Help A80 or Mavica CD500?! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/30/2004 10:34:46 AM · #1

I need a camera for work, nothing fancy, mostly to communicate with people over email.

I want the Canon A80 because a lot of the pictures I need to take are in places where I can't get my head behind the camera (it has a flip out screen), and I think it's a really great camera.

My company uses the Sony CD500 Mavica as their standard, thus they won't get me anything different. It's not the best camera for what I need and it's more expensive.

Does anyone have any more ammunition I can use to convince management that the A80 is the way to go?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/30/2004 10:42:02 AM · #2

I'm not familiar with the Sony, but the Canon has the option to use completely manual features (one reason I'm interested in it too), which can be particularly useful when you have to manually focus in odd situations. It uses non-proprietary storage media and batteries, and I'm pretty sure you can get an adapter to add external lenses and filters. You already mentioned the rotatable (but small) LCD.

Ritz has/had it on sale for about $269 or something, cheaper than the A75. Usualy saving a few bucks is a good incentive to management. You could always get one, try it out, and return it if they won't reimburse you.

garlic

Canon EOS-10D

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Canon

07/30/2004 10:49:24 AM · #3

IÂ´ve used the A70 and that was a very good camera for itÂ´s value and I guess the A80 is almost the same, just more pix.
One of the main advantages with it was how much manual control you could have compared to other compact cameras. Dont know the Sony but I doubt that you can contol it as manually as the Canon.
If you need some resoning to convince your management I would take a look at the reviews at dpreview.com and do some comparison.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

07/30/2004 11:06:22 AM · #4

The mavica is a good camera. It's 5mp and has all the manual controls. However, it lacks a eye piece and the swing out lens is important for me.
They are afraid to buy something outside of their standard. They know nothing about cameras and started buying the mavica on someone elses suggestion. They are comfortable with it.
They don't mind spending more either. I think I'm just stuck.

Oh yeah, and thanks for the replies.

Message edited by author 2004-07-30 11:06:51.

ltjman

Nikon D200

07/30/2004 11:40:52 AM · #5

I own an A80 and love it! If you ever wanted to know everything useful about this camera and more, check this site out:

//albert.achtung.com/cameras/A80/

This guy has done his homework. Good luck.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/30/2004 11:41:23 AM · #6

Management's comfort with an existing solution doesn't mean they can't be convinced to go with a better solution when appropriate. How many of them still use typewriters? You want ammunition, you got it...

Use the Comparometer over at Imaging Resource to see high-res photos from both cameras under similar conditions. I think the A80 does a better job in most situations, and superior image quality should be a pretty strong argument.

Others have already mentioned the flip-out display, more manual controls, and non-proprietary flash media. It's also worth noting that the Canon comes with VASTLY superior software, and the camera itself is physically smaller- ideal for "covert" retail store audits.

joebok

Fujifilm X100F

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

07/30/2004 11:51:09 AM · #7

If the camera is mostly for communication via email, I'm guessing that hi-res image quality isn't important. Or ease of use or fully manual capability or anything that a photographer would look for in a camera.

Even lower cost of acquisition isn't enough. Sounds like they already have some Mavicas- so they already have spare memory (or is this the one that writes to CD?), batteries, cables, etc., as well as experience in troubleshooting.

Anyway, it will probably be a tough sell - I would suggest to emphasize the lower cost, see if there is any reliability information out there, and come up with some reasons why the A80 will make you a more productive employee (which may not be the same thing as a better photographer).

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/30/2004 02:17:18 PM · #8

Actually the email communication is regarding detailed aircraft parts and the picture quality is pretty important. Manual modes is important also. The flip out screen is highly important since I need to get the camera into places I can't get my head, but management doesn't seem to care. It's not the standard camera that they feel safe buying and they don't want to take a risk since they know nothing about cameras.

I wouldn't call buying a $300 camera a risk, we probably spent more then that in the time we've talked about it.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/30/2004 02:26:53 PM · #9

Freakin' bean-counters. Grrrr.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/30/2004 02:27:28 PM · #10

Maybe you can buy it and submit the receipt for a petty cash reimbursement ... then you'll have two cameras to use.

However, I'd have to say that any manager who purchase equipment directly against the expert recommendation of the evenutal user is an [insert_disparaging_analogy_here].

joebok

Fujifilm X100F

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

07/30/2004 02:38:01 PM · #11

It sounds to me like your best ammunition is that the screen/size will make certain aspects of your job easier. You can support with the superior imaging of the Canon.

It's not the risk of $300 you are fighting. From a manager's perspective, if a Mavica fails it's not their fault since they went with the standard, however if the Canon fails then it IS their fault since they did something different.