| 513 | Canon Elph 300 HS | 2011-11-09 |
I have always had a love-hate relationship with cameras. I loved looking at the pictures but I always hated to stop and actually take the photos.
Back years ago, I owned three SLR cameras including the (then) new AE1. I lost all of the cameras! Well, lost, misplaced, or they were stolen - the bottom line was that I could not keep a camera.
So, for quite awhile, I did without a camera. At the time I was a pretty hard core climber and trail runner and convinced myself that a camera would just slow me down. Finally, while climbing with a friend, who was twenty or so years younger than me, I noticed that he carried a camera all of the time and he took very good pictures. I re-called to him my story of losing the three cameras and my reasons for why I didn't really need a camera. He had little to say on my camera opinions, he just kept taking pictures. Soon, I decided that if my young friend was responsible enough to have a camera, perhaps I was too. We headed to Mike's Cameras in Boulder to find just the right camera.
I decided on a Canon point and shoot. It was a good camera that allowed me to take quick (but good) pictures and not slow me down. Though I had the camera, I still did not take many pictures. Mostly I just carried the camera around with me.
When the digital world came to the camera, I was onboard. My first digital camera was large. I saved the cost of film using the digital camera, but had to pay for batteries instead. The camera drained batteries at an alarming rate. I was lucky to get thirty photos out of one battery and the rechargeable batteries were over thirty dollars each! I still was selective on the pictures I took.
Through the years the cameras have changed and so have we. Now, Amy and I take pictures. We take pictures for Metro to Mountain and cloudhiking. On a hike we will take between 150 and 200 photos of the trail. The pictures help jog my memory when I later write an account of the adventure.
Recently it was time for Amy to upgrade her camera. I tried to get her to try a larger and more versatile camera - a hybrid between a point and shoot and a digital single lens reflex. I pointed out that with a better camera she would be able to take better pictures of me in hero poses along the trail. She didn't see my view and opted for the small Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS. She just didn't get it, oops or perhaps I didn't :-) !!!
The camera took great pictures on her trip to Europe and our trip to Colorado. We have been very happy with the purchase. So for a few camera tips ...
We were shopping for the camera almost immediately after the tsunami hit Japan. The supply for the camera seemed limited and we had to pay more than we hoped.
Amy was amazed with the battery life of the small lithium ion batteries. Her old camera used the common AA batteries. The AA had a short battery life and cameras powered by AA batteries are slow to focus and capture the shot.
The camera is small. It is almost too small for me; but Amy like's the small size.
It has a sturdy aluminum case. It does have a couple of nicks but not bad after a full summer's use.
The viewer is large. There is no peep hole range finder viewer though.
The buttons are easy to push and the menu is intuitive.
We have used only Canon cameras for years so we only compare to other Canon cameras we have owned.
Canon cameras play nicely with iPhoto and other Apple products.
Amy's only complaint is that she still has not found 'the' case for the camera. We have tried four or five.
The Elph 300 HS is fast, lightweight, and tough. It answered our camera needs.
Happy Canon trails