SD 900 v. 800IS: IS v. more MP and titanium casing I'm trying to decide between the canon powershot 900 or the 800IS. Does the IS on the 800 just make it a more attractive camera (for a more typical "point-and-shoot" user), or do the increase in megapixels and titanium casing on the 900 outweigh the lack of image stabilization? Basically, I would prefer a more durable camera--I know the titanium casing is supposed to be light--but does it increase the durability and ability to protect the actual camera (ie: increase protection against shock or accidental droppings?)? If not, then should I just go with the 800IS (since all the MP in the world won't matter, and you won't have a clear picture, if it is a blurred image? Any feedback and advice would be greatly (!) appreciated. thanks! SD 900 v. 800IS: IS v. more MP and titanium casing I'm trying to decide between the canon powershot 900 or the 800IS. Does the IS on the 800 just make it a more attractive camera (for a more... » Read More SD 900 v. 800IS: IS v. more MP and titanium casing I'm trying to decide between the canon powershot 900 or the 800IS. Does the IS on the 800 just make it a more attractive camera (for a more typical "point-and-shoot" user), or do the increase in megapixels and titanium casing on the 900 outweigh the lack of image stabilization? Basically, I would prefer a more durable camera--I know the titanium casing is supposed to be light--but does it increase the durability and ability to protect the actual camera (ie: increase protection against shock or accidental droppings?)? If not, then should I just go with the 800IS (since all the MP in the world won't matter, and you won't have a clear picture, if it is a blurred image? Any feedback and advice would be greatly (!) appreciated. thanks! « Show Less
1557438
I've had my SD900 for two years. For most of that time I've wished I had gone with the SD800 for the wider angle lens and image stabilization; my next pocket digi may go as far as 24mm.
1557439
Image Stabilization (IS) does NOT help with moving objects... it will ONLY HELP with stationary objects like buildings or a landscape. It will not help take stable pictures of people or kids... in fact, it could lead to blurrier photos of people as the IS algorithm will allow the use of a slower shutter speed... you'll end up with sharp backgrounds and blurry people!! Avoid IS unless you know the consequences. The SD900 should be a great choice.
1557440
Maybe this can help:What's more, thanks to the DIGIC III chip's more aggressive noise reduction, these Digital ELPH cameras are able to shoot at ISO equivalent speed ratings from 80 to as high as 1600. This increased sensitivity at the top-end allows the use of faster shutter speeds, significantly reducing camera shake and subject blur during hand held low-light photography.
1557441
I tried the sd800is, sd900, sd1000 out in the store and you could see that the IS was better to have than not have especially when trying to zoom it helps it the camera extremly steady. It will also help taking pictures of moving objects and just in general when getting ready to take a shot help keep the camera straight so you can easily shot when the opportunity arises. However I have decided to go with the SD850is because the wide angle lens on compact cameras is still not perfect because the sharpness and softness of picutres is to great compared to a normal sized lenses.
1557442
Umm, the SD800 also uses a DIGIC III chip.So, with IS, it would reduce more blur than the SD 900.Btw, I have an 8MP DSLR, yet I still dont take that many shots at that 8MP, because they are just too big. I dont see the average point and shoot user taking advantage of 10MP that much. IS, yes it would definitely be useful, especially indoors. A lot of my wedding photos taken by friends were ruined due to motion blur.
795080
You need to check out this website: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s2-review/this guy is incredible in his reviews. I personally have used the S1IS and the S2IS (my dad and brother bought the upgrade) and you can truly put it at 0cm and take an in focus picture. Hope this helps!
1302037
I would get the SD880. Mainly because it has a faster and wider lens. You can capture more of the scene in your pictures, and under lower light conditions. Also, the Digic IV processor has some neat features. The SD880 has a slightly lower zoom than the SD890. But I don't think it's much of an issue, depending on the types of pictures you like to take. Also, the SD880 doesn't have an optical view finder. If that's important to you, then you might want to consider the SD890 instead. Personally, I have never used the view finder in my previous PowerShots. I always use the LCD screen. If the price difference is only $10, why not go for something new instead of something old? Get the SD880. :-)
2079453
I just replaced my SD870IS with a Canon S100 - a move up in price and features. I am still using my 870 for some work ( it's display has some dead spots).Thanks for the discussion.
