Canon S500 or A80

[skychief]

I'm new to digital cams and from reading the comments posted in OT I have narrowed it down to these two models. Price really doesn't matter but I would like to stick with one of these models as they have both recieved great reviews. I own an older, non digital, Elph and really like the portability of it which is why I'm leaning towards its digital counterpart but everone seems to love the A80 so my decision is tough. Which one would you recomend?

 

[SurgicalShark]

I found A80 to be better for money and CF cards are cheap to get.

 

[wicktron]

They both use CF.

 

[screw3d]

The A80 has a lot more manual options, more accessories, AA batteries (pro or con, you decide) and swivel LCD..

 

[dartworth]

I like the S1 IS

 

[clicknext]

A80, unless you really don't want any more advanced features at all, and consider the small size of the camera to be very important. The elphs are very useful because you can just slip it in your pocket, but I find that to be the only advantage. Battery life of the A80 is probably better, maybe significantly so.

 

[randomlinh]

i prefer the small size of the elphs. I'm not going to be caring much about manual settings when I'm just browsing around getting shots.... but that's what I do. For going around taking pictures, I'm trying to get a d30 Granted, that's just the way I use it. I'm even considering trading my s400 for an sd110

The swivel LCD on the A80 seems very cheaply done IMO though, but is useful in certain situations. Also, if you have big hands, you'll hate the S line... my friend doesn't like my s400.. his a70 is the smallest he'll go.

 

[CptObvious]

I've found the Li-ion batteries of the S series to last much longer than AA rechargeables (in most digital cameras). You can find generic ones on eBay for cheap and they've lasted just as long as the stock Canon battery in my experience. Plus they're lighter and less bulkier.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: lnguyen
i prefer the small size of the elphs. I'm not going to be caring much about manual settings when I'm just browsing around getting shots.... but that's what I do. For going around taking pictures, I'm trying to get a d30 Granted, that's just the way I use it. I'm even considering trading my s400 for an sd110

The swivel LCD on the A80 seems very cheaply done IMO though, but is useful in certain situations. Also, if you have big hands, you'll hate the S line... my friend doesn't like my s400.. his a70 is the smallest he'll go.

Very cheaply done? It's the same swivel type (material and otherwise) as my co-worker's Canon digital camcorder which he paid $500 for.

 

[melly]

I'd go with Fuji, HP, or Pentax to be honest. Canons just don't cut it.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: melly
I'd go with Fuji, HP, or Pentax to be honest. Canons just don't cut it.

I hope you're just trolling.

 

[melly]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: melly
I'd go with Fuji, HP, or Pentax to be honest. Canons just don't cut it.

I hope you're just trolling.

Fuji has always been up there in quality, I personally have owned an HP for over 2 years with no problems--very good for the money also--and Pentax may be a bit pricey but they are great. I find that with Canons, they are very cumbersome. I just don't like them and similar to Kodak, are prone to breakage or dysfunction. Sorry.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: melly

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: melly
I'd go with Fuji, HP, or Pentax to be honest. Canons just don't cut it.

I hope you're just trolling.

Fuji has always been up there in quality, I personally have owned an HP for over 2 years with no problems--very good for the money also--and Pentax may be a bit pricey but they are great. I find that with Canons, they are very cumbersome. I just don't like them and similar to Kodak, are prone to breakage or dysfunction. Sorry.

HP digi cams are no different from Kodak - basic, entry level cameras with little to offer. My old Kodak DC240 has some issues with red but is still going strong after 2+ years (I'm the second owner) - like HP's though - they don't offer much in terms of advanced camera features.

I'm not a big fan of Fuji at all either - my old Finepix 1200/1300 was compact and light but took horrible pictures. Just this weekend when my cousins were here - she had a Japanese 4mp Fuji digicam and took pictures in downtown Fort Worth - she along with everyone else who compared pics of hers compared to my 4mp A80 said mine blew hers away hands down. Mine was only set to 1024x768 at Fine (medium) resolution.

I have no experience with Pentax but hear they make great DSLR's though.

Canon's just aren't user friendly like HP/Kodak's are which is why you might think they're a bit cumbersome to use.

 

[Ameesh]

i was making the same decision and iw ent with the A80, i like the camera a lot.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Very cheaply done? It's the same swivel type (material and otherwise) as my co-worker's Canon digital camcorder which he paid $500 for.

That's a very cheap camcorder btw. The swivel on the A80 and more than likely that camcorder are designed for non-rugged use, I would purchase a digicam you are planning to 'carry' based on durability.

Problem is many treat their digicam like a family heirloom and would be better served just buying a P&S 35mm.

It's funny how 10 years ago only a dedicated few cared about which camera they got, most just ran to the store and grabbed whatever was on sale. Now people spend hours and hours debating what to buy.

The S500 and A80 are two different cameras, you are asking the same question as Minvan or coupe?

 

[RagingBITCH]

That is true that the camcorder was cheap. But seriously - there aren't that many ways you can implement a flip out LCD screen on a $379 camera without raising the price up. It's a simple mechanism and yes, it's non-rugged, but it doesn't mean it's not reliable.

