SD800/IXUS850 Owner?

What is the main reason why you have choosen this one over the Pan FX07/50 or Ricoh R5?

THanks,

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Ricoh R5 or Pan FX07 or Canon SD800?

I just chose the FX07 over the SD800. I don't think the 800 is any better than the FX07, may not be as good as the FX07, better WA Leica lens, better built, better looking IMO and less money.

The 800 is a nice camera, I just think it is overpriced for what you get compared to the Panasonic. Your paying for the canon name. In photos taken with all three cameras and looking at several pictures from each, we actually liked the look of the ones from the fx07, the sharpness, clarity and color. I think the "pros" have a problem with both of these cameras, but for me, a casual user who enjoys taking pictures as a hobby, I think either camera would be just fine.

My reason for choosing 850IS is the ability for better ISO control.

I use my 850IS for few days. Its very good image quality is still amazing! Its function combination is useful for good image : adquate IS (don't mention the IS function is very effective, just enough) + good ISO control (acceptable up tol ISO 400, good for night shoot) + wide angle + face detection system.

For those user want to buy a new compact camera, try the face detection system before making decision which model to buy. IT IS USEFUL AND EFFECTIVE! I take 90% portrait with no over flashing / under flashing.

Why Canon don't provide battery indication? I don't like low battery indication come out too late!!!

I recommand 850IS without reserve!

The optical viewfinder is the big difference for me. Advantages over LCD are: camera is much quicker and less obtrusive to use for grab shots, and it's much steadier pressed against the face than held at arms length. Granted, it' doesn't show the full field (80-85%?), but it's close enough. This camera also has some impressive "quasi-manual" control features: the ability to lock in both expusure, flash and focus for multiple shots (not just "half-press and hold"), a very good custom white balance, switchable slow-syncro flash, and the ability to turn off red-eye pre-flash. All in all, it's very good walkaround camera for a working pro. The lens quality issues at wide angle are real, but not that significant. There is no other camera with these features (especially 28mm and optical viewfinder) at this size.

I think bothe are good cameras, on the plus side for the Canon it is much quicker in use, shooting times, zooming etc, personally i think slightly better quality pictures and certainly more consistent results than the FX01 i also own (FX01 supposed to be superior pic quality to FX07).

However if you are a value for money person then the Panny is better value for money. To me if i had to own one and cost wasn't the issue, i'd go for the Canon.

richardc77 said:

richardc77 said:

richardc77 said:

better battery indication?

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Battery voltage does not go down uniformly as the battery is used. Instead there is a point after the voltage starts to go down more rapidly, sometimes much more rapidly. And the drop curve varies from one battery to another. A "voltage gauge" on a camera can be calibrated conservatively where it signals "low" when almost any battery really about to drop voltage drastically has 20 more shots left but many batteries will have 100 shots left, versus "stretching it" where the gauge signals "low" when most batteries have 20 to 30 shots left but a few batteries have long since gone dead.

My decision was based on comparing the image quality of the samples posted on the manufacturers' webpage:

Canon: http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/p800is-i850is/sample/sam-1-e.html
Panasonic: http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/gallery/models/fx07.html

The Canon is the clear winner in this comparison.

Yes, it would almost be better to get an FX01, as the FX07 appears to apply way too much Noise reduction...

Based on spending lots of time on this board, the Canon lens is soft in the corners at 28mm. Otherwise, in bright light, both seem to have similar image quality, including noise. In low light, the FX07 seems to have more noise, but it's very hard to tell from the limited number of comparative pictures if the differences are large. Do you shoot more indoors or out?

Based on playing with the Canon for a few minutes, the optical viewfinder is smaller than the the OVFs on other compact cameras I've considered, to the point I'd find it hard to use, but at least it has an OVF.

I agree. The FX01 images are a lot cleaner than those of the FX07. The widescreen movie capability is also a very nice feature...