which ixus?

[Littlenose]

I'm buying a present for my dad, as he's not been bitten by the digital camera bug yet, but rather nibbled, as i know he keeps thinking about it.

I'm looking at either the ixus 430 or the ixus 500

Now other than the obvious 4 MP to 5 MPixel difference, i don't know what other differences there are.

The prices i've found on these cameras are
ixus 430 at £175
ixus 500 at £240

If it were for me it would be a no brainer, i'd get the ixus 430, as the price difference doesn't justify the extra megapixel... but i'd like to know other peoples thoughts on this.


BTW, i've owned an ixus400 for the last 2 years.

cheers
Mikey

[Saudidave]

I agree with you.

I had an ixus 400 for 2 yrs too, top camera. If you read the reviews you will see that the 400 is actually better than the 500 because the 500 gives noisier images with no real resolution increase. A pure marketing scam.

If it's for your dad though, consider lcd screen size. I just swopped the 400 for an ixus 40 (sd300) despite the fact that the reviews say the image quality isn't as good (Though I have done the same picture with both and can't tell the difference). The reason was that the ixus 40 is smaller and lighter and has a larger lcd. Also on the 40, the symbols pop up large on the lcd as you pick them and now I know which flash mode I just picked, without reading glasses on!

As you get older, your eyes fail and you need reading glasses, so the larger LCD is a must!

Dave

[Littlenose]

Cheers for the input Dave :D

I think i'll have al ook at he ixus40 and see what i make o fit in the flesh first :)

thanks again.

[Saudidave]

You are truly well armed there my friend.

20 years ago I too was armed - with a GPz 900 and a Fujica 35mm slr.

Now it's a Mondeo, ixus 40 and an Olympus 765 (+ reading glasses)

How times change

Dave

[Littlenose]

Cheers Dave... i had a GPz900R myself a long time back... *mind meanders the lovely roads and scenery 15 years ago in the lake district* ... and we just bought a car a few months back... maybe i'm on that slippery slope :O

If you have any of the links to those reviews available stating the difference between the 500 and the 430?

[Saudidave]

Try Digital camera review, megapixel.net and steve's digicams for starters.

I am well pleased with the ixus 40, I can't see any fall in quality from the ixus 400. The LCD is streets in front too.

The 500 is definitely noisier than the 400, especially as you up the iso.Check them out

Dave