New camera for the wife

HuskyRunner · 12-12-2006, 09:10 PM

So I bought my wife a camera for Christmas. It's a Canon powershot A640. 10 megapixel and stuff. Anyone have any experience with these? Right now we've got an OLD Canon digital 1 point something MP, so anything will be better, but for $600 with a 2 GB card and tax, I want to know that it's decent. Judging by some of the amazing photos on here, I know some of you really know what you're doing, so anything you can tell me would be great.

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Localmotion · 12-12-2006, 09:15 PM

the A640 is a very good point and shoot.

All in all, you cannot go wrong with canon. I have 3 canon cameras and that is all my family uses. Congrats on the great buy!!!

the best way to find out the different functions is to read the manual..LOL

nick-m · 12-13-2006, 01:33 PM

Sounds to me a little pricey at 600, even with the bundle, other then that;

Powershot series were always nice, long time ago I had an A70...a small point and yet very capable with features not found in other cameras; manual focus, white balance, shutter speed, aperture? Hell yes, awesome...if that stuff matters to you! It made for some very nice pictures.

The 640 starts quickly and is ready to shoot relatively fast. The 35mm-140mm range is nice and it's pretty fast at f/2.8. Quality will be very good in most conditions. ISO 400 is very useable if you need extra light. Flip out/swivel LCD is neat, it uses AA batteries which you can pick up just about anywhere.

Only problem that it and other similar cameras tend to have is redeye, since the flash is so close to the lense. I advise you turn off digital zoom (in-camera crop, reduces quality) and put it on the highest setting (3264 x 2448, superfine) and keep it there, in order to ensure the images are future proof and that...should you manage to snag some amazing shot, you won't all of a sudden discover that you set it on "middle normal 1600 x 1200" so you could squeeze more shots on the card. Memory is cheap these days.

Anyway...if you have any questions at all or need any photographic help, feel free to PM me, would be very happy to assist/answer any questions. Cameras are a huge hobby of mine

da_bigg_wigg · 12-13-2006, 02:09 PM

I just picked up a camera for myself a few hours ago. I got the Canon SD600. It's sitting here next to me at work and it's killing me that I won't even really get to play with it until I get home. Even then, I am waiting for a memory card that I bought off a website, so the 16mb card it came with is all I have to play with until I get the real deal. I can take all of 4 superfine pics... I''m going to watch a hockey game tonight, so I'll play with it there a little. I've even got pimp seats too, so hopefully I'll catch a fight right up close...

Localmotion · 12-13-2006, 02:53 PM

it might be 600 CDN?

DH6twinotter · 12-13-2006, 04:19 PM

I've got a Canon SD450, and it is great. Has a lot of vibration warnings though, maybe more than it should.

But otherwise, it's great.

If I were to buy a camera right now, I would get the SD600 as well.

www.Buy.com has a 1GB SD card for free right now (well, it's free after the $20 instant rebate and $30 mail in rebates) It seems to be a good site for SD cards.

SoiledGreen98 · 12-13-2006, 05:54 PM

I got the Canon A630 a couple of weeks ago. Great camera for under $300.

Scofco · 12-13-2006, 06:10 PM

Great camera absolutely, especially going from an old camera. You'll be more than impressed.

I do think you got hosed on the price however, Canadian dollars or not. You should be able to find one going for at least a hundred dollars cheaper, 2GB card and all.

4runnerx3 · 12-13-2006, 06:54 PM

When you get over 3 megapixels, you're paying for the ability to print very large pictures and retain resolution. I have an Olympus, 6 meg and I could have pictures printed in the 20"x40" range and retain resolution, no pixelation, but I never do.

HuskyRunner · 12-13-2006, 09:09 PM

Yeah, it was $600 CDN. And the card is a high speed one too. It was $449 for the camera,$79 for the card, and screwed for the tax = $596.

