maybe SP560UZ of Olympus would be a alternative choice for u, wiggle. As what i know, it has 18x optical zoom, 8MP, 27mm wide angle lens as well. and price fairly at RM1799 without discount yet. :)

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Not too sure about the 510 but I have the 550 and the focusing problem only occurs when there is a lot of backlighting, such as shooting into the light and such in very low light:



However, it is possible to shoot into bright lights under brighter conditions on the first try, so that is to say it isn't possible:



What makes it a nice feature is that you can minimize it by using 'My Settings' in the camera which saves your favorite settings to minimize the problems (noise etc) if you know exactly what you're doing. Once set up properly it's a pretty good camera.

Another example shooting at bright light in low light.



Just as long as nothing is in front of that lighting, should be fine. Taken with bare hands. Probably would've been better with a tripod and timer.

If you want to buy a camera i suggest you go to KL to Low Yat plaza or Sungei Wang. Far better choice and the heavy competition means you can do some bargaining there. Shops there have a wide range of choice.

The Olympus is lovely but if anything am looking to go for smaller and slimmer than the A series if replacing. The Canon SD850IS would do me nicely but cannot find one locally.

Here's the review of the A510:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/can ... wershot_a510_a520-review/

"Now, the bad news. Two things have gotten worse since the A75/A85, and a few things haven't changed when they should've. Where the old models could focus well in low light, the new models cannot. I don't know why, but they just don't like to focus in dimly lit rooms, despite having an AF-assist lamp. You've got manual focus to back you up, but you shouldn't have to use it for some of the shots where the AF failed for me. Another disappointment is in terms of flash photos -- redeye is much worse than on the older models. Some of the features that aren't any better than the old models include the sluggish, time-limited movie mode, low light LCD visibility (it's okay, but could be better), and the lack of a histogram in record mode. Some rechargeable batteries would've been nice, as well."

I didn't have the A75, I had the A60 and it was MUCH better, focussing quickly and easily, even in the dark. The A510 works OK outdoors in daylight but hunts around and gives that annoying double-bleep continously indoors.

Regarding settings, I know how to use it - and one setting I have to use is to tell it to over-expose every shot, because the thing underexposes everything except bright daylight.

I learnt photography with a totally manual SLR (it did have a basic meter but up to you to make adjustments so the meter was happy). The fact remains despite the higher pixel count, slightly longer lens and only needing 2 batteries, the 510 is not as good as the A60.

The under-exposure is more recent, I think it was OK at first but now at least 1 in 3 shots need editing to brighten them up (but look fine on the LCD).

My A60 died on me in Singapore, went to take a snap and the screen went all fuzzy and multicolored. I have since learnt there were a bunch of Canon cameras with the same problem and they would repair free of charge, but learnt this far too late with the camera in the bin over a year ago. Repair costs were too high to bother with it and the A510 looked soooo much nicer, lighter, more pixel etc. Big disappointment though - and also the lens cover doesn't work properly now either, it doesn't close and protect the lens.

In fact it jammed in the closed position, I had to break it open to use the camera.

Also the little rubber cover for the ports kep opening and flapping around, had to pull it off in the end. Overall the build quality is not what I'd expect of Canon. So while I am tempted by the IS and 6x zoom of newer models (and reviews suggest the autofocus is better again) I am looking at alternatives.

As for noise on the Panasonic, I know the FX100 is noisey, being 12MP, which is why I have been looking for the FX55 or 33:

"In conclusion, I like the Lumix DMC-FX100, and can recommend it. At the same time, I'd say that the 12 Megapixel resolution is overkill for the vast majority of people, and that buying one of the lower resolution Panasonic ultra-compacts would be a better idea. You'll get the same features, better photo quality and performance, and it'll cost less too. Thus, unless you're printing billboard-sized ISO 80 prints, I'd take a look at the DMC-FX33 and DMC-FX55 instead."

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/pan ... x100-review/gallery.shtml

But can only find the FX10 locally, which is 6MP and doesn't have the same lens.

Back to low-light photography, I have long been a keen photographer and consider even the A series as been a bit basic and limited. Photography is all about "painting with light" and capturing scenes as they are is important to me, not blasting them with a with flash for example. Yes, that usually means an SLR but am surprised there is so little advancement in this area. The makers all seem to provide bigger and bigger pixel numbers or lens zoom but neglect the real promise of digital - low light capturing.

The biggest problem you have with conventional film is getting enough light, meaning big fat expensive lenses, carefully bouncing flash etc. Digital promises to over-come this and if makers concentrated on that they could do so I think but they don't. "Look, 12 megapixels! Big zoom!"

It seems they are looking at image stablization instead of greater sensistivity. That's not going to freeze a moving object though.

