A true pocket camera

[mklotz]

I've been in the market for a true pocket camera for a long time. I wanted it primarily for what amounts to video note-taking. My other cameras are more than satisfactory for my photo requirements but they're just too bulky to slip in a pocket.

Over the years I've great success with Canon cameras so I was delighted when I heard about one of their latest offerings, the SD780is. As the photo shows...

the camera is exactly the size of a standard credit card and, at 0.72" thick, about the thickness of a deck of cards. It weighs 4 ounces.

I won't bore you with all the specs but, briefly...

12 megapixels
3x optical zoom
image stabilization
can take conventional and hi-def videos

Price in the stores is ~$250 but Amazon and many of the better online photography retailers have it for $200 with no tax and free shipping.

One of my concerns with a camera this small is its ability to do reasonable macro photography since that will be a feature I use often. As this test shot shows...

its macro abilities are up to Canon's usual high standards.

When I was a kid I lusted after the Minox "spy" camera, so beloved of the OSS. The SD780 packs a lot more capability into a package only slightly larger than the original Minox. (Incidentally, Minox, still makes tiny cameras...

http://tinyurl.com/yhth79h

although I doubt they can measure up to Canon's high standards.)

 

[tel]

Nice one Marv, a very handy bit of gear. And one I'll keep in mind if I come down with a sudden attack of affluence.

 

[bentprop]

Wow,that IS tiny,Marv.My digital camera is at least 5 times as thick,and twice the width,and is a huge 2megapixel :big:
It's unbelievable how fast technology marches on.My wallet just can't keep up.
Hey,Tel,let me know when you have such an affluence attack,I sure could use one myself ;D

 

[wm460]

I like that, would be easier to carry around than a SLR.

 

[CrewCab]

That's a nice camera ;D ............ the price converts to about £125 gbp, typically though it's for sale over here for around £205, or about $330

CC

 

[Lew Hartswick]

Marv I wonder where one can get film, and development of same, for the "real"
spy camera?
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=90RX
I always wanted one of those back in the late 40s also.
...lew...

 

[rake60]

Cool toy Marv! Thm:

By the way, there wasn't enough credit left on that gift card
for me to buy even one airline ticket!


Rick

 

[cfellows]

I'm at a bit of a crossroads right now. I just dropped my Pentax DSLR and it's broken. Can't imagine that I can get it fixed, with shipping both ways, for less than $150 (or more). By the way, if anyone has some insight into the cost of DSLR repairs, I'd be delighted if you'd share it with me. However, I have 3 pretty good lenses for it, a digital shutter release, and a few other pieces that will only work with the Pentax. On the negative side, it's 6.1 megapixels. So, I have a few options...

- I can get my camera repaired - ~$150
- Buy a used model like mine - ~$200 or more
- Buy a new refurbished body - ~$275
- Upgrade to a newer model - ~$375
- Buy something like Marv got and see what I can sell my other lenses & attachments for on Ebay.

Decisions, Decisions... :-\

 

[mklotz]

CrewCab,

I've noticed that a lot of prices seem to be about the same number in USA and UK with the obvious problem that the pound is worth 1.62 dollars. That's an astounding difference. Canon' MSRP is $400.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=17627

Lew,

For $1300, I'll pass and copy those secret drawings with my SD780. What's film?

You ever notice how us old farts are spending most of our advanced years buying and making all those toys we couldn't afford as kids? I'm sure psychiatrists must have a name for that syndrome but I don't want to know it. I'm too busy looking for that Erector set that allowed you to build that 4-6-4 Hudson locomotive model.

Rick,

I knew someone would bite on that one. The card still has $0.75 left on it. Just enough to buy a (really) cheap cigar.

Chuck,

I wouldn't recommend the SD780 as a general purpose camera. Look into the Canon SX10 (my tool of choice). Smaller and lighter than an SLR yet has a x20 zoom. No interchangeable lenses but you won't develop scoliosis lugging it around Cabin Fever or wherever.

 

[cfellows]

Thanks, Marv, I nearly succumbed to the "Neat Toy I Gotta Have" syndrome. Truth is, my wife has a decent Kodak digital camera that was a high end model a couple of years ago. I dropped that one, too, (are you seeing a pattern here?) but Kodak fixed it under warranty. I think it's an 8 megapixel and it will fill in nicely until I find a replacement (or upgrade) body for my Pentax. I also have a very nice Logitech webcam with a Carl Zeiss lens that takes nice stills & videos. And, let's not forget my Canon video camera that also takes stills, although I don't know how good they are.

Guess I just talked myself out of that neat new pocket camera!

