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I got a S30!

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a l b e r t

a l b e r t

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I've been a loyal Sony customer since my 1st digicam F505. I've then subsequently owned S70, S75. I was on the roll to F707 but then I decided to buy something small and simple, and I ended up with a Canon S30.

So far, this is a very pleasurable cam to use. Firmware-wise, it is head and shoulders above Sony. Now I really can't understand why I didn't buy Canon before. Instead of people worrying about over saturated reds, BFS, I can enjoy my S30 and take good shots in varing lighting conditions.

The camera is just so smart. If I take a shot of people with bright background (sky), it knows to fire the flash automatically for flash fill. It was a surprise to me. Exposure is accurate and color is well balanced. At night, I switched the cam to night scene mode and took pictures of my friends with some nice Xmas nightings on the streets. Then I discovered that I was firing the flash too close to them (histogram helps too). I quickly adjusted the flash output to -1EV and voila! Everything came out just right. I just love the way I can adjust the flash output, it is in + - 2EV range with 1/3 EV steps.

I know my next pro-sumer digicam will not be a Sony anymore. It'll be a Canon.
--a l b e r t
 
a l b e r t said:
I've been a loyal Sony customer since my 1st digicam F505. I've
then subsequently owned S70, S75. I was on the roll to F707 but
then I decided to buy something small and simple, and I ended up
with a Canon S30.

So far, this is a very pleasurable cam to use. Firmware-wise, it
is head and shoulders above Sony. Now I really can't understand
why I didn't buy Canon before. Instead of people worrying about
over saturated reds, BFS, I can enjoy my S30 and take good shots in
varing lighting conditions.

The camera is just so smart. If I take a shot of people with
bright background (sky), it knows to fire the flash automatically
for flash fill. It was a surprise to me. Exposure is accurate and
color is well balanced. At night, I switched the cam to night
scene mode and took pictures of my friends with some nice Xmas
nightings on the streets. Then I discovered that I was firing the
flash too close to them (histogram helps too). I quickly adjusted
the flash output to -1EV and voila! Everything came out just
right. I just love the way I can adjust the flash output, it is in
+ - 2EV range with 1/3 EV steps.

I know my next pro-sumer digicam will not be a Sony anymore. It'll
be a Canon.

--
a l b e r t
Click to expand...
Being happy is the main thing...all that's left to do is switch forums...or be branded a TROLL
Don C
 
Hi Pondria,

Yes, I've been lurking around still. I went out for lunch with my cousin today and took a few more indoor flash pics. The S30 beats S70, S75 by miles. Not only correct exposure and color balance, but very low noise due to the use of ISO50. S75 is not very sharp and lots of noise for indoor flash pics.

I think people often overlook the lens being the most important thing for a digicam. Firmware is even more important. What is the use of good hw with equally good firmware? I don't know if I would go the D30 or 1D route. I'm hoping something like a follow on of the Pro90IS.
Pondria said:
Canon knows Flash. D30 or 1D seems to be your next adventure.
Click to expand...
 
Donniedark said:
Being happy is the main thing...all that's left to do is switch
forums...or be branded a TROLL
Click to expand...
I'm no troll. Canon also scores major brownie points on the ZoomBrowser software. Remote capture with a laptop is VERY nice. Canon scores 10 in software, Sony scores 0. MGI Photosuite is just a piece of junk.

Now, time to switch forum ;-)
 
Can you post some pictures of S30? How come you didn't go for S40? Not enough performance gain to spend extra money? I have a friend who's looking into purchase a small camera and S30 seems to be her type.

Thanks.

--KD
a l b e r t said:
Yes, I've been lurking around still. I went out for lunch with my
cousin today and took a few more indoor flash pics. The S30 beats
S70, S75 by miles. Not only correct exposure and color balance,
but very low noise due to the use of ISO50. S75 is not very sharp
and lots of noise for indoor flash pics.

I think people often overlook the lens being the most important
thing for a digicam. Firmware is even more important. What is the
use of good hw with equally good firmware? I don't know if I would
go the D30 or 1D route. I'm hoping something like a follow on of
the Pro90IS.
a l b e r t said:
Canon knows Flash. D30 or 1D seems to be your next adventure.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
There are several reasons for choosing S30 over the S40:

1. Cost, too little pixel increase for the hefty cost, everything else is the same except for 2, digital zoom and max ISO

2. S30 produces less noise than S40 (same size CCD, so S30 has larger pixel size on the CCD). Comparing my S30 flash shot with my friend's S40, my pictures are much less noisier. S30 supports ISO800, S40 does not, which is telling me that S30 has inherently lower noise to begin with. I think people are overwhelmed by big lens and high pixel count, but overlook the firmware and the actual quality of the output.

3. I like all sliver body, don't like the two tone gray all that much on the S40

I'll find some pics to post later, but that will have to go to the Canon forum...
KD said:
Can you post some pictures of S30? How come you didn't go for S40?
Not enough performance gain to spend extra money? I have a friend
who's looking into purchase a small camera and S30 seems to be her
type.
Click to expand...
 
a l b e r t said:
I've been a loyal Sony customer since my 1st digicam F505. I've
then subsequently owned S70, S75. I was on the roll to F707 but
then I decided to buy something small and simple, and I ended up
with a Canon S30.

