I am thinking it is time to upgrade my digital still camera (Canon SD400 elph) and am trying to decide between the Canon SD550 elph (7.1 megapixels) and the Canon SD700 elph IS (6 megapixels with image stabilization). Someone at a camera shop told me that the image stabilization won't do me that much good on regular shots as it is meant mainly to improve zoom shots. Is this true?

I can't decide if I should sacrifice the extra megapixels for image stabilization. Any ideas out there?

The practical difference between 6 and 7 megapixels is negligible; forget that as a differentiating factor.

The main benefit of image stabilisation is not in "zoom" shots, but in low light ones - eg the inside of buildings, when you can't use flash. In that situation, it can work wonders. I've now had a couple of cameras with IS and it's great. If the two cameras are otherwise essentially equal, and one has IS and the other doesn't, I'd go for the one with IS.

One thing about IS is that it EATS batteries. Make sure you only switch it on when you need it, and switch it off again after you've taken the shot.

Thanks for your help, Chris. I had no idea that the IS was something you could switch on and off. If I were taking a picture outside of say a building or landscape, would it best to leave the IS off then? Will it improve night shots?

I stayed up late last night reading online professional reviews on the camera and the SD700 is generally regarded as superior to the SD550, so I think I have made up my mind to go with that one.

If you're taking a normal daylight shot, IS is really irrelevent unless you're using some pretty extreme zoom lens, which is unlikely for a consumer camera. It really comes into its own for shooting inside buildings, night shots, that sort of thing.

A general "rule of thumb" is that you'll get a blurry picture if you try to hand-hold a shot with an exposure longer than about 1/60th second. IS allows you to hand hold exposures of 1/8th second or even longer if you're careful.

On all the cameras I've seen, IS is a facility that is manually switched on and off because, as I say, it uses a lot of battery power. I previously had a Minolta camera with IS built in, and now I have a Canon Digital SLR with a separate IS lens; both have worked wonderfully well.

Am looking at buying a reasonably good camera for our Wonders of Britain & Ireland TT in August.Never been overseas & want a good value for money digital camera without spending heaps.
Am interested in Fujifilm Finepix S6500 (apparently referred to as S6200 in America)& would be interested to hear any comments from anyone about the suitability of this camera for travel photos. Have read some fairly good reports on the net about this camera but don't have much knowledge of photography. Also assume it would be best to buy before we leave in order to become familiar with the camera's operation rather than pick it up maybe cheaper in Singapore where we are stopping over for 3 nights on the way. Does anyone know if cameras are very much cheaper in Singapore?

Hi Novice,
I can't help you with that particular camera, however... I would recommend that you buy it before you leave so you can familiarise yourself with it before your trip. I don't know if it would be that much cheaper in Singapore & then you'd have to make sure you got an international warranty with it.

You can buy it here first & if its over a certain amount you can get the 'duty' back (effectively buying it duty free) on your way thru the airport as you leave Australia. It'll work out better than the old way of buying duty free as you still get to use it before you go. Just make sure you have the camera with you & any relevant paperwork filled out.

cheers,
ClareS

quote:

Originally posted by ClareS:
You can buy it here first & if its over a certain amount you can get the 'duty' back (effectively buying it duty free) on your way thru the airport as you leave Australia. It'll work out better than the old way of buying duty free as you still get to use it before you go. Just make sure you have the camera with you & any relevant paperwork filled out.

cheers,
ClareS

And that you leave the country within 30 days of buying the camera. More than 30 days and you can't claim the GST back.

Should you not like the camera, by purchasing before you leave and practicing with it you would be able to return it for another camera if you're not happy. Or worse yet, if something were wrong with the camera when you purchase it in Singapore, you could be stuck. Definitely buy it at home and use it before you go - you'll discover if indeed you like this camera and also how to use its features.

Warranties are something to consider when you buy expensive items like cameras and timepieces abroad. If it goes kaput once you are home you are out of luck.

Always read the warranty when you buy the item. Some companies do have international warranties; others do not. My Canon Digital SLR, for example, does have a world-wide warranty, so I could get it repaired under warranty by any Canon dealer, anywhere in the world.

I'm not entirely sure that would be successful in the states. Frequently dealerships refuse to honor purchases bought overseas. They are not mandated to honor them. Just like "coupons" for free stuff or "money off". Two stores of the same products (say Starbucks) - one may say "we are not participating in that offer" and refuse your discount...a silly example, but that's the jist of it franchise to franchise.

Also, perhaps there are 50 Canon authorized dealers in the USA, but the one who "might" support an international warranty might be in Nevada and one lives in New York. . .just an extra hassle here to get stuff repaired that was purchased abroad.

quote:

My Canon Digital SLR, for example, does have a world-wide warranty, so I could get it repaired under warranty by any Canon dealer, anywhere in the world.

I have certainly had products I bought in Hong Kong repaired elsewhere. However, there can be a problem if the particular model you have is not sold in the country where you want it repaired.

Cameras, except perhaps the very top end, seem to be offered universally, but with other products they can be country specific. For example, you would probably have trouble getting a United Kingdom keyboard replaced in the USA.

quote:

Originally posted by Pauline:
And that you leave the country within 30 days of buying the camera. More than 30 days and you can't claim the GST back.

oh yeah, I forgot that bit... thanks Pauline!

cheers,
ClareS

Thanks to all who responded to my query, your info has been most helpful & appreciated.
I really loved the grip of the Fuji camera. It felt like you couldn't accidentally drop it. But it didn't have IS which I hadn't even heard of until I read the invaluable information in these forums. So after much consideration have decided to spend a little more & have had a Canon Powershot S2IS put aside for me, & will purchase it within 30 days of our departure to qualify for refund of GST. It is a superseded model but is 5meg with 12X optical zoom & most reports I've seen are good & they're giving good deals on them now.
So thanks greatly to everyone for your ideas & assistance.
Think I'll need every one of those 30 days to learn how to use it properly.
Thanks again everyone!

Novice,

I just bought the S2IS canon camera. I was waiting for the S3IS, but from all the reviews it sounded like there are only minor upgrades (1 more MG and a teeny bit bigger screen). Can't wait to try it out - I should get it tomorrow.

Jill