HATE my new camera!

[madisonsgramma]

Hi,

Well, I hate my new Canon Powershot SD800IS!

I read all the reviews that say how great the camera is and all I can say is that they all must be blind. I had the Canon SD700IS and that took great pictures and so I thought I'd upgrade. What a mistake. I don't know what Canon did but the pictures are so bad in every way, no matter what settings I use.

My sister has the same camera and hates the pictures she gets also. So I know we both didn't get bad cameras. (Our Dad was a professional photographer for many years, so I have a good idea of what a good photo looks like from working in the darkroom and helping him with his work.)

Sooooo, any suggestions for another camera? I'm really trying to stay with a P&S because of size. (To throw in the purse.)

Thanks for your help,
Sandy, the frustrated one!

[lindajay]

Sandy, I'm afraid I can't really be of much help here, but I do want to let you know I feel for you! :( I agonized over my most recent camera purchase decision, so I can imagine how terrible it would have felt to have been disappointed in it. There are LOTS of Canon people here, and maybe one of them will be able to help you out. I'm shooting with a Sony DSC-H5, which I love, but it's really too large for a purse-camera. Sorry I can't help.

[Diana]

I have a Sony CyberShot DSC-T9 and I just love it. It is very small and I carry it everywhere in my purse. It has Image Stabilization and a nice 2.5 viewing screen. I believe they have the T10 out now.

Diana

[Carbone]

If you'd care to let us know what is it precisely you don't like, we'd be in a better position to suggest a replacement model. To say you hate it is fine. But it's not helpful enough. Perhaps you don't like the logo placement, the size of the camera, the type of batteries, etc.. ?

Ray

[chas3stix]

Sandy,
Could you post one of your photos. Maybe someone here can figure out what's wrong.
Chas

[AlphaShooter]

I went through three differnet non-SLR cameras and hated them all before I realized that photography was a case of you get what you pay for so I bit the bullet and bought my Alpha 100. Any SLR would I suspect create a satisfactory result. I'm sorry you are not happy, but go SLR and you won't be sorry.
Ken

[Bob_Benner]

I went through three differnet non-SLR cameras and hated them all before I realized that photography was a case of you get what you pay for so I bit the bullet and bought my Alpha 100. Any SLR would I suspect create a satisfactory result. I'm sorry you are not happy, but go SLR and you won't be sorry.
Ken

Also remember that just because the camera is an slr doesn't mean that it is going to take great pictures, you have to know how to take those great pictures. I have taken some nice shots with my Nikon DSLR, but I also took many great shots with my Canon A620 which cost about 500.00 less than the D50. So, almost any camera can take a great picture, it doesn't have to be a DSLR.

[Chuck S.]

madisongramma:

You say you had the 700IS and it took great pictures. Why didn't you just stick with it if you were satisfied? In reading the specs on the cameras, the differences seem trivial...

Chuck

[Codebreaker]

Actually cameras don't take good or bad pictures.....people do :)

Please don't take that personally :)

Colin

[Chuck S.]

I'm beginning to believe that Canon has let their engineers and designers run amok, trying to see how many features they can pack into their small cameras. Case in point: my Canon S3 IS, a nice little P&S, comes with two manuals totalling over 190 pages! Admittedly, they're pocket-sized, but the detail is just overwhelming. The electronic viewfinder can be programmed to show so much technical information that there's barely any room for....the subject of the photo! I like to think of myself as technically competent if not proficient, but I find myself going back to the manual again and again to find out what a particular button does in what mode, etc. All this gingerbread adds little value for me, and it can't be removed. It's like an automobile that's had every conceivable option installed...and you wanted basic transportation.

Maybe there will be a backlash among consumers, yearning for a simpler photographic experience where the subject and composition are more important than which controls are pushed, pulled, or clicked to get the perfectly exposed picture. My first film SLR had a match-needle system for determining exposure, one dial for shutter speed, another for aperture, and a focus ring on the lens - that was it, and it took very nice photos.

Or maybe I'm just getting old and obsolete....(no maybe about that!)

Chuck

[Bob_Benner]

Actually cameras don't take good or bad pictures.....people do :)

Please don't take that personally :)

Colin

Exactly right. That is pretty much what I was trying to say. All my friend had on his trip to Las Vegas last month was his new cell phone, the pics he took with that came out great.

