I currently use a sony that puts images on a 3 1/2" floppy and I then transfer the floppys to my computer....simple

except for one thing.....the 3 1/2" floppys are becoming obsolete and they go bad on me in weeks! I just throw them away and buy new ones.....I need much more reliability for a safari camera.

Here's what I want"
1. standard battery use
2. two way switch for very fine image (lots of pixels) for matting and framing photos and much fewer pixels for email and internet posting
3. A minimum of 10X zoom

Can anyone suggest a camera and under $400 would be a plus!

Canon S5 IS

I hate to say it, but if you are still using the Sony that uses a floppy, you will notice an ENORMOUS leap in the quality of today's cameras.

I think this Canon meets all your requirements but one - price. But, you might be able to get it at close to what you are asking.

You can also take great videos with this camera.

Floppy ?? What's that ?..Checking www.dpreview.com the prices are about $ 330, well within your budget and a great value !..The newer version of my Sony H-1 has gone to a proprietary battery which is a big negative epecially when traveling...I wouldn't hesitate getting the S5 IS .

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Canon S5 IS

I hate to say it, but if you are still using the Sony that uses a floppy, you will notice an ENORMOUS leap in the quality of today's cameras.

I think this Canon meets all your requirements but one - price. But, you might be able to get it at close to what you are asking.

You can also take great videos with this camera.

Great camera. Have used one for about a year. The S5IS plus the pocket sized Canon 850IS make about the best easy to use combo I can think of.

Thanks a bunch folks.....the Canon S5IS it is!!!

You'll need a bigger memory card ...
like this one...

http://www.lowpricememory.co.uk/4GB-SDHC-card-reader-integral.html

It's a UK site but I'm sure someone can direct you to a good US site.

High capacity is nice.

Make sure you have high speed cards too.

I like the San Disk Ultra IIs

When it comes to these things I'm simply out of tune....so I took some advice here.

I bought the camera and a 4-pack of special batteries with charger and a 2-GB memory card.

Included was a carry case and cleaning kit.....and I kept the price just under $400.....am I ready to go hunting now?....I do have a gun and can use it well!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
When it comes to these things I'm simply out of tune....so I took some advice here.

I bought the camera and a 4-pack of special batteries with charger and a 2-GB memory card.

Included was a carry case and cleaning kit.....and I kept the price just under $400.....am I ready to go hunting now?....I do have a gun and can use it well!

The re-chargeables are nice until they get some age on them and start loosing useful charge life. There are new ones that are supposedly much better. I have not tried them. The standard NiCads will loose charge even if unused. This can result in a no battery situation in the field and that really sucks.

Trust me on this. One pack of four Energizer E2 Lithiums, stashed in your camera bag can absolutely save your butt if the re-chargeables fail you. If your camera is having trouble even though the batteries are supposed to be fully charged. Try the Lithiums. You can take an astonishing amount of photos on one set of Lithiums in that Canon S camera.

quote:

Trust me on this. One pack of four Energizer E2 Lithiums, stashed in your camera bag can absolutely save your butt if the re-chargeables fail you.

Thanks...I'll find them someplace and stuff them in the bag for backup.

I'd be really pissed if I was unable to photograph a $10,000 hunt for lack of $20 worth of batteries!

Remember that the things that suck up power are the zoom, stabilizer and screen.Don't get into the habit of taking pictures then studying them with the sceen that really eats up power.Practice with it there's lots to learn including howlong batteries last.Another variable is resolution but I always use max resolution .There is a very good white paper for the Sony ,I wonder if someone wrote one for the Canon.

How rugged/weatherproof is the Canon S5IS? Would it be a good choice to carry into the field for a whitetail hunt in PA where it often rains?

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:
How rugged/weatherproof is the Canon S5IS? Would it be a good choice to carry into the field for a whitetail hunt in PA where it often rains?

I carry the S3IS on all my hunts. It serves me well.

Rain will kill most every digital camera thats not certified for underwater use.

Putting the camera inside a ziploc bag in the case works for me quite well.

I also tote a mini tripod (desktop size) and a light tripod.

Here are some frame captures from video taken with the S3IS on some turkey hunts.





This was taken using the telephoto adapter while I was hunting in South Africa. Having a camera in a waterhole blind while bowhunting really helps pass the time.

