Any Canon Ultra-Compacts that allow for full manual control?

[FlipsidE]

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a single response on this question on the Small Compact Digitals by Canon board, so I figured I'd bring it here. I apologize in advance if that is against a rule. Anyway, on the question at hand...

Currently, I have an S30. But, unfortunately, it's a tad too big to just throw in my pocket and carry with me everywhere. I've seriously considered the SD200 as a good pocket, ultra-compact digital camera. While it does have a good many features as well as a good bit of manual control, I can't find a way to manually change the shutter speed or the aperture (looked in the manual also).

The S30 will allow me to use Av, Tv, P, or M with full control over the range of shutter speeds and aperture values available for the camera. Is there any ultra-compact that canon makes that allows full control like the S30 does?

Thanks in advance

FlipsidE

[kb244]

The smallest one from canon, I can think of at this time gona be something like the S70 ( http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons70/ ) , I looked at the smaller Elph like ones, like the SD300/400/etc , but manual mode in those is pretty much the same thing as 'P' mode on everything else.

[FlipsidE]

I appreciate the info and the quick response. Unfortunately, I believe the S70 is just about the same size as the S30.

Thanks!

FlipsidE

[PacAce]

The A series cameras will give you full manual control. They're smaller than the S70 but not quite as compact as the SD series cameras (because of the battery compartment/hand grip on the side of the camera.

[kb244]

The A series cameras will give you full manual control. They're smaller than the S70 but not quite as compact as the SD series cameras (because of the battery compartment/hand grip on the side of the camera.

erm A series ( If we're talking A75/A85/A95 ) is about the same thickness as the S70, but nearly twice the height. The new one A510/A520, etc, bout the same height as the old A series, but a tiny bit thinner from front to back.

But the only thing I think of being smaller than the S series is those SD200/300/400/500 , but they dont offer the Tv/Av/M mode, and their manual modes are same as "P".

A510 = 91 x 64 x 38 mm
SD300 = 86 x 54 x 21 mm
S70 = 114 x 57 x 39 mm
A75 = 101 x 64 x 32 mm
S30 = 112 x 58 x 42 mm

[Andy_T]

The press releases were not really conclusive, but some sources mentioned that the new Digital Ixus 50 will have a 'manual mode' to allow for creative override of the program mode.

What this really means ... maybe you should take a look on it.

Another potentially interesting camera would be the Casio Exilim Z750 ... 7 MP, small metal housing, creative modes.

Lastly, that the camera supports the possibility is one thing. Whether it is usable, is another. I bought a Kodak DX6440 for my wife because the technical specs also specified that it had P, A, S, and manual modes.
However, these were outright unusable. You selected the 'PAS' on the selector dial, and then you had to manouvre up and down the menus with the little joystick to set aperture, shutter speed and so on ... what a joke.

Best regards,
Andy

[kb244]

Well I know for one thing canon makes alot of their tinest cameras with auto-shooters in mind, not so much for what us pro-like people might use. Just point and shoot, probally never put full manual on the tiny guys cuz never could figure out where to put the controls without much hassles.

[PacAce]

erm A series ( If we're talking A75/A85/A95 ) is about the same thickness as the S70, but nearly twice the height. The new one A510/A520, etc, bout the same height as the old A series, but a tiny bit thinner from front to back.

But the only thing I think of being smaller than the S series is those SD200/300/400/500 , but they dont offer the Tv/Av/M mode, and their manual modes are same as "P".

A510 = 91 x 64 x 38 mm
SD300 = 86 x 54 x 21 mm
S70 = 114 x 57 x 39 mm
A75 = 101 x 64 x 32 mm
S30 = 112 x 58 x 42 mm
OK, I'll concede that the A series is a tad taller than the s70 but all the other dimensions are a tad smaller. And where did you get the "twice the height" idea from? Even the dimensions you provided doesn't bear that out.

[PacAce]

The press releases were not really conclusive, but some sources mentioned that the new Digital Ixus 50 will have a 'manual mode' to allow for creative override of the program mode.

What this really means ... maybe you should take a look on it.

Another potentially interesting camera would be the Casio Exilim Z750 ... 7 MP, small metal housing, creative modes.

Lastly, that the camera supports the possibility is one thing. Whether it is usable, is another. I bought a Kodak DX6440 for my wife because the technical specs also specified that it had P, A, S, and manual modes.
However, these were outright unusable. You selected the 'PAS' on the selector dial, and then you had to manouvre up and down the menus with the little joystick to set aperture, shutter speed and so on ... what a joke.

Best regards,
Andy
The "manual mode" they are referring to to allow for creative override is just that. It's like going from the full AUTO mode (green box) on the EOS cameras to the "P" mode so that you can set ISO, WB, etc. It still doesn't give you aperture selection, though.

[kb244]

OK, I'll concede that the A series is a tad taller than the s70 but all the other dimensions are a tad smaller. And where did you get the "twice the height" idea from? Even the dimensions you provided doesn't bear that out.


The general feel I had before seeking out those dimensions.

[FlipsidE]

I've come to realize something over the past couple of days. Afer finding out that my S30 had far more capabilities than the SD200, I took the SD200 off my wish list. But, after thinking about it more, I think the SD200 might go right back on my wishlist. If I do get the SD200, I will sell my S30, so there isn't really any chance of keeping both.

But, that said, since I choose not to carry my S30 in my pocket because of the size, I'm left with a Point & Shoot camera that will get no more or less action than my DSLR. Of course, it could spend more time in the car than my DRebel, but carrying around my S30 while walkin around downtown for example is, IMO, no less of a hassle than luggin around the DRebel. The SD200, on the other hand, could easily fit in my pocket and go wherever I go.

So, I must ask myself. Do I want to live with the possible lesser quality of the extra shots I'm able to capture with a camera that has really no creative modes? Or do I want to live with no extra shots at all?

FlipsidE

[Andy_T]

So, I must ask myself. Do I want to live with the possible lesser quality of the extra shots I'm able to capture with a camera that has really no creative modes? Or do I want to live with no extra shots at all?

Or ... does it really have to be Canon for the ultra-compact camera?

I'd reckon not. Sure, they can't be beat in the DSLR and quality P&S segment, but their offering in the ultra compact segment is not targeted at photographers, but rather on fashion buffs that are more concerned about the look of the camera than about its performance.

Best regards,
Andy

[FlipsidE]

It doesn't have to be Canon, no. But, the only ones that I can find that are true pocket cameras (at least in the research I've done) are the Canon SD200 and the Sony DSC-L1. Neither of these cams have full manual functions.

FlipsidE