Which Camera?

[dory]

hi all,

i am about to invest in a digital camera and have been looking at the canon IXUS 500, is this any good for taking tank photos, are there any other cameras in this price range that anyone would reccomend?Thanks in advance any info is appreciated

Cheers Dory

[Lepperfish]

What price range is the canon?

Perhaps a sony cybershot or nikon cool pix?

I got a 707 cybershot sony but looking to uprgade to something more serious soon, like the new canon 20D..

[rick]

I am not sure what price range the IXUS is in, but if it is over $1000 you might be better off stretching to a digital SLR. I used to use a Point and Shoot camera with my fish and I found that I would take maybe 1 decent photo in 100. A couple of minths ago I bought a Canon 300D and I can now take pretty decent photos most times.

The flexibility of a digital SLR is so much greater that you can shoot in conditions that you wouldn't even bother getting out a PnS. The biggest advantage is being able to use an external flash. I used to go to a lot of trouble to get rid of flash flare with my PnS, but with an external flash on my DSLR, I don't even have to think about it.

What is your main reason for purchasing the camera? If it is for fish photography, then I certainly would recomend you save your cash and get a DSLR as you will probably end up going that way anyway. If you are planning on using it mainly for general photogrpahy and will occasionally use it for fish photography, then go for the IXUS. They are a really good camera in most general "family" type photo situations. They are also a lot smaller and easier to carry/use than the DSLRs are.

Rick

PS I am slightly biased towards Canon as I have a lot more experience with their cameras than any other brand.

[Fins]

Great advice rick, and I totally agree.

But if the price is under $1000, you may consider the Canon G series. (ask sab)

Important features:

hot shoe mount for external flash (important)

extension lenses i.e macro, wide angle etc.. (important)

manual focus (important)

no shutter lag (very, very important) not sure about this on the G series (ask sab)

Or Fujifilm's Sxxxx series.

I don't really have much experience with the camera itself, but this was one of the cameras I considered buying. Need to check for important features.

I can't comment on any others. But I will say that I use to have a 3mp compact digital (point and shoot) previously, and it sux.

Ed

[mianos]

I have a DSLR and a compact.

Something to keep in mind, a campact has a much smaller imaging device. This means the focal length is generally much shorter and makes it much easier to get macro shots. If you want to get a macro shot at closer than 20cm you need a macro adapter or lense for a DSLR. That said, you have much more control with a DSLR. (My catfish shot was with a macro and DSLR), it just costs more money to get good macros.

[dory]

Hey guys,

thanks for all the info the IXUS are in the $700-$1000 range and i would be using it for alot, not just fish, also i am thinking of getting an underwater housing too, does anyone know what the underwater shot quality is like. Primarily I am looking for something compact that will fit in my pocket and i can take it everywhere but will still take good fotos. I think the IXUS is the way to go Thanks for all your help guys, Greatly appreciated

Cheers Dory

[Vanessa the Venustus]

I bought the canon IXUS 500 a couple of months ago. I wanted it for both general use and to take fish pics. I would recommend it. I think it is good, especially for macro shots, and if you play around with the features a bit you can take some really great shots.

Its also one of the nicest looking cameras around! very stylish i think hehe.

make sure you shop around for prices, becase they vary so much from place to place. the first place I saw had it for over $900, I ended up saving more than $200.

[Skippy]

thanks for all the info the IXUS are in the $700-$1000 range and i would be using it for alot, not just fish, also i am thinking of getting an underwater housing too.

Hi Dory,

If you're thinking about using your camera for underwater photography then the Olympus C5060 and Nikon 5400 are the best cameras you can get for under $1,000.00. Personally I'm picking up a Olympus C5060 this weekend so I am putting my money where my mouth is.

The Olympus underwater housing costs approx. $380 and the Ikelite housing to suit the Nikon up to $1,000 (although I have heard the Olympus housing o-ring can be "suspect" in water under 16 degrees).

does anyone know what the underwater shot quality is like

This site belongs to one of my mates, he uses a Nikon 5400 for all of his shots.

Cheers

Mike

[dory]

hey guys,

I just went to the mall with my sister because she was buying a cam corder, 1 hour later here i am with an IXUS 500 HA I pay $12.50 per week so that isnt too bad and i am investing in an underwater housing soon, i will play around and see if i can get some decend shots of my fishies, again back to underwater foto quality, anyone had any experience?good/bad?Thanks for all your advice so far guys

Cheers Dory

[Lepperfish]

Yeah, a mate of mine had a sony cyber shot with underwater house, the screen is hard to see under the water even with goggles on.. SO you cant see what your taking a photo of very well.. Hard to use camera settings when they are inside the housing and your underwater..