Thank You FlowerLady for starting this thread. You don't have to worry about the manual, it really isn't that big. What makes it look so scarey is there are 2 copies of the manual, one french and one english, plus there is a large software starter guide and disk. I didn't look at the software guide because I use a card reader and photoshop. It also came with a 32mb card, not sure what the point of that was.....I think it would hold maybe 1 or 2 pics. So I didn't bother with that either.

A couple of pluses with this camera, you don't have to wait for the batteries to charge, you can open the box and start taking pics instantly. The other thing I really like is the moveable LCD screen. I like that for more creative odd angle shots.

I did take a few pics with it yesterday, but haven't had a chance to download them yet. Today I have a photo shoot planned, but won't be using this camera. Well maybe I will sneak a few photos in with it.

Sierra

Watch out for Flower! Her pictures are already fabulous, wait till she gets her new camera and she'll be employed with National Geographic before you know it :-)

Cannons are awesome cameras.

Edna

Oh yes Edna, I totally agree!!! In fact I was wondering why she wanted a new camera....the one she has she does wonders with.

Sierra

Hi Sierra ~ A sales person from where we ordered the camera emailed me to call him before he sent out the order. Found out we had to order the high speed memory card, or at least that is what he said, so that we could take pictures without having to wait. That was another $20 added to our order. Sheesh! He tried to talk us into a camera case, but I said no. I stopped at the GoodWill thrift store this morning and bought a nice Worthington bag for my camera, $3.99, not $25 for the one they sell. We got the 4 NIMH battary pack with charger. He tried to talk me into the faster charge, and I said no to that too. DH and I had already looked at this stuff and discussed it.

We also like the idea of the moveable LCD screen.

Do you keep your resolution set high all the time? Can't you get great close-up shots without having to do the high resolution? Using the 12.1 megapixels takes humongous pictures. I'm a novice here, so I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well. I know there are different settings from normal to fine, so I guess I'll just have to play with it and see what happens. Like with anything new, you have to use it and experiment.

I really enjoy taking pictures. DH said who would have guessed that I would become the photographer, since he is the one who started out taking pictures, etc. Getting our digital camera almost 10 years ago is what did it to me.

Are you a professional photographer, since you mentioned doing another photo shoot and your pictures are always fantastic?

Oh Edna ~ thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I am an amateur who loves to take pictures.

We've got two older Minolta SLR's, then two Sony Mavicas, and now this Canon. I read a couple of great reviews about this A650IS yesterday and emailed them to DH. They made us feel better about spending the money, : -) We live frugally so think about our purchases, sometimes waiting awhile before buying.

I got more excited after reading the reviews.

FlowerLady

Thank you Sierra, that really means a lot coming from such a great photographer as you are. My Sony Mavica is a floppy disk camera, and I wanted really super-duper close-ups like I've seen people take.

FlowerLady

Oh my FlowerLady, I don't think you really needed a faster card. What card did you end up ordering. I just got a regular 2gb SD card. I was told that I had to have a high speed, high capacity card, I laughed. I got the cheap card. Then yesterday there was a sale on cards at a store I was at....so I got a second card. This one is a 2gb ultra. It was only $6. more and I always buy 2 cards for each camera. If for some reason one card corrupts, you won't lose your whole photo shoot, if you use two or more cards.

I didn't get rechargeable batteries as I don't know how much I will be using this camera. If it goes through a lot of batteries, and I suspect if its used a lot it will.....then I'll probably get a charger and 2 sets of batteries. I like to have a set to change out so I can still keep photographing if they decide to die while I'm in the middle of a photo shoot. I didn't get a case either.

Now the resolution...you will not have to use the 12.1 mega pixels all the time. This only needs to be used if you are going to be cropping your photo or if you want to get poster size or larger prints done. For smaller photos for the web, 6 mega pixels is okay.

I don't see the connection between great close up shots and resolution. You can get really close to fill the frame in macro mode with this camera. I think that is what you were looking for. You have to keep the zoom at the low end for this....at the zoomed out end you won't get a focus. So far I have been using very fine....but I will test all setting evenually. Yes we will have to experiment so find out what the capabilites of this camera are. This will be fun to share as we learn and hopefully others will join us with their experiences with their cameras.

Deleting the pictures off the card, was interesting, its done a bit different on this camera. Since I use different cameras, switching from one to another can get confusing sometimes. (You should see me when I am trying to preview my pics on a film camera. hahaha) My DH was laughing at me.

Trust me, not every picture I take is great. I do a lot of experimental photography, lensbaby, lomographic fisheye, camera movement, zooms, multiple exposures and stuff like that. With this kind of photography its more luck than skill. haha.

Sierra

Hi Sierra ~ from what he said the faster card was so you wouldn't have to wait between pictures, you can just keep shooting if you need to. I guess I should have picked your brain about this camera before we ordered. : -) Oh well, we'll see how it all goes.

DH didn't want to have to be getting batteries all the time so that's why we got the rechargeable batteries with charger.

Thanks for the info about the macro and the zoom with this camera. It's definitely going to be a learning process and I hope I pass. : -)

You sound like you have fun with all of your cameras and that's what I want to do also.

Have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

Good Morning FlowerLady,

Your fast card will work fine, I'm sure. But for landscapes and flowers I personally don't think it matters for a point and shoot camera. When a fast card comes in handy is more for sports with moving subjects. Where the photographer will do continuous shooting. For garden photos, and especially macro I feel that a tri-pod is much more important than a fast card. It doesn't matter what card you use....you will still have to wait for it to write to the card.

I went out yesterday and took 240 photos with this camera. I was testing the IS.....by taking shots while driving in the car.(I was not driving) This works really well. I tried to get blurry photos and it was very difficult...I did manage to get a few. I also used the snow setting....it gave a pretty good exposure in most cases. The battery warning light came on but not sure if that was because they got cold or because the batteries are actually low.

And yes rechargable batterys are the way to go if you are going to use this camera a lot.

Of course you will pass, its fun to learn new things!!!

Sierra

Sierra ~ The camera came yesterday afternoon while I was sitting out enjoying the beautiful weather in the main garden. I then had to come inside and open up my pkg. and start reading manuals. DH and I are thrilled with this little camera. I've got some learning to do, but got brave and went out into the gardens and started shooting. I think I took 32 pictures. Tomorrow is another day.

Thanks again for the info on this camera. I love the macro capabilities. Just fantastic!

FlowerLady

I'm glad you posted this! I have been itching for a new camera. Mine's over five years old, and while I can still take ok photos, it has serious limitations.

I'll have to keep this model in mind for when I finally save up enough pennies!

Tracy

FlowerLady,

I just wanted to let you know that I found a neck strap for my camera. I was in a dollar store last night and accidently ran across them. I think they are actually for sports whistles but it works perfectly for my little camera too. I just clipped it to the wrist strap. I couldn't find any plain coloured ones....so I ended up with a black strap with yellow happy faces on it. But for a dollar it doesn't really matter. haha.

Sierra

Tracy ~ You would love this camera. Got mine at Abe's of Maine. They keep going down in price, a couple of dollars at a time.

Sierra ~ Aah, good idea. I love finding bargains like that. We'll have to be on the look out for a strap. Thanks for the tip.

A gardening friend in FL Gardening forum here in GW just ordered the same camera after she saw my pictures and I sent her to websites. : -)

FlowerLady