it is small you will actually take it with you and use it

Hahaha! That's exactly why I traded in my SLR for a P&S. However, just pointing out that in the camera world, smaller is not necessarily better.

[tupacboy]

hmm... on my visa i do get "warranty manager service"... do you think that would cover the lcd problems with the sd500?


anyone have any experience with this?

[clutchy]

canon shmannon, checkout some of the other brands. Nikon makes great cameras, I believe they're announcing some nice ones on the 1st of Sept. but all of their stuff is really good.

you also get a nice fuzzy feeling knowing you're not a tool like everyone else who owns a canon.

[Paymaster]

Eh. I gave my mother a Canon 4 Megapixel. (Sorry clutchy.) She was extremely excited about it. I showed her how to use it, installed the drivers, showed her how to download pics, etc. This was about 6 months ago.

She still uses her 35mm. She says that she forgot how to download the pictures. I told her to plug it in and click "next, next, next, finish". She says that she doesn't have time to try it. She never actually downloaded any pictures on her own after I showed her.

Hopefully your parents are a little more PC literate...

[AlpineJay]

you also get a nice fuzzy feeling knowing you're not a tool like everyone else who owns a canon.

was that necessary?

[clutchy]

was that necessary?


probably not... and i apologize, but there are other brands out there...

yes i have a canon s500 which i bought before i woke up and realized that there are some other really excellent brands out there.

most people only see canon and so automatically assume that is the only "real" brand out there. try something different.

[AlpineJay]

probably not... and i apologize, but there are other brands out there...

yes i have a canon s500 which i bought before i woke up and realized that there are some other really excellent brands out there.

most people only see canon and so automatically assume that is the only "real" brand out there. try something different.

Thanks for that. I agree with you entirely. I'm loyal to Canon because I tend to like taking pictures of the scenery and when it comes to compact p&s Canons provide excellent performance with value (with the Dell deals). My wishlist has a Nikon S1 which unfortunately Dell does not carry.

Two major brands that I particularly don't like are Olympus and Fuji. I have issues with both of them using xD cards which are just as proprietary as Sony's Memory Sticks - and those have the redeeming Carl Zeiss (albeit not German made) lenses. I also don't think very highly of their optics.

[DaFunkyUnit]

get the Panasonic Lumix, 6 MP version (the model is DMC-FX9S (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=94145&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&surfModel=DMC-FX9S&catGroupId=24999&surfCategory=Lumix%AE&displayTab=A) )

oh wait, its not yet released in the US, not until 9/25 at least.

but I acquired one ;) it's pretty flippin' sweet.

[wung]

well ... SD400 is on sale again ... $284.xx

[raimin]

Thanks for that. I agree with you entirely. I'm loyal to Canon because I tend to like taking pictures of the scenery and when it comes to compact p&s Canons provide excellent performance with value (with the Dell deals). My wishlist has a Nikon S1 which unfortunately Dell does not carry.

Two major brands that I particularly don't like are Olympus and Fuji. I have issues with both of them using xD cards which are just as proprietary as Sony's Memory Sticks - and those have the redeeming Carl Zeiss (albeit not German made) lenses. I also don't think very highly of their optics.

not saying anything about you, but I know some people really complain about xd and memory stick...but i laugh at people who complain about it, and purposefully choose a sd or cf camera over it, just becasue it isn't propietary, and the only thing they use the card for is in the camera. I tend to think that most people, even the computer geek, use their camera media, just for that, and not much else, so does it really matter if the memory is "propiertary"

[ramazank2]

284 is expensive...
At dell there is a deal for:
20% off Canon Powershot SD400 5Mpixel digital camera $349 - 20% off Coupon
Code: T47$NC73$0X?BH Exp 9/5 5:59am CT or after 300 uses - $35 off $300 code = $244 shipped free.