Canon S200 vs. S330? What are the differences? Best Overall?

Hello,

I am looking at buying a new digital camera. I currently have an olympus d360-l. 1.3mp. The resolution does not bother me, however the lack of sharpness does.

I was ready to purchase the s200, until I saw the s330. I cannot locate any differences between the two other than 2x (s200) vs 3x (s330) zoom, and the onboard speaker for movie playback (s330). Is there a significant change of image quality between the two? Is the 2x sharper?

The s200 is $275 @ walmart, and the s330 is $350 @ walmart, but with a free 128mb CF card. So, ~ $50 for the CF card (this is something I would buy anyway), and I will say the fair price is $300 for the s330. $25 difference between the two is not a huge concern, so it basically comes down to which is the better camera overall? I would definitely like the 3x zoom, but not if it is going to sacrifice a large amount of sharpness or overall quality.

Any information that can shed some light on the differences between the two would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Engien said:

I was ready to purchase the s200, until I saw the s330. I cannot
locate any differences between the two other than 2x (s200) vs 3x
(s330) zoom, and the onboard speaker for movie playback (s330). Is
there a significant change of image quality between the two? Is
the 2x sharper?

The s200 is $275 @ walmart, and the s330 is $350 @ walmart, but
with a free 128mb CF card. So, ~ $50 for the CF card (this is
something I would buy anyway), and I will say the fair price is
$300 for the s330. $25 difference between the two is not a huge
concern, so it basically comes down to which is the better camera
overall? I would definitely like the 3x zoom, but not if it is
going to sacrifice a large amount of sharpness or overall quality.

Click to expand...

Size, zoom, features. Otherwise, both cameras are the same.

If you still need a smaller camera than the S200, you'd be better off with a Sony DSC-U20.
--
Casio QV-10, G2, A40

$25 dollars for the extra zoom is WELL worth it. I went through the same ordeal trying to decide between the v2 and the 330. In the end, the 330 looked more aestetically pleasing (call me shallow...) and more importantly had the edge in zoom. I think the 330 is a bit bigger, though.

Engien wrote:
.......Is there a significant change of image quality between the two? Is

Engien said:

the 2x sharper?......

Click to expand...

I can't speak about the sharpness of the the2x, however, I just printed an
8X10 (Epson 870) taken with my S330, and it is stunning! No problem with
sharpness, and lots of detail.

In my opinion, both S200/S330 (both 2MP digicams) suffer from the following 3 problems:

1. Soft and Low Contrast images

2. Difficult to get a focus LOCK consistently indoor (low light)

3. Poor Auto WB under artificial lighting (indoor/flash) - shows a yellow/orange cast

Not to confuse the issue, the new S230 (3MP 2X Zoom) seems to correct most of the problems. In my opinion, performance (with or without the extra 1 MP) like S230 is what S200/S330 should have been in the first place. However, S230 is selling for $100 more now.

Hopefully for the current owners of S200/S330, Canon would release a firmware update to correct some if not most of the problems, if possible.

w3 said:

1. Soft and Low Contrast images

2. Difficult to get a focus LOCK consistently indoor (low light)

Click to expand...

The above two issues are not isolated in the S200/330 alone; even the G2/S30/S40 have them. As for low light, the AF assist light is too weak to sufficiently illuminate the subject and get good focus; its maximum effective distance was about the same as the flash's.

Lasers are dangerous for focus (not to mention possibility of blinding people with them), so the other way is to get a decent flashlight on it. This is what I'm looking at: http://www.darkgear.com/flashlightGear.htm

w3 said:

3. Poor Auto WB under artificial lighting (indoor/flash) - shows a
yellow/orange cast

Click to expand...

I thought most automatic WB get messed up under artificial lighting.
--
Casio QV-10, G2, A40

Unfortunately there's no review here of the s200 - Phil would certainly point out every single thing differentiating the two cameras- but having had an s300 and now owning an s200, I can tell you that the $75 bucks isn't worth it to me for the playback speaker and 1x more optical zoom. The s200 is truly "pocket" sized, whereas the s300 just barely fits in a pocket, and the bulkier package means you just don't want to take it as many places, hence fewer "kodak moments" are captured. My two cents.
I wanted an s40, but couldn't swing the $$.