The new Canon G9 is an awesome camera too. It is 12.1 mega pixels, with a 6X optical zoom (it would be nice to have a 10X optical zoom). The quality of the photos is excellent and color accuracy is outstanding. Also has a large screen for viewing. Nice camera and not too big.

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:
How rugged/weatherproof is the Canon S5IS? Would it be a good choice to carry into the field for a whitetail hunt in PA where it often rains?

It's not. Pentax makes a Optio W30 or the new W60 which are waterproof and they fit nicely in your shirt pocket. They also take outstanding video clips with sound and have great battery life.

quote:

Originally posted by Ahab:
It's not. Pentax makes a Optio W30 or the new W60 which are waterproof and they fit nicely in your shirt pocket. They also take outstanding video clips with sound and have great battery life.

I have an Optio. And I don't like it. The shutter lag is simply too long. For instance, it is useless when I go the racetrack because the motorcycles are completely out of frame by the time the shutter opens.

For what it is worth, do not buy any camera that you can not fit into your pocket. If you have to reach into a backpack to find it generally you will not take the time to pull it out. If the camera is small enough to fit inside a pocket you will use it more often and the end result will be many more candid photos that would of escaped you otherwise.
http://pawprintphotography.com/

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:


I have an Optio. And I don't like it. The shutter lag is simply too long. For instance, it is useless when I go the racetrack because the motorcycles are completely out of frame by the time the shutter opens.

You might want to re-check your owners manual. In the mode setting you can choose between blur reduction or the sports setting which increases shutter speed and sensitivity.

quote:

Originally posted by Ahab:

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:


I have an Optio. And I don't like it. The shutter lag is simply too long. For instance, it is useless when I go the racetrack because the motorcycles are completely out of frame by the time the shutter opens.

You might want to re-check your owners manual. In the mode setting you can choose between blur reduction or the sports setting which increases shutter speed and sensitivity.

Thanks. I'll look into that.

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:

quote:

Originally posted by Ahab:

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:


I have an Optio. And I don't like it. The shutter lag is simply too long. For instance, it is useless when I go the racetrack because the motorcycles are completely out of frame by the time the shutter opens.

You might want to re-check your owners manual. In the mode setting you can choose between blur reduction or the sports setting which increases shutter speed and sensitivity.

Thanks. I'll look into that.

GREAT ADVICE...

I just took this Pentax Optio with me to Africa and got very good results...I was impressed with the range and the quality for a $160 P&S Digital Camera...

It fits in my fanny-pack and is most easy to use...Check with the ISO settings and that will help you for sure!

As Saeed suggested, I ordered a Canon S5-IS and it came yesterday.

I fooled around trying to figure out how it worked and I think I'm making good progress.

Here's my first posting of a photo from it.

Whatchya think?

If I can spend a tiny bit more of your money, a lensmate adapter is a great accessory to get for your camera

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html



What it does is replace the end ring on the camera, and gives you a place to screw on a UV filter. The main reason for this is it protects the barrel and the zoom lens mechanism, and you can use a real lens cap too if you want, or you can leave it off and have whatever filter you have on to protect the lens.

thanks Mark.....but I have enough stuck in it as-is.....maybe another year I'll embellish it a bit.

It is everything you folks (and Saeed) said it was.....I really like it even though it's more Camera than I bargained for.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
As Saeed suggested, I ordered a Canon S5-IS and it came yesterday.

I fooled around trying to figure out how it worked and I think I'm making good progress.

Here's my first posting of a photo from it.

Whatchya think?

Did you simply take that photo in "Auto" mode?

Try setting the camera to "SCN"(Scene mode). Then use the left and right arrows to select "indoor" option. Flip up the flash and take the same photo. Compare the photos. Sometimes this makes an amazing difference

quote:

Did you simply take that photo in "Auto" mode?

Yes I did.....and I'm hundreds of miles from home right now so I'll do it when I get home.....thanks for the lessons
Vapo

I did precisely as directed and frankly can see no difference in the photos.....sorry but O hope you understand I won't post it again as I see no difference at all.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I did precisely as directed and frankly can see no difference in the photos.....sorry but O hope you understand I won't post it again as I see no difference at all.

I believe you. Sometimes the extra mode fumbling makes for wasted extra effort.

However, trust me on this. Sometimes it does end up being well worth it.

