joe_zammarelli

Dunno Bruno.

 

Could be a combination of things. Comparing A60 and A70 images, things look pretty much the same. So chip size may be a factor, but it's not the whole story.

 

And while it may not be the lens, per se, the whole focusing system may be responsible. Just the way it's designed I reckon. As I said, I get terrific results with close-ups. It may be engineered that way on purpose.

 

Another thing related to my comment on prints is that we're looking at these things on our computer screens. Without getting into pixel mapping and what not, it seems to me that an image that would print fine at 4x6 or even 5x7 might look a bit soft on a 17" screen. Just for grins, I've been poking around over on dpreview.com and even the images done with a PowerShot Pro 1 and an EOS-1 Ds look a bit soft. So the monitor is definitely a suspect.

 

bon chance

That's about as sharp as you're going to get with the A60 at that distance. You can use PS to perk it up a bit. And it's been my experience that prints come out sharper than what you see on the screen.

 

I use my A60 almost daily and find I get excellent results at distances less than, say, ten feet. Beyond that I have better luck using the preset modes or manually focusing on infinity. But the results are not and will never be tack sharp.

 

bon chance

Yes, there is a difference, but you really, really, REALLY have to look for it. Why bother? Cards are cheap. Get a big one and use super fine.

 

bon chance

I get an AF lock warning when I include the sun in my shots. I've

taken many sunsets with both the A60 and A80 with no problems, but

I've been out at dawn recently and even a half hour after sunrise

the sun overwhelms the AF.

 

The culprit is the AiAF setting. When ON the camera selects from

nine frames (the A60/A70 have five). When OFF it uses center focus.

I leave it OFF because I got tired of shots with perfectly exposed

foregrounds and blurs for subjects further out. I've even taken two

shots, back to back and watched the camera change frames! Anywho, AF

cameras can get confused, so it's nice to have the option. And it

does make a difference when I do side by side comparisons. But this

thing with the sun messing up the AF is something new to me.

 

By the way, the shots seem none the worse for the warning, but it

would be nice to know the camera has a lock.

 

Just thought I'd pass this on.

 

bon chance

Blurry? May be user error. I get a fair number of blurry shots, too, but never when I use a tripod. Try it and see.

 

bon chance

Fernando is correct, yet there are differences. Why? I wonder.

I own and use a Canon A60, A70, and A80 and an Olympus D-560. Why three Canons? Long story, don't ask.

 

I like the way they fit my hand better than the bullet-shaped Oly, though they're not quite as pocketable.

 

Picture-wise, I like the Canon better. The Oly tends to oversaturate things. Could be just the D-560. Dunno.

 

And the Canon has a faster cycle time, controls on a thumbwheel, manual modes, and uses AA batteries. All of which may not be important to you, but they make using the beast easier.

 

As for review bias: I guarantee that this is a 100% biased review.

 

bon chance

The cards are not the same. For intsance, you can use the Olympus panoramic feature only with an Olympus xD card. Check your camera manual to see if there are similar restrictions.

 

Secondly, check the warranties. My Fuji xD died after about a year and Fuji only warrants them that long. But Sandisk offers a lifetime warranty.

All good suggestions folks, thanks.

 

The Fuji definitely looks like a winner, though, as far as price and features go.

LOL

 

Most of my customers have a digital p&s, so they think they can get the same results I do when they see the A80. You and I know it's not the tool, but how you use it.

 

Anyhoo, real means something that looks like a 35mm SLR. I'm not interested in starting a new line of equipment on my shelf, so a functional, reliable body with a good, stock lens would be ideal.

Derek you need to explore this site some.

 

As for the repair technique, I've used the same technique with much satisfaction many times on many pieces of annoying hardware from typewriters to computers. Didn't help the equipment much, but I sure felt better! And I never had to deal with that pesky problem again.

 

Hammer on!

While I will continue to use film for fine craft photography, many

of my customers just want a memento of the sweater they slaved over

for a year before they shipped it off as a Christmas gift. Maximum

print size is 8x10. I have used a Canon A80 with excellent results,

but unfortunately it doesn't look like a "real" camera. I don't need

more than 4mp and would like something with decent glass at 100mm or

there abouts.

 

thanks y'all

I like the Classroom In A Book series for Photoshop. They walk you through most of what you're looking for.

 

bon chance

Good point, Adolfo. However, I found even this section a bit lame.

