Best Canon for US$400?

[rhibbert]

I am looking at buying my first digital camera. I already own (and love) a Nikon F800 SLR, but it is too bulky to carry around all the time.

I have narrowed my selection down to the Canon S400 or S50, but am having difficulty making the cut. One salesman I spoke to said that the picture quality of the S400 was slightly worse than your average 35mm point and shoot, while the S50 is slightly better. How true is this?

I tend to be fairly hard on my electronics as I travel a lot and I worrry that the S50's cover is very flimsy and will break off. Has this been a problem with earlier models (eg S30,S45)? Is the on/off reliable? The S400 looks a lot more rugged.

On the other hand, I tend to shoot landscapes and it would seem as though the S50 might be the choice from that point of view.

At what point would I notice the difference in resolution? What are the S400's main weaknesses? How does the output from the S50 and S400 compare to a $250 point and shoot film camera?

Thanks for any feedback

Richard

(I changed the title and added some extra questions as there was no feedback.)

[bilboman7]

Richard,

I made a post earlier regarding choosing between a Canon A70 and a S45. I did not get any posts either? I am wondering if this is a Taboo Subject???

I did get one direct e-mail, but not much in the way of advice.

Hope you make your decision. These are the two cameras I am looking at.

The A70 - Because it is realitively cheap $280 and by everything I can tell it takes great pictures. It uses CF Cards which I already have. It uses AA Batteries which I can get in a pinch almost anywhere if I run out of juice. It has good manual settings, and can even take Lens Attachments. What I don't like is the Plasticy feel of the camera. It seems very fragile. I wonder if people have problems with the lens screen that closes when the camera is off. It looks like one hard push and it would break??

The S45 - It is a little more money, but I have found a place to get it for $349. I like the more solid feel it has. It also Uses CF cards, and is a 4 MP camera. The picture quality seems to be about the same as the A70, but a higher MP rating. I like the sliding cover over the lens (But I want to know if it breaks easily??). I don't like having the propietary battery.

I hope this helps.

[piper]

bilbo,

I came up with the same analysis you did. Back in May I decided to go with the S45. I liked the added features, but what really swung the decision was this thread over at dpreview:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=4768088

I love the S45 and have taken over 3000 pictures this summer. I too was concerned about the sliding cover, but there have been no problems. Also, you can activate picture review mode without opening the cover and turning the camera "on".

[rhibbert]

I'm tending towards the S400 because of its size. I want something I can slip in a pocket / full computer case and forget. If the picture quality is good then I would be happy. The trouble with looking at the cameras in shops is that you don't have pictures to compare. Maybe I will go and buy a CF card and try slipping it into the cameras at the store so I can get a real feel for them. If I cannot see the difference, then there is no reason to go for the higher resolution camera. Indeed, it seems from this forum as though higher resolution is not always beneficial.


I agree with your argument about the A70 and batteries. That was one of the main reasons that I chose the Nikon all those years ago. AA haven't gone out of style yet! However, there is normally a car somewhere nearby and you can recharge your battery there (or take a disposable film camera for emergencies). It is just a case of being prepared.

The only external memory card I have at the moment is an SD card for Palm & PC, so I was considering the Konica for a while, but have decided that CF is the way to go because of speed - the shot won't wait for my memory card.

I do have a couple more questions that I would like answered:
a) What subjects does the S400 auto focus have problems with that would necessitate a manual focus?
b) Does either the S400 or S50 have any form of exposure bracketing feature.

Richard

[elf230=leicaIII]

I've made my living with Nikon Fs and Canon F1s and view cameras...I never found a camera as intuitive and unobtrusive, not to mention reliable, as my 230.

At 3.2 it's got more than enough sharpness and detail for the only things that are important to me: small prints, Internet, TV viewing, occasional publishing.

It's as good as a Leica IIIF. With an accurate brightline viewfinder, and without being handicapped by the zoom (interchangable lenses would be faster to handle) it'd be better than a Leica M. Unless of course you are a REAL photographer like Sebastio Salgado who makes huge prints from 35mm negs, in which situation even 12 MP is wimpy.

[hallbert]

Hi Richard,
I have owned the G1, G3, S45 and S50 digitals and kept the G3. I recently bought the S400 for my wife for her birthday. I have tried to find something she likes and would use allot. I also bought the Canon leather case for the S400 to keep it from getting scratched. She now keeps this little camera in her purse everywhere she goes. She is taking more pictures than she ever has taken before. I am amazed at how easy the S400 is to use and, most of all, with the quality of the photos she takes. I was pleased with the S45 but very disappointed with the slow focus of the S50. I guess it all depends on what you will be using it for. If size is at all a factor, the S400 is the best I have found. Check out the review on the following link:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html

[Marcin]

IMO for 400$ you should strongly consider new Canon A80

[rhibbert]

Thanks for all the informative replies. I'm particularly interested in why hallbert traded in his S45/S50 for a G3, and whether he takes his G3 everywhere that his wife takes her S400, or is he now borrowing her S400 to take the shots because he doesn't have his camera wiwth him?

Thanks again

Richard

[sstinman]

Robert for a time I owned both cameras the S440 and S45. I ended up keeping the S45. Here are my reasons:

1) S45 has better point and shoot modes. Especially for faster and longer pictures (i.e. kids playing soccer or running in the sprinklers). The S400 produced blurry picture in bright day light conditions.

2) The S45 had more manual controls so it could shoot in lower light and with higher contrast/lighting conditions.

3) RAW file format could capture less compressed data (S45).

Also, if you are into landscape shots then 5 MP with RAW is far better than 4 MP with Jpeg also the S45 lens is slightly better than the S400. I believe there is exposure bracketing in the S45. I haven't used that function.

The only positive the S400 has is its size. The camera can fit in your front jean pocket comfortably. Also, except for the blured fast motion shoots most other shot comings can be corrected with software editing.

Go to a store that has a generous return policy and try both cameras for a week. You'll see what I'm talking about.

[jlocatell]

With the *new* A80 you get the flip-out LCD that its useful for

1- Autopics- Maybe you could see what are you taking - at least.

2- Take that picture with a crowd of people in front: take up the camera and flip the LCD down.

-jl

[pradeep1]

I second the A80 suggestions. My second choice would be the S50, but the flip out screen and easy attachment of accessories puts the A80 ahead of the S50. Although the S50 is more of an experienced user camera with RAW and other features. Hard decision. Go to a store and play with both and think about what is important to you. The S400 does not have much creative controls, but it is small, cute, and sexy.