Canon powershot A590 IS-Good Enough For Me ???

R

ruben

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http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/c...categoryid=221&modelid=16336#ModelFeaturesAct

Hi folks,

I may be buying my first digi given the marriage of two circumstances, which I would be very gratefull if you give each of them some thought. Kindly excuss me if I ask here absurd questions or worse.

The first circumstance is the appearance in my local market of a new ultra cheap Canon powershot: A590 IS, which could be delivered to my home by the total amount of us$ 125

The second circumstance is that since long ago I feel the need to be able to publish RFF related images about my gear, my questions, others' questions etc. This is my need. Other bonafide profits are wellcome but secondary.

So we are speaking about making pictures which you can see, if you like, as primitive product commercial photography. Fortunately I do own all lighting devices to have a nice ligthing set=up.

Firts question
Once I have my corner organized, my set up established, it is in my mind to have the camera connected to one of my several junky computers with a nice 19 inch screen, and look at each picture I do, not just on the camera small LCD screen, but "immediately", big sized, in the computer screen.

According to what I will see on the computer screen I will be changing the lighting a bit, on the spot.

Is this viable ? Any problems I am not foreseeing at this big sized immediate look ?

Second question
As you understand my requirements from the camera are rather minimal. Or perhaps I am wrong here. Let's review in more fine detail what I am looking for.

Very obviously I will be mostly photographing cameras or camera parts. A decent big size image, by flickr "original size" standard is required. To help the camera and its lens I would like to recall that with my lighting means, achieving an f/11, or f/8 at iso 100 is no problem at all.

But you may tell me, I do not know, that the lens are going to be so crappy at close focus (10 to 30cm) that no slow iso, nor any f/8 is going to sustain a big a clear sized image of a 19 inch computer screen. Ooops, here there is another concession to our cheapo: images are for computer display only, not for printing - but they must be good, without mercy.

Kindly take into account that much of a good image is in the correct exposure and lighting, and here we come back to my computer instant view set up.


Third question
The camera itself. I have held an extensive phone talk with Mike G about these issues and he showed strong opposition to this camera. His arguments were the following (I hope I remember all of them)

a) This is a plastic camera. Since I will be mounting and dismounting it from a tripod, the tripod socket of the camera will not stand long use.

b) Most of the chances this cheap camera is made in Malasya. Cameras made in Malasya suffer from FSU like quality control. Some are good, some are not.

c) This cheapo camera is being given everywhere as a gift, possibly meaning Canon knows this camera is not an award winner in its class, but rather a looser to give for free...

d) The optics for close up pictures, at such a low priced camera, can not be good.

============

But for me the issue is very simple, to buy this low priced model, even if some risks are involved, or not buying any digital at all. This is my budget without any flexiblility.

Therefore those of you, thinking like Mike, against the purchase, can tell me, and I will gladly consider, something like....Ruben with this camera and for your purposes you are throwing your money to the trash basket.

Or, if you want to be more diplomatic, you can also tell me: "Look, the risks are high".

I remain fully at your hands,
Ruben
 
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I think this camera will work fine for you. I can't speak for hooking it up to a computer, but I doubt that anything in the optics or electronics would have any problem with your intended use.
 
First question
Once I have my corner organized, my set up established, it is in my mind to have the camera connected to one of my several junky computers with a nice 19 inch screen, and look at each picture I do, not just on the camera small LCD screen, but "immediately", big sized, in the computer screen.

According to what I will see on the computer screen I will be changing the lighting a bit, on the spot.

I seems like you are expecting a "live-view" on your monitor.

I doubt it can do that.
 
i purchased a Canon A570is (the model that the A590is replaced) about six months ago because I wanted a simple digital P&S as a compact travel camera for my wife, as an occasional digital video camera, and for informal macro shots for posting to the web. Like the previous poster, aad, I cannot speak to the camera to computer connection, but for the purpose stated, I think the A590is will work well for you.

My A570is has a great macro mode, and the image stabilization works so well that I doubt that you'll need to mount it on a tripod. The optics are surprisingly good, and at that price, I don't think you can go wrong.

One of the few gripes that I have about my A570is is the pronounced barrel distortion at the wide end (35mm equivalent). Also, some jpeg artifacts are visible even at the lowest ISO setting, but only noticeable if you're pixel-peeping (viewing at 100%).

Hope that helps you,

Warren
 
I seems like you are expecting a "live-view" on your monitor.

I doubt it can do that.

No, not live as downloading will take its time. Taking this extra time into consideration, do you foresee any other problem in my "shooting and downloading" intention ?

Thanks,
Ruben
 
No, not live as downloading will take its time. Taking this extra time into consideration, do you foresee any other problem in my "shooting and downloading" intention ?

