I'm really confused about my new A2000. Can any1 help me out?

[junglemike2]

Hello fellas. I'm new here. Looks like I found my way to a very nice community with a huge amount of knowledge.

First, I need to say right away that I'm more or less amateur camera user, in no way a professional. But I do have understanding about some very basic aspects like shutter speed or aperture,etc..

Here's my problem.
I always used Canon Power shot series from early days, and was pretty much satisfied with them.... well, until I bought A2000 ...
I used to have A75,A95,A610,and some others. All of them featured manual control at least to some extent. Mainly I'm talking about AV and TV options, as well as manual focus. Well, A2000 doesn't have any of those...

I must admit that I really didn't do my homework properly, when buying A200,Is I was 100% sure w/o checking that it has AV and TV options, I just couldn't imagine how such advanced (compared to A75) piece of hardware that has face recognition does not allow you to control shutter speed and aperture....

Anyway, what done is done. I'm here not to critique something, rather to find a solution to my problem. A2000 has all these presets, that I have no idea how they work and what they supposed to do. Here is a real situation: Suppose I want to shoot something moving fast (like a child running), and i'd rather have it not smeared out... my basic photography senses would tell me to choose very short shutter speed, and if there's not enough light-> Use flash, and if there's still not enought light - increase ISO, reduce optical zoom, etc.
Now, I've tried to shoot such simple scene with A2000, and it gets out bad, except when it's shiny bright day, so it automatically uses short shutter speed.I've tried literally all built-in presets, and when I half-press the button it shows me shutter speed it's going to use, and in all the presets it's too slow for fast moving object.
What should I do? How would I handle such simple scene? There are , of course many other situations, where I've no idea how to use this A2000, but that one is the simplest. Please point me into right direction. I'm not afraid to read relevan books and articles, if needed, and BTW, i've read a2000 manual completely, but it seems that it's written for somebody who sees camera for the first time in their life.

[Photo-John]

I'm really sorry it's taken so long for someone to reply to your post - especially after you complimented the forum. I hate seeing someone not get an answer on their first post. I hope we can make it up to you.

I only recently realized that Canon had removed the manual exposure modes from some recent A-Series cameras. That was a disappointment to me, as well. I had always thought of the A-Series cameras as inexpensive full-featured compacts. It's unfortunate that's not the case anymore. And it's even more unfortunate that you bought a newer one without realizing that it didn't have the manual exposure modes.

I took a look at the specs for the A2000 and I was surprised it doesn't have a sports mode. However, it does have a "Kids & Pets" mode. Have you tried that one? My guess is that mode would attempt to use a faster shutter speed to freeze action. Beyond finding a mode that does what you want it to, your best bet is to adjust your technique. I actually do a lot of action photography with point-and-shoot cameras. The best technique for moving subjects is to pre-focus and then pan with your subject. That will keep your subject sharp and the background will blur.

You should post a review in our user reviews. That will help ensure someone else doesn't make the same mistake. Here's a link to the Canon A2000 review page:

Canon PowerShot A2000 User Reviews >>

We also have an article in the Learn section about getting better photos with point-and-shoot digital cameras. It has a whole page on action photography:

Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera Tips >>

I hope this helps give improve the photos you're getting from your A2000. And once again, I'm sorry it took so long for someone to respond to your post

[California L33]

I agree. I don't know what Canon is thinking. I can understand a lot about why they do things for marketing, but I don't understand why point and shoot cameras, with all their incredible computing power, don't have two simple things- a manual mode, and threads on the lenses for filters. I guess maybe they _truly_ believe consumers are stupid, would accidentally activate the manual mode, and then start complaining about 'bad pictures,' or put a filter on and forget it was there and do the same, but why can't we have an 'A' series for people of average intelligence, and an 'I' series for the idiots?

There is a real market for creative cameras that aren't the size of a DSLR breadbox. As I just posted in another thread, go look at the prices of used A650s on eBay (which are considerably more than they were running new two years ago) because I don't think anything currently made offers- a filter capable decent zoom, AA battery power so it can be used anywhere, and full manual controls in a small size. (Used G9s are also running in the new G10 range because of the longer G9 lens).

I don't have an A2000 so I can't help the OP, either, BUT, it's a cinch that of all those dozens of 'modes' the camera has, all are a variation of either aperture or shutter priority.