[Codebreaker]

Chuck....

I'm with you 100% on that. Cameras are no longer designed with the Photographer in mind but are designed for the marketing folks who need many bullet points on their brochures.

I've long suspected that of all the wonderful features available in cameras that the little green auto mode gets used the most because by the time you've found the Underwater Fireworks Pet Hair Museum Movie Mode the moment has passed.

Even the top end cameras are not immune to the marketing hype and have to have Picture Styles.

Maybe there's a market for a Digital Pinhole camera that shoots RAW.

Colin

[lindajay]

I'm wondering if madisonsgramma is still around? If so, if you would post an example or two of the pictures you "hate" some of the good people here could probably give you some tips on what to do to make improvements. I'm not sure if you were looking for help or simply venting ???

[lowbone]

As one who prides himself as being on the cutting edge of obsolesence I feel that the user might be at fault but there are some factors that the user may be depending on for good photos that are at issue here. For starters, the IS systems on these small P&S cameras are electronic. In other words when the auto-system on the camera senses the need for IS rather then use a traditional in the lens or sensor moving system it merely bumps up the ISO to 800 1600 or even 3200 on some models. Keep in mind that the sensor on a small P&S camera is smaller then the fingernail on your little finger and when you cram seven megapixels into a tiny sensor like this you get very small pixels that are lousy at light gathering and very prone to produce noise at high ISO resulting in a great deal of image quality loss. Something else that might be a factor is questionable lens quality. The longer you make a zoom lens the more issues you will have with distortion and sharpness. This small point and shoot is using a 4X zoom. It is a very slow lens and the quality of glass is not very high. With most pro lenses you will see a zoom length of about 2X. Lenses like Canons 70-40 or 100-400 do not approach the 4X factor of the lens on this small P&S camera. That and the inclusion of many features crammed into a small body many of which do not work well makes for a not so hot camera but the owner paid a not so hot price so there isn't much to compolain about here. O.K so maybe this isn't the gratest camera in the world, all the more reason to use care in shooting. The worst possible way to hold a camera steady is the way digital P&S camerras are designed to be held, away from the body. Also knowing that the lens on this P&S is very slow and the auto settings will pick a slow shutter speed at telephoto settings or bump your ISO up to the low quality range why not try using a tripod. Try over-riding the automatic features. Although this camera is not the best, it is capable of taking good photos with some limitations. Morover at least some of the fault is with the photographer

[msbrad]

Some real good information here, for sure.
Took me a long time to go off the little green auto spot and hold the camera to my eye for shooting. Glad I did, but...it was tough.
When I get into a panic situation, I do sometimes return to auto.:o

Alphashooter, I will be interested in hearing more about your camera, as I may come picking your brain regarding it. I did read a review on it, I think it was consumer reports and they gave it some less than favorable marks, on noise, & shutter lag. Right now I have the Sony f828 (taken 8700+ pics) as my larger camera, and the older Sony DSC-s75 as my little one.
Great camera as long as it stays away from bananas.

Not sure when I will upgrade to a newer something. I do need to sit still and really learn more on what I have. guess more lessons!
m

[mom to 4]

When I first got my little 3 megapixel Olympus P & S I hated that too. When I gave it to my son (13 at the time) to take pictures at President Regan's funeral, I was astounded at the photos. He had no experience and I figured it would give him something to do while I used my 35mm. It made me decide that I needed to learn more about it. I fell in love with it and the pictures even for a 3 mp were great! Five years laterand even having my Canon Rebel, I still love that little camera!!!!! (but hated it when I got it!)

[billz]

Chuck....

.... by the time you've found the Underwater Fireworks Pet Hair Museum Movie Mode the moment has passed.



Colin -

There's a dip switch underneath the battery. Simply move the switch and your ready.;)

Seriously, your points are excellent.

Bill

[kroberts]

I've long suspected that of all the wonderful features available in cameras that the little green auto mode gets used the most because by the time you've found the Underwater Fireworks Pet Hair Museum Movie Mode the moment has passed. Colin

Colin, That's hilarious:D :eek: :D (and probably true)!

