Ixus 860 (SD870) or Ixus 960 (SD950) ?

Hi folks, currently own a A710IS which I am generally delighted with, although the flash lag and battery life are slightly annoying. I'm delighted with the picture quality though and keen to get a smaller compact. Happy to go with Canon again and looking at the two cameras noted.

The Ixus 860 (SD870) is currently favourite as the wide angle is of interest to me. 8MP seems quite enough on the sensor size used. The Ixus 960 (SD950) is positioned as the higher end camera but I'm not entirely sure why. OK so it has 12.1MP but is that not overkill for a compact with a 2.5i sensor? Also has no wide angle. Other than that, both have IS, face detection and pretty much the same feature set.

Anyhow, keen to get any opinions on the relative merits of these 2 cameras. Amazon UK currently have an excellent deal (40% off) on the 960 which is why I'm considering it as an option if it really is better than the 860.

Any input appreciated. Cheers.

I've just noticed my error.

The Ixus 960 has 12.1MP on a 1.7i sensor, so perhaps the image quality is better vs the Ixus 860.

So, it looks like a straight fight between image quality and wide-angle - any thoughts as to what direction I should go? As per previous mail, current promo offer means that I could get the 960 for cheaper (£189) than the 860 (generally over £200)

If you are looking at Amazon UK you might well be advised to have a look at what they are selling the Ixus 950IS at - it's literally the same general design as my super little Ixus 800 .. still regarded as something of a yardstick in this recent Ixus range - a lovely camera and giving lovely pics.

The 950IS has the same size screen , same sensor and just a modest increase to 8Meg which is a bit more sensible for the sensor - but it does have a better detail display on the LCD than my earlier 800 .. useful added info if wanted.
Still the same 4x optical .. good enough for most .. and the 35mm lens.

I know a couple of folk who tried the Ixus with 28mm and it IS an accepted thing that Canon really did not get it wholly right with the 28mm lens - a bit less critical detail right across , as with most of the 35mm lens versions. Note that Canon never did continue the 28mm lens on later ones . ask yourself why ...

This 950IS is in my opinion an excellent buy from Amazon - wish I'd had the chance when I bought mine - in fact STILL thinking of a change-up ... yet cannot deny that my good little Ixus 800 leaves little to be desired in images , for a super compact top-pocket carry cam which can go everywhere with you ...
But do look at the Amazon offer - it's VERY good value ..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-IXUS-950-Digital-Camera/dp/B000RGLZYC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200920752&sr=1-9

From my 800 -



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eric-UK

Eric - thanks for the input. You are correct the 950 offer on Amazon is excellent, in fact that's the one I was referring to in my original post - the 960 is not actually "on offer" and is more expensive than the 870. I'm clearly getting confused with the model numbers in the Ixus range!

I think I need to do some more digging into the wide angle lens impact on picture quality, most reviews were positive but I'll take another look at that.

Hi,

The model numbers confuse me too. Also, maybe Canon has too many models.

Anyway, I'm interested in getting a wide angle compact and the SD870 IS seems to be the best choice right now. There have been a few posts from SD870 users on this forum and most seem to be happy with their camera. The SD850 also seems to be a very good value but doesn't have the wide angle or the larger LCD.

If you get some good information let us know. I need to decide soon as a trip is in the works.

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Thumpkin

http://www.pbase.com/thumpkin

interbear said:

Eric - thanks for the input. You are correct the 950 offer on Amazon
is excellent, in fact that's the one I was referring to in my
original post - the 960 is not actually "on offer" and is more
expensive than the 870. I'm clearly getting confused with the model
numbers in the Ixus range!

I think I need to do some more digging into the wide angle lens
impact on picture quality, most reviews were positive but I'll take
another look at that.

Click to expand...

Confused on Canon numbers !! .. by golly , aren't we all . It was supposed to stop a lot of interchange exports/imports etc from one country to another - as the designation gives the game away - but I'm sure that idea has REALLY backfired !!

