I received a very nice present in the form of a new compact digital camera for my recent big six-o birthday. I had been looking at a new camera for some time as I was getting a big fed up with the small view screen on my IXUS 400. Don’t get me wrong, the IXUS 400 has been a fantastic camera which I have have had fr0m the first year that Canon brought it out. This was my first digital camera, being bought as much for it’s style appeal as for its photographic ability.
Before that I had been a user of a Canon ELPH which used the Advanced Photo System (APS), or Advantix film format, which was then being promoted (from 1996) as the next film compact camera, with automatic film loading, 3 sizes of images and 40 shots available instead of the traditional 36 on standard 35mm film – more info here. I think it was a good move as again the camera (and its lens) along with having a great style, took some great photos and some fantastic panoramics!
Sad to say, but within 7 years, the writing was on the wall for this new innovation. A combination of not catching the attention of the professionals and with new digital compact cameras falling from the sky at prices that had never been seen before, it was the beginning of the end for the Advantix range of films and cameras. In fact today, it is now easier to get a traditional 35mm film developed than an Advantix one!
My new camera? A Canon IXUS 870IS. What a brilliant camera and another classic in the long line of Canon cameras that I have owned over the years. I’m still working my way through all of the options that the camera has, in particular its digital macro ability. It is an excellent example of how Canon cameras, particularly compact cameras have developed over the years.
I’m looking forward to learning a lot more about this camera as I take more and more pictures.
Do I think I still need a digital SLR?
I’ll have think long and hard on the one.
Beasley's Place 