 

 

Without getting into nature photography ethics here, they recommend A) not harming the subject (sometimes even just a photog's presence can upset a critter) and B) don't do anything you wouldn't want to see printed along with the shot. Both good points that have been done to death elsewhere.

 

The most interesting part for me was the bit on publication. Specifically, framing shots for possible use on a cover or in a spread. You need to leave negative space for text on the cover and you don't want your subject in the gutter of a spread.

 

The most annoying part was Rowell's self-serving ad for his graduated filters.

 

Just my dos centavos.

After months of flawless performance, my xD has given up the ghost.

The camera gives me a "card error" when I try to format the card. My

PC thinks the card needs formatting also, but I'm not silly enough

to let it do the format.

 

Anybody have experience with a dead xD? Any way to troubleshoot it?

Anyone know where I can find specifications?

 

Thanks y'all.

Don't know if the Video and DVD are different, but I got the video from the library. Unless you're a fan of these guys, I'd save my money and do the same or rent it if you can. All the new information I garnered fit on three post-it notes and much of that was to remind myself of things I knew, but had forgotten.

Get a minor in business because if you're serious about this you'll want to make money at it and a few business courses will stand you in much better stead that any arty type courses. The best professionals are not only excellent photographers, but astute businessmen, er, business folk?

The only AF cameras I have are digital. I have an EM and FM2n. I use the EM a LOT. It's my favorite. Or should I say they are my favorites as I have three. They're so cheap. I also use the Series E lenses. Kind of a purist thang.

 

Professionally I do nature work and product photography. I would use the digicams, but clients expect to see a "real" camera, so I use both and pick whichever shots are best.

 

But bottom line, I do a lot of hiking, so the EM finds it's way into my fanny pack more days than not.

In some cases it is NOT an option. My Oly froze when I plugged it into my PC. I figured the camera was new, so it had to be the computer. After a week of hell, which included doing a full system restore, I ran across a post on another board stating that there was a compatibility problem with AMD processors. The firmware upgrade fixed things.

 

bon chance

Ditto Beau.

 

I have a Lexar, 4-card reader because I use both CF and xD. Thirty bucks at WalMart. Couldn't live without it.

 

As for battery life, I get almost 750 pix with a set of batteries. I know you said you don't care about battery life, but you can only recharge the beasts so many times. Get a reader and the set you have should last just about forever.

 

And while the camera/reader acts like a drive, I always just copy the pix and reformat the card in the camera. No point erasing them if I'm going to format anyway.

 

bon chance

I have a couple of Lexar 4X cards and I have run thousands of pix though 'em. No problems.

I wouldn't have a camera with proprietary batteries. AAs are ubiquitous.

 

Also, smaller isn't always better. We're all different, but the A80 fits my hand better tham most smaller cameras.

 

Camera controls are important. A thumbwheel with the functions you use most is better than getting lost in menu hell.

 

Lastly, cycle time is important to me. I haven't tried them all or even most, but my Canons are quicker than my Oly or other Oly's I've tried. Don't know about the Ixus.

 

Find a store and play with 'em side by side if you can.

 

bon chance

K -

 

Just looking for something to leave in the car: a p&s for snaps and something a bit more serious for, well, more serious photo ops. As I said, I'm leaning toward an XA and FM2n, maybe with a 28mm and 80-200mm lens (plus accessories). Or maybe an Oly D-560 and a digital Rebel.

 

Temps from -10f to +150f. That doesn't mean that the equipment will be exposed to these conditions on a regular basis. I'm thinking +10f to +120f. These are the conditions inside a car in the southeastern US where I live. But we have been skiing and my wife refused to leave the condo until it got above 0f and we have been in Arizona in the summer, so ...

Okay, Mark, I get the point. :)

EM

 

Compact, lightweight and cheap!

 

Cheap? How does $50 sound? With lens! I got it at a pawn shop for that. All I did was replace the foam.

 

I have another I got as a complete kit, all components in near-new condition, body, lenses, flash, motor drive. How much? $120.

 

As for batteries, the EM with shoot at 1/90 without batteries. There is a 1/90 setting on the dial. And while I can't confirm this, I've read it will shoot at 1/1000 without the battery in AUTO mode.

 

One caveat: When you replace the foam, use open cell foam on the mirror stop. It's softer than neoprene and helps curb the harsh mirror slap. Not that I've had a problem with closed-cell foam, but it does make a noticable difference.