But as to the 28mm versions - well, the two people I know that tried them and returned because of the less good lens issue (and it IS a fact that this lens is NOT that good on barrel distortion if you were to push it to wide limits) .. they boith returned them and actually went for the one now on Amazon I referred to . It really is quite a wonderful camera. As I said - mine is a 2006 model and apart from the fact that Canon compacts at that time did NOT write EXIF where it should be .. and I need that for the albums I make up ) .. the Amazon later one - Ixus 950IS - IS now showing full EXIF including ISO ... and the detail on display on the LCD (if switched in) is a lot better .. altogether I really am very sure that this Amazon deal is exceptionally good for the camera you get .. I honestly don't think ANY of the later are totally better. Don't be put off by the 1.7 sensor on that latest - remember , it HAS to support 12Megapix....and it's still pushing it very much. For what is a stiff extra price , I really have to wonder if the extra value is there .. in this type of camera.

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eric-UK

Eric - thanks again for the advice and input.

I happen to agree with you that over 12MP on a relatively small sensor is probably overkill and likely to lead to noise. Reviews on the Ixus 960 are pretty good though. On balance you are probably correct that the 8MP predecessor is a better buy at the price.

On the Ixus 870, I've read every review I can find and they are generally very positive. Some refer to the distortion at 28mm, although it tends to be noted as a fairly standard issue with any wide-angle compact. I'm also not sure that it would be too noticeable at the standard print sizes I'm interested in. I think that the extra flexibility that the wide-angle offers is right for my requirements so I'm still tempted to go for that.

interbear said:

Eric - thanks again for the advice and input.

I happen to agree with you that over 12MP on a relatively small
sensor is probably overkill and likely to lead to noise. Reviews on
the Ixus 960 are pretty good though. On balance you are probably
correct that the 8MP predecessor is a better buy at the price.

On the Ixus 870, I've read every review I can find and they are
generally very positive. Some refer to the distortion at 28mm,
although it tends to be noted as a fairly standard issue with any
wide-angle compact. I'm also not sure that it would be too noticeable
at the standard print sizes I'm interested in. I think that the
extra flexibility that the wide-angle offers is right for my
requirements so I'm still tempted to go for that.

Click to expand...

Yes - I do agree on the one point - that it is easy to get 'overkill' on the topic of lens distortions etc on compacts of this nature - after all , even some dSLR lenses are not without that problem . On such as these nice little Canons the barrel distortion - which you WILL see far moreso in some shots - is still fairly easy to eliminate or improve.. there are a few simple or maybe free plug-ins or progs that will do it .. and if you do happen to like shooting a lot in close quarters then a 28mm will certainly give you a worthwhile extra width.

I think more than anything it's the price that is charged for these up-date models with their refinements. The 12 Meg actually puts ME off more than anything.. but secondly the price - isn't that very latest one getting WELL up into the top £200's .. ANYWHERE here .. and that seems an awful lot more , against what I just know is available from such as that Amazon 950 or whatever it is - could maybe £100 or so on the price for the most recent one isn't it ??

I suspect that Canon .. as well as a few others .. must surely have to upgrade in varioius ways over maybe this next year , so is it perhaps a good excuse to get the really good bargain of the Amazon one NOW (take a step or two back in many cases if you want just a bit more width !!) .. then get some good shooting and see what happens in say a years time ??

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eric-UK

Just taken time to check .. and I see Amazon have the Ixus 960 at £242 - post free at that price of course if you wish - but just what do you get ?

It's the same 2.5 inch LCD , but you drop a little zoom to 3.7x and it's the 35mm lens - seems a bit unworthy of paying any extra over the Ixus at about £180+

But if you consider the Ixus 860 - that's on Amazon at £216 , and that of course does give you the 28mm if you want that - and you get the 3-inch LCD , but a different back layout and I've seen one or two commenting on what THEY say is a not-altogether positive manner of working that 'thumb-rotate' of the quadrant ... I think I'd certainly want to SEE and TRY one of those in-hand first .. but it IS a viable alternative for the £30 or so extra...

