Canon SD800 or SD900

[remi]

Hi there,
I need some help deciding between these two cameras. I want to know if the 3.8 zoom on the SD800 is a big difference between the Sd900's 3x. Also the SD900 does not have image stablizer will this be a big difference? I'm pretty confused. I was leaning towards the SD900. Any insight would be appreciated. :)

[bascom]

SD800 has wide angle, IS, and cost $100 less. SD900 has a bigger sensor. Which do you prefer? Their predecessors, SD700 and SD550, may be just as good and cost less.

[remi]

Sorry I am not quite sure what you mean by a sensor? My choice is definitely for either the SD800 or SD900 due to the 7.1 vs 10 megapixels. I am just not sure if the image stablizer and the zoom size is that important. Help?

[JTL]

Sorry I am not quite sure what you mean by a sensor? Please...I'm not being critical when I say that made me have a belly laugh! :D :D :D

The sensor is the "digital film". It is what the light hits to create the image. In general the larger the sensor, the better the image results...but, pixel density also matters. So, what most educated shoppers do is look for a larger sensor and a LOWER pixel count. For instance the SD550 had a 1/1.8 sensor and 7MP...a great combo. Cram 10MP on to that same size sensor (like the SD900) and the pictures may actually look worse, not better in some cases! The SD800 has a 1/2.5 sensor (even smaller) but only has 7MP. That's pushing the limit as well, AFAIC. As it stands now, neither camera has a better sensor size/pixel density ratio than the SD500/SD550 had.

All that being said, my money would go to the SD800...because of the image stabilization and the wider angle lens. There is probably nothing you will ever do with those extra megapixles on the SD900...unless you're making poster-sized prints.

[unix04]

Please...I'm not being critical when I say that made me have a belly laugh! :D :D :D

The sensor is the "digital film". It is what the light hits to create the image. In general the larger the sensor, the better the image results...but, pixel density also matters. So, what most educated shoppers do is look for a larger sensor and a LOWER pixel count. For instance the SD550 had a 1/1.8 sensor and 7MP...a great combo. Cram 10MP on to that same size sensor (like the SD900) and the pictures may actually look worse, not better in some cases! The SD800 has a 1/2.5 sensor (even smaller) but only has 7MP. That's pushing the limit as well, AFAIC. As it stands now, nether camera has a better sensor size/pixel density ratio than the SD500/SD550 had.

All that being said, my money would go to the SD800...because of the image stabilization and the wider angle lens. There is probably nothing you will ever do with those extra megapixles on the SD900...unless you're making poster-sized prints.

what would be a good sensor to MP ratio? i'm helping my sis to buy a sub-compact at the moment...