Chuck

 

[arnoldb]

I'll back the Canon SX10 suggestion; Had mine for just over 2 month now, and I am immensely pleased with it so far. My previous camera was a Canon A80 and when it gave up the ghost after 5 years of loyal service, I shopped around and tested many cameras.

The SX10 is physically bigger than other cameras in the same bracket; many see that as a disadvantage, but I like the size because I can hold it without getting fingers in front of the flash/lens/wherever like on the smaller cameras. It's comfortable to use with one hand, and the buttons on it are very conveniently placed for one-handed operation. Some of it's bulk is made up from taking 4 AA penlight batteries; rechargeables gives a pretty good operational time, and no proprietary "expensive" spare battery to purchase as a backup

Besides the 20x optical (up to 80x digital) zoom, it goes right down to 0 mm in macro mode - and its not a typo; it is zero. Have to be careful not to bash the lens into objects when getting close!

Some of the bad photo's I've taken with it was by no means the camera's fault; usually just me playing around with it in manual mode.

Regards, Arnold

 

[tmuir]

Marv I wonder where one can get film, and development of same, for the "real"
spy camera?
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=90RX
I always wanted one of those back in the late 40s also.
...lew...

When I lived in the UK I used to buy it from Jessops.
I still have 2 Minox camera's and my favourite which is the the Camera Lite, which has a working 8mm still camera inside a Zippo lighter.
Picture of a Camera Lite here.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2453823

 

[b.lindsey]

Marv,
Its been a few weeks since your original post on this camera. Just wanted to ask if you were still happy with it and if you have tried the hi-def video feature yet and with what results. I have a Pentax digital SLR but want something handier in a true pocket cam, but I also want video capability if the quality is good.

Bill

 

[Mainer]

I've got a very similar model, the SD1100. About the only complaint I have is that it's so light it's hard to hold it steady, especially since I'm in the early stages of Parkinson's disease.

As far as picture quality, battery life, etc. go though, it's been great.

I bought an extra aftermarket battery for it (considerably cheaper than Canon's) and it has worked well.

 

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Mainer...I noticed that the Canon replacement battery is around $60 at BestBuy.

Bill

 

[mklotz]

I haven't done any videos with it yet. I have other cameras for videos although having the feature in my pocket in case I run across any naked surfer girls is very reassuring.

The macro capability of this tiny thing still astounds me. It has a digital macro setting.
I'm not exactly sure what that is but here's an example of the work it does...

 

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Marv...the Macro is astounding i agree. Good luck also as to running across some of those surfer girls.

Regards,
Bill

 

[Blogwitch]

Marv,

In 1970 I became the proud owner of a Yashica Atoron, brought out to compete with the Minox B.
For some unknown reason, in Dubai at that time, there was a shop dedicated to these small 'Spy' cameras, that was when Dubai was still a one camel town with a dust track as a main road (not quite, but almost).

The reason I went for such a small camera as a backup for my normal camera was because of the local population, they were very wary of cameras, and I managed to get some great shots of the locals by it's use, by taking pictures from the hip.

I used to buy all my films in that little shop, and get them developed as well, but only in B&W, for colour (slides), the film had to be shipped back to the Minox factory in Germany, with a round trip of about six weeks. Anything over a 10" x 8" print was abysmal quality, mainly because of the low quality of the film at that time and such a small negative size.

When I got back to the UK, film and processing was almost non existent, so I traded it in for peanuts and bought myself a Yashicamat TLR. A much more 'public' acceptable camera.

Sorry to spoil your childhood dreams, but you never missed anything spectacular at all. In fact, when you boiled it down, it was just a handful of problems from start to finish, mainly because of the processing of an 8mm negative, and to buy an 8mm slide projector, I would have had to sell my body to a local Sheik to raise the cash.
I also tried the 16mm Minolta still cameras while I was out there, but again, processing was the problem.


Blogs

 

[user 1493]

I bought a Canon Powershot A1100 IS a a Christmas gift for my wife. It is 12.1 mp with a 4x optical zoom. It has been on Amazon ans Sams Club for $119-$129. It fits in a shirt pocket with no trouble. I have a Canon Powershot A590 IS that is a year old. We are satisfied with both cameras. A feature that I especially like about both camera is that they each take two AA batteries. On the A1100 they will take 140 pictures with the LCD monitor on and 430 with it off. Yes, it does have an optical viewfinder so that you can use the camera with the sun shining over your shoulder.

Jack

 

[SAM in LA]

I haven't done any videos with it yet. I have other cameras for videos although having the feature in my pocket in case I run across any naked surfer girls is very reassuring.

The macro capability of this tiny thing still astounds me. It has a digital macro setting.
I'm not exactly sure what that is but here's an example of the work it does...

Great picture quality.

In fact, it looks like Lincoln needs to polish his boots.

SAM