Keeping my old A640 or buying a new DSLR?

Hi everyone,

I have a Canon A640 which I bought back in 2007, however, I've mostly used it as a point-and-shoot camera and pretty much just kept it on the "auto" settings.

I'd like start taking better photos and learning more about photography, and I'm wondering if I should invest in my A640 or if I should buy a DSLR camera?

It would be cheaper to stick with my A640 and use it to learn about ISOs, aperture and shutter settings, photo composition, etc. I've also been checking out some of the lens and filters available for the A640 (particularly the ones here: http://www.digitaltoys​hop.co.uk …Canon_Powershot​_A640_t908 )

I'm ashamed to admit it but the type of photos I want to take are the gritty urban *cough*hipster*cough* type of photos - I love the mood that it captures. This is an example of what I'm talking about: http://imageshack.us …-images/692/examplek.jp​g/

Is it possible to take these type of photos with my A640? Do I need to buy any new lenses or filters?

Thanks for any help!

I have an a640.

Though limited, it will do 90% of everything a DSLR will and you can learn exposure, composition, technique, lighting, all the fundamentals of photography. You don't need a DSLR or fancy lenses or equipment to learn how to take decent photos.

The only difference is the DSLR will do it with 10x better image quality and light sensitivity.

Buy a Rebel-series DSLR a couple of REAL lenses not the eBay ones that screw on the front of your lens and keep your a640 as a decent compact walkaround.

Hell I learned on an old Nikon film SLR, if you want to do all that hipster stuff shoot film and not from some ****ty Lomo or Holga toy camera, I mean something real like a Nikon F.

and welcome to the boards.

For that type of images I would go with a S95, good low light camera that will not be noticed to much, DSLR's are large and you will stick out in a crowd.

Hans

Your A640 is/was a good camera in it's day. However, lots of things have improved in cameras since then, as well as some backward steps. One area I think is a problem with your A640, and my old A620, is a lack of image stabilization. One area that has taken a backward step is image sensors have gotten smaller. Your A640 has a 1/1.8 inch CCD sensor, and the newer point and shoots tend to have a smaller 1/2.3 inch CCD. There is less space on the sensor to capture light.

Moving up to an entry level DSLR will give you a larger image sensor, and also give you more options like different lenses, and faster response times...generally. It also can become an expensive hobby, since you must buy the body and lenses. There is also a lot more to drag around with you, so size becomes an issue.

The fact that you seem to only want to use Auto tells me you have a lot to learn about photography. You can learn using all the features of you A640, or you can buy a new high quality point and shoot like the S95, G12, or possibly the Olympus XZ-1, or Panasonic LX5. They are all capable of more than your A640, and have all the manual controls generally found a DSLR. They are smaller than a DSLR, but may cost as much as an entry level DSLR. There is a greater chance that you would be willing to take the smaller cameras with you, than you would a DSLR for an evening out with friends, as shown in your sample shot.

By the way, here are sample shots taken with the A640in night time settings. They may help you decide to stick with your A640, and perhaps get a small tripod like a GorillaPod

I was going to use an old expression of "It's not the camera, it's the photographer", but then I reread this essay;

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/m​any-factors.shtml

Dennis

It's nice to see positive comments about the A640. I bought one back in 2007, I think it was. It was damaged when someone tried to steal it out of my wife's hands. Anyway, she had been borrowing it so much, she sort of inherited it. She loved it so much, I was able to find her a "like new" used one and she's very happy. I didn't have the cash for a hmmmmm let's just say I chose to get a G12 instead of a DSLR for financial reasons. I'm still a noob but I'm learning so much and having a blast doing it.

Dennis, very well written article.. thanks for the link.

Thanks to everyone for their advice (sorry for the delayed response, had an unexpectedly busy week!) I've decided to either stick with my A640 or buy an S95, push it as far as it can go, before buying a DSLR. I never would have considered the S95 if it wasn't for the comments here.

Dennis, it's not that I want to use auto, but that I was too lazy/busy to learn how to use the manual settings properly. The A640 was my first digital camera, I bought it when I went overseas as I intended to use it as a starter camera for a DSLR, but the auto settings always seemed good enough for what I wanted to capture. But I'm at the stage now where I want to develop photography as a hobby, rather than just capturing moments to remember when I look back at the photographs.

I'm not too bad setting up photos - I grew up with my dad's old Minolta, and developed my own photos in a dark room, but I definitely agree that I've got a lot to learn with a digital camera as an instrument.

Haha, my attitude is that I'm more likely to play with something if I've got more toys (lenses, etc.) Thanks also for the suggestion on the Olympus and Panasonic - I was also considering a micro 4/3s camera, but don't think they are far enough in their life-cycle to justify the price.

MissTake wrote in post #12711483
Haha, my attitude is that I'm more likely to play with something if I've got more toys (lenses, etc.) Thanks also for the suggestion on the Olympus and Panasonic - I was also considering a micro 4/3s camera, but don't think they are far enough in their life-cycle to justify the price.

You might find this article interesting;

http://bythom.com/comp​actmirrorless.htm

Kirk Tuck is a fan of the m4/3rds. Here's his most recent blog posting on the latest Oly.

http://visualsciencela​b.blogspot.com …pus-weekend-downtown.html

Dennis

i shot with the A series cameras for some time years ago. i ran into limitations.
just FYI, you can pick up a used 30d or rebel xxx series for a decent price and maybe with the kit lens. alternatively, you can pick up a used 1d classic for a very good price ive seen them sold in the "SELL" section for such a good price that i am considering getting a second body.
the one recommendation i would give is to try and budget for a flash if you go DSLR.

i would say im pretty newb, but going DSLR was the best ever.
just one last thing before i ramble on, one thing which i DID like about the a640 was the ability to also shoot macro/micro. i love doing that with the a640. dslr can do that, but that's another expense (micro lens).
if there is one thing hands down i loved about the a series cameras its the ability to shoot micro/closeups

jobv2 wrote in post #12714198
if there is one thing hands down i loved about the a series cameras its the ability to shoot micro/closeups

I have the A620, and also thought it could do good macro. However, my G9 and G11 do it better. I can use an external flash, corded or wireless, as well as close-up lenses, and on a larger LCD. Here's a macro thread on the G forum;

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1054233

Dennis

^^^^^^^ i do like what i see in that thread. ive never owned a g-series canon although from waht im looking at im sure its great