A80 seems better than S45 ?

[rainmanone]

Hi,
I bought the S45 a few months ago.
Now I read about the A80. it seems that feature-wise the A80 is MUCH better than S45 (add-on lenses, flip LCD...) and it costs 150$ less.
so, have I made a bad bargin ?

why is S45 considered high-end while A80 is low end ?

[anayv]

Your S45 can also take add on lenses.
It needs an adapter bought for $49.99 at www.ckcpower.com

I use a 8x monocular zoom lens, 2 x tele converter lens,polarizer,UV filter,.6 ND filter,and soon , an IR filter.

Plus,the LCD is bigger in your S45 than the A80.
1.8" LCD vs. 1.5" LCD.

a shame the s45 doesn't swivel like the new A80 does.
Maybe when the S60 comes out.

ANAYV

http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=38793

[FLL Diver]

anayv wrote:
Your S45 can also take add on lenses.
It needs an adapter bought for $49.99 at www.ckcpower.com

I use a 8x monocular zoom lens, 2 x tele converter lens,polarizer,UV filter,.6 ND filter,and soon , an IR filter.


The A series cameras can also take add on lenes with the LA-DC52C adapter.

Marc

[rainmanone]

but is there anything in the S45 that makes it better than the A80 ?
Or in other words, why is S45 high-end and A80 low-end (according to Canon)

[piper]

"so, have I made a bad bargin?"

I bought an S45 in May and the 3000+ pictures I have taken at Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, Yosemite, the California coast and several family birthdays and gatherings are worth a whole lot more to me than a $150 savings that would possibly have happened if I had waited to purchase. (In fairness, I almost bought an S30 at Christmas, 2002, but decided to wait a few months - glad I did.)

Unless you are doomed to obsess over such things, I suggest you enjoy your S45 until you discover a "must-have" feature only available on another camera. Then worry about finding the best deal on that new camera.

[rainmanone]

Can't I get a straight answer ?
Canon places the S45 as HIGH end. the A80 as LOW end.
why ?
where's the high in S45 compared to A80 ?

[sstinman]

One major feature (to some) is the RAW file format is missing from the A80.

Also, I believe the S45 has more manual settings. The body of the camera is better (all metal). The battery is unique but can be bought for less than $20US and is Lithium based.

A80 batteries are AA and could use metal hydride rechargables. And its a bigger camera.

Generally speaking the cameras are the same but currently the price of the cameras are the same as well. And the last point is that for less than $60US you can buy the S50, a 5 megapixel camera.

Did you make a bad bargin? I personally don't believe you have. At this time you can buy the cameras for the same price and given the small differences noted above I would still choose the S45. Why? I like the all matel body.

[stopbath]

rainmanone wrote:
Can't I get a straight answer ?
Canon places the S45 as HIGH end. the A80 as LOW end.
why ?
where's the high in S45 compared to A80 ?


Did you try contacting Canon? What did they say?
Perhaps the image quality is better in the S45. Perhaps the contruction is sturdier. Perhaps there are other elements not found in a list of features that can contribute to High end and Low end status.

[tapir]

Certainly S45/50 have more high-end photographic features borrowed from G3 than A80!

Here some important manual control things that A80 lacks compared to S45/50:

1. Flexible AF point option - You can manually choose which one of 9 AiAF frames to use or even move the frame for the very precise off-center focusing. AiAF on A80 is basically dumb since you have to rely on what it thinks you're focusing on.

2. Two manual custom white ballance settings vs only one is A80.

3. AF and AE bracketing modes.

4. Independent AE and flash lock.

5. Flash Exposure Compensation

6. Intervalometer - for time-lapse photography.

7. Orientation sensor.

S45/80 also has bigger 1.8" LCD. Only downsides I see vs A80 are lack of swivel screen and proprietary battery. Otherwise for serious photography S45/50 is a much more feature rich camera.