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General discussion

Digital Cameras (Nikon/Canon)

Oct 31, 2011 10:08AM PDT

I have been a fan of the Canon PowerShot cameras since the first digital camera I owned. I prefer them over Kodak, any day of the week. I've had my PowerShot SD790IS (Digital ELPH) for a few years and now the video capability no longer functions and the review screen has broken pixels.. I am in the market to buy a new camera and have heard fairly good things about the Nikon Coolpix line as well as the Canon PowerShot ELPH line..

Discussion is locked

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List of Cameras
Nov 1, 2011 1:09AM PDT

First, I would eliminate any camera with 16 megapixels as they usually have less detail in the pictures.

Then if I eliminate any camera that is over $200, that leaves two:

Canon Elph 100 HS
Nikon S4100

If you consider the Elph 300 - forget it and get the Elph 310.
The Elph 300 has a lens that is too wide for the camera.
The left and right sides of a picture will be soft (not sharp).

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Good review...
Nov 1, 2011 8:06AM PDT

The 300 HS was given a good review with an "8 excellent photo quality"; whatever that means!! I'm starting to take these review numbers as merely a general guide. More of an editor's personal and arbitrary take and less and less of any sort of true rating. Nearly as good of a cursory rating as the S95, to illustrate my point.

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Reviews
Nov 1, 2011 9:06AM PDT

Reviews can be very helpful but I don't depend upon just one review.
The reviewers sometimes overlook something.

I ran into the Elph 300 HS image problem after someone asked me what wide angle lens camera (under $200) would I say produced excellent photos.
That was early this year.

I looked at lots of full size photos and got a big surprise.
I didn't find any under $200 wide angle lens camera that produced excellent photos.
The problem was because of so many of the camera makers switching to wide-angle lenses.
It is expensive to make a wide angle lens that is in sharp focus from edge to edge.
It looked to me that many of the cameras were being fitted with inexpensive lenses that should be rated 28mm focal length and they were classified as 24mm focal length.

So if you are looking for a good wide-angle lens don't look at the under $200 cameras.


Canon switched the lens on the latest ELPH 310 HS.
It is now rated 28mm instead of 24mm (as was the 300).
Coincidence?

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Ratings
Nov 1, 2011 12:47PM PDT

Most review scores are only comparable to cameras of the same type; a score of 8 in point-and-shoot cameras is not the same as a score of 8 in other cameras, like the S95, or a DSLR camera.

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Nov 1, 2011 11:53PM PDT

Yeah, I get the "for its category" phrase, but I guess my real annoyance is that they usually don't show the reader what they consider as "excellent:" or "average" or "poor" or whatever nomenclature they choose to verbally describe the images. For example, for a new camera as potentially "hot" as the Fujifilm X10 is touted to be, I'd really love to see some of Cnet's sample photos.

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Image Comparometer
Nov 2, 2011 1:11AM PDT
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That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!!
Nov 2, 2011 5:46AM PDT

What superb link, Piston!!!!!

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The Reference
Nov 2, 2011 1:12PM PDT

If you are interested in seeing what the state-of-the-art can do, select the Pentax 645D, a medium format camera with a 40MP sensor. It will make even a DSLR image look soft in comparison.

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Image Comparometer
Nov 2, 2011 1:54PM PDT

This is a fantastic resource to use. Found it very helpfull.