[madisonsgramma]

Hi I'm still here.

I'm babysitting my Grandaughter and once I get her settled I'll be back to answer all the replies. "Talk" to you later.

Thanks,
Sandy

[lindajay]

Awwww. I wish I could be babysitting my granddaughter! :) She lives too far away. :( See you later, madisonsgramma.

[Shari]

Hi Sandy, I wanted a new P&S this year to carry with me at all times. When I recently took a course the instructor said that there is not much more they can do with cameras so they are adding a lot of unnecessary extras. She also said that it is who is behind the camera that makes quite a difference. I had four things I wanted. A tiny camera. A VIEWFINDER, Image stabilizer and a 2.5 screen. That pretty well limited me to Canon or Sony. I did a lot of research both here and on Steves Digicams. Santa and I went to check out the Powershot 800 IS but the store we like to deal with said they were not carrying that model because there had been problems with it. The 900 did not have IS. So I decided on the 700 IS. He also got a high speed card but I don't know if that makes a difference to anything or not. I took photos Christmas day and they seemed fine. I have taken a few inside without the flash at a high ISO and they too have been good with no blur. Unfortunately I have had a bad flu since boxing day and we have had to cancel out on three parties that I had planned to try my new camera on. I am hoping when I get out next week to try the camera that I will still be happy. We got an excellent price because I guess the 700 is going out of stock!! I now think I may have been lucky that they did not chose to carry the 800. I would go on a camera forum and see what others are saying about that camera. Sorry I kinda of went on..
Shari
I forgot to say that this little camera seems to show red eye whereas my little Fuji never did but I can deal with that in PSE5. I think you cannot have everything and have to pick the most important features you yourself want.

[Chuck S.]

I would go on a camera forum and see what others are saying about that camera.

Sandy, that's very good advice from Shari. One site that I visit occasionally when I want feedback on hardware is www.dpreview.com; they have forums for many different makes and models. They have LOTS of postings, almost too many to plow through. But they do have a pretty good search engine, so it might be possible to determine whether others are experiencing the same disappointments as you are.

If you haven't given away that 700, I'd keep on using it until and unless the 800's problems get resolved to your satisfaction.

chuck

[OFD678]

Any reason you can't return it and get what you want?

[Chuck S.]

I checked dpreview.com and there are indeed some negative reviews, particularly regarding extreme graininess when used indoors or in low light. Sounds like this one should go back, as Brent suggested.

Chuck

[chas3stix]

Chuck,
Great advice for Sandy. dpreview is a great resouece. I don't think Phil Askey has ever given anyone a bum steer with his reviews.
Chas

[AlphaShooter]

Some real good information here, for sure.

Alphashooter, I will be interested in hearing more about your camera, as I may come picking your brain regarding it. I did read a review on it, I think it was consumer reports and they gave it some less than favorable marks, on noise, & shutter lag. Right now I have the Sony f828 (taken 8700+ pics) as my larger camera, and the older Sony DSC-s75 as my little one.
Great camera as long as it stays away from bananas.

Not sure when I will upgrade to a newer something. I do need to sit still and really learn more on what I have. guess more lessons!
m

Brad --
I'd be happy to answer any questions about the Alpha. So far so good but I'm still learning lots of new stuff. The fellow was right when he said people take photos, not cameras. With that said, I can honestly say that my last camers which wasn't an SLR really made it hard for me to take good shots. Mostly because I didn't understand how to do it, but now I do, so I could probably go back and take better shots. I guess what I'm saying is the experience of learning to shoot with an SLR has taught me how to take good shots on any camera. I think a big part of it is I invested more time into the hobby after I dished out $1K for the equipment... and counting. Like any other hobby, you get serious once you start spending money, and vice versa.. viscious cycle. Anyway, regarding the Alpha, I mainly got it because I respect Sony and it was a 10.2 MP. If I had waited a few months I probably would have ended up with the Nikon D80.
Ken

[TonyW]

Anyway, regarding the Alpha, I mainly got it because I respect Sony and it was a 10.2 MP. If I had waited a few months I probably would have ended up with the Nikon D80.
Ken

And they both use the same Sony CCD sensor so any differences are in the camera and the image processor.

Tony