 

[skychief]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Very cheaply done? It's the same swivel type (material and otherwise) as my co-worker's Canon digital camcorder which he paid $500 for.

That's a very cheap camcorder btw. The swivel on the A80 and more than likely that camcorder are designed for non-rugged use, I would purchase a digicam you are planning to 'carry' based on durability.

Problem is many treat their digicam like a family heirloom and would be better served just buying a P&S 35mm.

It's funny how 10 years ago only a dedicated few cared about which camera they got, most just ran to the store and grabbed whatever was on sale. Now people spend hours and hours debating what to buy.

The S500 and A80 are two different cameras, you are asking the same question as Minvan or coupe?

Your right alkemyst, I should have been a little more concise on what I was looking for. I want something that I can carry around that takes good pics and has some nice features. Also, I do a lot of hiking so I want something that I can take along and snap those occasional nature shots. My main question is though, that if I get into this hobby a little more intensley, which one has more potential to grow with me before I have to go and buy a new better camera?

 

[PsychoAndy]

It's a hard decision.

Right now, I have a kodak DC4800 (before the advent of newer, crappier p&s cameras), and it's a frigging brick. I have a NIB S400, but I dunno if I could use it; while it's tiny and i'd love to carry it around, I doubt it has as much control as I have with my slowly disintegrating dc4800. It's basically a trade off with features and compactness.

To whoever said Canon sucks, well, thats your opinion. Currently, I'd only buy either canon, sony, or nikon.

tl;dr: if all you do is point and shoot, and you dont know anything about photography, get the s series. if you like messing around with stupid features like i do, get the A80.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: skychief

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Very cheaply done? It's the same swivel type (material and otherwise) as my co-worker's Canon digital camcorder which he paid $500 for.

That's a very cheap camcorder btw. The swivel on the A80 and more than likely that camcorder are designed for non-rugged use, I would purchase a digicam you are planning to 'carry' based on durability.

Problem is many treat their digicam like a family heirloom and would be better served just buying a P&S 35mm.

It's funny how 10 years ago only a dedicated few cared about which camera they got, most just ran to the store and grabbed whatever was on sale. Now people spend hours and hours debating what to buy.

The S500 and A80 are two different cameras, you are asking the same question as Minvan or coupe?

Your right alkemyst, I should have been a little more concise on what I was looking for. I want something that I can carry around that takes good pics and has some nice features. Also, I do a lot of hiking so I want something that I can take along and snap those occasional nature shots. My main question is though, that if I get into this hobby a little more intensley, which one has more potential to grow with me before I have to go and buy a new better camera?

For potential to grow, A series > S series.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: screw3d

Originally posted by: skychief

Your right alkemyst, I should have been a little more concise on what I was looking for. I want something that I can carry around that takes good pics and has some nice features. Also, I do a lot of hiking so I want something that I can take along and snap those occasional nature shots. My main question is though, that if I get into this hobby a little more intensley, which one has more potential to grow with me before I have to go and buy a new better camera?

For potential to grow, A series > S series.

I agree.

Here's a rather lengthy review for both from Steve's Digicams (excellent resource but it goes quite into depth over both, probably much more than the average user can comprehend)

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/a80.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/s500.html

 

[luvya]

Go with S500. I've used both, S500 can do most if not all, the tricks you want.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: lnguyen
i prefer the small size of the elphs. I'm not going to be caring much about manual settings when I'm just browsing around getting shots.... but that's what I do. For going around taking pictures, I'm trying to get a d30 Granted, that's just the way I use it. I'm even considering trading my s400 for an sd110

The swivel LCD on the A80 seems very cheaply done IMO though, but is useful in certain situations. Also, if you have big hands, you'll hate the S line... my friend doesn't like my s400.. his a70 is the smallest he'll go.

Very cheaply done? It's the same swivel type (material and otherwise) as my co-worker's Canon digital camcorder which he paid $500 for.

Well, like I said.. seems.. feels... ya get the picture I'm rather picky and the camera is targeted at budget consumers, so of course it's not going to be "up to par" but just threw out my thoughts.

 

[alkemyst]

#1 rule with digicams and most electronics, buy what you need now...by the time you are ready to use more advanced features that price point has dropped.

With a digicam chances are the small P&S you buy now will make a great carry everywhere camera and when you do upgrade you can afford to get a camera designed for just special events (where the quality difference can be seen more readily). Most 3MP+ cameras are taking shots overly adequate for the average users needs (printing 4x6's and emailing/web hosting snapshots).

I have a A70, I bought it as an upgrade to my A50. Once I am taking more shots I may get another camera in the ultra high MP range/full sized body. I will probably get a digi-vidcam first.

 

[MazerRackham]

I just got an S1 IS and I love it. I also have an S110 from way back that I'm going to keep for a pocket-able digicam. The S110 has been subjected to many snowboarding falls over the years and hasn't skipped a beat

I got the S1 IS for the 10x zoom with image stabilization, and also the manual controls. I love that thing.

 

[EmperorIQ]

a80 for the manual!