Frankly speaking, though my Canon A610 digital camera is a little bit out-dated, I enjoy very much using it for photo shooting. I particularly like the following features:
- rotating LCD view finder
- availability of pure manual mode (Shutter speed and Aperture)
- selectable output power for the built-in flash
- ergonomic hand grip
However, I do have a wish list
- a wider focal length than the current 35mm
- a brighter flash (especially when I need to take in-door photo, because the lens are not wide enough, I need to stand far behind and the flash will then be not strong enough)
Buying a brand-new camera (for instance, a low-end SLR) may be a choice. But since my A610 is still working well, I prefer to upgrade it. Canon does have some official accessories as follows: HF-DC1 External slave flash WC-DC56N Wide Converter (0.7X) Lens (together with the LA-DC58F Adapter)
But I don't like the idea because (1) these official upgrade will cost me the money to buy a prosumer-grade camera (2) I have already an old flash (SunPak 355AF) left for my non-digital Canon camera. This flash units support tilting and there I can set a bouncing flash. (3) My have already some lens accessories (e.g. polarizer) at 52mm mount from my bold non-digital camera. The LA-DC58F Adapter set the mount thread at 58mm and makes my original lens accessories useless.
Therefore I start to source some unofficial accessories. First I went to the AV shops and surfed internet (e.g. eBay). I do find there are some unofficial accessories for my canon A610. For instance, a 0.5X lens with adapter costs around HK$500. Okay! This meets my budget. Then, I also went to Apliu Street (鴨寮街) in Sham Shui Po. It is famous for cheap electronics/AV products, particularly when there are shops (opened in recent years) dedicated to sell products/parts from mainland China. Therefore I hope I may get some surprising cheap alternatives.
I achieved to find what I wanted, with a price below my original budget. I bought the following items:
- Synchro Shoe from Y.J Photo (上海永江影視 http://www.shyj.com.cn) (HK$45)
- Aluminum mount (HK$58) to physically fix the external flash with the camera
- 52mm Lens adapter from Fu Sen (HK$55)
- Tama SRW-05 52mm 0.5X Wide converter (with macro) (HK$330) (product details at http://www.protama.com.hk/Product_ConversionLensWide.htm)
Remark: the final picture is taken by the camera of my mobile phone. The quality is really bad. However, I do not have another camera.
There is some sharing after my upgrade.
- Since I know the red-eye pre-flash will fool the slave flash, I have already disabled the red-eye reduction. However, when I try to my slave flash with A610 in any auto modes, although the slave flash does fire, the picture is not brighter at all. I need to resort to pure manual mode to use the slave flash (Fortunately I do have some basic photography skills to set the Shutter speed and Aperture for photo taking with flash.) After some findings at Internet, something says that the Automatic-White-Balance feature will make the built-in flash to make another pre-flash and it cannot be disabled. Anything I cannot prove this point.
- The effect of bouncing flash is really good. I have attended a gathering and taken photos using it. Comparing other latest models of digital cameras from my friends (but with their built-in flashes) on the same scenario, I am proud to say the photo quality of mine is the best.
