Powershot S410 image quality

[Mildot]

I just purchased a Powershot S410 for an extra camera that I can take to work or throw in the truck. I also have a G3 and it takes excellent photos, but the S410 seems to be grainy and kind of overexposed. I am taking daylight photos outside at 1024x768 on Superfine. Is there someway to tweak the settings to improve picture quality? Also what is the best CF card to buy? I have an extra brand new Viking 256 meg but my hub reader will not recognize it.

Thanks, Mike

[Jon]

Are you using the "Basic" modes? There you have almost no control over anything, including ISO setting and a high ISO will always be noisy. As for best memory, SanDisk is a consistently reliable brand.

[rothers]

Why only 1024 x 768 ?

[Mildot]

Thanks for the replies.

I tried it on manual and automatic and they both looked the same.

1024x768 is really bigger than what I need. When I resize down from there I get jaggies. I have to say the $8 throwaway 35mm cameras blow this one out of the water.

I was expecting much more. I thought it would be comperable to my G3. I am going to keep playing with it for a few days and see if I can get it to do better. [I might even read the owners manual!!]

Mike

[Jon]

Thanks for the replies.

I tried it on manual and automatic and they both looked the same.

1024x768 is really bigger than what I need. When I resize down from there I get jaggies. I have to say the $8 throwaway 35mm cameras blow this one out of the water.

I was expecting much more. I thought it would be comperable to my G3. I am going to keep playing with it for a few days and see if I can get it to do better. [I might even read the owners manual!!]

Mike

What are you photographing for that 1024 x 768 is bigger than you need? The only reason I can think of for such a low resolution is for on-screen display, not for hard copy (1024 x 768 is about adequate for a 4" x 3" print).

Did you use your G3 at 1024 x 768 (.75 MP)? If not, comparing the two is apples and oranges. When you resize, how do you resize? Does your program "resize", which just tosses out pixels in the ratio needed to get the desired image size, or does it "resample", where it examines the pixels that occupy the space the single pixel of the final image, and chooses the appropriate colour balance for that final pixel. Resampling gives a much smoother, cleaner reduction.

Remember, when you're using an $8 throwaway, it's still working at the film's resolution, which is a lot finer than 1024 x 768. If you were to scan the negatives in at 1024 x 768, you'd see far less difference, but you'd have to go through an additional step to get there.

[Mildot]

Jon, I use the photos on my computer and in emails, I do not print them. I was comparing to the same size image on my G3. I use Photoshop Elements 2.0 to do my resizing and enhancing.

Mike

[DNHayashida]

I own a G2 (essentially the same as a G3 - 4 Mp) and a S410, and I hadn't noticed any difference in the pictures between the two, so I just now tried a comparison. I took the same picture at 1024 x 768 with both cameras, downloaded the pictures on my computer and compared then side by side. I see no difference. Are you sure you have both cameras set the same? Same jpg compression, same ISO setting, same white balance? If so, then I would try another S410 if you can.
D.Hayashida

[Mildot]

Thanks for the reply. I thought I had everything set up the same but I could be wrong. In the menu it looked like all was matching. I ended up sending the camera back as I was not happy with the photo quality.


I may end up waiting until after the first of the year and buying a 20D and using the G3 for work.

Thanks, Mike

[canoly]

I bought a S410 a couple months ago and am happy with the image quality. I just returned from Las Vegas and had good results taking night shots of all the bright lights, etc. I find it to be a comfortable size to tote around. I just bought an SD300 for my girlfriend and find it too small for my hands though she feels comfortable with it. She's very petite.