Sprenzy Shopping Blog

Over the last several months, I’ve been researching compact digital cameras to replace my current Canon S500. I find researching digital cameras as one of the hardest product categories to navigate. There are so many cameras available and it seems a new model is released every day. And once you are ready to buy, the questions come up — Should I buy it now or wait for the price to drop? Or should I wait for the release of the next model? This conundrum takes the fun out of buying a new camera.

My strategy to camera buying is to take the value approach. Buying the newest model might get you the latest features, but you’ll pay a premium price for the camera. I think it’s best to find a model that meets your needs, but isn’t the newest camera in the manufacturer’s product line. You’ll get the best bang for the buck with this approach and won’t have as much buyer’s remorse when a new model comes out. It’s too hard and expensive to keep up with the Joneses when digital cameras have such a short product development cycle.

Back to my camera research, I started a new food blog recently, which is dictating my camera requirements. Taking close up pictures of food presents unique challenges, particularly at restaurants. Obviously, a digital SLR with a macro lens would produce the best images but SLRs are expensive, and it’s hard to be discrete using a big SLR. Therefore, my key digital camera requirements are…

1. Compact or ultra-compact format - allows for discrete picture taking and ultra portability

2. Macro focus of 3 cm or less - macro shots are the best for food

3. Image stabilization (IS) - taking close up shots requires a steady hand and IS prevents blurry images

4. 2.5 inch LCD screen or larger - a large LCD screen allows better picture framing

5. At least 7 megapixels resolution - allows cropping of images while retaining picture quality

Based on these criteria, I have researched many cameras, including the Sony DSC-T100 and Nikon Coolpix S50. Ultimately, based on my biased towards Canon and their reputation for good color and image quality, I believe the Canon Powershot SD850 IS is the best camera for my needs. Here’s a review roundup for the SD850…

• Canon Powershot SD850 IS Review from Digitalcamerareview.com - “The Canon SD850 IS is a stylish, well-built compact digital camera that produces great quality images and color while requiring minimal involvement from its operator. The camera lacks manual controls, but offers a number of specialized scene modes in addition to the standard “auto�? shooting mode, as well as image stabilization, up to 1600 ISO sensitivity and good shutter response time. The 4x zoom lens lacks the focal length to bring distant objects truly close, but for normal subjects the camera performs admirably.”

• Canon Powershot SD850 Review by Steve’s Digicam - “the SD850 continues their tradition of stylish and durable cameras that capture great photos with fast performance and loads of appealing features (optical IS, 8-megapixels, 2.5-inch LCD, etc.) With 8-megapixel of resolution, the printing possibilities are almost endless, from tightly cropped 4x6s to huge poster size prints!”

• Canon SD850 Review from KenRockwell.com - “I use the older version of the SD850 every day and won’t leave home, or even walk around my home, without it. If I needed another camera today I’d buy an SD850 in an instant. Enough said?”

I’m pretty much sold on the Canon SD850, but I’m waiting for the price to drop to $300. Another popular Canon camera is the SD1000, which is slimmer and cheaper than the SD850. It has everything I need except for image stabilization. I’m sure if I wait a little longer, Canon will release a new model similar in size as the SD1000 with IS. There’s the digital camera buying conundrum again!