A couple of months ago, Len told me that his Canon PowerShot A50 digital camera was getting old. He really needed a more up to date one, with all the extra features. We headed to Best Buy, Ritz Camera, and Circuit City. All three had deals on the
Canon PowerShot A75. Best Buys was $199, and we would receive money back with their 'zone rewards program'. Ritz Camera would give us the same amount of money off, as a discount, and also 15 free prints. However, Circuit City offered a free battery charger and batteries, to the value of $35. This one we took.
We wanted another Canon, as Len had a 128 mb. CompactFlash card, and this camera used the same card. The camera came with a 32 mb. As soon as we came home Len was trying out the camera.
I waited until the end of November. An English lady, I visit in a nursing home, was having a birthday. Normally I take my Canon Sure Shot, and then wait months to get the film developed. I said to Len, that I wanted to use the new camera. He gave me a quick lesson, and off I went.
The camera.
It is silver gray, and looking straight on to the front of it, the right side is square. The left side is contoured into a roll, and perfect for holding. The bottom 3 fingers curl around the roll, leaving the other finger to press the button, to take the photographs. The switch on the top middle, when pressed in, switches the camera on and off. When it is on a green lighted button lets you know. As soon as you push the on button, the lens comes out. Then either look into the little eye piece, good for bright sunlight, or the L.C.D. screen to see the shot you are taking. Just click and the picture is taken. That sounds easy, because Len had it set on the correct settings. This was, the top dial on 'auto', and the switch below it, on the first setting. To view the picture I had just taken, I had to push the switch down to the next setting. I got to see this beautiful lady with all her presents, and balloons straight away. To the left of the L.C.D. viewer are the menu and functions buttons. Next to these are the back and forward buttons, so you can look at photographs taken.
My next stop was with the flash card. I headed down to Wal-Mart and tried to use the first digital photo machine. The flash card wouldn't go in the full way. I asked an assistant, and she took me over to the Kodak machine. I pushed in the card, and okayed a bunch of questions, then the photo's came up. I kept going to next, until my pictures showed up. I was able to order one of each, then enter my details, and they printed out in 2 little drawers at the bottom front of the machine. I handed them to the lady, with my coupon, and ended up only paying for the tax. I did remember to take the flash card out. I now think that my sure shot is obsolete.
The camera comes with:-
A quick start guide.
This is a large sheet of glossy paper, with easy to follow instructions and diagram, as follows:-
1. Preparing the camera. Opening the battery cover. Inserting the batteries. Closing the battery cover. Open the CF card slot cover. Insert the CF card with its label facing up. Close cover.
2. Shooting. Press the On/Off button to power the camera. Set the mode switch to 1 (shooting) and mode dial to Auto 2. Set the date and time. Aim the camera at the subject and adjust the zoom to achieve the desired composition. Focus and shoot.
3. Playback. Slide the mode switch to playback. Play back the images.
4. Erasing an image. Use the back or forward button to select the image you wish to erase (1) and press the (shows the sign) button (2). When the confirmation screen appears, check the erase is selected and press the set button.
5. Connecting with a direct print compatible printer.
6. Preparing to download images to a computer.
7. Downloading images to a computer.
Also on this Quick start guide is the picture of the camera showing and explaining every button on the camera and it's use. Auto, portrait, landscape, nightscape, night scene, fast shutter, slow shutter, special scene, stitch assist, and movie, for taking great movies. It also explains in detail about switching between shooting and playback. Using the flash, and Macro.
At the bottom of this useful sheet is 'Getting the most out of the software'.
As well as the Quick start guide in English, you also get other languages. A product registration card if you are Canadian. A
Canon PowerShot A75 System Map. This is a check of list of everything that came in the box. There is also a list of optional accessories. Looks like a Spanish version too. A 102 page Software Starter guide, and a second one in Spanish. The Canon direct print user guide, which has 3 languages in the book, English, French, and Spanish. A leaflet suggesting you purchase the Compact photo printer CP-330. The Limited warranty card, with such small print, I can't read it. Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk and ArcSoft Camera Suite Disk. Last but not least, the
Canon PowerShot A75 digital camera user guide. 2 books 153 pages in each, one English and one Spanish. This little lot takes up more room than everything else in the box.
On the box itself it states:-
'Canon compact digital camera with 3.2 megapixel CCD, high-quality Canon 3x optical zoom lens and DIGIC image processor.
New print/share button for one-touch direct printing and easy downloading to Windows computers.
High quality movie recording and playback with sound (microphone & speaker built in)
13 shooting modes for complete photographic control plus versatile optional dedicated accessories.'
Next we got to play with the video. I switched the dial to the picture of a movie camera, and then clicked the button. Nothing could be easier, even for this novice. After completing a minute or more of video, I stopped it. Then I pushed the button at the back of the camera, to the bottom setting, and showed all my friends the video I had just taken. They thought I was a genius. Haha.
Len has put all the photographs and the video into his computer system. He has also sent them over to my computer. Then he made a C.D. up of the photographs for friends. I really think that digital photography is here to stay.
I would certainly recommend this camera. With very little help from Len, I have been able to use it, and get free prints from our local CVS drug store. Right now they have 5 free prints until January 15th. You can actually go in everyday and get 5 free ones. Now I don't have to purchase any films, and I am getting my processing down for free. I just love the technical age we are living in.
If you have any questions about this camera, or need more information, please leave a comment, and I will look the answers up in the manual and get back to you. Another great idea is to read Howard Creech's review of this product. He does the technical version
click here.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Susie.
