Canon PowerShot SD850 IS vs. SD950 IS: 12MP in titanium body or who is the Canon 950 IS

When I am looking for a great image quality from an SLR-like or a Compact digital camera, first I focus my attention on the sensor size. However, most digital cameras as the Canon S5 IS or Powershot A720 have a small 1/2.5 inch chip. Alternatively, some cameras as Canon G9, SD950 IS or Fujifilm F50fd have a large (for a compact) 1/1.7 – 1/1.6 inch, but overburden with useless 12 extra pixels sensor. As a result, we have a price at $400-450 for noisy images.
For more about Fuji look at Fujifilm F50fd vs FinePix S5 IS Pro.
Looking for a great digital camera – pay attention to your own needs!
I doubt that any Canon G9 or SD950 owners are in need of a wallpaper printing (look through Canon Powershot G9, SD950 and A650). So why do they need the 4000 x 3000 resolution? Do not listen to the digital camera’s advertisement. Look for your needs, not the Canon. In addition, if you want to make a really right choice, it is better to forget about flagship models. There are some good cameras with adequate prices under groovy gadget’s level.
The Canon IXUS 950 IS – it’s not the same as the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS
Some Canon’s brothel with its digital camera names does not promote a good comparison. When I was talking about Canon Compacts with salesmen in the MBK center in Bangkok, they could not understand that there were some models for UK and some for US. Canon IXUS 950 or SD 950 -- what difference does it really make? However, there is one -- one hundred USD between these two. Therefore, let’s look around Canon Digital IXUS 950 IS (also known as PowerShot SD850) features for better understanding: why it has a biggest sale’s rating.
Digital IXUS 950 features
- 8.0 megapixels 1/2.5” CCD
- 4x optical zoom 35-140mm (35mm equivalent) UA lens with optical Image Stabilizer
- Eye-catching design with Touch Control Dial
- DIGIC III with Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction in playback
- Noise Reduction Technology
- 2.5” 230,000 pixels Pure Color LCD
- ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
- 18 shooting modes including Creative Light Effect plus My Colors photo effects
- VGA Movies and Time Lapse Movie function
- User Defined Print/Share button
- Optical viewfinder
PowerShot SD 950 IS features
- 12.1 megapixels 1/1.7” CCD
- 3.7x optical zoom 6 mm - 133 mm zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer
- Titanium body with Touch Control Dial
- ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
- DIGIC III with Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction in playback
- 2.5” 230,000 pixels Pure Color LCD with wide viewing angle
- 18 shooting modes including ISO 3200 scene mode and My Colors photo effects
- Extensive movie options including 1024 x 768 15 fps, Long Play and Time Lapse modes
- PictBridge and Print/Share compatible
- Optical viewfinder
Some Canon IXUS 950 differences from SD950
What can I say? If you are not crying for a titanium body and 15 fps XGA movie, it is better to buy the IXUS 950 for $250-270. Even more so, it has a little better lens, which is a much more important advantage for a photo camera than the XGA movie mode. In another case 4000 x 3000 resolution from IXUS 960 (also known as PowerShot SD950), comes to you for $370-390 with a not booked noise. It is quite good to know that 12MP cannot make an SLR from a Compact. As for body, with regard to a progress modern digital cameras have a short life. Is it necessary for a gadget, which becomes antiquated after next Christmas to have a titanium case?
For more details look through Canon SD1000 as IXUS 70 vs. SD 870 or IXUS 950 vs. SD 950: it’s easy to be lost there.
Some Canon Digital IXUS 950 pros and cons
Pros:
- Optical Image stabilization
- 4x optical zoom
- Face detection system really works
- Fast start-up with virtually no shutter lag if you pre-focus
- The wide lens lets you fit more people into your group photos
- Dependable auto white balance
- Flash recycles quickly when used to light up the average room
- Handy user’s interface
- Helpful Scene modes
- Good macro performance
- Category assignment is a time saver
- High ISO options
- Accurate LCD screen
- Good balance between sharpness and detail retention
- Good low light performance
- Printed results are quite good even at ISO 1,600
- A little smaller body than IXUS 960 / SD950: Dimensions 90 x 57 x 26 mm (3.5 x 2.2 x 1 in) instead of 96 x 96 x 28 mm (3.8 x 3.8 x 1.1 in)
- Good battery life
Cons:
- Optical viewfinder is not such accurate
- No digital zoom in Wide Screen shooting
- No manual control over aperture or shutter speed
- Some chromatic aberrations at wide-angle setting
- Noise at high ISO
- Flash coverage is uneven at wide angle
- Flash range is limited at telephoto setting at ISO 100
Specification
- 3264 x 2448 pixels max resolution
- Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 ISO rating
- AiAF TTL 9-point (with face detection)
- Focus range: Normal 45cm, Macro 2cm
- Shutter: Min 15 sec, Max 1/1600 sec
- Flash guide: 3.5 m (11.4 ft) 5 m
- Flash modes: Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off)
- Exposure compensation: -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
- Continuous Drive: 1.3 fps, unlimited
- SD/SDHC/MMC card storage type
- Weight (inc. batteries) 195 g (6.9 oz)
Conclusion
The Canon PowerShot SD850 IS (Digital IXUS 950 IS) is a handy Ultra Compact camera with very effective optical image stabilization, wide-angle lens and not so long shutter lag time. With its small case and not bad image quality, this pocket camera is a good purchase especially at a reasonable price. As for the Canon IXUS 960 IS (SD950 IS), I am not an enemy of any cool gadgets. However, in my opinion, if you want to buy a photo camera it is better to pay for good photos than for titanium body.