Once again...

It's funny how I keep buying point and shoot cameras on the 2nd of a month! Three times now. And no, I didn't wait for it, I just realised when I looked up the last time I switched cameras! This time though, the reasons were somewhat different.

I used my IXUS 850IS for 22 months. Exactly, as it turns out. And not once did I have a complaint. Seriously, if Canon were still selling it, I'd probably go and buy another one!! Or at least provide the biggest most heart-felt endorsement ever!! You couldn't buy testimonials like this :). Unfortunately, they don't. Sell the 850IS that is. Not any more.

I can't believe it myself, but in these last 22 months I've managed to click 5 pics short of a pretty insane 11,500 :). And for the last month or so, I'd noticed that the sensor had finally given up, or the lens system had succumbed to the extreme (sometimes rough) use, or the focussing system had had enough... I don't know which, but my once sharp and clear IXUS wasn't quite delivering those crisp, well focussed images any more :-<.

I supposed it says something for how much I like this system that I had to give remarkably little thought to the successor. Which, to put mildly, is rather unlike me :). I settled for Canon's latest offering in the same mould, the IXUS 870IS. There's a few added extras, it now has a marginally longer zoom range of 4x (as against 3.7x) while retaining the super-handy 28mm wide-angle low end. It also comes with AI Servo (focus follows a moving object) though how much practical use that will be remains somewhat dubious. (But it does sound cool dunnit? :P)

There are quite a few changes from the 850IS. And the biggest one would have to be the new DiG!C 4 processor. It does have a lot to live up to though. The other big thing is the LCD. It is BIG!. At 3 inches, it's scary! I'm worried I'll scratch it within the week :(. And there are some small but nice changes, like the battery compartment door, which is now spring loaded. Oh, at the battery indicator!! Though I guess with the spare battery that isn't too big a deal. Going for the same type has its advantages. I now have 2 spare batteries. I'm using the same memory, and it even fits my old camera case! And I suppose I also have a spare USB cable and charger.

I will miss my 850 though :-<. And I'm glad it had been around on all the trips I look back on with fondness over the last couple of years, starting with Sydney, through South Island, Italy, northern Europe, and finally Durban :). I only hope I can say as much for the new one...

Feeling: a little sad...
Listening to: Steadman - Wave goodbye