With a Cornwall holiday planned for the end of June and a newly approved credit card, I am in the market for a new camera.
My old camera is really old. It’s a Canon Powershot A80 which I got in January of 2004. Yes, four years ago. Back then, it was real easy to choose a camera since there weren’t much variations and the Canon Powershot A80 was quite greatly rated online. The moment I saw it, I was sold. It’s a great camera and has shared a number of great adventures and a decent amount of travel.
It hasn’t really died yet but the CCD died last year before I went to Boracay. This was a factory flaw with the sensor and was replaced by Canon. It worked for quite a bit, snapping up Dubai and capturing Cornwall before dying again at Stonehenge. Now it would intermittently work when photos are snapped through the optical viewfinder.
Anyway, after four years, it is definitely time for an upgrade.
Problem is , the choices are so many and widespread. There does not seem to be one camera to rule them all. Well, if there was, companies wouldn’t make money out of the 10 different ranges they have.
DSLRs are awesome and all, but I do not consider myself a professional photographer. In my opinion, a casual photographers could be clever enough with a point-and-shoot compact. For me, DSLRs are strictly for professionals or those who have the time to attempt to be one. I could go for one, but it would be a complete waste of money as I wouldn’t have the time to explore and learn it to it’s utmost potential.
A simple point-and-shoot is out of the question simply because I am a geek. I need at least some settings to play with. Something which threads the water between DSLR and point-and-shoot.
I also can’t seem to veer too far away from Canon due to previous experience (yes, the one camera). The Lumix TZ line looks impressive but a bit too simple.
Ultimately, the choice has seemed to boil down to two cameras; the Canon Powershot G9 and the Canon Powershot A650 IS.
They are almost identical cameras 12.1 MP, 6x optical zoom, IS, etc but do have a few distinct differences which sway me from one side to the other.
The Powershot G9. If you have seen it, you know that it is the prettiest piece of meat on the “compact” range. The design is just brilliant, retro and professional. If looks were everything, I’d get this one. I am pretty sure if I ask anyone, they vouch for the G9.
On the other hand, we have the Powershot A650 IS, a descendant of my A80. This camera is just big, heavy and bulky but does have a vari-angle TFT LCD and uses AA batteries which means you would never run out of batteries.

With these two features alone, the Powershot A650 IS has won me over. Add to this, it is far more cheaper than the G9 which just happens to be outside my credit limit. The G9 is also heavier even though it is slightly smaller, this is due to its metal body.
It is quite hard to be a geek, to dig into every little detail until making a final decision. I am quite excited as well. This would be my first gadget purchase in months. Oh, wait. I just got myself a LCD TV and a Xbox two months ago.