Camera advice req'd.

[Steve Pickford]

After a bit of advice:

Whilst over estimating my snowboarding abilities & falling over backwards, I squashed my Canon A60 PowerShot, pushing the retractable lens right back in to the body by a couple of mm. The lens no longer moves but the image screen works. It's probably uneconomic to repair?

I need to replace it & am thinking about going for the A70 or A75 as they take the A60's CF cards & rechargeable AA batteries - I have plenty of both. I don't really need anything more sophisticated as I tend to view my photos only via a PC. I also share them using Smugmug (www.possu.smugmug.com (http://www.possu.smugmug.com)) & frequent the AdvRider site regularly.

I don't think I need more than 3mp? The A60 had 3x Optical Zoom, same as the A70/75, I remember sometimes thinking that a bigger zoom would be better - any thoughts on this?

All other comments appreciated? Any other cameras in the same price range that take CF/AA that you can recommend? I'm not in to sticky out screens or flashlights, just a basic camera.

Yes, I do have a camera lens shaped bruise on my back. :rofl

[gus]

From looking at your travel stuff a while back in ADV i find it hard to believe that you are not a DSLR user.

For pocket stuff i dont think you can go past the canon A series....which ever of them suits your budget. 3/4 MP is fine for computer viewing & the odd print.

[Steve Pickford]

From looking at your travel stuff a while back in ADV i find it hard to believe that you are not a DSLR user.

For pocket stuff i dont think you can go past the canon A series....which ever of them suits your budget. 3/4 MP is fine for computer viewing & the odd print.
Took me a minutes to work out what DSLR stood for. :rofl

Is that a compliment? If so, then thanks. :thumb

I like the A series, easy to use for camera Luddite such as my myself. Looking on Amazon.co.uk, there seems to be little difference in price between the A70 & A75? I assume that the 75 is an update of or higher spec than the 70?

Any thoughts on what level of optical zoom I should be looking at?

[wxwax]

Steve, here's a review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/a75.html) of the A75 that discusses how it's different to the A70.

WRT zoom, 3x is pretty standard for that size camera. You can spend more and get more zoom if it's a big deal.

FWIW, the A-series cameras are a pretty sweet number.

[Steve Pickford]

Steve, here's a review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/a75.html) of the A75 that discusses how it's different to the A70.

WRT zoom, 3x is pretty standard for that size camera. You can spend more and get more zoom if it's a big deal.

FWIW, the A-series cameras are a pretty sweet number.
Thanks for the link.:thumb I think I'll be going for the A75, the linked also linked me to UK prices that bettered Amazon UK by over 20% (£111.62 v £141.70).

Owe you drink should we meet, thanks again.:):

[wxwax]

Thanks for the link.:thumb I think I'll be going for the A75, the linked also linked me to UK prices that bettered Amazon UK by over 20% (£111.62 v £141.70).

Owe you drink should we meet, thanks again.:):
Excellent! I'll buy the second round. :beer

[Eric&Susan]

You might also consider the a510. It dosn't take the CF card, it takes the SD though. I just got one. It came down to the a75 and the a510. Since the a510 replaced the a75 and it's the same price with more features I went with the a510. The a510 has 4x versues 3x in the a75 and the a510 only requires two AA instead of 4 AA with the same amount of pictures possible because of new power saving techniques. Just my .02

Eric

[wxwax]

Trouble makers. Both of you. :toni

[Steve Pickford]

You might also consider the a510. It dosn't take the CF card, it takes the SD though. I just got one. It came down to the a75 and the a510. Since the a510 replaced the a75 and it's the same price with more features I went with the a510. The a510 has 4x versues 3x in the a75 and the a510 only requires two AA instead of 4 AA with the same amount of pictures possible because of new power saving techniques. Just my .02

EricI was aware of the A510 but had discounted because of the CF/SD issue........

But thanks to WXWAX's link, I can get an A510 for £130 inc tax compared to an A75 at £111. They're also offering a great deal on 256mb & 512mb SD cards at £17.24 & 26.81 respectively. I prefer 2 x 256 rather than 1 x 512 card but I could sell my CF's, buy 2 x 256 SD's & probably have a few £££ in my pocket.

It's looking like I'll be getting the A510.

Eric: thanks for the A510 tip.

WXWAX: thanks for the link to a cracking deal, looks like I owe you both a drink:freaky

Amazing how prices have dropped in a year. I paid £130 for the A60 online 12 months ago, normal local retail was £180:huh at the time. An EOS should be £50 in a years time at this rate.....:rofl :rofl

[DJ-S1]

You might also consider the a510. It dosn't take the CF card, it takes the SD though. I just got one. It came down to the a75 and the a510. Since the a510 replaced the a75 and it's the same price with more features I went with the a510. The a510 has 4x versues 3x in the a75 and the a510 only requires two AA instead of 4 AA with the same amount of pictures possible because of new power saving techniques. Just my .02

EricMy brother has the A75, it's great. But I just made the same decision as all you folks and picked up an A510 for my wife. I haven't used it much yet, but it's a pretty nice unit.

Amazon has a Viking 512 SD card for $40-something, and there's a $15 rebate on it so it ends up being $28 or so with free shipping. Not a bad deal.

[Steve Pickford]

Just ordered the A510 & a couple of 256mb cards online from ebuyer. Should arrive in a couple of days, will post pics ASAP.