Having said that I do insist my next camera must have that, it seems silly to spend money on anything without it.


W.

Quote: i just got back from there about 2 weeks ago & i dont see the latest model lumix fz18 yet at low yat. i think fz18 's 18x optic is a win win ..except for the bulk of it, price wise also reasonable,eh?

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I had a chance to compare a Canon S3 IS and various types, you'd be surprised at how good the Olympus SP is at low light when compared to it and many other compacts. In fact, because I work on digital imaging I've seen many types of cameras and it's been pretty good so far. Better ones are of course SLRs.

The only thing is not to point it at a bright backlight and a dark subject as I've demonstrated. It's also assuming you're using custom settings rather than automatic - of which you can turn off the annoying noise reduction feature and various other options not available when using full auto.

I had headache when going out to look for cameras in Kuching. All the camera shops here only stock the popular brand, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Casio and most of the model are out-of-date and still selling at the full retail price (no discount). In the end, I buy my camera online (go to lowyat, lelong or eoe).

Back to the topic, I try to list the camera shops that stock a good range of camera (at most go there and have a feel of the camera before purchasing it somewhere else...hehe)

1. Topfoto - Jln Abell (near the big Cat)
2. Phoenix - Jln Padugan (also near the big Cat but on the other lane). They have another branch at Electra House
3. Anna Photo Studio - Jln Rubber (opposite Satay House with the big Kodak signboard)
4. Empress - India Street (located on the first floor, across the street from Little Lebanon. Professional studio, used to be the only place in town to find descent SLR and lenses)
5. Tat Lee - Jln Ang Cheng Ho (all Sony product but can give discount, unlike the one at Tun Jugah)
6. Kodak Express - Wisma Hopoh (sometime have promotion on the more popular brand)
7. Khun electrical - MJC, Satok, 7th Mile (have some Panasonic model, since Wiggle is interested on this brand).
8. Copal - Jln Kulas (opposite Wisma Satok, think this is their main office, with more camera range to play with)

Can't list all other camera shops here, so other members might want to chip in...

Thank you Jimmy, that's a great list and I'll hit them all. Having said that, I am leaning more and more towards the Canon A570IS.

Has all the features I'm used to on my current 510 plus video is only restricted by card size (510 only does 30 sec regardless of memory left in 640 vga))

Nearly twice the megapixels and image stablisation, much bigger LCD. What the 510 should have been but wasn't really.

Seems crazy to buy a 3rd Canon A series but nothing else has quite the combination of features and quality - though I have doubts about Canon's build quality when it comes to little cameras.

Also the place in WSerberkas offers 2GB high speed card, case and Canon backpack, for 980 rinngit. they don't have the 6X zoom model yet but the basic one has no IS - the one that does is a lot more money than the A570 IS.

Another thing - it is not just the camera but the photographer and trying out so many obscure little silver things has reminded me how intuitive and easy the Canon's buttons and knobs are, plus of course I'm already well-practised with them. Any new camera means a learning curve, which means lost photos until you get the hang of the thing.

*sigh* I should be more adventerous but the A series is calling me, she knows just what I like, how I like it and promises to behave this time. That and a one year warranty!

"Aperture priority" she whispers. "Custom white balance and adjustable flash power" she giggles. Then she strokes me with "Full manual exposure, even manual focus for those tricky macros." Then she smiles, she knows I'm hooked.

NO! I resist! I'm gonna buy a bloody Casio, that'll teach her, or a BenQ! Ha! A mobile phone with a camera! Practical lah!

"You know my buttons" she purrs, adding "2 gigabyte card and cheaper than the Lumix. That you can't find anyway".

I try her in a shop, point to a black card in a dark corner - focus on this, bitch!

Zip-beep. No problem.

Damn.

You never forget your first love.

I can forgive the 510 but I'll never forget. I glare. She smiles.



AAAARGH!

Am I forever doomed to carry this brick around? There are others, so slim, so sleek, so pretty. So awkward, so fiddly, with no control.

"Zip-beep"

Bitch.

"Shutter priority."

SHUT UP!

"Face recognition at 1.6 frames per second"

Face reco..?

"Manual exposure" she smiles.

You're repeating yourself!

"Manual exposure, manual exposure, manual exposure.."

So what!? You only go down to f8 anyway! No depth of field preview on you eh! Point and shoot, that's the future!"

"Full auto green zone" she winks.

Bitch! I love you bitch!

She grins.

"I know"



*sigh*



W.

I went vacation last few days. I was thanking god I'm using Canon EOS & a slim Lumix FX7. both have it's "perks".
regarding memory card, it's best to have spare cards. my 4gb micro nearly died on me due to rapid climate change.
i would recommend Canon, stick to the brand you are familiar with, that way you will not regret your choice.