SD700 or SD800?

I already ordered the SD700 from butterfly photo for 297 out of the door... but I noticed they also have the SD800 for $50 more.

$50 more for 1MP, wide-angle, better battery life and improved image processor seem to be good...however I also notice some ppl complaining (and also return their 800 for 700 version) because the blurry images and corner softness...

i'm a novice in this field.. this is my first camera.. i just need a P&S camera and picture quality is my main concern..i just need it for ordinary purposes like parties, trips...

please give me your suggestion.

Thanks.

Don't forget the higher ISO as well. SD700 goes up to 800 ISO and the SD800IS goes up to 1600 ISO. The SD800 also has face recognition. SD700 has longer zoom.

You'll get alot of opinions on these forums, and you some aren't very objective. Look at the features and figure out which would work best for you. As for image quality, they are both pretty close.

I've owned both, but opted for the SD800IS. It was a no brainer for me, I'm in real estate and need the 28mm lens.

Proud Pappa

Thanks Proud papa.

what is the ISO for? I heard the higher ISO is, the more dark (?) and blurry your pics are? also, do you think the face recognition is that good? does it improve the quality of the pictures a lot? cnet rated sd700 more than sd800 (and so did the users)...

sorry if my questions are fool...

proud pappa said:

the SD800IS goes up to 1600 ISO.

Click to expand...

But, according to what I've read, 1600 is barely useable, right?

Personally, I wouldn't don't consider ISO 1600 an advantage over the SD700, which only goes to 800. Face recognition and the new processor may be an advantage, particularly for new digital camera users. ISO 400 and 800 are probably a tad better too.

proud pappa said:

I've owned both, but opted for the SD800IS. It was a no brainer
for me, I'm in real estate and need the 28mm lens.

Click to expand...

That would be a no brainer. Wide angle is ideal for someone who photographs real estate.

As for my photo-taking sytle, I prefer the SD700 with the longer zoom (140mm/equivalent). I've been into photography for more than 30 years, always had a wide angle lens but use it less than 10% of the time. I use the zoom the majority of the time.

The basic functioning and image quality of the two cameras are so similar that the lens length/width and price should be main factors when deciding.

I think they are both great little pocket cams.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon SD700, S2 & A510; Panasonic FZ3, Nikon 5400
http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-blogs/index.htm

I hesitate even getting into the ISO debate (although I guess I did bring it up). With higher ISO, you can take low light photos you might otherwise have missed out on. But it comes at a cost. As you go up to 400, 800, or 1600 you will gradually see increased noise. I'm glad it's there if I need it, but I'm not sure how often I would use it.

At first I thought the face recognition was a gimmick. Having used it, I can honestly say it works very well. Without even pressing the shutter button down, the camera will lock on faces and follow them around. In addition, it seems to provide very accurate flash results as well.

You will find a lot of opinions from different users, and it's great to hear from someone else's percpective, just keep in mind many owners (myself included) tend to bias their opinions towards the camera they use. If we bought it, it must be good right? =)

Good luck with your decision!

I haven't used the SD800, but I have the SD700 and I love it. I would rather have the longer zoom than the slightly wider angle lens. I enjoy zooming in on details on historic buildings, etc., and have gotten some great pics that way. Some posters here also think that the SD700's image quality is a tad better, and the battery door design is definitely better. Just my 2 cents.

I can't help but put in my 2 cents since I just went through this decision making process myself. I tried both cameras and compared a lot of images. They're both nice cameras and I don't think either one is overwhelmingly better than the other. To me, the significant differences are:

1. 28 mm vs. 35 mm.

2. Noisy movies on SD700, not on SD800.

3. SD700 FEELS like it's built a little better (but I doubt if it really is in terms of reliability and longevity), and the SD700 looks a little better to me (purely subjective, no effect on image quality).

4. In some circumstances, especially indoors, color accuracy sometimes seemed better on SD700 than the SD800 but never vise versa.

5. Image sharpness sometimes seemed slightly better on SD700 than SD800 but never vise versa.

6. Noise processing seemed more aggressive on SD800 than on SD700.

Except for 1 and 2, these are not definitive conclusions, they are perceptions based on looking at quite a few images taken by me and a friend who also had both cameras. I realize there are many other differences between the two cameras (face recognition, battery door, etc.) but these didn't really matter to me.

I ended up keeping the SD700 because I felt it had marginally better image quality, it felt a little better to hold and operate and it was a little cheaper. I'm happy with the SD700. I would have liked to have the 28mm and clean movies but (for no good reason) you can't have everything. With the money I saved by getting the cheaper model I got the case (very nice but adds bulk) and extra battery.

Now I'm trying to take pictures and stop analyzing cameras.

Richard C. said:

I ended up keeping the SD700 because I felt it had marginally
better image quality, it felt a little better to hold and operate
and it was a little cheaper.

Click to expand...

I paid full list price ($499) and it would still be my preference between the two. Only because, as I said, I use a longer telephoto lens more than I do wide angle.

Compared to what I paid in April, the SD700 is a bargin.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon SD700, S2 & A510; Panasonic FZ3, Nikon 5400
http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-blogs/index.htm

I had and liked the SD700. Was impressed with it and the pictures it took.

Then days after I had it, the announcement for the SD800 came out, so I returned it and got the SD800 when it was available. Big mistake.

The SD800 was less sharp in every way, had a terrible problem with blown highlights and flash underexposure, the build quality was WAY worse, and the face detection was ineffective. The wide angle was great if you could look beyond the loss in sharpness and blurry corners. The worst aspect was the fact that you got blue fringing everywhere there was a backlighting situation or hotspot. I tried to convince myself that the better creative advantage of the 28mm was worth it. I failed in the end.