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eric-UK

I was looking at both of these recently and went for the Ixus 860IS (SD870). The wide angle is so useful it wasn't a difficult decision. Of course the 28mm settings has some minor issues with it but at least it's available! Distortion for me isn't a big issue and can be corrected anyway. I get some softness in the top right corner at wide angle but only noticable if I look for it.

This is the best little compact I've had and I've had a lot! It's well made, fast and 99% of the time it gets the shot you want. It's missing A and S modes but does have some nice manual features - you can set exposure, flash exposure and focus lock for example - which for a compact is quite handy. The only thing against it is the cost which is high. The 960 is even more and has no wide angle!
Cheers
Gidon
PS this may help with the strange Canon numbering:



or for US models:

I've pretty much discounted the Ixus 960 - even at £242 it's too pricey, the previous version at £180 is clearly better value and would no doubt produce fine quality with the 8MP more than enough.

However, the additional £30 for the 28mm looks decent value to me - as an overall performer for someone who wants decent P&S quality with little manual controls (I wouldn't know what to do with them anyway) it strikes me as the ideal option. For now anyway, I know that when I bought my A710IS I spent weeks reviewing these forums and then worrying when newer models inevitably appeared to delay the purchase decision.

I'm almost in "just buy the 860" mode, get it over an done with!

Thanks for the input Eric, appreciate it.

Thanks Gidon - I read the DC Resource reviews today, good site. Glad you are happy with your 860, I'm pretty close to pressing the "buy it" button. Seems a good balance of value vs quality and I am pretty sure that I'd get a lot of use from the 28mm capability.

My advice: buy it (the Ixus 860/SD870).

Reason: I have had one for 2 months and I am very pleased. I shoot mainly indoors and walking around town. It´s fast, has good focusing and has an acceptable IQ. And 28 mm !!

The one downside is ergonomics: although my hands are normal in size, it feels as though they aren't made for this rather fiddly camera body.

Everything else about the camera is very good, though.

The competitor Nikon P50 has better ergonomics but lacks in other respects such as IS and focusing speed. (I know, because I owned one for 10 days before I returned it to the store and took the the Canon instead.) To be honest, the P50 is also a cheaper camera.

Magnus
Stockholm, Sweden

Agreed - I've ordered one on Amazon (UK), good deal from a UK perspective - got the 860 plus a case for £203 inc delivery. Looking forward to it.

Thanks to everyone for your input and advice.

Glad you got THAT out of your mind anyway ...

Yes - I think I fall into a similar category .. so do many more if they're honest about it. It's an expense after all - and NONE of us want to feel we've just missed that 'great deal' .. it never .. or rarely happens of course and you just have to make a decision and hope it comes good.

I really have been VERY happy with the little Ixus 800 I picked up from Amazon - this was before the later ones came along. I wish in some respects I'd had chance of that 950 or whatever it is - the one that now is only £20 or so more, and has some detail on the LCD that I'd like - yet I'm sure pic quality and ease of taking , is really barely different in any of them. Wait for that Amazon package - open it up and enjoy it - I'm sure you will ....

... and don't forget to post a few pics !!!

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eric-UK

I just came across this thread but now notice that the OP has already ordered his camera so there is not much point in my commenting on it at this point.

I will say that I am really enjoying my recently purchased Ixus 950 IS as I think it is called there. It meets and in some cases even exceeds my expectations. Plus it's good to have the full Exif etc...

Still also enjoying the great lens on my TZ3 and last but not least good old reliable F20.

I'm still tinkering with replacing the F20, I keep hearing rumours but we'll just have to wait and see what happens in February after PMA.

--
Best regards,

Andy

FCAS Member
Pbase Supporter

Charandane said:

I just came across this thread but now notice that the OP has already
ordered his camera so there is not much point in my commenting on it
at this point.

