my camera is making me cranky.

[wookiegirl]

Okay, so first I must profess my undying love for my Canon Powershot A75.

Yup, seriously - I was still using it up until a few months ago. It's really old and clunky and only 3 megapixels - but I loved it.

But DH and I decided it was time to upgrade to a better point and shoot, we did lots of research and ended up with the SX110 (also a Powershot). I've really been trying to warm up to it, but it just isn't working.

One of my biggest complaints is the delay when you're taking pictures with the flash. It usually takes the flash seven to nine seconds to reload - while I miss the next picture opportunity. I try not to use the flash if I can - but should it seriously take that long to reload when I need it? The A75 took three seconds at most.

My manual hasn't been very helpful, and the guy at the camera store just said we needed a better (I guess he meant faster) card. Is that really true? And is there something else that might help - some setting I might have missed? I'm pulling my hair out here!

Thanks!

[dugarner]

I read today that my camera's continuous shoot mode (up to 3 fps) can be delayed and even stopped when shooting in RAW, depending on the memory card used. Some clear the buffer more quickly than others.

This delay time can be attributed in part to the camera, but also maybe in part to the card---maybe a high-speed or fast-write card would make a difference.

I'm still feelin' the growing pains with my new camera, too. Stick with it! If you google some of the Canon forums, you might be able to find some answers, or people with the same problems.

I have to ask---is your screen name related to Star Wars?

Sarah

[wookiegirl]

Thanks, Sarah. Maybe I'll check out a faster card and see if that makes a difference. We had looked at Consumer Reports before we purchased and didn't see any cause for concern, but I was just looking around on Digital Photography Review and saw that flash delay is an issue for that model. How come I didn't know about that website before I purchased? Grrr... Truthfully, though, I didn't even think to consider flash delay when we were shopping around - our old Canon was great with that, so it didn't even occur to me that it would be an issue. I guess I'll chalk it up to a learning experience...

About my screen name... in high school, my friends called me "Becca." My husband (who was just a friend at that point ) just started calling me "Chewbacca" one day, and it evolved from there. He usually calls me "Chewie" or "Wookie" now - although not in public! A few times he's slipped, and we get some really funny looks.

[katrinak]

Rebecca I'd also make sure you have new batteries/ freshly charged batteries when you plan on using the flash a lot.

I hope the new card can help you out.

[dugarner]

Rebecca,

I'm not speaking from experience---I'm fighting different battles---but it's strange how upgrading a camera, you'd think those simple things would be "better." Many things I could do better on my old camera, I can either do not as well now, or not at all. What I'm saying is that I don't know if a new card would help at all; did you research that, too?

Cute nickname! I was curious, it's rare to find another female Star Wars fan. My DH can do a spot-on Chewbacca voice, and I tried it once and it sounded like an asthmatic opera singer, so now he makes fun of me constantly because I can't "do Wookie."

Hope you resolve your issues! It's a bummer to have a speed bump like that in your way.

Sarah

[wookiegirl]

Thanks again, Sarah. The person I spoke to at the camera store did recommend a faster card as well, so I'll try it. I'm just not sure it will make a difference, from what I read last night.

Wouldn't you know that we bought from the local camera store - trying to support local business and all that - and they only have a fourteen day return policy? So I'm pretty much stuck no matter happens. Oh well.

And ironically, I can't "do Wookie" either.