Which is better: PowerShot A70 or PowerShot S230?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/19/2004 05:28:56 PM · #1

After reviewing both, the only difference that really would impact us is the 2x vs 3x zoom and the weight/size. My sister wants a TINY camera, and I am a canon girl. So, I was trying to find her one under $300. Which do you like better of these two, and why? Do you have something else we MUST check out instead? Need to buy on Saturday (two days from now).

She's NOT interested in manual anything. She wants an easy, take with her everywhere camera for pictures with friends (day & night). She usually buys disposable cameras (and was happy with that), but I convinced her to get a digital to save money in the long run. Hope this helps explain what she wants it for...

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 17:30:44.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

08/19/2004 05:37:11 PM · #2

The A70 is fairly large, and also fairly heavy because of the 4 * AA batteries. The A70 is probably a better camera, but it's larger and heavier with it.

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

08/19/2004 05:41:43 PM · #3

Good to know. They both look pretty small on screen. Have you played with this camera? Do you have any dislikes about it?

drz01

Pentax K50

08/19/2004 05:45:45 PM · #4

A70! Even if your cousin does not want manual anything she may explore this later. Also you can use regular batteries with the A70 and the 3x zoom is an asset.

08/19/2004 05:57:21 PM · #5

Thank you! So, how much difference is the A70 and the S230 in weight and size? That is her #1 factor, call it crazy. She wants it to fit in her tight jeans pocket or she won't buy it! She's super solid on size and weight being her #2 factor, just under price ($300 or less) being her #1 factor.

08/19/2004 06:00:00 PM · #6

Trick question! The Canon PowerShot A80 trounces them both. It's pretty darn tiny, yet it offers manual controls, 3x zoom, 4 megapixels, a swivel LCD screen- and it's still well under $300. You can get an idea of the camera's size here.

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 18:09:39.

bongo

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/19/2004 06:03:45 PM · #7

Up until two weeks ago, all my pictures were taken with an A80.
I find it very small and portable. Awesome features extremely close to an A70.
Good battery life with the rechargeables.
Full range of functions, and makes an excellent point and shoot camera.
Check my submissions in my profile if you like...the shot for "Waiting" I believe was taken in auto mode.
Excellent camera for "dummies" and gives plenty of room to grow and be creative.
Loved it. Have now upgraded to a Rebel, but still carry the powershot.
Hope that helps.

08/19/2004 06:13:12 PM · #8

I just tried to find the A80 and neither bestbuy or circuit city has them. It is listed at //www.dpreview.com as a discontinued camera... damn! So is the A70. I don't see anything as tiny as the S230 listed in either store. Help! Where should we look, that's legit and fast at shipping!?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/19/2004 06:17:16 PM · #9

I listed retailers in my first post. The A70 is now the A75, and the A80 will soon be replaced by the A95.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

08/19/2004 06:21:59 PM · #10

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Good to know. They both look pretty small on screen. Have you played with this camera? Do you have any dislikes about it?

I own an A70 and used it for about half a year, taking about 5500 shots in that time. Dislikes:

- Weight - I couldn't carry it around in my pocket easily
- No histogram

The disadvantage of weight is balanced by fact that AAs are SO convenient, and with 2000 mAh batteries the camera will take 500-800 shots easily.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/19/2004 06:23:24 PM · #11

If it doesn't fit in your tight pocket easily, it's an automatic no. If she is going to spend $300 or so on a camera, she wants it to be the smallest thing known to man. Should we look outside canon? I hate to do that, but maybe we should...

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

08/19/2004 06:26:12 PM · #12

Friend (tomlewis1980) just bought a Minolta Xg. Basically the smallest camera he could find. 3 MP, and quite a nice camera from the looks of it.

Konica Minolta Xg on DPReview

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 18:27:29.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/19/2004 06:32:00 PM · #13

See the chart on THIS page for measurements of the tiniest cameras.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/19/2004 06:34:44 PM · #14

I was just about to suggest the 4MP Pentax Optio S4. The 3MP Optio S and identically-sized Option S4 are so tiny, they will fit inside an Altoids tin. Picture inside Altoids tin here.

That said, I personally would probably look at a Canon S410 or S500, because it uses CF cards, which I already have. (Although my camera can also use SD cards at the same time, it's just that I don't have any yet.)

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 18:37:30.

08/19/2004 06:39:19 PM · #15

//www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s230%2Cminolta_dimagext%2Cpentax_optios4i&show=all

What do you think?

08/19/2004 06:41:02 PM · #16

Wow, an altoids tin! That's perfect. I trust Pentax. I have a K1000 I never use, but that was my baby back in 1991 when I got into SLR photography. I am going to go study this S4 and S4i...

lyta

Canon EOS-40D

08/19/2004 06:49:40 PM · #17

Originally posted by scalvert:

Well it's small, but it is weighty. She won't be putting it in her hip pocket. And also ordinary batteries don't last long. Rechargable are better.

08/19/2004 06:51:16 PM · #18

Okay, thank you ALL for your help and suggestions. We are going for the Optio S4i, thanks to EddyG's suggestion!!!

08/19/2004 07:17:30 PM · #19

I would have suggested the Optio S4i initially, but it runs around $350, and your first priority was to be under $300.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

08/19/2004 10:52:42 PM · #20

I am going to give her $50. Aren't I a good sister!

MrAkamai

Canon EOS-50D

08/20/2004 12:52:16 AM · #21

I guess I'm too late because I have an S230 and could have sent you sample pics and also some from an S410. But a friend of mine has an Optio and likes it so I don't think you can go wrong either way.

skief

Pentax *ist DS

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/20/2004 02:03:15 AM · #22

Last year I bought a Minolta 7i to upgrade my photography, but it was just too bulky to carry around with me everywhere, so I bought a Optio S4, and it takes fantastic pictures. I am able to take it with me everywhere I go. I got a couple of Collector's Altoid's Tins (Curious George, Mr. Bumbles and the Flame Meister). My wife started to get jealous, so being the good husband I am, I went ahead and got her one. Now there are two of us who pull our Altoids Tins out of our pockets to take shots.

Here's a couple of samples taken recently with the S4 (all are low quality jpg compressions):

All of these are handheld. My favorite one is the very last one. It was taken in a dark metrostop. It came out looking just like a lot of photos I see published in books extolling the 'greatness' of Minsk, Belarus.

Hope this helps...

Message edited by author 2004-08-20 02:04:14.

MAK

Leica CL

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

08/20/2004 02:30:30 AM · #23

Don't rule out the new Xacti C1 from Sanyo 3.2MP and doubles as a MPEG4 video camera with stereo sound good zoom small enough to fit in your pocket too... also the sony DSC-U50 is very tiny as is the Casio exlim (names may vary, im in Japan)

I own the Sanyo so I can suggest it with confidence, very handy easy to use. I used to have a DSC-U50 very small but no zoom and battery life sux a bit

The sanyo