From 500, to 600, to 800 and now 1000.

I realized that Esther needed a camera of her own. I had mine. I currently am using a D40 (Nikon). I love that camera so much. I wish I had more time with it. The thing is by the time I finished my work and go home, it is already dark and I can't do practice shots in the daytime. The weekends would be tied up with other things and yes, I do get some time to do daylight photography. I've learnt lots from my D40 and almost everyday I find new, practical and interesting feature/fuction/photography skills to develop. I was so ready to buy a new flash for my camera so that I can practice my photography skills of using a flash (one of the more difficult skill to master I would think). Then it dawned on me that Esther needed one too. So I had to postpone my flash to get a camera for her. It is good for her to have one anyway.

The old digital compact is fuctioning somewhat. It still works but you can't do anything with it. It fell and the LCD cracked. She was thinking of reparing it. I feel that the camera is too old to use and its functions lacking. It was a Canon Powershot S30. Yeah, pretty old. It is the battery that made the decision whether to repair it or to chuck it. I chose to "chuck it" because of the battery is difficult to get new ones and with the old one, after a 20 shots with flash, it indicates that the battery is running low on power.

In comes the new IXUS 70 that I bought for her. Initially, she was telling me that the most she wanted to spend on a camera was 500 RM. So I set out to look for a camera for that budget. The more I look and the more I check the ones in newspaper and brochure, the more I know that 500RM ain't going to make it. So I said, perhaps I would increase it to 600RM. Not a single difference. So I said, oh well. I'll push it to 800RM. Now we're talking.

I went to a few camera shops around my office place and didn't quite like those shops. Nothing wrong with the camera but the shops tend to be a bit pricy. One guy was telling me about MegaPixels and so Brand X/Model X has these amount it is a definate choice. I just look and said, MegaPixels is just in my way. I am more interested in the colour produced and not MegaPixels. By the way, you can read this site, on MegaPixel myth 1, and here on MegaPixel myth 2. Or just do a "Google" search on Megapixel myths. The sales person just looked at me and gives me the "I-know-these-stuff-more-than-you-do" look.

So I landed my hands on a Canon IXUS 70. I was told it is to be discontinued soon. So shall I wait or buy? The more I held, the more I see the result and compare it with the other brands/models, the faster the decision I made. I bought it.

Last Christmas I got the D40, everyone said it was a crappy camera and scoffed at it (loudly). They also suggested me to purchase the D40X that is much better since it has 10.2MP compared to the D40 that has only 6.1 MP. Not to mentioned that the D40 is going to be replaced soon (at that time we didn't know what it was) with a new model (now we know it is the D60). I just smiled. The D40 that I am having is great and more than my expectations. The newer model, D60, has even poorer reviews than the D40 in terms of "value for money".

So taking that into consideration and looking how people judge the IXUS 70, I think I did not make a bad choice. It looks good, feels good in my hands. The other models or make are good (don't get me wrong) but some of those didn't have the feel or the feature that I wanted. Some models/make feels like a cheap, plastic toy and I didn't like it.

I got the IXUS 70 for 800RM, plus a 2GB memory card (on top of the 32MB memory card) and a leather pouch. So in total, 999RM (just one RM shy of the 1000 RM mark). Admittedly I didn't get a "great" or even a "good" deal but on the whole it was a "deal" for me. Now, thinking back, I should have haggled with them for a LCD protector (remembering what had happened with the old Powershot). Oh well, now I'll go and find a LCD protector then.

So now I got a new camera for Esther. How then could I tell her that I've doubled the amount that was set initially. Of course I could justify it with all the good stuff (better to have a good camera and take great pictures than to have a lousy camera taking crappy pictures) but she will argue with "I-dont-think-it-is-necessary" points. I was thinking if only I could use the "Jedi mind-trick" and with a wave of my hand I would say, "It is only for the better. It is justifiable".

Brian Chew over and out.