Is there a viable alternative to the 4500?
 

Yesterday I had a major accident with my CP4500. Having been back to Jessops with it they think it is possibly beyond repair.

I have it covered under an extended warranty but that brings problems if it is beyond repair, as they will offer me what they think is an alternative camera (first impression was the 4300 which will definitely not do the job).

If that is not acceptable to me I think that all they will offer me is their limit of a cost of repair (even though it would be classed as a write off). I even suggested that I would take a 2nd hand one if any of the stores had one but there isn't one nationwide in their stores.

Does anyone here know what the alternatives are to the 4500 so that I might be able to make that suggestion to Jessops?

John

Why is the 4300 no good, my first camera and hand held on the Optolyth took some canny photos.

Im sure there are other digiscoping cameras out there being used by birders, good luck with your research.

Hi Brian

I was adivised that the 4300 wouldn't suit my style of photography by a few people. It seems that nothing is really on the market like the 4500 unless anyone out there knows differently.

John

Canon Powershot A95. Better than the Coolpix 4500 in almost every way. I have owned two 4500s and an A95, so I can speak from experience here. Somewhere on Bird Forum I posted about the differences at some length, not sure where.

The A95 is out of production now but it's readily available second-hand, and shouldn't cost you much at all.

Advantages:

* Significantly faster
* Noticably better picture quality
* Better controls
* Takes cheap, standard rechargable AA batteries
* Much better battery life
* Flip-out screen swivels in all dimensions, not just one
* Can change settings without waiting for the damn buffer to clear
* Less pitiful manual focus (though still not great)
* More flexible control set allows you more choices
* Much lighter and smaller
* Uses proper CF cards, same as the CP 4500
* Much better CF write speeds and bigger buffer

Disadvantages:

* Rather flimsy - be gentle with it!
* No raw, JPEG only (but at this level of camera, who cares?)
* Not bad at macros, but the 4500 is better
* You need to buy the adaptor ring from Canon (About US$20)

All in all, the A95 is the best digiscoping camera I know of. The latest Canons are nowhere near as good, alas, so you need to find a second-hand A95.

Thanks Tannin

I will have a look at the A95 to see if Jessops have one in their 2nd hand section. That might be the alternative I am looking for.

Any more suggestions anyone?

John

There's at least one for sale on Ebay.

Ace Optics are selling the 4500 for £299.

Hi Reader

Before you do anything else I would check your house and contents insurance if you have them, you may find you are covered for replacement with new. I had an expensive accident with my Nikon binoculars a few years ago, I left them on the car roof and drove off, I heard the bump as they hit the floor, I knew straight away what I'd done. They were beyond repair, the insurance company paid out no bother in full replacement cost! I needed 2 quotes from suppliers to prove value.

nirofo.