Help! Please, what's the major difference?

[Potapko]

I am looking at buying the A 520 or the 610-620. What is the major difference besides MP ratings. I have read the specs but don't understand all the terminology.
Is the 620 really worth the $150 difference over the 520?


Thanks in advance

 

[alcina]

dunno, depends on what you want. For the extra cash it looks like you get a few things that are helpful.

- closer macro focus distance
- the more MP in this case are a benefit if you're going to crop
- more functions/modes

But the 5cm focus distance of the 520 is OK, too. And $150 is nothing to sneeze at.

I'd read the conclusions on dpreview.com and see if they mention anything re: speed or fringing or other potential problems.

 

[Jamdiver]

Hey Preacher,

This is basically a repost of my answer to someone else with this question earlier.
Hope this helps.

Well they're a couple differences between the A520 and A610, i'll start with the most obvious one.

* A520 is 4 megapixels as opposed to the A610's 5 megapixels.
Higher megapixels don't necessarily make one camera better than the other, but gives you some flexibility when it comes to cropping pictures and making prints of them.
* A610 has a greater optical zoom range, 4x. More importantly though and the clincher for me is that it uses the new digic II processor as compared to the older DIGIC processor in the A520. Improved battery life, faster focusing... generally the camera would feel a lot faster.
* Macro mode is better in this camera I believe, might be important if you were taking closeups of nudibranchs or christmas tree worms or whatever.


Quoting liberally from dpreview here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonA620/

Perhaps the biggest complaint about the A95 (and the A510 / A520 for that matter) was that some aspects of performance are pedestrian to say the least. Compared to most of Canon's current range these cameras feel - and are measurably - sluggish in some very important areas, such as focusing, image playback and shot-to-shot times. The reason is simple - these models use the original DIGIC processor (introduced back in 2002 - in digital camera terms, just around the time cavemen first started using sticks to fight the woolly mammoth), which though very capable, doesn't really cut the mustard in late 2005.The good news is that the A620 sports the newer - and much faster - DIGIC II processor. The even better news is that the difference this makes is immense, with virtually every aspect of the A620's performance not just beating its predecessor, but in most cases doing so by a very wide margin. In fact, for a budget model, the A620 is remarkably fast and feels very responsive indeed, and certainly it is now on a par with the best cameras in this class.

To put it simply I just think it's a better all round camera. But it would only be better to you if the improvements are worth the extra money to you.
Both have manual controls..
If your budget permits I'd definitely go for it, it lists for about $265 at most sites, but if you wait and shop carefully you should be able to find it for less than that

Anyway I'd suggest reading through some of the old topics in this forum or even doing a search you'll find a lot more info!

Check out this page for examples of pics the camera can take topside..
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_a610
__________________

 

[Potapko]

Thanks for reposting and I apologise for asking redundant questions. Looked around some and didn't find your post at least.

Jeff

Hey Preacher,

This is basically a repost of my answer to someone else with this question earlier.
Hope this helps.

Well they're a couple differences between the A520 and A610, i'll start with the most obvious one.

* A520 is 4 megapixels as opposed to the A610's 5 megapixels.
Higher megapixels don't necessarily make one camera better than the other, but gives you some flexibility when it comes to cropping pictures and making prints of them.
* A610 has a greater optical zoom range, 4x. More importantly though and the clincher for me is that it uses the new digic II processor as compared to the older DIGIC processor in the A520. Improved battery life, faster focusing... generally the camera would feel a lot faster.
* Macro mode is better in this camera I believe, might be important if you were taking closeups of nudibranchs or christmas tree worms or whatever.


Quoting liberally from dpreview here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonA620/



To put it simply I just think it's a better all round camera. But it would only be better to you if the improvements are worth the extra money to you.
Both have manual controls..
If your budget permits I'd definitely go for it, it lists for about $265 at most sites, but if you wait and shop carefully you should be able to find it for less than that

Anyway I'd suggest reading through some of the old topics in this forum or even doing a search you'll find a lot more info!

Check out this page for examples of pics the camera can take topside..
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_a610
__________________

 

[Jamdiver]

Apologies aren't necessary .
Just pay it forward when someone asks for your impression of your camera .

Best of luck and let me know what you decide on.

 

[Potapko]

That I can and will do! I ordered the 610 today with the Canon dc90 case. I'll post pics as soon as they exist!

Jeff

Apologies aren't necessary .
Just pay it forward when someone asks for your impression of your camera .

Best of luck and let me know what you decide on.