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Canon A70 or A80?

L

Lord Chambers

Weaksauce
Joined
Jul 4, 2003
Messages
112
I'm having a hard time deciding between the two.

My understanding is that the A80 has a fold-out LCD screen, about one mexapixle more, and about a $100 larger price tag than the A70. Can anyone vouche for the picture clarity between the two to be worth $100 more? If you didn't have the camera you had now, and the only two options availible to you were an A70 or A80, which would you take?

Basically, is the A80 worth the extra hundred when the differences between it and the A70 seem so few?
 
This a very common question, so here goes.

Its all about what YOU want in a camera. Both the A70 and the A80 are great cameras. The image resolution is better on the A80. If you get the A70 without the flip out screen, you will want to get a good LCD protector but that is not a problem since they are cheap.

If you have the extra 100, then get the A80. If you dont get the A70. Either way you will be happy with your choice.
 
i think the only differences are .9 megapixel and swivel lcd, the focal lengths are negligible, so if the lcd and the higher res are worth it to you, go for the a80, there was liek a 60 dollar difference to me so I went for it.
 
Originally posted by nutxo
sooo

which one did you get?
Click to expand...
neither yet...im adding the olympus stylus 400 ($360 AR @ bb.com) into the equation now too to see which is best bang for the buck...
 
the swivel is actually really useful, i can't understand how i lived without it at this point. The custom settings and the image resolution are wonderful. battery life on 2000 mah Powermax batteries is about 700 pics or so, or prolly about 15 hours/2 months. in other words very good imo.
I would personally vote for it, i wouldn't trade it for anyhting short of a F828.
 
Yeah, I'm really excited about getting it. I still haven't ordered it though. I figure my mom will have a hissy fit.

Here's another question:
What accessories should I get? If I order from Newegg like I figure I will (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-120-107&depa=1), I get "32MB CF Card, 4XAA battery, USB/AV Cables, cdrom."

So obviously I probably need a larger memory card, but new egg has a no-brainer deal to buy this memory card for $28 and save $40 on the price of the camera. So, they give you this card and you save $12 total.

Also, if "USB/AV Cables" come with it then I won't need a flash card reader will I? Why would anyone get one of those for their computer anway, since they just hook into the USB port anyway? Are there any motherboards that support a flash card reader?

The 4xAA batteries, is that a charge pack, or just 4 disposable batteries? I've read a lot about rechargables while researching cameras, but I'm not even sure if digicams run on normal batteries or if they all come with a charge pack of batteries. If they're just 4 disposables, then what rechargable batteries should I buy?

Yar. Any other vital accessories?
 
I actually just ordered an A80 from Newegg myself. I added the 96 Mb CF card just for the deal. I also added a Kingston 256 Mb CF card for $56 and I got the Canon A series Kit which includes a case and battery charger with 4 batteries for $49. Grand total of $456 shipped.

I will probably pick up a flash card reader at some point. I've seen them for about $20 in stores so unless Newegg has them for less than $10, I'll get it local.

The batteries that come with the A80 are disposables, so it's best to go ahead and get some rechargables.

If you don't have one, get a tri-pod.
 
Originally posted by SouthPaw72

I will probably pick up a flash card reader at some point. I've seen them for about $20 in stores so unless Newegg has them for less than $10, I'll get it local.
Click to expand...
Why?
 
Originally posted by Lord Chambers
Why?
Click to expand...

Flash card readers are so much more convenient than using canon software to download your pictures. When you stick your card in one, it acts like another drive on your computer and you can simply copy pictures that way.
 
Originally posted by Schmave
Flash card readers are so much more convenient than using canon software to download your pictures. When you stick your card in one, it acts like another drive on your computer and you can simply copy pictures that way.
Click to expand...
Not to mention it's way faster.
 
I just made my purchase.

I got the with the Canon A80 from www.newegg.com with the Lexar 96MB Compact Flash Card 12X they throw in for negative $12,
and the Maha-C401FS 100 Min Cool Charger with 8 of their PoweRex 2200mAh AAs from http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/Index.asp.

The Canon A80 sounds great from everything I've read which made it a fairly easy choice, as with newegg's combo deal, but why that charger? As per the valuble batter insights in this article, it was a great charger. It has independent circuitry for each battery, which was important to me because the idea of having to charge two batteries at once, and having the charger stop when one of them was full, even though the other isn't, bugs me. Rationally, how often do you need to charge one battery? And when would one of a pair of batteries that get used and charged together have any signifigant difference in charge? Never probably, but paying about $10 more for the Maha-C401FS over the Maha-C204F was worth the anal-retentive piece of mind for me. Plus it has a slower charging mode than the Maha-C402F, which is nice. Why was it a choice just between these two chargers? Well, I knew for sure Maha was the best name in batteries, and by extension I figured their chargers would be good too, especially for their own batteries. And, since no other brands of batteries or chargers were made known to me as good quality and cheaper, I figured it would be a nice and safe purchase to just go with the best.

If the 32mb and 96mb cards aren't enough memory, I figure I'll use the $50 giftcard I have for Circuit City to buy this Sandisk 256MB CompactFlash™ Card. I wonder why it's so cheap though. Is Sandisk known for having crappy flash cards?