So far, this is a very pleasurable cam to use. Firmware-wise, it
is head and shoulders above Sony. Now I really can't understand
why I didn't buy Canon before. Instead of people worrying about
over saturated reds, BFS, I can enjoy my S30 and take good shots in
varing lighting conditions.

The camera is just so smart. If I take a shot of people with
bright background (sky), it knows to fire the flash automatically
for flash fill. It was a surprise to me. Exposure is accurate and
color is well balanced. At night, I switched the cam to night
scene mode and took pictures of my friends with some nice Xmas
nightings on the streets. Then I discovered that I was firing the
flash too close to them (histogram helps too). I quickly adjusted
the flash output to -1EV and voila! Everything came out just
right. I just love the way I can adjust the flash output, it is in
+ - 2EV range with 1/3 EV steps.

I know my next pro-sumer digicam will not be a Sony anymore. It'll
be a Canon.

--
a l b e r t
Click to expand...
 
Apparently, people here are interested in what he has to say.

Ron Parr
 
Hi Albert,

I find it a little strange why your name is in this thread four times telling us the fine vurtues if the S30. I don't know anything about the S30 but I am sure it is a very fine camera. My question is this:

Why post those pics for the Canon forum only?

WHY NOT POST THEM HERE? I don't get it. What am I missing.

I would think you would want to post them here top show us how wonderful it is.

HarveyF
a l b e r t said:
1. Cost, too little pixel increase for the hefty cost, everything
else is the same except for 2, digital zoom and max ISO

2. S30 produces less noise than S40 (same size CCD, so S30 has
larger pixel size on the CCD). Comparing my S30 flash shot with my
friend's S40, my pictures are much less noisier. S30 supports
ISO800, S40 does not, which is telling me that S30 has inherently
lower noise to begin with. I think people are overwhelmed by big
lens and high pixel count, but overlook the firmware and the actual
quality of the output.

3. I like all sliver body, don't like the two tone gray all that
much on the S40

I'll find some pics to post later, but that will have to go to the
Canon forum...
KD said:
Can you post some pictures of S30? How come you didn't go for S40?
Not enough performance gain to spend extra money? I have a friend
who's looking into purchase a small camera and S30 seems to be her
type.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Because donniedark will call Albert a troll and get on his case if he posts here...

Ron
HarveyF said:
I find it a little strange why your name is in this thread four
times telling us the fine vurtues if the S30. I don't know anything
about the S30 but I am sure it is a very fine camera. My question
is this:

Why post those pics for the Canon forum only?

WHY NOT POST THEM HERE? I don't get it. What am I missing.

I would think you would want to post them here top show us how
wonderful it is.

HarveyF
a l b e r t said:
1. Cost, too little pixel increase for the hefty cost, everything
else is the same except for 2, digital zoom and max ISO

2. S30 produces less noise than S40 (same size CCD, so S30 has
larger pixel size on the CCD). Comparing my S30 flash shot with my
friend's S40, my pictures are much less noisier. S30 supports
ISO800, S40 does not, which is telling me that S30 has inherently
lower noise to begin with. I think people are overwhelmed by big
lens and high pixel count, but overlook the firmware and the actual
quality of the output.

3. I like all sliver body, don't like the two tone gray all that
much on the S40

I'll find some pics to post later, but that will have to go to the
Canon forum...
KD said:
Can you post some pictures of S30? How come you didn't go for S40?
Not enough performance gain to spend extra money? I have a friend
who's looking into purchase a small camera and S30 seems to be her
type.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Good for you albert and it looks like you value low noise and firmware updates -- important things. I'm also interested in the next pro90 update--vs 707 -- we'll see if the next 707v or whatever addresses the issues or if Canon beats Sony to the next camera I'm looking for but has yet to be produced.

MAC
a l b e r t said:
I've been a loyal Sony customer since my 1st digicam F505. I've
then subsequently owned S70, S75. I was on the roll to F707 but
then I decided to buy something small and simple, and I ended up
with a Canon S30.

So far, this is a very pleasurable cam to use. Firmware-wise, it
is head and shoulders above Sony. Now I really can't understand
why I didn't buy Canon before. Instead of people worrying about
over saturated reds, BFS, I can enjoy my S30 and take good shots in
varing lighting conditions.

The camera is just so smart. If I take a shot of people with
bright background (sky), it knows to fire the flash automatically
for flash fill. It was a surprise to me. Exposure is accurate and
color is well balanced. At night, I switched the cam to night
scene mode and took pictures of my friends with some nice Xmas
nightings on the streets. Then I discovered that I was firing the
flash too close to them (histogram helps too). I quickly adjusted
the flash output to -1EV and voila! Everything came out just
right. I just love the way I can adjust the flash output, it is in
+ - 2EV range with 1/3 EV steps.

I know my next pro-sumer digicam will not be a Sony anymore. It'll
be a Canon.

--
a l b e r t
Click to expand...
 
