Canon PowerShot A2000 IS Digital Camera

Inside its sleek, pared down design, this top-of-the-line PowerShot A2000 IS is packed with easy-to-use features. You’ve got a 10.0-megapixel resolution and a 6x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer for big, beautiful prints and superb stability. To keep subjects looking their best, the DIGIC III Image Processor with Canon Face Detection handles the technical details – automatically. An Easy Mode allows you to concentrate on your scene, while Easy Playback lets you screen your images on a super-sized 3.0-inch LCD.

I saw this camera during Boxing Week 2008 and actually took a picture of the camera store fooling around and shaking the camera – and it took a perfect picture despite that fact. I was impressed. The only thing I am not impressed with .. is the two “AA” batteries that is needed. Apparently they only last about 250 pictures or so (and during display of images) .. so I will have to watch out and conserve battery energy.

In Canadian Dollars, it was $199.99 CDN plus taxes .. but, I had $150 in christmas gift cards to deduct from this figure.

Specs

SanDisk Extreme III SD Card – 2GB (times two)

* Designed to meet the critical speed and performance needs of serious professional photographers-lets you quickly capture, view, upload and transfer large image files Ideal for demanding photo shoots under severe weather conditions-heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, etc.
* Built to perform in the most extreme environments and temperatures-from -13º F to 185º F -25º C to 85º C
* Min 20MB/second sequential read and write
* Durable, reliable and thoroughly tested-temperature tested (heat and cold)
* shock and vibration tested
* Data recovery software-ensures your photos will always be there (even if you delete them accidentally)
* Dedicated, priority technical support hotline for direct customers of SanDisk Extreme products
* Included travel case keeps your memory cards organized

I wanted to buy a memory card that holds 1000 images, and apparently (so the salesman says) a 4GB SD card will do that. I have never had cards, and my last camera I was limited to the 22 images I could hold in memory of the camera. I figured I would get two 2GB cards though, so one will always be in the camera and one available – in case full.

In Canadian Dollars, these were $19.99 x 2 = $39.98 CDN plus taxes

Specs

ATP Pro Max USB 2.0 Card Reader

This NEW Multi-Card SDHC Reader offers the convenience of plug and play ability with all of today’s common flash card formats. It’s fast USB2.0 interface is complemented by it’s sleek, compact design.

I hope to conserve battery power by using this, and one of the reasons I purchased two 2GIG SD cards instead of one 4GIG SD Card. I will keep one in my computer in this card reader and one in my camera at all times! I can’t remember how many times I attached my USB cable to my camera, plug it into the computer and forget about it .. and then drained the lithium battery. I was able to recharge the battery, but it was a nuisance. With this new camera, being it uses AA batteries – this could become costly! I might have to buy some rechargeable batteries and a charger in the future.

In Canadian Dollars, this was $22.99 CDN plus taxes

Specs

Lowepro Recycled Camera Pouch – Terraclime 30

The Lowepro Terraclime 30, in Plum is a soft-sided, protective, multi-purpose shoulder bag. The Terraclime 30 was designed expressly for the eco-conscious, fashion-savvy consumer. The Terraclime 30 reduces environmental impact by virtue of its materials—over 95% recycled. All of the fabric is 100% post-consumer Cyclepet®: recycled 16 oz. PET bottles turned into sturdy, water-and-abrasion-resistant material (3.5 bottles in Terraclime 30). Multi-purpose styling makes it easy to carry compact point-and-shoot cameras as well as small personal electronics and gear.

My last camera pouch was “just the right size” but, when I added the extra battery and the USB cable, it always seemed a little tight. This pouch is a little bigger, and should hold the card reader, the memory cards, extra batteries, the USB cables and more in there!

Specs

All together … with taxes … less gift cards … this upgrade cost me about $164 CDN and I am happy with that price in my budget. My old camera still works, so I will be donating it to a worthy cause ..