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General discussion

Best Canon for wildlife/ macro & kids

by NatalieinIL Jan 10, 2011 7:41AM PST

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking to buy a canon camera (I'm partial to canons) that has great outdoor picture quality and excellent macro photos. I'll also take a lot of pictures of my young nieces, so I want something with some versatility. I would like to keep my budget capped at ~$450, so I'm not looking at DSLRs, but SLR-like or the advanced point and shoot with semi-manual and manual setting capabilities.

Some of the options I've been looking into are the Canon SX30-IS and SX210-IS. Does anyone have any other suggestions and/ or comments about these two cameras. Again, comments especially as it pertains to photo quality (I often enlarge photos to at least 8 X 10 for framing) and macro capabilities.

Thanks so much for any and all input!!

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2 Posts

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Canon

by snapshot2 Forum moderator Jan 10, 2011 11:08AM PST

I suggest you look at sample photos from the Canon SX30IS.
The transition to the 14 megapixel sensor and the longer zoom lens was not a happy marriage.
Look at the image at 100% size and you will see too much noise and a big loss of detail.

The SX20IS produces a better photograph.

Compare the pictures of the Cannons in the park:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/canon/powershot-sx30-is/sample-photos-99.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/canon/powershot-sx20-is/sample-photos-17.html

Click the picture of the Cannons in the park.
Look at the full size image (once it is loaded, the photo will reduce to screen size. Click the image and it will return to full size).
Look at the blue sky for noise.
Look at the left side of the photo and also look at the grass to see the loss of detail.
......

Since the Canon SX210IS also used the 14 megapixel sensor, it shows more noise than the SX200IS, but the detail is on par with the SX200IS.

..

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In Reply to: Best Canon for wildlife/ macro & kids

by NatalieinIL Jan 14, 2011 9:41PM PST

Thanks for your input. There are just so many things to consider, it's really hard to see what will work best for me without having the cameras in hand and testing them out with photos I would typically take. I will give some thought to your reply.

Thanks again!

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