A l b e r t's personal history with STF is as long as most of you guys here. He has been very valuable resource for this forum with his balanced view and rich experience. Let's just listen to what he has to say about the new camera.
Donniedark said:
a l b e r t said:
I've been a loyal Sony customer since my 1st digicam F505. I've
then subsequently owned S70, S75. I was on the roll to F707 but
then I decided to buy something small and simple, and I ended up
with a Canon S30.

So far, this is a very pleasurable cam to use. Firmware-wise, it
is head and shoulders above Sony. Now I really can't understand
why I didn't buy Canon before. Instead of people worrying about
over saturated reds, BFS, I can enjoy my S30 and take good shots in
varing lighting conditions.

The camera is just so smart. If I take a shot of people with
bright background (sky), it knows to fire the flash automatically
for flash fill. It was a surprise to me. Exposure is accurate and
color is well balanced. At night, I switched the cam to night
scene mode and took pictures of my friends with some nice Xmas
nightings on the streets. Then I discovered that I was firing the
flash too close to them (histogram helps too). I quickly adjusted
the flash output to -1EV and voila! Everything came out just
right. I just love the way I can adjust the flash output, it is in
+ - 2EV range with 1/3 EV steps.

I know my next pro-sumer digicam will not be a Sony anymore. It'll
be a Canon.

--
a l b e r t
Click to expand...
Being happy is the main thing...all that's left to do is switch
forums...or be branded a TROLL
Don C
Click to expand...
 
I'll try to post some stuff the next day, when I can get some more controlled and not so controlled shots here. Hopefully I won't be labelled as troll.

I was over at Canon Talk, I think S30 is just beginning to show up in the channel, it is still very new. A few people who got it appear to be quite happy with it. For me, I'm amazed how much this little camera can accomplish with so little in price.
HarveyF said:
WHY NOT POST THEM HERE? I don't get it. What am I missing.

I would think you would want to post them here top show us how
wonderful it is.
Click to expand...
 
Albert

Know how you feel.
I switched from a cement encrusted 85 to the G2

I'm also interested to see the 707v vs the pro 90 update

Have fun, hang around
Rob
MAC said:
MAC
a l b e r t said:
I've been a loyal Sony customer since my 1st digicam F505. I've
then subsequently owned S70, S75. I was on the roll to F707 but
then I decided to buy something small and simple, and I ended up
with a Canon S30.

So far, this is a very pleasurable cam to use. Firmware-wise, it
is head and shoulders above Sony. Now I really can't understand
why I didn't buy Canon before. Instead of people worrying about
over saturated reds, BFS, I can enjoy my S30 and take good shots in
varing lighting conditions.

The camera is just so smart. If I take a shot of people with
bright background (sky), it knows to fire the flash automatically
for flash fill. It was a surprise to me. Exposure is accurate and
color is well balanced. At night, I switched the cam to night
scene mode and took pictures of my friends with some nice Xmas
nightings on the streets. Then I discovered that I was firing the
flash too close to them (histogram helps too). I quickly adjusted
the flash output to -1EV and voila! Everything came out just
right. I just love the way I can adjust the flash output, it is in
+ - 2EV range with 1/3 EV steps.

I know my next pro-sumer digicam will not be a Sony anymore. It'll
be a Canon.

--
a l b e r t
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi Rob,

One of the things nice about the S30 is that it is so small and so easy to carry around. Yet it produces pictures of such high quality. And there is no worry of losing a lens cap. Of course, the downside is no optional add on lens or flash. But for a quick vacation snapper, it is hard to beat. It is a keeper for me.

G2 was actually one of my choices, knowing what the S75/85 can do, G2 should be a much more capable cam. The only thing standing b/w me and the G2 is the look of the cam itself, a bit too feminine than I'd lilke.

I know most people got sold on the Sony due to the Carl-Zeiss lens. I was too. I think people should have a more open mind and look beyond just the lens. Sony cameras take great pictures when you have good lighting conditions, but often failing left and right when lighting is not so great. I was able to take good shots of S30 in a variety of lighting conditions and it is good to know that I'm in control.
Robert Holloway said:
Know how you feel.
I switched from a cement encrusted 85 to the G2

I'm also interested to see the 707v vs the pro 90 update

Have fun, hang around
Click to expand...
 
I know...I should start to ask him questions in Canon forum. But I hope you would keep an open mind. If memory serves, Albert owned couple of Sony cybershot series including S75 before he got the camera that truely meet his needs. Take a look of his posting history and see which forum he spent most of his time in.

Take it easy...
:-)

--KD
 
http://www.pbase.com/viper2001/s30_test_photos&browse=Y

Just a couple quick snaps I did in the past few days. And no, that's not me in there... :)

What I noticed is that noise in shadow areas is remarkably low. Compare this to images I have taken using the S70 or S75, this is amazing. S70 also has a strong tendancy to produce a reddish cast over the entire picture and tends to underexposed with some ambient light as well.

Someone sent me a group photo in a Karaoke room taken with the S75. Very grainly and noisy as far as I can see.
--a l b e r t
 
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