Based on my research, I have to conclude that the A20 is very a good camera, and I have recommended it to friends who have asked me to recommend a digicam to start with, based on the reviews on this site and others, it is clear to see that it is a rather exceptional digital camera. Some of those friends to whom I have recommended the camera did buy it and they are pleased with it. Of course, not owning one myself means that my recommendation can only go so far.
Before I start out, I know nothing of your abilities or criteria for choosing/buying a digital camera in the first place other than that you have been looking at P&S. So I've added a few things to the boiling pot here in case they might be helpful.
But I wish to point something out about digital cameras. Very few digital cameras have a TTL (Through The Lens) viewfinder, be it optical or electronic. Those that do tend to be more expensive than their non-TTL brethren. Most digital cameras (even the high-end prosumer ones) have the regular real-image optical viewfinders. Even my own Nikon CoolPix 995 (I bought it 2 months ago new for US$725) does not give an accurate view of the subject when doing macros - no camera digital or film with a non-TTL viewfinder will, it is a fact of real-image optical viewfinders, so don't worry too much about that. Use the LCD like Ken says.
Low-light shots. Many digital cameras do not do well in low-light. How low is low-light? Depends on the digital camera. Often, a brightly painted (white or nearly white) room with just 1 or 2 tungsten lights is definitely already very low-light. The flash will go off, meaning that your shot will probably not suffer from shake, but it might be out of focus. Not owning an A20 myself means that I can't tell you how well the AF Assist light works in such situations.
Red-Eye. When the flash is so close to the axis of the lens, red-eye is inevitable, especially among non-tropical people! Not much can be done about it. Many cameras have red-eye reduction flash mode, but if your subject is not looking directly into the camera/flash, then it will not work, and you will still get red-eye. You can only know it's there and try to work to minimize it.
Decide what kind of camera/photography you wish to buy/do. Then look at the cameras that fill that role, then compare budget. Don't look at the whole range and end up spending more than you thought you would. I think it will only confuse the issue to start looking at a Canon A20, and then end up looking at a Canon G2 instead. They are totally worlds apart, for different sort of photography, and different budget! I read of one guy who was dreaming of a Nikon CP5000 (about US$1099) and eventually bought a Canon D30 with lenses and stuff (altogether more than US$3,000?). Well, if he can afford it, he's luckier than me, but most people need to set a budget. Don't get carried away! I think anybody knows that the most expensive is not necessarily the best for themselves. Common psychology is: get excited about more expensive camera, more features. Spend more on that. Not quite what you were looking for, you get a bit dissapointed with it. Remember that when we spend more, often we expect more. If what you were looking for was a P&S, then spent more on a prosumer with manual controls but don't use those features, then you may be very disappointed.
A20 is a point-and-shoot, albeit a very capable one. Oly C-20x0Z is more serious type camera, with manual modes, etc., so is the Canon G2. But the G2 is a 4megapixel camera. Don't forget you will pay extra for all those things, also extra for the flash hotshoe on top of the G2. Although the G2 can be used as a point & shoot, it is also bigger and heavier to accomodate all those extra features. You may not like that.
Last of all, I always recommend that people try out a camera as much as possible in a traditional bricks and mortar shop first before buying. Sometimes a camera looks good on paper, but there's some aspect of real-life usage about it that you just don't like, the shape of the grip, viewfinder too small and uncomfortable to use, etc.
Disclaimer: Of course, all this is only my opinion, but I offer it here humbly in case it may contribute in helping the new buyers. I believe that it is fair and sound advice. Many others on this forum have given good advice too.
Jason
Elias Prokos :
I have the A-20 and I love it.
Good points:
Available lens adapter
Extremely easy to use
Great photos (I think anyway)
Uses recharagable AA batteries
3X Zoom
Has some "mass" to it. It feels like a camera to this old guy
Not so good points:
Difficult to get low light shots (But they can be done I've learned)
Viewfinder does not accurately represent the boundries of the
actual shot. Especially on macro shots. The solution is to use the
LCD = Problem solved.
I find I get a lot of red eye. This may be normal however for P&S
camera - I don't know
This is my first camera since an Instamatic a million years ago and
I think it does a great job! I have created some really nice 8 x
10's with it and generally I am extremely pleased - However, I now
have the bug and I want a 5 MP camera, and a Canon s600 that will
do 8 x 10 and ....
Maybe Santa is listening
If you want to see some A-20 shots, see my gallery below.
Good luck
Ken
http://www.pbase.com/ksmith/
