Field test: Canon IXUS 40 compact digital camera

[benny]

Hi guys,

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonSD300/Images/allroundview-001.jpg

This camera is also called the Powershot SD300 Digital Elph in some markets. Details and specifications here. (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd300/)

Thought I give this small little camera a try and see how it fares for aquatic photography in terms of grabshots, quick and dirty style....

Here's are the results..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0348ER.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0319ER.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0304R.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0330ER.jpg

More to come...

Cheers,

[benny]

Here's more..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0170R.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0293R.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0278ER.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0287ER.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0356E2R.jpg

All the above pictures were taken at LFS and fish farms. Not exactly ideal shooting conditions due to the dirty glass and low light. But this is exactly what I had in mind to use the pocket camera for.

Cheers,

[benny]

Ok. Last fishy picture...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0365ER.jpg

Here's another one, from the zoo. Also an aquatic type set up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0203ER.jpg

Comments, opinions on the quality and acceptability of the pictures will be appreciated.

Cheers,

[loupgarou]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/bennyng/IXUS%2040/IMG_0356E2R.jpg

what fish is that?? looks like a aro with gill cancer or alien infestation

[benny]

Er.... that's an Arowana with gill deformities.

Cheers,

p.s. Time to updated your profile, especially on the hardware portion.

[JerseyJay]

Benny,

Excellent review. It seems like one doesn't need $1,000+ camera to take good pictures. This ~$300 camera looks like a nice P&S alternative if space is limited.

More on this camera here:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/sd200.html

[Stingray]

I have the same camera and I 'm very curious the settings that you used? Manual or Automatic multi point or single point focus.
Regards
Frank

[benny]

Also, do you mind explaining to me the simple mechanics at least of how you took them. OK, you are in the dark in an LFS or public aquarium. You pick the subject you want, presumably something at rest.
You have the camera on a tripod?
You select a macro and/or telephoto mode.
The only things you can control are; exposure compensation +/- 2EV by 1/3 stop intervals; ISO sensitivity 50/100/200/400;WB, presumably fluorescent; light metering, spot or ESP; and of course picture quality/resolution.
Have I missed out anything?
So what and why are the settings you select for those variables?

Yup. These pictures are taken in shops and farms so conditions are not exactly ideal.

No tripod used. The idea was a compact camera to take pictures quickly.

Used macro mode most of the time, sometimes with flash

I set the ISO to 50 and used auto for the rest.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

[The Kapenta Kid]

Used macro mode most of the time, sometimes with flash

I set the ISO to 50 and used auto for the rest.

Benny, Many thanks. I understood that on-camera (built-in) flash was a total no-no for tank photography because you get the reflection. Like Rick in Casablance, 'I must have been misinformed'
I don't see any reflections of the flash itself in your shots. Maybe you angled the camera so that the flash reflection is distant from the subject and then cropped the pic to remove it. Maybe that is possible, I dunno.
PS that crocodile needs his teeth flossed, who is going to volunteer.
Cheers TKK

[benny]

On-camera flash can be used, if you angle it from the front glass pane. However, that will result in a few problems, namely:

1. Distortion, specially if the glass is thick. Check for that.
2. Dirty glass shows up even more, especially the patchy oily bits.
3. Hot spots on the back glass pane.

Besides shooting at an angle, you can also consider putting the lens right up to the camera. The reflection on the front glass pane will naturally be taken care off, but the back glass pane is now the one to watch out for. Tanks with artificial background will be better for such techniques.

The point is, if you are familiar with your shooting conditions, the limitations of the camera, as well as basics of photography, you can get some mileage even with very simple and compact cameras.

Cheers,

[The Kapenta Kid]

Thanks again, hope I am not bugging you with these basic questions, but I have learned a lot already, now to start trying to apply that knowledge.
TKK