12-13-2006, 01:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
nick-m Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 364	Sounds to me a little pricey at 600, even with the bundle, other then that; Powershot series were always nice, long time ago I had an A70...a small point and yet very capable with features not found in other cameras; manual focus, white balance, shutter speed, aperture? Hell yes, awesome...if that stuff matters to you! It made for some very nice pictures. The 640 starts quickly and is ready to shoot relatively fast. The 35mm-140mm range is nice and it's pretty fast at f/2.8. Quality will be very good in most conditions. ISO 400 is very useable if you need extra light. Flip out/swivel LCD is neat, it uses AA batteries which you can pick up just about anywhere. Only problem that it and other similar cameras tend to have is redeye, since the flash is so close to the lense. I advise you turn off digital zoom (in-camera crop, reduces quality) and put it on the highest setting (3264 x 2448, superfine) and keep it there, in order to ensure the images are future proof and that...should you manage to snag some amazing shot, you won't all of a sudden discover that you set it on "middle normal 1600 x 1200" so you could squeeze more shots on the card. Memory is cheap these days. Anyway...if you have any questions at all or need any photographic help, feel free to PM me, would be very happy to assist/answer any questions. Cameras are a huge hobby of mine __________________ 1996 4Runner SR5 V6 3.4L 57,890 miles Odyssey PC1700T profile Last edited by nick-m; 12-13-2006 at 01:34 PM.

12-13-2006, 02:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
da_bigg_wigg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 1,250	I just picked up a camera for myself a few hours ago. I got the Canon SD600. It's sitting here next to me at work and it's killing me that I won't even really get to play with it until I get home. Even then, I am waiting for a memory card that I bought off a website, so the 16mb card it came with is all I have to play with until I get the real deal. I can take all of 4 superfine pics... I''m going to watch a hockey game tonight, so I'll play with it there a little. I've even got pimp seats too, so hopefully I'll catch a fight right up close... __________________ -1992 4Runner (Medallist Edition) Still given 'er 16 years later -Santa Cruz Bullit -Giant STP1 -Empty Wallet Adam

12-13-2006, 04:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
DH6twinotter Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Posts: 1,676	I've got a Canon SD450, and it is great. Has a lot of vibration warnings though, maybe more than it should. But otherwise, it's great. If I were to buy a camera right now, I would get the SD600 as well. www.Buy.com has a 1GB SD card for free right now (well, it's free after the $20 instant rebate and $30 mail in rebates) It seems to be a good site for SD cards. __________________ ------------------------------------------------ 1990 4Runner: SR5, 2wd, 3.90 rear, 3VZ-E, auto. 15x8 MT classic II rims, 31x10.50 Bridgestone Desert Duellers ($50!), Cobra CB, 3' firestick Planned stuff: Pre-runner light bar with Hella 500s, small lift Stuff I'd do if I went crazy: SAS, 7mgte or 1UZ swap, and as much offroad goodies as $$ will allow.

12-13-2006, 06:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Scofco Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,577	Great camera absolutely, especially going from an old camera. You'll be more than impressed. I do think you got hosed on the price however, Canadian dollars or not. You should be able to find one going for at least a hundred dollars cheaper, 2GB card and all. __________________

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12-12-2006, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Localmotion Banned Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 0	the A640 is a very good point and shoot. All in all, you cannot go wrong with canon. I have 3 canon cameras and that is all my family uses. Congrats on the great buy!!! the best way to find out the different functions is to read the manual..LOL

12-13-2006, 02:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Localmotion Banned Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 0	it might be 600 CDN?

12-13-2006, 06:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
4runnerx3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 835	When you get over 3 megapixels, you're paying for the ability to print very large pictures and retain resolution. I have an Olympus, 6 meg and I could have pictures printed in the 20"x40" range and retain resolution, no pixelation, but I never do.

12-13-2006, 09:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
HuskyRunner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chilliwack, B.C. Posts: 702	Yeah, it was $600 CDN. And the card is a high speed one too. It was $449 for the camera,$79 for the card, and screwed for the tax = $596.

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