Saturday, September 6, 2008

The cost of digital: less than $5.00!

Several folks have asked what camera I use for my photos and video. It’s a Canon PowerShot A400. The tech spec is: 3.2 megapixel 2.2x zoom expanding to 7x digital zoom. It records WMA video and I use a 1GB SD memory card which is good for over 600 photos. The truth is it’s a bit dated at the ripe old age of 4 years old but I have found it to be very robust; I’ve dropped it several times and reasonably waterproof; I've used it on wet bike rides, it’s nothing super fancy just very functional.

I also have a Gorilla Grip tripod knockoff, sourced from eBay and made in, you guessed it, China and cost me the enormous investment of $1.99. While not as robust as the original made by Joby, at the price and for what I use it for; plonking onto the dusty trail or wrapping around a tree branch, I have even wrapped it around my handlebars and videoed a 45mph downhill on my bike (note the wheelbuckling impact at a 1:30)!

In summary this combination does exactly the job I need it to do. A quick search on eBay revealed that you can pick up an A400 for the potential budget breaking cost of $2.50! So for less that the price of three gels you too could be snapping your runs for posterity!

11 comments:

  1. You always have such nice pic's! My Canon is the A720, I suppose I need to experiment a lot more if I'm every going to get shots as nice as yours.

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  2. Stuart when you get your new bike and ride it on that road where you recorded I bet you will go over 50mph. Record that and remember when the bike gets unstable grab the bike with your knees to stabilize and stay seated - works every time for me. But your road bike will be more stable than my TT.

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  3. I can tell you that it isn't necessarily the Mega Pixel that makes a great camera. It's the lens.
    Canon does make great cameras with an excellent lens.
    I don't think you can beat a Canon point and shoot for the size, price and functionality.
    I'm going to buy another one for sure.

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  4. We SO need a new camera. Ours broke at a running event and I really miss having one.

    I will have Scott read your review. Who needs all those bells and whisltes. Simple is best for me. Thanks for another great review.

    BTW - I can now see Scott's abs. He seems more focused than ever. Very exciting!! Love IT!!

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  5. Wow, $2.50 for a camera? That's amazing.

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  6. You are the evilest man on the planet :P You know I'm going to look. Shoot, if it's THAT durable . . .I dropped my Sony CyberShot a couple weeks back and it has a huge crack in it *sigh*

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  7. My Dad totally has the wrap the camera around the tree accessory. He showed me last weekend. I had never seen it before and now you too...

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  8. We updated our digital not too long ago, and since I left it back home with the hubby while I went away - I have our old outdated about 4 yr old camera with me, and it seems to be about the same size. As I was taking pictures today, I realized how different they are.

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  9. I love our Cannon as well. We are on our third one we love it so much! LOL

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  10. Wow, you are thrifty. Quite nice and now you've got me all eBay'd up. Dang you.

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  11. I found your blog through Marcy! I think what you are doing is great and thanks for sharing the tidbit on your camera! I've wanted to get something cheap and worry-free to take on a run. :)

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