Canon Powershot A620, any reason not to buy?

[Cyber Akuma]

Ok, since its my Dad's birthday and its father's Day soon I want to get him a new camera. He has one that he got a year or two ago, but its starting to give headaches. The main problems are that pictures are terribly grainy and off-color in the dark and it's shutter rate is horrible, anything more faster than about 0.25MPH is blurred beyond recognition, and it used a flash format that wasnt too popular, XD. Most printers and other devices with built-in memorycard reader ports didnt have XD ports.

After looking at multiple top10 lists, I am considering the Canon Powershot A620, most of the cameras in the top10 lists were Canon Powershots.

Originally my pricerange was in the under $200 range, and this is a $300-400 camera, but there are a few online stores like buydig and newegg that are selling it for around $220 to $240, since its 7 megapixel its really kinda hard for me to try to find another for that kinda price.

I was reading multiple reviews online, and it was very difficult to find a negative review on it, sure there was the occational bad review here and there but the overwhelming majority were 4/5 or 5/5 reviews.

So I want to ask here too just to make sure, has anyone ever seen/used this camera? What do you think about it? Is it a good purchase for the price/megapixels/optical zoom im getting? Hows it's light/dark shooting and shutter speed? Any problems with it?

Thanks for your time.

[LindaHewitt]

Two things:

Canon cameras are recognized as having the best optic lenses.

Buy the camera from a local camera store with an excellent reputation, preferably not a chain. You will get better service and support and there is very little difference in the price.

Some of the online chains and camera store chains, are selling the Canon body but they are replacing the lens with a cheaper lens.

I know this because I have a family member who works for a family owned top of the line camera store, which sells cameras costing up to $10,000 and more.

You could also contact a Canon rep for stores in your area, which carry Canon cameras. While they can not say to buy from this store and not this store because all of these stores are their customers.

Visit all of them and learn as much as you can and ask lots of questions. Then buy the best camera that your budget will allow.

BTW, I have had a number of Canon cameras and they have all been great.

Cheers,

Linda

[rednek tek]

Most reviews of the Canon Powershot A620 I glanced at at Amazon were four and five star reviews. It is also highly rated at consumerreports.org. It uses SD flash cards and AA batteries, both good. Some of the reviews I read suggested to not use rechargeable batteries, but this I can't go along with. I bought a Kodak EasyShare C643, which takes awesome pictures and ok video and I am satisfied with it. But IT EATS BATTERIES FOR PASTTIME, which I'm sure all electronics with an LCD screen do. A set of Energizer batteries last no time in it. I bought an 8 pack of Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries for mine, and so far I have gotten good performance from them, lasting 2 to 3 hours of constant use on a charge. Those are relatively expensive batteries, about $2 each, but you should soon recoup that investment, not to mention that rechargeable batteries are more environmentally friendly, since fewer batteries and their hazardous cocktail of chemicals and toxic metals go to the landfill. Rechargeable alkaline batteries are a waste of time though, don't bother. Anyway, it seems you have done your homework and are planning to purchase a good unit.

[jerryctx]

Some of the online chains and camera store chains, are selling the Canon body but they are replacing the lens with a cheaper lens.

This camera does not have a replaceable lens.

[Welshjim]

CyberAkuma--Read the articles in the July 2006 issue of Consumer Reports for things to consider when buying a digital camera.
The Canon A620 is top rated and a good camera. The only possible negatives I can see is that it has no image stabilization, is slightly high priced and slightly on the heavy side.

[ProfessorU]

Image stabilization is not really a feature I'd expect on a camera over $150. If you're going to spend that much, drop another $10 on a book to learn about when and how to use a tripod, wide angle, or fast shutter speeds.
Canon optics really are the best. Sony has been trying for years with their Zeiss lenses and whatnot but Canon doesn't even use glass.

[Welshjim]

Just as many digital camera features, Image Stabilization is one of those the value of which depends on the individual photographer. Low light and long zoom (the Canon's $X probably does not need this) would be where it would be most valuable. I just brought it up as a consideration. Panasonic will put it on all its new models.
And one photographer's comment is here (look under April 16)
http://www.paintedstork.com/digiblog...1_archive.html

To me, short next shot delay and short time between click and shutter release would be more important. But I take lots of shots of kids who are always in motion..