666975
The key difference to me was that the 900EXR would shoot more frames per second than the 850EXR. Plus the 900EXR had some additional attributes, which the 850EXR did not have. I bought the 900EXR and am very pleased with it as a travel camera, particularly the settings for "beach" "sunsets" etc. The wifi, raw, and gps capability seemed worth something also.
537960
I personally have the 850sw and purchased it because a friend had it and loved it. I think that an extra 2 megapixels is overkill and merely ads to the noise at higher ISO settings. As long as you follow the scene modes you will get very good shots. 8 megapixels is plenty enough for the crop factor to enlarge so an extra 2x is a mute issue with me.
105268
Not until you mentioned it.Now looking at the SD870 IS, the upgrades from SD850 IS are:1)3" LCD2)No Viewfinder (downgrade)3)3.8" Optical Zoom (Less by 0.2")4)Wide Angle (Biggest Difference between all 3 models)Of course, I forgot to mention the megapixels (7 vs 8) but everyone looks at that and unless you print, it doesn't make a difference at this level.The price just keeps getting higher and I'm not so sure I really need all those features. Do you see yourself using the wide angle? Is the IS that much more helpful than holding down and focusing first? Not until you mentioned it.Now looking at the SD870 IS, the upgrades from SD850 IS are:1)3" LCD2)No Viewfinder (downgrade)3)3.8" Optical Zoom (Less by 0.2")4)Wide Angle (Biggest Difference between all 3 models)Of course, I forgot to mention the megapixels (7 vs 8) but everyone looks at that and unless you print, it doesn't make a difference at this level.The price just keeps getting higher and I'm not so sure I really need all those features. Do you see yourself using the wide angle? Is the IS that much... » Read More Not until you mentioned it.Now looking at the SD870 IS, the upgrades from SD850 IS are:1)3" LCD2)No Viewfinder (downgrade)3)3.8" Optical Zoom (Less by 0.2")4)Wide Angle (Biggest Difference between all 3 models)Of course, I forgot to mention the megapixels (7 vs 8) but everyone looks at that and unless you print, it doesn't make a difference at this level.The price just keeps getting higher and I'm not so sure I really need all those features. Do you see yourself using the wide angle? Is the IS that much more helpful than holding down and focusing first? « Show Less
786038
I'm having the same debate with myself! and as far as I can tell (novice!) the extra mega pixels won't make that much dif and I would rather have better zoom (personal pref) capabilites. I look for the increased ISO range now. From what people have told me, some of these cameras don't do so well in low light and the higher that no. is the better the pic will be with less light-that's if I understood it correctly! BTW, I have decided to get the 890, I believe it's the wide angle one of the two! good luck and enjoy-think about a warranty of some type-that was also encouraged by my photo buddies! I'm having the same debate with myself! and as far as I can tell (novice!) the extra mega pixels won't make that much dif and I would rather have better zoom (personal pref) capabilites. I look for the increased ISO range now. From what people have told me, some of these cameras don't do so well in low light and the higher that no. is the better the pic will be with less light-that's if I understood it correctly! BTW, I have decided to get the 890, I believe it's the wide angle one of the two! good luck and enjoy-think about a warranty of some type-that was also encouraged by my photo buddies!
1609774
PD,Thanks for a really informative review. I'm in the process of trying to make this decision. I'm getting a 70-200. I just don't know which one. On your 2.8 w/o IS, and adding a 1.4 teleconverter, do you miss the IS? I know you said you use a tripod or monopod a lot. Is that how you overcome that? Or do you find yourself still able to shoot hand-held? I'd love to get that combination of the 200 + 1.4tc.Thanks!
