I'm looking to buy a new digital camera and I have narrow my search
to 3 Canon models:
650 IS
SX100
720IS
I can get the 650 and SX100 for about the same price, and the 720 IS for
a lower price.
I've read the reviews in several magazines and all of them refer a "problem"
with the 650IS related with its sensor resolution wich is 12 megapixels. But
if I choose
to shoot using the 3264x2448 resolution which is about 8 Megapixels could
this problem
be "solved". Also the 650 IS has a 1/1.7" sensor while the other two have a
1/2.5"
sensor. Shouldn't this allow it to compensate for the higher resolution?
"Paulo Almeida" <teste@teste.pt> wrote
news:48667068$0$6620$a729d347@news.telepac.pt...
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm looking to buy a new digital camera and I have narrow my search
> to 3 Canon models:
>
> 650 IS
> SX100
> 720IS
>
> I can get the 650 and SX100 for about the same price, and the 720 IS for
> a lower price.
> I've read the reviews in several magazines and all of them refer a
> "problem"
> with the 650IS related with its sensor resolution wich is 12 megapixels.
> But if I choose
> to shoot using the 3264x2448 resolution which is about 8 Megapixels could
> this problem
> be "solved". Also the 650 IS has a 1/1.7" sensor while the other two have
> a 1/2.5"
> sensor. Shouldn't this allow it to compensate for the higher resolution?
>
> TIA
>
> Paulo Almeida
I use the 650IS when I don't want to lug around the slr gear.
I'm very happy with the camera. Resolution is great, white balance the best
of the p&s, dynamic range at 80-100 ISO very good, the lens "writes" the
picture in a great way, focus is reliable, the stabilization fantastic.
Response is medium (not for active subjects) and if you don't "pixel peep"
you can go to 400 ISO without the noise being objectionable.
Absolutely no need to degrade the resolution.
I've bought the 720IS for the kids (and wife). Also a great little camera,
not quite up to the 650.
"G Paleologopoulos" <gpaleo@ath.forthnet.gr> wrote in message
news:1214690268.577488@athprx04...
> "Paulo Almeida" <teste@teste.pt> wrote
> news:48667068$0$6620$a729d347@news.telepac.pt...
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm looking to buy a new digital camera and I have narrow my search
>> to 3 Canon models:
>>
>> 650 IS
>> SX100
>> 720IS
>>
>> I can get the 650 and SX100 for about the same price, and the 720 IS for
>> a lower price.
>> I've read the reviews in several magazines and all of them refer a
>> "problem"
>> with the 650IS related with its sensor resolution wich is 12 megapixels.
>> But if I choose
>> to shoot using the 3264x2448 resolution which is about 8 Megapixels could
>> this problem
>> be "solved". Also the 650 IS has a 1/1.7" sensor while the other two have
>> a 1/2.5"
>> sensor. Shouldn't this allow it to compensate for the higher resolution?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Paulo Almeida
>
>
> I use the 650IS when I don't want to lug around the slr gear.
> I'm very happy with the camera. Resolution is great, white balance the
> best of the p&s, dynamic range at 80-100 ISO very good, the lens "writes"
> the picture in a great way, focus is reliable, the stabilization
> fantastic.
> Response is medium (not for active subjects) and if you don't "pixel peep"
> you can go to 400 ISO without the noise being objectionable.
> Absolutely no need to degrade the resolution.
> I've bought the 720IS for the kids (and wife). Also a great little camera,
> not quite up to the 650.
>
Thank you for your answer.
If I degrade the resolution from 12 to 8 megapixels on the 650 IS shouldn't
I get a better picture? I am sure I don't need the 12 megapixels resolution.
> Thank you for your answer.
> If I degrade the resolution from 12 to 8 megapixels on the 650 IS shouldn't
> I get a better picture? I am sure I don't need the 12 megapixels resolution.
>
>
"John" <zen@zen.co.uk> wrote in message
news:6cp5huF3i03voU1@mid.individual.net...
> Paulo Almeida wrote:
>
>> Thank you for your answer.
>> If I degrade the resolution from 12 to 8 megapixels on the 650 IS
>> shouldn't
>> I get a better picture? I am sure I don't need the 12 megapixels
>> resolution.
>
> What makes you think that Paulo?
>
> John.
>
John,
Do your question refers to the "downgrade" of the resolution or to the need
to use
the 12 megapixels resolution?
Regarding the use of the 12 megapixels resolution, the way I see it, you
only need
that resolution if you're going to print (very) large size pictures, which I
won't.
I think I'm perfectly OK with 6 to 8 megapixels. If I could get a digital
camera
with the Canon 650IS specifications but with only a 6 or 8 megapixel sensor
I would buy it. That's the reason in my original post I mentioned the Canon
SX100IS
which has an 8 megapixel sensor.
Regarding the "downgrade" of the resolution from 12 to 8 megapixels I
thought that
when you use a 3264x2448 resolution, which is about 8 Megapixels, since you
are putting
less pixels on the sensor, the picture should be better. I read an article
somewhere where
they say that a 6 megapixel sensor was the ideal for an 1/2.5" sensor. Above
that number
of pixels, increasing the megapixels but keeping the 1/2.5" creates a lot of
noise and noise artifacts.