Engien said:

Hello,

I am looking at buying a new digital camera. I currently have an
olympus d360-l. 1.3mp. The resolution does not bother me, however
the lack of sharpness does.

I was ready to purchase the s200, until I saw the s330. I cannot
locate any differences between the two other than 2x (s200) vs 3x
(s330) zoom, and the onboard speaker for movie playback (s330). Is
there a significant change of image quality between the two? Is
the 2x sharper?

The s200 is $275 @ walmart, and the s330 is $350 @ walmart, but
with a free 128mb CF card. So, ~ $50 for the CF card (this is
something I would buy anyway), and I will say the fair price is
$300 for the s330. $25 difference between the two is not a huge
concern, so it basically comes down to which is the better camera
overall? I would definitely like the 3x zoom, but not if it is
going to sacrifice a large amount of sharpness or overall quality.

Any information that can shed some light on the differences between
the two would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

--
S300, S200

PB said:

w3 said:

1. Soft and Low Contrast images

2. Difficult to get a focus LOCK consistently indoor (low light)

Click to expand...

The above two issues are not isolated in the S200/330 alone; even
the G2/S30/S40 have them. As for low light, the AF assist light is
too weak to sufficiently illuminate the subject and get good focus;

Click to expand...

I have seen other seemingly "weaker" AF Assist Lamps (Kodak DC265/290 with at least 2 year or older technology) worked much better.

Ruffian said:

its maximum effective distance was about the same as the flash's.

Click to expand...

I am complaining about S200/S330's Assist Lamp being useless or ineffective even within the Flash distance.

Ruffian said:

Lasers are dangerous for focus (not to mention possibility of
blinding people with them), so the other way is to get a decent
flashlight on it. This is what I'm looking at:
http://www.darkgear.com/flashlightGear.htm

Ruffian said:

3. Poor Auto WB under artificial lighting (indoor/flash) - shows a
yellow/orange cast

Click to expand...

I thought most automatic WB get messed up under artificial lighting.

Click to expand...

Not all of them do. Please try Kodak digicams or some Nikons.

Like the man says, "you pays yer money ya takes yer choice". For my
money the 3x zoom is definitely worth the extra bucks. At the 35mm
equivalent of 105mm, you have the "ideal" focal length for portraits,
and I have taken some really nice ones. There have also been many
occasions when the extra "reach" over a 2x came in very handy.

Fredrick said:

Fredrick28933 said:

the 2x sharper?......

Click to expand...

I can't speak about the sharpness of the the2x, however, I just
printed an
8X10 (Epson 870) taken with my S330, and it is stunning! No problem
with
sharpness, and lots of detail.

Click to expand...

The S330 seems to be slightly sharper than the S200 (emphasis on seems), but it suffers from the same blooming and CA's. Also the 3x optical will defnitively get you a closer subject with the full resolution of the camera.

• Raist

Zoom smoom. Go for the S230 the images are much better than with the 200 or 330. Good luck m8.

Fredrick said:

Like the man says, "you pays yer money ya takes yer choice". For my
money the 3x zoom is definitely worth the extra bucks. At the 35mm
equivalent of 105mm, you have the "ideal" focal length for portraits,
and I have taken some really nice ones. There have also been many
occasions when the extra "reach" over a 2x came in very handy.

Click to expand...

Fredrick said:

Like the man says, "you pays yer money ya takes yer choice". For my
money the 3x zoom is definitely worth the extra bucks. At the 35mm
equivalent of 105mm, you have the "ideal" focal length for portraits,
and I have taken some really nice ones. There have also been many
occasions when the extra "reach" over a 2x came in very handy.

Click to expand...

VS the S200 if you need zoom definitively. VS the S230, considering the S230 is 3 megapixels, the zoom advantage is less than 1x. S330 vs S230 - I would take S230 any day.

• Raist

Raist3d said:

VS the S200 if you need zoom definitively. VS the S230,
considering the S230 is 3 megapixels, the zoom advantage is less
than 1x. S330 vs S230 - I would take S230 any day.

Click to expand...

