Best film camera for someone not interested in cameras, but photos
Written: Dec 13 '03
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Pros: Easy to use, Light, Small, Auto-Focus, APS film System
Cons: It's for people not interested in photography, just people who want pictures
The Bottom Line: The LT is the perfect camera for someone who doesn’t care about photography or any of the details behind photography
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| jps246's Full Review: Canon Elph LT APS Film Camera |
When I was out Christmas shopping last year, I was looking for simplicity in a camera for my partner. He’s not one that is all impressed by the latest features and all he really wanted was a handy little camera to take some quality pictures with. Digital was definitely out of the picture – he wanted film – and since he already had a 35mm point-and-shoot camera, I figured that a move into the APS film world would be good for him. With APS you don’t have to fight with loading film, it’s easy to tell what rolls are already finished, you get 3 different picture taking modes (classic, panoramic and wide angle), and in general, the cameras are smaller, lighter and easier to use than their 35mm cousins.
What do you get with the Elph LT?
Weighing in at about a quarter of a pound (.26 lbs), this camera is very small (roughly 2 inches by 3 inches by 1 ½ inches) and very light. When you pick it up (with the film loaded) it almost feels too light to be a camera. The LT is powered with a single CR-2 battery that lasts for a significant time (he’s had the camera for a year now and hasn’t yet to have to change the battery).
Fully automatic, the LF is, according to Canon, the lightest APS camera with autofocus capabilities. I’m not sure if it could get any lighter and still be a camera! The autofocus works very well and I’ve yet to see a shot from his camera that has come in fuzzy or out of focus. The rest of the controls are also automatic on the LT, including the exposure and shutter speed settings. There is no focus lock with the LT, like there is with many other cameras. Therefore the LT will focus when you take the picture, you cannot previously focus on one object and then take the picture. It’s not that big of a deal, it’s more getting used to the focus area of the LT and putting the objects you want in crisp focus in those areas. The camera can focus (according to Canon) from about 60cm to infinity.
There is no zoom lens with the LT. Therefore, to get closer to a subject in the picture, you’ve got to walk with your legs closer to it. I wanted this for my partner because the more things mechanical on the camera, the more likely they were to break, so I was looking for simplicity and ease of use. Without a zoom, you rely up on the 23mm f/4.8 focal length lenses, which like I said, will cover most shooting conditions with ease and deliver crisp and clear photographs.
The flash on the LT allows you to choose from a normal flash mode, a slow synchro mode and a red-eye reduction mode. Save yourself some battery life and some grief from people exposed to the longer flash modes and just keep it in the regular flash mode. It’s easy enough to go back and touch up a red-eye photograph if it’s that bad.
Controls on the LT are few and far between and simple to understand. On top of the camera is an LCD camera that shows battery strength, if film is in the camera, what time it is and how many pictures are left on the roll of film. Also up there is the shutter button to take the picture. On the back panel of the camera you have a button to rewind the film, a timer-function button (so you can push the timer and then run over to be in the picture), a date/time button and a button to adjust the flash mode. The picture mode selector is also on the back and is a small switch that alternates between classic, wide angle and panoramic modes.
The LT also features the APS film system, which provides for drop in film loading, auto advance and rewind on the film and the three shooting formats (classic, panoramic and wide angle) to name just a few features of APS.
Developed picture quality is high, like I said up above, I’ve yet to see a shot from his camera that is blurry or out of focus. Pictures in all three modes are of the same high quality. The panoramic shots are the coolest – and so different from what you can get in 35mm film – so those are the ones that I enjoy the most.
Who needs the Elph LT?
The LT is the perfect camera for someone who doesn’t care about photography or any of the details behind photography. The LT is made for people who want to pick up the camera, point it at something and take a picture and have great pictures. There honestly isn’t much to think about with the camera. Between the ease of the APS film system, the small dimensions and weight of the camera, the active auto-focus system, the other automatic settings, the three picture modes and quality prints you can get from it, the LT is one of the best cameras for people who want to take pictures, but don’t want to be bothered with all of the details.
So…
If you’re someone who wants a camera that can fit in a pocket or a purse, weighs almost nothing and takes great pictures without any effort on your part (beyond looking through the viewfinder and pushing the shutter button), then the Canon Elph LT is the camera for you. The LT also makes an excellent gift for that non-tech head in your life – it was an excellent choice for my boyfriend – he carries it with him on all of our trips now and I never hear “how does this work,” or “what do I do,” like I did when he was using his old camera.
Photography Reviews:
Books and Magazines:
Shutterbug Magazine / Popular Photography Magazine / PC Photo / Outdoor Photography / Photography Outdoors
Cameras:
Olympus C-4000 Digital Camera / Olympus D-460 Zoom Digital Camera / Minolta Maxxum 300si (35mm SLR) / Polaroid PDC 640 Digital Camera / Kodak EasyShare CX4300 Digital Camera
Printers, Scanners & Memory
SanDisk 128MB SmartMedia Card / Memorex 128MB SmartMedia Card / HP Photosmart 1115 / Microtek Scanmaker 4800
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 80
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Fool-Proof for Absolute Beginners
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