Help Pich Right Consumer Digicam

[spectator]

Hi guys i'm new here. I want to seek help from you on deciding what the best Digicam to buy. A low budget camera that is.

- 11T to 13T price range
- High quality pictures (normal, zoom in, zoom out, etc.)
- minimal low light problem, acceptable up to the highest ISO
- Can be dressed up and readily available cheap but quality lenses, teleconverters, extenders for close-up lens and the likes.
- anything else that i should consider that i don't know about

I'm eyeing for the Canon A540, but a number of reviewers says it has a flash refresh lag, how true is it or is it just a user/batt flaw? http://www.pinoyphotography.org/forum/Smileys/default/sad.gif

pls. help me guys.. need to buy it as soon as possible, coz christmas is fast approaching http://www.pinoyphotography.org/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif

thanks in advance

[Headcase650]

The A540 is the cheapest canon that takes a lenses adapter ($20). The slow recycle time of the flash is due to it using only 2 batteries keeping the camera small. This will be a problem with any camera that only uses 2 AA batteries. With out flash the camera shoots nearly 3 frames a second witch is very respectable for this class of camera. If recycle time is a big deal you will need to go up in price to a larger camera that uses 4 batteries or an OEM lithium-ion battery, A630/640 are the next step up and have much faster recycle times, about 3 seconds compaired to about 6 seconds with the 540. The A540 is a great camera for the price, I gave $164 for mine but I think the price has been rising a little with the holiday season, be sure to check pricegrabber.com for the best current price. The 540 will do everything you ask for and the accessories are very reasonabley priced, you can even get an underwater case for about $160 if you want to take it diving or to your favorate water park. If you get a camera that takes AA batteries then I highly suggest getting nMh rechargables and a 15 minute charger, they will provide up to 4 times the amount of shots over alkalines.

[spectator]

Hi Jeannie,

Thanks very much for your reply, twas a very big help on my part. Thought it was an isolated problem until you explained it. Well now i have no doubts bout the A540, I will get it as soon as it is available here in my place. I reviewed and compared it many times with others of the same price range and the feat. and specs was more outstanding than others except for the pixel view finder which has lesser pixels.

Thanks very much again Jean, that's just what i want to hear (see). Your a big help, thanks again.

[spectator]

Hey just an update :) .. since there was no stock of A540 yet and i was already excited to buy, i saw a A610 which was sold way cheaper than the market.. I bought it :) .. now the next battle of my life is, learning how to use it with steady hands and most of all familiarizing what modes to take in a particular weather :O .. hmm.. its harder than i thought coz a plain P&S won't always have the best capture :(