I guess we all see things diffferently, according to our needs.
The "less than 1x" zoom advantage, if I understand it correctly,
is like the difference between a 35-70mm zoom and a 35-105mm
zoom, or 50% more zoom range. And as for the 3 megapixels,
that might certainly be important if one plans to print a lot of
cropped 8x10's. But I use this mainly as a go-everywhere pocket
camera, and mostly print 4x6 or 5x7, for which the resolution is
fine, even when heavily cropped. And as I said previously, I recently
printed an 8x10 which compared quite well with 8x10's from my
3 megapixel Coolpix 990 as far as detail and resolution go, though
certainly not in flexibility, or if major cropping were needed.
I think it all boils down to how you intend to use the camera, and
the size of the prints you plan to make. I have seen articles in some
camera reports which suggest that most people tend to buy more
megapixels than they really need.
Best of luck with whatever you choose.
Fredrick

Fredrick said:

Raist3d said:

VS the S200 if you need zoom definitively. VS the S230,
considering the S230 is 3 megapixels, the zoom advantage is less
than 1x. S330 vs S230 - I would take S230 any day.

Click to expand...

I guess we all see things diffferently, according to our needs.
The "less than 1x" zoom advantage, if I understand it correctly,
is like the difference between a 35-70mm zoom and a 35-105mm
zoom, or 50% more zoom range. And as for the 3 megapixels,
that might certainly be important if one plans to print a lot of
cropped 8x10's. But I use this mainly as a go-everywhere pocket
camera, and mostly print 4x6 or 5x7, for which the resolution is
fine, even when heavily cropped. And as I said previously, I recently
printed an 8x10 which compared quite well with 8x10's from my
3 megapixel Coolpix 990 as far as detail and resolution go, though
certainly not in flexibility, or if major cropping were needed.
I think it all boils down to how you intend to use the camera, and
the size of the prints you plan to make. I have seen articles in some
camera reports which suggest that most people tend to buy more
megapixels than they really need.

Click to expand...

Umm I believe you there that 2 megapixels can still look quite good on 8x10, but everything else the S230 other than the zoom the S230 is more of what you mention (smaller, more "take everywhere", etc.).

• Raist

Fredrick28933 said:

Best of luck with whatever you choose.
Fredrick

Click to expand...

Raist3d said:

Umm I believe you there that 2 megapixels can still look quite good
on 8x10, but everything else the S230 other than the zoom the S230
is more of what you mention (smaller, more "take everywhere", etc.).

Click to expand...

I agree with this. But the biggest difference for me would be the low
light capability that you report. I too have found the focus assist
lamp on the S330 to be pretty useless. So I try to find a suitable object
at about the same distance from the subject, to lock focus on.
Fredrick

Fredrick said:

Raist3d said:

Umm I believe you there that 2 megapixels can still look quite good
on 8x10, but everything else the S230 other than the zoom the S230
is more of what you mention (smaller, more "take everywhere", etc.).

Click to expand...

I agree with this. But the biggest difference for me would be the low
light capability that you report. I too have found the focus assist
lamp on the S330 to be pretty useless. So I try to find a suitable
object
at about the same distance from the subject, to lock focus on.
Fredrick

Click to expand...

Without question, the S230 focuses much much better then. Sounds like the S330 focuses as bad as the S200.

• Raist

Fredrick said:

Raist3d said:

VS the S200 if you need zoom definitively. VS the S230,
considering the S230 is 3 megapixels, the zoom advantage is less
than 1x. S330 vs S230 - I would take S230 any day.

Click to expand...

I guess we all see things diffferently, according to our needs.
The "less than 1x" zoom advantage, if I understand it correctly,
is like the difference between a 35-70mm zoom and a 35-105mm
zoom, or 50% more zoom range. And as for the 3 megapixels,
that might certainly be important if one plans to print a lot of
cropped 8x10's. But I use this mainly as a go-everywhere pocket
camera, and mostly print 4x6 or 5x7, for which the resolution is
fine, even when heavily cropped. And as I said previously, I recently
printed an 8x10 which compared quite well with 8x10's from my
3 megapixel Coolpix 990 as far as detail and resolution go, though
certainly not in flexibility, or if major cropping were needed.
I think it all boils down to how you intend to use the camera, and
the size of the prints you plan to make. I have seen articles in some
camera reports which suggest that most people tend to buy more
megapixels than they really need.
Best of luck with whatever you choose.
Fredrick

Click to expand...

Well, if the objective is to get closer and get the biggest image of the Subject possible, then more Zoom MAY be better.

