Canon a710 vs a630/a640 (sensor sizes)

[eddit]

I was tottering between purchasing the Canon a700 vs a620 when I heard 2 weeks ago that these new versions were coming out. I love EVERYTHING about the 710 over the 630/640 series (size, battery needs, zoom, is now on the 710, etc.) The only, only, only thing that concerns me is the sensor size:

700 series = 1/2.5 sensor

600 series = 1/1.8 sensor

Now as my limited knowledge tells me the 600 series has the larger, better sensor. I think I understand that 6mp on a 1/1.8 sensor will have better results than a 10mp on the same sensor since its less mp for size of sensor so the choice of the 600 series would be the 630 but I LOVE THE 700 FEATURES.

Should I be concerned about the 710's smaller sensor? Its the camera that I want but I know the 620 was everyones favorite camera when it came to image quality so I'm sure the 630 will have the same rep.

Also....I currently own an olympus c3020 (4+ year old camera, with a 1/1.8 sensor...you see my dilema) and I recently purchased a canon sd600 which I felt didnt touch the quality/performance of the 4 year old olympus so I immediatly ignored the sd series as future options, and returned the camera. I was thinking that over 4 years they should be able to squeeze the c3020's quality into the smaller size but nope. The olympus was able to take good shots no matter what, but the canon sd600 seemed so tempermental. Shots had to be PERFECT if it was to take a good picture, any less and you'd either get noise or blur. I want the A series equivelant of my non-tempermental olympus camera.

[far2000]

it mite depend on what type photography u doing, and the Print size u gona be doin, guess we have 2 wait for the experts answer here, by the way do they have the New Digic 3 Processor?

[Rex914]

If you like the A710's features, then go for the A710. There's no use agonizing over sensor differences if the A630/A640 aren't going to make you nearly as happy. Are there differences? Certainly, but the differences are going to be overshadowed by the features you love on the A710.

If you really want the best of both worlds, you will have to fork over $600 for the G7, which combines the better sensor with the 6x zoom and IS (along with DIGIC III and a sleek design).