1979129
This review is worth reading. After using the 90EX, the review seems accurate to me. It also recommends some alternative. http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/90ex.htm
725248
Funny, I was just looking at the two cameras myself and ended up purchasing the SD880IS. The SD880IS is slimmer (0.9 vs. 1.1) and has a bigger LCD screen (3.0 vs. 2.5). Granted, the SD880IS gives up a little in terms of optical zoom (4.0 vs 5.0) but that's the price you pay for having a slim compact camera. I wanted something above the run of the mill 3x optical zoom cameras out there and the 4x SD880IS fits the bill, even if I had to pay $50 extra over the price of the SD890IS. And FYI, the SD880IS is a newer camera, hence the "better" DIGIC 4 Image Processor over the SD890IS's DIGIC III Image Processor.
1678708
Did either of you consider the 900 Titanium? It seems like a nice camera at the same price. Thoughts?
552822
I have been tossing and turning over this very same dilema. After MUCH research, I have settled on the sd800 for the following reasons: #1- The .28 wide angle lens (great to have indoors and for group shots!!) #2- 7.1mp is PLENTY! Don't get up in the more mp is more trap! It just slows down picture taking, transferring and printing. Unless you are literally making posters, it is impossible to distinguish any difference between 7mp and 8mp. #3- The 2.5" screen looks huge in person, but the 3" (which I thought I wanted) leaves no room for your right thumb. This might sound stupid, but I've held both cameras, and it felt like I had to really work to keep my thumb off of that 3" screen (again, avoid the "more is more" draw). These, along with the price were enough to tip the scale for me. Hope this helps!
1498503
I tried both in the store, and 870 takes grainy pictures. The wide angle is an advantage only if you want to take photos panoramically, but if you zoom in on them (and especially in the dark), they are grainy, and the zoom is not good. So if you like wide panoramic photos, the 870 is good. But if you want to zoom in (both in light and dark), get the 950. I personally like the zoom better, to me the wide angle doesn't make much of a difference. Plus, the 950 has a feature that you can turn on the wide angle with. Also, 950 has red eye reduction and the photos in the dark are much clearer with the 950 than with the 870. I didn't believe that 870 takes grainy photos until I tried it myself. But the 950 does not have any grainy photos, and it works better in the dark with the right setting. The 12MP really make a difference in clarity. The only problem is that you need a big card to fit all the 12MP photos, however you can also set the camera to 7 or 8 MP setting, and be fine. Also, cards are not so expensive these days, especially with the holiday sales. I would say that the 12MP really makes a huge difference, I really like it. I would definitely recommend the 950 over the 870. Hope this helps.
2083553
The Canon SD950 is for my wife, who thinks of a camera as a necessary evil to record memories. I am the opposite -- an advanced amateur (Canon 20D, 99.9% of my images are in RAW only, lots of Photoshop CS3 work, etc.). I would like to see an improved image and an easy to use Point-and-Shoot camera with a few advanced functions that wouldn't confuse my wife. Besides, serious amateurs want a fun camera like the SD series, too! My preferred priorities for the next SD Canon: 1. RAW mode and RAW+JPG mode(s). If Canon is afraid that a user might select RAW without knowing what it is then simply exclude RAW-only mode and/or include a warning when RAW is selected. Although my wife will be taking 90% of the pictures, I might want to process some of the better ones. RAW mode would give me the flexibility to improve quality (especially brightness/contrast and temperature = color). 2. Improved image -- even if it means a larger sensor or fewer pixels. I know that image quality (especially noise in low light, shadows, etc.) is already excellent for a camera of this size and that it won't approach that of my Canon 20D, but it could be improved. 3. Movie mode with optical zoom. [Thanks for the note about LP mode. I wanted it and didn't know that Canon added that feature! Direct mpeg might be great, too.] 4. Any additional controls that would appeal to DSLR users (manual and semi-automatic modes, etc.).
1638742
I've also heard that the 870 has better picture stablization. I'm disappointed that the comparison chart on Canon.com does not identify the differences very well. I'm struggling with the same question between the 2 cameras.
2176430
Don't know why anyone would describe the A590IS as bulky.A little thicker than most compacts, but not enough to preventme from carrying it in a jacket pocket.If anything....it's too small. I prefer the super zooms (fuji s700, etc.)But if you are looking for a great compact (with a viewfinder)to carry around in your pocket...this is it.