You could crop out from the 3MP 2X Zoom S230 image and get a "Closer" 2MP image of the Subject. We want to see if the Subject obtained by this method would be as big as the one obtained by the 3X Zoom 2MP S330.

Zoom is a linear measurement and one dimensional comparison. MP is two dimensional. There is a Square or Square root relationship.

They call it something Merit or Merit something.

Simply compare the MP*FL*FL of the two. (FL = Focal Length)

You can use the equiv FL so long as you use the same equiv for both.

S230:

3MP*70*70, or you could use 3MP*2*2 (1=35) for simpler math

3*2*2 = 12

S330:

2MP*105*105, or to be consistently with above simpler math (1=35)

2MP*3*3 =12

A TIE !!!

You can crop out from the S230's 2X Zoom 3MP image and get an equivalent 2MP image with the subject as large as the one obtained by the 3X Zoom 2MP S330 !!!

Now, if each pixel from the S230 is as good as those from the S330, then S230 is definitely "better" since you can get higher MP images in all other situations when cropping or getting close is not needed.

Of course, I made a mistake.

w3 said:

Well, if the objective is to get closer and get the biggest image
of the Subject possible, then more Zoom MAY be better.

You could crop out from the 3MP 2X Zoom S230 image and get a
"Closer" 2MP image of the Subject. We want to see if the Subject
obtained by this method would be as big as the one obtained by the
3X Zoom 2MP S330.

Zoom is a linear measurement and one dimensional comparison. MP is
two dimensional. There is a Square or Square root relationship.

They call it something Merit or Merit something.

Simply compare the MP*FL*FL of the two. (FL = Focal Length)

You can use the equiv FL so long as you use the same equiv for both.

S230:

3MP*70*70, or you could use 3MP*2*2 (1=35) for simpler math

3*2*2 = 12

S330:

2MP*105*105, or to be consistently with above simpler math (1=35)

2MP*3*3 =12

Click to expand...

That should NOT be 12. Should be 18 instead.

2MP*3*3 =18

So, S330 wins and gets closer to the Subject with the 3X Zoom than S230 can by cropping out from a 3MP image and with only 2X Zoom - that is if the objective is to get closer to the subject.

Actually, with only 2X Zoom, you would need:

18 = (x*2*2); or x = 4.5MP

With only 2X zoom, you would need 4.5MP to crop out the subject as big as the one from a 3X Zoom 2MP S330 image, again if "getting close" to the image is the objective.

Or, if you have only 3MP to start with, you would need at least:

18 = (3MP*x*x); or x = 2.45

With only 3MP, you would need at least 2.45X Zoom in order to get as "close" to the main Subject (via cropping) as the 3X Zoom 2MP S330 can.

However, you won't have the advantage with S330 over S230 when you use S330 with less than :

12 = 2MP*x*x; or x = 2.45 Zoom

You won't have the advantage with S330 when you use less than 2.45X Zoom even when the objective is to "get close" to the subject.

Of course, there are many other occasions that "getting close" is not the objective, where S230 will have the MP advantage. If each pixel from the S230 is as good as those from the S330, then S230 is definitely "better there on all these other occasions.

Have I confused you enough?

w3 said:

w3 said:

Well, if the objective is to get closer and get the biggest image
of the Subject possible, then more Zoom MAY be better.

You could crop out from the 3MP 2X Zoom S230 image and get a
"Closer" 2MP image of the Subject. We want to see if the Subject
obtained by this method would be as big as the one obtained by the
3X Zoom 2MP S330.

Zoom is a linear measurement and one dimensional comparison. MP is
two dimensional. There is a Square or Square root relationship.

They call it something Merit or Merit something.

Simply compare the MP*FL*FL of the two. (FL = Focal Length)

You can use the equiv FL so long as you use the same equiv for both.

S230:

3MP*70*70, or you could use 3MP*2*2 (1=35) for simpler math

3*2*2 = 12

S330:

2MP*105*105, or to be consistently with above simpler math (1=35)

2MP*3*3 =12

Click to expand...

That should NOT be 12. Should be 18 instead.

2MP*3*3 =18

So, S330 wins and gets closer to the Subject with the 3X Zoom than
S230 can by cropping out from a 3MP image and with only 2X Zoom -
that is if the objective is to get closer to the subject.