Now all I need is someone to point me in the direction of a 3 1/4th bay flash card reader and I'll be set, since I refuse to buy some hardware eyesore external one.
 
^^ wow nice price... $350.01 for the camera and flash card with free shipping too...im very very very very very tempted to do it..................man i want this camera....
 
I just ordered the A80 myself on Friday. The way I read the specs there were several subtle improvements. (I'm sure I missed a few of these in the a70's specs but I looked and didn't see)

1) auto rotation
2) noise reduction on slower shutter speeds.
3) 9 point focus field vs. 5 point
4) 4 mp vs. 3 ( already pointed out)
5) flip view lcd (I like being able to flip the screen closed and save scratches and dust on the screen)
6) 1/1.8 vs 1/2.7 ccd is a plus for my shooting


For 350 bux thought is was well worth it after the wife dropped our last point and shoot. Man I'm glad it was her!!...

Bric
 
I went with the A70 for several reasons:

-The camera casing is actually smaller then the A80's

-The video capture ability is better on the A70 (640x480 30sec)

-The A70 was much cheaper so I spent more on batteries and flash cards

-The A70 was the best consumer level camera in its price range for 2003 and remained the leader in many websites eyes even after the A80 appeared.

Either way I am sure you will be happy...Canon makes the best color producing lenses I have worked with.
 
stormilst is right in that you wont regret the a70. Just think it over. Whenever I have the option of buying a model up for a reasonable amount of money, I never recall regretting it. 80 bux is a cheap price to pay for the difference between a 3 and a 4 mp alone. throw in the feature differences and it was a no lose for me. (granted I had my nmh batteries and 256 cf card already)

One other feature diff i failed to mention is the c1 & c2 save feature. It allows a user to store 2 sets of manual setting in the c1 and c2 position. This is awsome for lets say night ahooting and indoor close up settings. Instead of having to run through 5 menus to set up a close up shot I can store them and just flip the dial to c1 at anytime. No more flash too hot close ups.

Good luck with you choice and dont lose sleep over it. Either will make you a great point & shoot.

Bric
 
Originally posted by SouthPaw72
What kind of computer has a 4.02 in. drive bay??
Click to expand...


Actually, most of them. :) The 3.5" bay is just a bit over 4". The media is ~3.5", the drives/bays are necessarily wider.
 
My G/F is lovin' the A70 I got her last year. I still get great shots from it for a P-n-S :)
 
If I'm not mistaken, the A80 (much like the S400) got rid of the red eye problem that plauged the rest of the series...
 
I love my A80!
Kick ass pics.
3 minuet clips.
Flip out screen.

I got mine with 3 Year (damage warrenty) and a 512 CF card
for under $500, 3 months ago!
 
Ok had to do a test. Way too many people saying the 70 & 80 are same cameras just different file size. A buddy has an A70 he got for Christmas and I have a recently purchased A80. The Digic really has something to it. There is a noticable difference in noise in the low key areas of pictures taken in the same place with the same settings. Across the board from auto to manual and from 50 iso to 400 the high key pics look the same but when you add shadows areas and low light conditions there is a very noticable difference. I also noticed some "clipping" on edges of the 70 that wasn't there on the 80. I dont believe this is due to the larger file size but with the newer Digic process.

Bric
 
Originally posted by Zuht
Actually, most of them. :) The 3.5" bay is just a bit over 4". The media is ~3.5", the drives/bays are necessarily wider.
Click to expand...

Doh!! I shoulda realized that. I've installed enough floppy drives to know they are wider than their media.

:)
 
Originally posted by BricRoth
Ok had to do a test. Way too many people saying the 70 & 80 are same cameras just different file size. A buddy has an A70 he got for Christmas and I have a recently purchased A80. The Digic really has something to it. There is a noticable difference in noise in the low key areas of pictures taken in the same place with the same settings. Across the board from auto to manual and from 50 iso to 400 the high key pics look the same but when you add shadows areas and low light conditions there is a very noticable difference. I also noticed some "clipping" on edges of the 70 that wasn't there on the 80. I dont believe this is due to the larger file size but with the newer Digic process.

Bric
Click to expand...

I thought I had already mentioned this in this thread but I guess not.

The A80 has a larger and more matched sensor so of course there will be a noticeable difference in image quality. Particularly in noise, sharpness, and lack of CA. For the larger sensor alone the A80 is a better option if you are not paying more than a $100 premium.
 
Canon says it does but is it actually noticable in the image? Anyone have a sample?

Originally posted by agentzero9
I thought I had already mentioned this in this thread but I guess not.

The A80 has a larger and more matched sensor so of course there will be a noticeable difference in image quality. Particularly in noise, sharpness, and lack of CA. For the larger sensor alone the A80 is a better option if you are not paying more than a $100 premium.
Click to expand...
 
dude i went through this as well and i got the a80 over the 70 and 2 other cameras i was considering if its the money i would just save up or just spend it cause its a camera and you will be pissed later on when find out you should have just spend the extra 65 bucks then.


a80 all the way i love mine! just need to learn how to use it better :)
 
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