Re: thoughts on new Canon compacts?


Paul Rubin wrote:

"Mike Henley" <casioculture@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
Memory card type should no longer be an issue considering how cheap
they are now (see other thread). As for batteries you can get a bunch
of cheap compatible from ebay sellers if it doesn't use AA.

I mostly agree about memory card type. The "list of things I care
about to some extent" implies that I didn't expect to get everything
on the list. As for AA's though, that's a relatively firm
requirement. I don't want to mess around with buying batteries on
Ebay and I don't want to have to mess around with multiple chargers
for different devices. I'm trying to use AA's in as many of my
battery powered devices as possible, so if I go on a trip with them I
only have to bring one charger.


I empathise because I had the same requirement. I must say now, though,
it's not worth it. The reasons are:
- It's easier to carry and handle two or three spare
designed-for-camera batteries than to carry, say, 8 or 12 AA batteries.

- Batteries designed-for-camera are usually lithium ion ones, those
hold their charge when you're not using them for longer, unlike the AA
batteries, which are at best NIMH Nickel Metal Hydride, and discharge
faster. You'd need to keep a tighter recharging routine with AA
batteries than you would for designed-for-camera ones, even recharging
batteries that you'd not used.
- I'll insist on AA with most of my devices, but with a camera I'll
compromise, and here's why: Much later on when you look at the pictures
you took it won't matter what type of batteries the camera used, the
only thing that will matter will be photographic quality, and this is
what you should focus on most. This is not the case for other devices,
they don't produce results that, in some cases, should last for life.

This also reminds me of another requirement I had for my devices, that
they had to be pocketable. Eventually I got fed up of this, having
tried it, because it's just not worth it either. Devices tended to be
expensive and compromised in features or durability. Also, soon enough
you may have to carry more than one pocketable device and your pocket
fills up, which if you're like me it would make you feel like an idiot.
I eventually learnt, through experience, that the best way would be to
carry nothing in my pockets and instead use a shoulder bag or a
rucksack. You get used to carrying one, even if you hate the idea to
begin with, and soon enough you'll adore it, especially if you keep it
tidy and light, because you can actually put more than a camera, such
as some essential personal kit of most often used items. Your shoulder
bag or rucksack becomes like a little second home. If you're an
technophile you can carry a mobile phone, a pda, a pda's keyboard, a
camera, and so on. If you don't like tech devices you can carry a
clipboard, a few pens and pencils, a book that you're reading, and so
on.

I would not buy shoulder bags or rucksacks that are padded and designed
for laptops or cameras. Those are way too geeky-looking and
clusmy-in-use, they also make you a target for crime. Instead I buy
small cases or bags for each device (each no bigger than the device -
if you go to the lowepro website you'll see a chart that'll help you
choose the best fitting small bag for your camera) and carry the whole
lot in a 'fashion'-type bag, no one would know what's in there by
seeing me with it. Perhaps something like this one
http://store.andrewchristian.com/catalog/images/rtc9128.jpg. It's also
more flexible in case I want to just take the camera and nothing else,
which if I'd taken a big laptop-like bag it wouldn't have been as easy.
Get a nice bag, get used to it, it's just a matter of habit, and you'll
eventually love the freedom and flexibility it gives you.


If you want high iso images from a compact Fuji is the way to go.

I've heard this before, so I should check into it. I've been a bit
put off by XD memory but as you say, it's cheap enough now to not
matter. Do you know if they have any AA-powered models?

Fuji makes both conventional ccd and superccd cameras. You want the
superccd cameras if you care about pictures with high iso. So keep that
in mind and check it. Fuji makes plenty of cameras with AA batteries
http://tinyurl.com/hr5my

Keep in mind though, other than the superccd preference above, that if
you're going to shoot pictures in high iso then it would make a lot of
sense to get a camera with low-light AF-assist. The AA cameras Fuji
makes, in the A and E series, tend not to have low-light AF-assist. At
least some models in S series do have low-light AF-Assist, but these
are big zoom SLR-like models.

If you're willing to compromise on the AA batteries requirement you'll
find some ideal fuji cameras for low-light shooting, in the F series.
http://tinyurl.com/k9z6j In particular, the F10 had some great reviews
about their pictures in high ISO. The F10 too has great battery life,
perhaps up to 500 shots. See this quote from the DCRP review's
conclusion on the F10
"# Excellent photo quality
# Great high ISO performance for a non-SLR camera
# Large 2.5" LCD display; visible in bright outdoor light and dim
indoor light
# Robust performance (save for continuous shooting mode)
# Fairly compact metal body
# Powerful flash
# AF-assist lamp
# Excellent movie mode
# Awesome battery life"

I would imagine the F11 and F30 to have similar features, being higher
and newer models.

I personally have the F810, which is more of a 'professional's compact'
camera. When the BBC did program recently in which it hired some very
reputable professionals to photograph the UK sights, they supplied them
with either a Canon EOS-1Ds Mk II (at the time the best and perhaps
most expensive digital SLR) or a Fuji f810 compact. The F810 though has
a short battery life, but that's no issue for me, I carry two spare
batteries which fit discretely into the small lowepro case and
considering that the battery lasts for a 100 shots I rarely had to use
them, as I usually shoot less. Besides, memory is a more limiting
factor than batteries. If i shoot RAW I can only fit 39 images on a
512mb card, and I do shoot RAW.

For battery life and memory size, don't try to solve a problem you're
not encountering, that would be my advice. A few days ago I got that
buying-itch and wanted to swap my F810 for an AA-batteries one. When I
sat down and thought about it, I realised that with my current capacity
of well over 300 shots for the camera I have (2 spare batteries) I
don't really have a problem there. Get a camera, use it, and then
monitor your usage, this way you'll know your exact needs and won't go
for any higher. I would suggest you get an F10 or its F11/F30 (check
them, I'm not familiar with them), and a couple of spare batteries. I
have a hard time imagining that you'd need more than a 1000 shots
between your recharges.

.

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