Actually, with only 2X Zoom, you would need:

18 = (x*2*2); or x = 4.5MP

With only 2X zoom, you would need 4.5MP to crop out the subject as
big as the one from a 3X Zoom 2MP S330 image, again if "getting
close" to the image is the objective.

Or, if you have only 3MP to start with, you would need at least:

18 = (3MP*x*x); or x = 2.45

With only 3MP, you would need at least 2.45X Zoom in order to get
as "close" to the main Subject (via cropping) as the 3X Zoom 2MP
S330 can.

However, you won't have the advantage with S330 over S230 when you
use S330 with less than :

12 = 2MP*x*x; or x = 2.45 Zoom

You won't have the advantage with S330 when you use less than 2.45X
Zoom even when the objective is to "get close" to the subject.

Of course, there are many other occasions that "getting close" is
not the objective, where S230 will have the MP advantage. If each
pixel from the S230 is as good as those from the S330, then S230 is
definitely "better there on all these other occasions.

Have I confused you enough?

Click to expand...

You did not confuse me at all. To summarize: The S330 is 'better' when you use 2.5x - 3x zoom. Is this the right conclusion of your long story??

Jemo said:

Jemo said:

w3 said:

Well, if the objective is to get closer and get the biggest image
of the Subject possible, then more Zoom MAY be better.

You could crop out from the 3MP 2X Zoom S230 image and get a
"Closer" 2MP image of the Subject. We want to see if the Subject
obtained by this method would be as big as the one obtained by the
3X Zoom 2MP S330.

Zoom is a linear measurement and one dimensional comparison. MP is
two dimensional. There is a Square or Square root relationship.

They call it something Merit or Merit something.

Simply compare the MP*FL*FL of the two. (FL = Focal Length)

You can use the equiv FL so long as you use the same equiv for both.

S230:

3MP*70*70, or you could use 3MP*2*2 (1=35) for simpler math

3*2*2 = 12

S330:

2MP*105*105, or to be consistently with above simpler math (1=35)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Jemo said:

Jemo said:

2MP*3*3 =18

So, S330 wins and gets closer to the Subject with the 3X Zoom than
S230 can by cropping out from a 3MP image and with only 2X Zoom -
that is if the objective is to get closer to the subject.

Actually, with only 2X Zoom, you would need:

18 = (x*2*2); or x = 4.5MP

With only 2X zoom, you would need 4.5MP to crop out the subject as
big as the one from a 3X Zoom 2MP S330 image, again if "getting
close" to the image is the objective.

Or, if you have only 3MP to start with, you would need at least:

18 = (3MP*x*x); or x = 2.45

With only 3MP, you would need at least 2.45X Zoom in order to get
as "close" to the main Subject (via cropping) as the 3X Zoom 2MP
S330 can.

However, you won't have the advantage with S330 over S230 when you
use S330 with less than :

12 = 2MP*x*x; or x = 2.45 Zoom

You won't have the advantage with S330 when you use less than 2.45X
Zoom even when the objective is to "get close" to the subject.

Of course, there are many other occasions that "getting close" is
not the objective, where S230 will have the MP advantage. If each
pixel from the S230 is as good as those from the S330, then S230 is
definitely "better" there on all these other occasions.

Have I confused you enough?

Click to expand...

You did not confuse me at all. To summarize: The S330 is 'better'
when you use 2.5x - 3x zoom. Is this the right conclusion of your
long story??

Click to expand...

..... if "getting close" to the subject is your objective.

Yes. Thanks.

Compared with the image taken by 2.5X to 3X Zoom with S330, the subject in the image obtained by using S230 at 2X Zoom with cropping technique will be smaller.

If you capture an image of a subject with S330 at exactly 2.45X Zoom & 2MP, then you can also take an image of the same subject with S230 at 2X Zoom & 3MP and crop out a 2MP image with the subject at the same size.

But if you use S330 with 2.45X Zoom or less, you can actually use the S230 with 2X Zoom and crop out a higher than 2MP image - with the subject larger than the one taken by S330.

And let me emphasize: there are many other occasions that "getting close" is not the objective, where S230 will have the MP advantage. If each pixel from the S230 is as good as (or better than) those from the S330, then S230 is definitely "better" there on all these other occasions.

They call the number obtained by MP*FL*FL "Figure of Merit".