I also tried the Panasonic FX07, which I sold on Ebay. It was a good camera in some ways, but terrible in others. Similar experience to the SD800.

I have since ordered and received another SD700, and I am very happy. After owning the SD800, this one feels even better. I like the black around the LCD, the more secure feel, the quality throughout, the longer zoom. It's a better camera, absolutely no doubt about it. And it's cheaper.

Pretty much a no-brainer from someone who owned both.

--
BryanS

It looks like there are fans on both sides of the fence. Although it looks like the fence is leaning towards the SD700IS.

Let us know which one you decide on.

Proud Pappa

I just realized I was the only fan on the SD800IS side. Richardc77 where are you? We need some more SD800IS fans over here!

proud pappa said:

I just realized I was the only fan on the SD800IS side. Richardc77
where are you? We need some more SD800IS fans over here!

Click to expand...

No, not really!!!

Most "fans," as you call them, will justify their own purchases. The real issue, really, is whether you use wide angle or telephoto most. To imply otherwise, is insincere at the very least!!!!!

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon SD700, S2 & A510; Panasonic FZ3, Nikon 5400
http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-blogs/index.htm

gail said:

proud pappa said:

I just realized I was the only fan on the SD800IS side. Richardc77
where are you? We need some more SD800IS fans over here!

Click to expand...

No, not really!!!

Most "fans," as you call them, will justify their own purchases.
The real issue, really, is whether you use wide angle or telephoto
most. To imply otherwise, is insincere at the very least!!!!!

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon SD700, S2 & A510; Panasonic FZ3,
Nikon 5400
http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-blogs/index.htm

Click to expand...

gail, you're just about the only one here with a sane comment concerning the sd700 and sd800 debate. Some here want to tout their purchase of their respective model they purchased so much so, that I sense they're trying to justify their $400 purchase. It amazes me too say the least.

I didn't find that much difference between them. I liked the look and feel of the SD700, it just felt more solidly built, although I prefer the lightness of the SD800 for carrying in a jeans pocket.

I did a few comparisons here.

http://www.pbase.com/slydog/compact

As long as you're careful with ISO settings (in Auto-ISO they are a bit different in the ISO they chose) I think they are both pretty good. I went with the SD800 in the end, but there wasn't much in it. I mainly wanted the wide angle and the sharpness in the centre was certainly as good, if not even maybe a bit better.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but oh well.

Gail, is that really what it all comes down to? What about the extra 1MP, continuous movie mode up to 4GB, less static noise in movie mode, face recognition, better and higher ISO, better battery life, and higher resolution LCD, worse battery compartment (err...forget that one). I respect your opinion, from following the threads you seem to be perfectly satisfied with your SD700IS. Have you even used the SD800IS? It seems a little simplified to say that's all it comes down to while forgetting about all the other benefits the SD800IS offers.

I guess we can agree to disagree.

I agree with Gail. Most people don't want to say "my camera stinks." So I'll go on to say...I have the sd700 and love it. In fairness I have never used the 800. I did look at it at Best Buy for a few minutes recently (probably to make myself feel better about mine ). There was nothing overally negative about it. But then again, testing in the store isn't the best way to form a true opinion. I don't feel the extra MP in the 800 is a real benefit. Most people on here will tell you that unless you need large pics, more mp isn't that important. I print 4 x 6's 99 % of the time so a camera w/more than the 6 mp of the 700 isn't important to me. The higher ISO also may be important to some people. I think the 800 of the sd700 is plenty.Ultimately, it is a personal choice. If possible, try them both out. Both cameras have their pluses and minuses. Find one you llike and then learn how to coax the best pics from it. People here are happy to help you get the most out of your camera. I have done more w/this camera than any other. I never really cared before. I'd shoot the pic and forget it. But after coming here and getting tips from people, I find I am much more interested in the whole process. Good luck and let us know what you get!

Get a SD900 or SD550. Check the sample photos below and make sure that you view them at 100% original size.

SD550
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd550-review/gallery.shtml

SD700
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd700-review/gallery.shtml

SD800
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd800-review/gallery.shtml

Do you need the 28mm, and can live with the trade-offs (less sharp images, especially in corners)?

Does the face-recognition really appeal to you?

Can you live with more fringing in photos?

Need to fill up the SD-card with a single video?

Are you not bothered by having to zoom slightly for portraits (28mm really isn't good for that)?

You might consider the SD800, then.

Would you prefer longer zoom than wider angle?

Do you want better overall image quality and sharpness at all focal lengths?

Minimal fringing?

Better build quality and more appealing design?

Can live with slightly more noise at ISO400?

Limitation of 1gb video size doesn't bother you.

Cheaper price by at least $60 or so?

You should consider the SD700

Those who say the SD800 has noticably longer battery life or better noise performance over ISO 400 are fooling themselves. The battery performance is roughly the same, and anything above ISO 400 is bad on both.

Also, you'll have more exposure difficulties with the SD800... at least I found it less consistent. It may not be enough to be noticable to most people, though.

The SD800 is easier to hold and less "slippery" (feeling like you might drop it at any time).

I did find that the IS seemed to work better on the SD700, but it may have been my imagination.

--
BryanS

Here a little review I did on both of these cameras with full size images available: http://www.w4rmk.com/canon/canonsd800is.htm

I had the SD700IS and the SD800IS for a while. If I had to choose,
my vote definitely goes to the SD700IS...