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General discussion

Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85

Nov 3, 2004 9:30PM PST

I've narrowed my search down to the Canon PowerShot A75..or A85 but would like some advice on which one I should get. After a bit of research I noticed not a whole lot different between the two other than the A75 is 3.2MP and the A85 is 4MP, as well as some minor upgrades. Is it really worth another $100 to get the A85 or will I be just as satisfied with the A75. This is my first digital camera so I'm not in high need of anything top of the line...yet. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 3, 2004 10:43PM PST

You are quite right, the only significant difference is 1 megapixel.

You will find that the A75 will provide all the megapixels you need.

Use some of that extra $100 to buy a "compact flash" card and some NiMH rechargable AA batteries.

....

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 4, 2004 12:30AM PST

Thanks snapshot2!

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 4, 2004 1:20AM PST

Miss Tish, you said "This is my first digital camera so I'm not in high need of anything top of the line...yet." The "yet" would indicate there is a strong possibility you may move up. With that in mind, why not start with an even less expensive camera? (Check out the November issue of Consumer Reports for some good info).
Once you have decided what you want you will not have invested as much in the first one. You may even find the less expensive one fits your needs.

DC

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 4, 2004 2:45AM PST

Thanks for your input DC. You make a very good point and yes, the "yet" implies that there is a strong chance of upgrading but it won't be for a while so I want something that's good enough to last me a few, if not several, years...that's why I'm going for something a little more then most of the "beginner" cameras. I don't want something I'm going to have to upgrade in a year or two. Thanks again for the response :o)

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 5, 2004 12:45AM PST

The A75 for $199.00 would be the best deal ! you'll be happy with that camera ! will fit perfectly on your needs since this will be your first digital camera, my advice is buy the charger also (canon kit aorund $49)and an extra memory at least 128 MB.
regards,

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 5, 2004 2:19AM PST

Thanks Ruben, I think I problaby will go with the A75....and I will definitely be purchasing a memory card, probably 256 MB.

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 5, 2004 4:28AM PST

I purchased the Canon PowerShot A75 about two months ago and am absolutely thrilled with my purchase. Other than the 4.0MP and a swivel LCD, I don't see much difference. I chose the A75 over the A85 because I didn't think the differences were worth $100. It is an absolutely awesome camera, easy to use with many special features and the ability to manual adjust many of them. This was my first camera also but I was familiar with other cameras that family members and friends had purchased. All the reviews I read and the people I talked to that had the PowerShot A75 thought it was a fantastic camera. If you don't plan on blowing up pictures larger than an 8 x 10 the 3.2MP is perfect.

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 5, 2004 10:35AM PST

Thanks Faye, yet another good review on the Canon A75! I agree with you, the minor upgrades & 4 MP are not worth the $100, and I don't plan to blow up any pictures larger than 8x10. Thanks again!

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 7, 2004 10:49PM PST

I bought an A75 a little over a month ago and before it quit working (see http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=58&threadID=40619&start=0), I took lots of great photos and I was very pleased. The camera is now at Canon getting repaired and I can't wait to get it back. I'm hoping that the problem I had was an isolated incident and not an indication of the camera's overall quality.

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 8, 2004 3:47AM PST

I hope it's an isolated incident as well. That's why warranties are great! Hope it's all fixed now, thanks for your input.

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 12, 2004 7:17PM PST

Honestly, get the A75, great pics, spend the extra $$$ on a 512mb or 1gb memory card. Unless you really need to be able to print 16x18 pictures of high quality (I sure don't).

Both are great choices, but you probably will be very happy with 3mp quality.

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 12, 2004 10:12PM PST

I recommend the A95. Three Mps' are not enough. Neither are 4. If your a good internet shopper, You should be able to find one reasonable enough and with 5 Mp you have the luxury of sliceing and dicing.

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 13, 2004 4:28AM PST

Well I'm not really looking to spend over $400 on my first digital and the A75 is $300 while the A85 is $400 and the only big difference is by 1 MP...and I really don't need 4 (or 5) MP's....you can't tell the difference on the computer, only when you print them out...and I don't plan on printing pictures larger than 8x10, therefore I wouldn't need anything higher than a 3 MP...thanks for your input nonetheless :o)

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 13, 2004 4:22AM PST

I'm definitely starting to agree, thanks!

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 13, 2004 10:07AM PST

As somenone who spent the extra money twice, I found the swivel LCD extremely useful if you are actually using it as the viewfinder. The extra pixels are also useful. This is a camera that can be used in ways you would never guess from film camera experience. Imagine holding your camera in macro mode at the edge of a flower and capturing a bee up close and at work. Those extra pixels will let you get even closer. After trying an A80 for my use, II returned my son's A70 for an A80 for him as well and have never looked back.

The A70 is a great camera; for me the A80 was worth the difference

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Re: Canon PowerShot A75 v. A85
Nov 13, 2004 2:45PM PST

I've been using an A75 for about six months now. I think it is the best camera on the market in it's price range. Being a film photographer for many years, I really appreciate the manual control and flexibility this camera has. (This is the last camera for me until I can spring the bucks for an EOS digital body to hang all my film camera's lenses & accessories on.) Picture quality is very good, even when cropping and enlarging. I do have one caveat, however. My mom uses it and doesn't really understand (or desire to, in spite of my attempts to teach her) the basic principles of photography. When she uses it in "Auto" mode as a point & shoot, I would term her results rather "uneven". She actually got better results with a 2MP Fuji FinePix2600 she bought several years ago until it got dropped on a concrete floor. So... if you are a film photographer who understands (or is willing to learn)the photo basics like depth of field, ISO levels, flash range (the one thing I wish this camera has that it doesn't is ability to use a more powerfull external flash), white balance, etc. then I highly recommend it as a transition camera into the digital realm. If you are a point & shooter, however, this may not be the camera for you as I have seen a few others that seem to handle challenging light conditions a little better when set in "Auto" mode.
Also, the A75 is 3.2MP, the A85 is 4.0MP. That's only a 0.8MP (25%) difference. The A75 is now available all over the place for just under $200, while the best I've seen the A85 in a brick & mortar store is a little over $300. That's a 33%+ price jump. And the fixed screen on the A75 is actually larger than the swivel one on the A85.