A New Camera for Dad for Father's Dayby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 04 Jun 2008 05:52 AM So you don't want to give dad any of the Father's Day photo gifts I listed in this blog. And you don't think my Mother's Day camera will go over well with him either, well, I have one more item he might be delighted to unwrap on Father's Day. Canon's PowerShot 650 IS is perfect for the snap happy dad who wants a camera that packs a punch, but doesn't have the time or energy to read an owner's manual the size of a pocket dictionary to get it to work. (Not that most dads read owners manuals to begin with.) The 650 IS is the other camera I researched prior to putting in my Mother's Day gift request. It shoots 12.1 megapixels, has a 6x optical zoom lens and retails for just under $300. Similar to the PowerShot A720 IS the 650 IS uses standard AA rechargeable batteries. According to Canon, alkaline batteries will deliver about 140 shots. But a set of rechargeable Ni-MH batteries will do much better, capturing about 400 shots. The 650 IS also comes with an optical viewfinder (an increasingly rare feature as LCDs become larger on smaller digital cameras). Though, I must note that the camera's 2.5-inch LCD can be seen in sunlight, which is surprisingly difficult with most modern LCDs. Another bonus is that the LCD can tilt and swivel to almost any angle so you can face it towards your eyes if you're including yourself in a picture. Also, if you're taking a picture from overhead you could angle the LCD toward yourself and see what the shot looks like before you snap the picture. The Canon PowerShot 650 IS also comes equipped with image stabilization and face detection technology for focus, exposure, and flash. Image stabilization is especially useful with longer-zoom cameras because a zoom can exaggerate any hand movement while you shoot. The A650 IS is closer to a professional-level camera than most cameras in its class. It's relatively big (4.41 x 2.67 x 2.21 inches) and weighs 10.6 ounces, which is heavier than most mid-range digital cameras. In fact, many of the features on the A650 IS rival those in Canon's "high-end, advanced" camera category, but you don't have to shell out the same amount of dough to get them. And what dad wouldn't be pleased to know that he doesn't have to work overtime to pay for such an incredible Father's Day gift? Related Articles: My Mother's Day Photo Surprise-The Gift that Keeps on Giving Snapping Summer Memories---Going Digital A Digital Camera for Serious Shooters The Difference Between Two Digital Cameras From the Same Company Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras--The Trend Continues Hip and Stylish Digital Cameras for TEENS More Ultra-compact Digital Camera Options The World's Slimmest Digital Camera Digital Photography 101: Choosing The Perfect Ultra Compact Camera Digital Photography 101: Picking The Perfect Camera Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags camera, digital camera, photography Discuss this article
|
Photography categories |