Since the 650IS has a 1/1.7" sensor it should handle the 12 megapixels, but
I thought that
"downgrading" to 8 megapixels could produce better pictures.
"Paulo Almeida" <teste@teste.pt> wrote
news:4867bf99$0$16438$a729d347@news.telepac.pt...
>
>................................................. ...............
> Since the 650IS has a 1/1.7" sensor it should handle the 12 megapixels,
> but I thought that
> "downgrading" to 8 megapixels could produce better pictures.
>
> Best regards
>
> Paulo Almeida
I have tried the experiment.
The camera produces better pictures at its native resolution.
Besides, the Mpixels are the LEAST pertinent of a camera's characteristics
as regards IQ.
IMO, dynamic range, noise, white balance and exposure accuracy FAR outweigh
the number of photosites used to accomplish these. (exept ofcourse in
situations where resolution must be high).
Paulo Almeida wrote:
> "John" <zen@zen.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:6cp5huF3i03voU1@mid.individual.net...
>> Paulo Almeida wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you for your answer.
>>> If I degrade the resolution from 12 to 8 megapixels on the 650 IS
>>> shouldn't
>>> I get a better picture? I am sure I don't need the 12 megapixels
>>> resolution.
>> What makes you think that Paulo?
>>
>> John.
>>
>
> John,
>
> Do your question refers to the "downgrade" of the resolution or to the need
> to use
> the 12 megapixels resolution?
>
> Regarding the use of the 12 megapixels resolution, the way I see it, you
> only need
> that resolution if you're going to print (very) large size pictures, which I
> won't.
> I think I'm perfectly OK with 6 to 8 megapixels. If I could get a digital
> camera
> with the Canon 650IS specifications but with only a 6 or 8 megapixel sensor
> I would buy it. That's the reason in my original post I mentioned the Canon
> SX100IS
> which has an 8 megapixel sensor.
>
> Regarding the "downgrade" of the resolution from 12 to 8 megapixels I
> thought that
> when you use a 3264x2448 resolution, which is about 8 Megapixels, since you
> are putting
> less pixels on the sensor, the picture should be better. I read an article
> somewhere where
> they say that a 6 megapixel sensor was the ideal for an 1/2.5" sensor. Above
> that number
> of pixels, increasing the megapixels but keeping the 1/2.5" creates a lot of
> noise and noise artifacts.
> Since the 650IS has a 1/1.7" sensor it should handle the 12 megapixels, but
> I thought that
> "downgrading" to 8 megapixels could produce better pictures.
>
> Best regards
>
> Paulo Almeida
>
>
I agree with you insofar as I don't need and if I had a choice wouldn't
go above 8mp. However, I doubt you would improve quality by shooting at
a lower resolution. I suspect the noise is kept acceptable by limiting
iso range. You would get a smaller file size but the higher mp would
permit more cropping flexibility. If you needed a smaller final file
size better to post process.
Having said all that, I would get the camera for it's other features.
The next step up would be a dslr or possibly G9. The mp count is
somewhat of a marketing gimmick and we might as well get used to it
since it's not likely to go away.
Dave Cohen
> The next step up would be a dslr or possibly G9.
I think you'll find the G9 is basically the same camera as the A650IS in
that it has the same sensor, lens and possibly firmware to a point, so
the end result would be very hard to see any difference between the two
cameras.
"John" <zen@zen.co.uk> wrote in message
news:6crl8oF3cgmqkU1@mid.individual.net...
> Dave Cohen wrote:
>
>> The next step up would be a dslr or possibly G9.
>
> I think you'll find the G9 is basically the same camera as the A650IS in
> that it has the same sensor, lens and possibly firmware to a point, so the
> end result would be very hard to see any difference between the two
> cameras.
>
> John.
Dozens of reasons to prefer the G9, starting with (but not restricted to)
the ability to save in RAW format.
External flash, ISO dial, better batteries, humungous LCD and more.
Specs may look similar on paper - but the two devices are miles apart in the
hand.
Jeff R. wrote:
>
> "John" <zen@zen.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:6crl8oF3cgmqkU1@mid.individual.net...
>> Dave Cohen wrote:
>>
>>> The next step up would be a dslr or possibly G9.
>>
>> I think you'll find the G9 is basically the same camera as the A650IS
>> in that it has the same sensor, lens and possibly firmware to a point,
>> so the end result would be very hard to see any difference between the
>> two cameras.
>>
>> John.
>
> Dozens of reasons to prefer the G9, starting with (but not restricted
> to) the ability to save in RAW format.
> External flash, ISO dial, better batteries, humungous LCD and more.
>
> Specs may look similar on paper - but the two devices are miles apart in
> the hand.
>
Did you read the bit were I said they were 'basically' the same. As the
OP was talking about the end result.
Canon 650 IS vs SX 100 vs 720 IS 
Linear Mode