One thing I should have added prior to you trying the "experiment". Make sure the camera is set to the largest pixel size and finest resolution when using that mode. It is possible these settings were not at the highest when you took the photo.

Press "Func", Down arrow till you have pixel size choices. Left arrow till you get the biggest # x # range. Press "Set" then left arrow until you have selected the finest resolution setting. Press "Set" again and then press "Func"

You still might not get a better photo even then. Don't let that discourage you. There are plenty of things to try.

Try one more thing. In the "indoor" mode.

Turn off as many interior lights close to the subject area as possible. Close blinds if you need to. The idea is, get the area slightly darkened but not black dark.

Take the photo with the "Flash" up.

Then here is how to try "AV" mode.

First in "Auto" mode aim at the subject press the shutter button until the focus square turns green. You don't actually have to take a picture just focusing does the trick. The "Auto" mode then will have set shutter speeds and aperture to what it's sensors have told it.

Set the Camera on "AV" mode. Once again make sure you're on the biggest pixel by pixel size and finest resolution. Now you can bump up the aperture by pressing the right arrow one press at a time. Bump it up one level and take the picture. Keeping bumping it one level and taking the same picture. Eventually you will see a difference.

You can do the same with "TV" mode and adjust the shutter speed. Just make sure you start by "setting" the speeds and apertures first by using the "Auto" mode and focusing in that mode first.

Do this exercise on several different subjects under different conditions and you will start to get a feel for when "Auto" mode needs a little faster shutter or little more aperture. Or when indoor mode is good enough.

Enjoy your new camera.

quote:

Enjoy your new camera.

you have just provided a superb tutorial on Canon S5-IS.....and I thank you very much.

I actually did most of what you have suggested and will repeat it several times until I get it down!

This has been a great help for me to learn the "ins and outs" of the camera and I assure you that I will enjoy it a lot more because of your help
thanks again
Vapo

I'm delighted you found my posting useful. In a nutshell "Auto" mode gives you a benchmark to experiment with. So noting what the sensors give you after you focus in that mode and then experimenting up and down from those "suggested" settings really helps you learn your camera.

For me, (and I'm not suggesting this is absolutely right) "AE" mode with a fill flash produces the best "Hero" shots. Sometimes you need to change the aperture a little and sometimes you don't. But honestly I've been happier with slightly adjusted "AE" mode photos on "hero" shots than simply "Auto" mode photos.

If you have time I'd get one of the lens adapters.
And a UV filter. It would give a lot of protection to the camera and make keeping the camera lens clean and scratch free way easier.

all is going well except for one really puzzling thing.....

At times I cannot focus on close objects.....I want to manually focus the camera.......and yes....I've read the Fu&^%$# instructing manual.....

Can anyone tell me how to manually focus this ^&*$ thing?

If you're aiming the camera at something. On the left side of the lens is a button labeled [MF]

This stands for Manual Focus and it's an MF to get used to.

IMPORTANT: You have to hold that button down while focusing with the up and down arrows on the back of the camera. It's real clumsy IMHO. Use the LCD screen instead of the viewfinder when you are first getting the hang of this.

An enlarged view of your target will appear in the screen as you focus. Get that in focus and take the shot.

That's the worst function I've found with the camera so far but it's not impossible to deal with. It may seem like it is impossible first couple times you try it though. It sure did to me.

BTW,

The stitch assist mode and the supplied stitching software works really well on that camera.

I pieced this together from five shots of Resurrection Bay.

quote:

You have to hold that button down while focusing with the up and down arrows on the back of the camera.

I didn't find the up and down arrows but I'll try again tomorrow......and thanks a bunch for your help

It's much appreciated.

There is a button on the back of the camera for up, down, left and right. You activate the direction of the button by pushing it on the edge the arrow signifies.

Left and right adjusts aperture and shutter speed in AV and TV mode respectively.

Use up and down while pushing [MF]. The up and down arrows do nothing unless you are holding down the [MF] button while adjusting up and down. That's what makes it tough.

Also please note. Manual Focus and Super Macro does not work in "Auto Mode". So make sure you're in another mode first.

quote:

Manual Focus and Super Macro does not work in "Auto Mode"

That was the key.....and MF is now working like a charm.....

Thanks a bunch!
Vapo