Thanks,
Ruben

No Ruben. After reading the specification sheet I think this camera will fulfil all your needs admirably.
 
Hi Warren,
It is precisely the low price that frigthens me. Would you like to tour the specifications, for which I provided the link ?

Also, what are jpeg artifacts ?

Thanks
Ruben
 
No Ruben. After reading the specification sheet I think this camera will fulfil all your needs admirably.


Many thanks Micky.

But I must stress that Mike is experienced in the stuff.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
Hi Warren,
It is precisely the low price that frigthens me. Would you like to tour the specifications, for which I provided the link ?

Also, what are jpeg artifacts ?

Thanks
Ruben

Hi Ruben,

I believe the A590is is the last of the "consumer" grade Canon digital P&S that offers full manual controls. It's a real bargain considering the feature set. The specifications are very similar to my A570is except that the A590is offers more pixels, but a lower frame rate on video (this is why I bought the A570is instead of the A590is). Yes, the construction is not as robust as a higher end model, but perhaps part of the reason for the low cost is because of mass production economies of scale? In any case, i think it's a great bargain in digicams today. For your limited usage, I think it will work well.

Jpeg artifacts is another way of saying digital noise, or pixelation due to data compression or noise reduction algorithms in a digital camera, sort of like film grain only uglier and not as welcome :).

--Warren
 
Many thanks Micky.

But I must stress that Mike is experienced in the stuff.

Cheers,
Ruben

Ruben,
My digi is old and tired and has only half the pixels of yours.

How's this? (cropped to RFF requirements).

attachment.php



DSCN7576.jpg
 
Apparently, there is a popular hack for the 590IS that will give it certain enhanced features, including RAW support.

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

It is also dangerous - so I do not advise it, I merely note that it exists for those who might be interested.

I find myself quite interested in the A590IS as well, but funds...ah, so maybe not at the moment.
 
sample macro shot from A570IS

sample macro shot from A570IS

I took this handheld, one handed, available light from a window with my A570IS in macro mode, then enhanced a bit in PS.

--Warren
 

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Having had the A570, which was quite good up to IS 200, I would NOT recommend the A590 IS. Since 2003, I've had half
a dozen Powershots, the best of the bunch being the SD800 IS. My recommendation to Ruben was the highly successful
2008 model, the SD1100 IS... for around $50- more than the A590. EVERYTHING I have bought, has been substantially researched in dpreview.com , dcresource.com and cnet.com , etc.

Tho' I don't claim to be an expert, I've spent much of the past year learning more about digital imaging and editing.

Finally, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
Ciao, Mike
 
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I have an A590IS. I have not tried the hack bmattock mentions, but I've heard of it, and one of my flickr contacts does use it to get RAW from the camera. The difference I've seen in his shots isn't enough for me to accept the effort and risk to do it. The JPGs it produces at 80 ISO and highest quality are really good- plenty good enough for me.

I got it to be a small, light camera to carry pretty much all the time, when not involved in photographic-specific pursuits, and it is great for that. I use it a lot at work now, so I don't have to go find the company camera when I want to email a picture of something.

That said, it isn't really a professional tool. I live in NH, and on a cold day earlier in the winter, slipped and fell on the ice with the A590IS in my coat pocket. It was almost brand new at the time. The landing was really soft, and I didn't even check the camera after as I didn't think it would be possible it had been damaged. But when I went to download, I found the LCD was cracked. The cost to get it fixed was just a bit less than buying a new one, but I did it anyway, since part of the repair was CLA, and I figured why not get a camera that an acutal technician has examined and calibrated. I think the images since I got it back have been even better, especially in exposure.
 
A590IS, chdk , SDM

A590IS, chdk , SDM

i have two a590is for twinning and shooting 3dstereo.
my findings in the last couple of weeks. 3dstereo will start in a few days. if interested go to sdm-yahoo-list. or chdk-forum with some sdm-hints incl. 590.

1. dont fear chdk(hack) its not a real hack, just a temporary loading at each camera-start.

2. get a good battery-loader, not that timer-driven but automatic one. if you have old batteries. do a refresh by unloading two or three times. maybe you should unplug to see the yellow light when you push the unload button fo 3 sec. that is at least for my loading tecxus tc 6000 family. load/unload fresh batteries twice.
no unloading needed when having done this.

3. lcd-screen is fabilous. like day and night compared to coolpix p50. that one was decalibrated right from the first day on. since it was my first digicam i couldnt know.

get the printed handbook. canon has a cheap service.
for highest quality i would use mono/mini or tripod if possible. unbelievable shots are possible in low light.
use a neckstrap.
test and check every setting in canon-menue and or chdk if you use it. i would, at least later. or on a second card.
you need to take out the card and use a cardreader to view on computer.
 
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