Help in Canon Digital Camera Powershot A95, IXUS40 or IXUS500

[Malcolmneo]

If you can get the regular sandisk SD card, it is fast enough to shoot continuosly at 2.4fps and full motion full-rate. But must be careful to get the new stock as it seems only the new stock could do it. If you download sandisk brochure, it list only the new SD card.

 

[Malcolmneo]

One thing that should be made known is that unlike previous A series Canon models, A95 is made in china. Construction also does not seem so sturdy like a tank.

Not sure if it bothers you. Their QC should be same standard as japan factory though. But do not feel so safe lah...

 

[jc777]

how to differential between new stock and old stock? any different words or pictures?

what about those SD cards (twinmos, kingmax, etc) that feature 60X speed? can they read/write fast enough for continuous/full-rate shoots?

 

[Malcolmneo]

You can go to www.sandisk.com to look at their SD cards. There are only 5 kinds of SD cards there: standard, Ultra II, Extreme II, Ultra III, Extreme III. The standard SD card there is the new type. The old type has the different picture and no longer in production, but might still be in market. Just remember the new type can already.

 

[jc777]

oic, thanks. searched on google and found the old sandisk SD card pictures, it is with this rainbow coloured kinda wave in the middle.

how much would a 512MB sandisk SD cards cost? do you know of any shop that sells it at lower price?

 

[Malcolmneo]

I am sorry I have no local info. I got mine in Japan.

1GB here cost about S$120. 512MB cost about S$70. Actually it is parallel import because it is SDSBD-1024-A10. The last 3 digits denote country of sales. US = A10, Japan = J60, so on & so forth. All made in China.

The Singapore distributor has a on-line site but quite ex. You can try search at yahoo.com.sg

 

[doreamon]

Thanks Malcolmneo,

I decide to hold back for purchasing camera this year. I will wait until February 2005. Waiting for new model, I would like to purchase a camera with good photo and also record unlimited movie.

Thanks.

Hi Doreamon,

The photo show in February was mentioned a few times in different oversea forums. It is one of the major exhibition like the Photokina, etc. Some ppl are holding back their purchase as they expect Canon will launch new models based on DIGIC II, eg S500 successor and so on. By then all Canon camera should be able to shoot at VGA size full-rate. The concept of DIGIC II was to combine Video LSI and Photo LSI resulting in possibility of high-speed still-photo operations and excellant movie mode.

But IXUS40 has already reach the pinnacle of size for camera. It can be so small because of the UA lens. It has purple fringing and corner softness also because of UA lens.

Anyway, take your time to decide.

I have posted some pictures I took last Saturday. See for yourself what quality you can get with this camera, and whether you will be happy with it

http://photobucket.com/albums/v623/malcolmneo/

Feel free to comments.

 

[sin77]

hahaha... in that case u will miss out Christmas and New Year celebration shooting...

For me i researched for 3 weeks online and finally bought IXUS 30.
It served all my needs well but i often have trouble in using this camera.
That is, the camera is so small that it becomes unstable for shooting with using our hands.
My wife also having this problem.
So we have to take repeating photos and apply alot of posture and shooting techniques in order to get stable.
So other than being chic and ultra portable... i would recommend A95 or Sony W1.
But this being said, i have not regretted buying IXUS 30 too.

 

[Venom81]

hahaha... in that case u will miss out Christmas and New Year celebration shooting...

Ya. Christmas and New Year are important for celebration shootings with friends and family members. :cheergal:

 

[doreamon]

Yalor, don't know whether still have canon promotion in February but nevermind lah, If really February have new model coming out must well wait. At the moment, I can use my brother Digital Camera.

I just want to buy a good features digital camera for shooting indoor and also can shoot unlimited movie.

 

[nivlac]

hiya can anyone verfiy? preferbly ixus 40 owners... is ur cam made in japan?, china? or made by canon?

cos apparently some shops are selling ixus 40 below market price but made in china....

:thumbsd:

 

[Malcolmneo]

Mine is made in Japan. But it will not be surprising if there are IXUS40 made in china. Some olympus models have their first shipment(s) made in japan, then transfer their production to china to cut cost.

So if that case early bird tan dio lor.

 

[daphz]

How to check whether it's made in China or Japan? Is it on the box of the camera or the camera itself?

 

[doreamon]

Ya lor, how to check whether the camera is it made in China or Japan.
You mean A95 is made in China not Japan ah! Quality is it good as A85?
I need to have more research before it so that February can target on the one of the camera.
Thanks.

How to check whether it's made in China or Japan? Is it on the box of the camera or the camera itself?

 

[Malcolmneo]

The manufacturer label at the bottom surface of the canon camera will show the country of origin. The wordings are also proudly printed on my compact camera box.

I am not sure those made-in-china IXUS40 will have the words printed on their boxes. Otherwise need to look at the camera lor.

 

[jc777]

btw, i just collected the free 128MB SD card for ixus 40 from harbourfront yesterday. it is a kingston one.

went home and tried to record full-scale video (640, 30fps) and encountered some problems.

when i record up to about 10 over seconds, there will be a red exclaimation (!) mark appearing on the bottom right. when it reached almost 20 seconds, the recording will stop and the screen showed busy status. for 640, 15fps and fast-rate (320, 60fps) videos, i didnt encounter this problem.

anybody encounter the same problem as above? is it because the free kingston SD cards by canon is not fast enough for the video to be written?

 

[nivlac]

Heya,

u mean the 128mb is frm canon not frm the shop tat u purchase the cam from? humm tot onie the 7in1bag is ffrm canon... :dunno:

 

[jc777]

ixus 40 right? the standard canon promotion is giving 128MB SD card and 7-in-1 bag. collected from canon customer service at harbourfront, not from the shop purchased from. you collected from canon but only the bag and dont have 128MB SD?

 

[daphz]

So troublesome?! :bigeyes: Buy already then must make another trip to Harbourfront to collect the 128MB card? Wah lao so no sincerity in giving out the freebies ah.

In 2005
Any idea whether after 2004 ends, what will canon give out when u buy their ixus 40? Will they stop the 7-in-1 bag freebie and replace with a better goodie or not give out anything.

I don't quite care for the 7-in-1 bag but if they give out 256MB/512MB card, better!

 

[Malcolmneo]

Hi jc777,

As a guide, a 128MB card should be able to record 1min of full-size video. Sure is the Kingston SD card too slow already. Anyway free one lah. Can still shoot 64 full-size still picutre right?!