# Digital Camera Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-camera-question/190480>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 23, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-camera-question/190480 "2003-07-23T20:38:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Geoduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Geoduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geoduck)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-camera-question/190480/21 "2003-07-25T03:04:42Z")

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I’ve owned a Canon A70 for the past two months. I think it is the biggest selling digital camera these days. I recommend it highly. Excellent small, but not tiny, size. Nice feel in the hand with barrel grip, with the forefinger controlling zoom and shutter. Takes cheaper Compact Flash memory cards and uses AA batteries–these design choices save consumers some money. The video is suprisingly good and we use it more than I ever expected. Takes VGA quality with sound from 30 sec + depending on the size of your memory card. You can zoom within still pictures when you review them on the LCD and even edit the video and stitch together multiple panorama shots. Full manual/apeture/shutter priority controls. 3X optical.  
The only negative is that the lens could be sharper–it is OK, but you would have to purchase much more expensive cameras for a better lens. You can get the A70 for around $280.

You really have to go to the stores learn what is good by repeatedly playing with the cameras.

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**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-camera-question/190480/22 "2003-07-25T08:10:16Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Padeye \*  
> **rjung** , what camera did you use that had such poor auto white balance?

It’s a Canon Powershot S40. Indoors with incandescent light with “Auto” WB, everything is just a tad too reddish for my tastes. If I switch the WB to incandescent, I’m happier.

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-camera-question/190480/23 "2003-07-25T13:31:51Z")

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I am becoming a big fan of the [www.dpreview.com](http://www.dpreview.com) site. I was able to select three cams from a large list and get a side-by-side detailed features comparision. A great use of web technology!

> [@](#):
>
> _originally posted by bump_  
> Don’t worry about card readers- most cameras these days have a direct USB hookup.

You’re right – but I don’t. That’s why a reader is a must and needs to be factored into the cost.

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