I will say that I am really enjoying my recently purchased Ixus 950
IS as I think it is called there. It meets and in some cases even
exceeds my expectations. Plus it's good to have the full Exif etc...

Still also enjoying the great lens on my TZ3 and last but not least
good old reliable F20.

I'm still tinkering with replacing the F20, I keep hearing rumours
but we'll just have to wait and see what happens in February after
PMA.

--
Best regards,

Andy

FCAS Member
Pbase Supporter

Click to expand...

Hello Andy -

Just spotted this as I'm passing time just now whilst waiting for a Backup job to complete ... been doing other things too but using a spare laptop here and this is why I'm doing this. I can reply on Forum and it won't tie up or botch up any records on my main machine.

Yes - Amazon UK are now - have been for awhile - selling the Ixus 960 I think it is . same as my litttle Ixus 800 but 8Meg - pretty much unchanged otherwise to look at - but it does of course have the full EXIF where it should be ,and that nice bit of added detail on the LCD. If that had come along just a little while ago I think I would certainly have been pleased to have it - but in reality I reallly don't think pic quality is that different. Always the same though - a newer one just comes a month or so too late !!!!

With particular regard to the F20 though - I've been doing a lot of sort-out on my machine and came upon quite a few albums I made up when using the F20 totally during late 2006 to Spring 2007. It really was - indeed of course IS .. a lovely cam to use as a great carry-about and needing virtually no effort to get pics.. I'd SERIOUSLY think before parting with that now. They will fetch a small fortune I'd say... already looked upon as a major standard. The F31 I do feel was just that little better - and THOSE are now fetching outrageous prices - if you can find one. They just seemed to fall apart after that - the F40 was/is passable ... just .. but frankly I think Fuji have just 'lost it'. Sad but true.

And if Canon are not careful I think they will be the same. They've gone as far as practical on Megapix - too far is my view - so they really MUST do something really good next time the new ones come out. What , I just don't know, as they seem to have no lenses to compete with Panny and the Leica association, and the sensor on either, is not that great really , although capable enough up to mid-way if used correctly. But it's going to be a changing word in compacts I think - wonder if I shall ever see the magic future ??

Regards -

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eric-UK

Well, I had ordered my Ixus 860 (SD870) but have just cancelled the order.

Why? Because I've just seen the PMA announcement from Fuji on their new F100fd compact - 28mm, x5 zoom and 12MP (but with a bigger 1/1.6 sensor) - sounds fabulous in terms of specification and worth, I think, waiting for a review.

I appreciate that I could get into a loop of always waiting for the next best thing, but the new Fuji looks, to me, to have perhaps stolen a march on Canon in the wide-angle compact market. Review pending naturally.....if the Fuji review doesn't stack up, at the very worst, post all the PMA announcements, I'll probably be able to pick the Canon up a wee bit cheaper.

interbear said:

Well, I had ordered my Ixus 860 (SD870) but have just cancelled the
order.

Why? Because I've just seen the PMA announcement from Fuji on their
new F100fd compact - 28mm, x5 zoom and 12MP (but with a bigger 1/1.6
sensor) - sounds fabulous in terms of specification and worth, I
think, waiting for a review.

I appreciate that I could get into a loop of always waiting for the
next best thing, but the new Fuji looks, to me, to have perhaps
stolen a march on Canon in the wide-angle compact market. Review
pending naturally.....if the Fuji review doesn't stack up, at the
very worst, post all the PMA announcements, I'll probably be able to
pick the Canon up a wee bit cheaper.

Click to expand...

Certainly mouth-watering .. and being an old Fuji fan , with the F20 and F31 ..real beauties for pocket cams that REALLY do most things .. I wonder what the no doubt ridiculous price will be in UK ????

Tried to get the good mention site in but it's blocked .. but give it a search on lets-go-digital site

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eric-UK

You're a patient man!
But agree will be interesting to see how it gets reviewed.
Cheers
Gidon