Big Guy-Big Camera vs. Little Girl-Little Camera

Thanks to Canon, we were able to take a Digital Rebel XT and a Powershot SD30 Digital Elph to both CES and Macworld Expo in January 2006. This is not a quality comparison, for it would not be an even match; however, it's more of a "what it's like to shoot with a big camera vs. a little camera" along with the pros and cons of each. NOTE: Nary a photo was retouched in Photoshop.

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Digital Rebel XT, EOS digital SLR, 8 megapixel, one of the smallest/lightest digital SLRs in existence, fast 3 frames-per-second shooting, 14 frame burst and .2 second startup time. $820 on shopping.com PowerShot SD 30 Digital Elph, 5 megapixel, 2.4 optical zoom, 1.8" LCD screen, 16 shooting modes, cradle & wireless remote, auto rotates photos in playback mode, available in 4 colors PLUS it takes movies with audio! $370 on shopping.com With Chris Breen and Jonathan Seff of Macworld Magazine during CES. Note the tiny red Elph hanging around my neck.
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Rebel Elph-not much difference here Rebel
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Elph-I achieved slightly truer color Rebel Elph
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Rebel Elph-no flash Rebel-this is the valet area of Wynn's
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Elph-same shot from same distance, I'm using maximum zoom Rebel-shot from backseat of a taxi Elph-same distance and a decent zoom, but not near that of the Rebel
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Rebel Elph-really no quality difference in this shot Rebel-though the Rebel is bigger, if it's zoom you're after, the Elph cannot compete
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Elph-no flash Rebel Elph
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Rebel Elph-not much difference in this type of shot Rebel
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Elph-a little blown out Rebel-again with the zoom Elph-this is as close as I can get
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Rebel-on shots like this... Elph-they're both good Rebel
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Elph-again a little blown out, I probably should have changed the setting (there are several built-in) Rebel Elph-here I got the better shot
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Rebel-he outzoomed me again Elph-max zoom Rebel-though it can take beautiful pictures...
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Elph-I took my camera places where Shawn didn't. It's small size made it easy to carry everywhere. Elph-These shots were taken from the top of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Not bad for such a small camera, and this is at max zoom. Elph-I got shots that Shawn didn't because I always had the Elph with me.
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Elph-I love taking food pictures, and the detail on this shot is beautiful. Elph-shooting martinins... Elph-and a nice frosty mug-o-beer

Thank you Canon for allowing us to take these cameras across country! They were both a joy to use, though with its looks, portability and cool factor of taking shockingly good quality movies, I will definitely be purchasing this bright and shiny red Elph. It is the perfect camera for me. Though for higher quality photos, better zoom, lens flexibility and action shots, the Rebel is "it on a stick."



Last updated: 1/25/06