Confused on Canon's SD series

[Sibil]

Last summer, I bought a used Canon SD870 and it quickly became family's favorite P&S camera, although we have a few A series P&Ss. We like it because of its small form factor and wide angle lens (although the lack of manual control often drives me crazy). I am looking to buy another used SD series (about the same physical size, and wide angle lens) but I can't figure out how Canon names their generation of SD series, and I am getting tired of looking up individual model specs.

Is that info available anywhere? I am mainly interested in the physical size, lens range (wide angle), sensor size, and if any model had manual control. Or, should I just look for any SD8xx series?

Thanks for any help.

[Jon]

There's no consistent naming scheme within the SD line that I've been able to see. You might try looking at the Canon Camera Museum (http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/dcc/series_ixy.html?lang=us) website where you can view just the SD (IXUS) models and pick out those that look most similar to what you have. I think the SD880's the immediate successor to the SD870. But the only SD series with manual control that I can recall is the SD1200.

[Sibil]

Jon, thanks for the quick response and the link. I have read great reviews about the SD880, but haven't found a used one yet. I'll keep looking.

[SuzyView]

I just bought an SD780 and I also was confused like crazy how Canon does the numbering system. Manual is not something the P&S have, but I think Jon is right, the 1200 does have some more control.

[the jimmy]

Last summer, I bought a used Canon SD870 and it quickly became family's favorite P&S camera, although we have a few A series P&Ss. We like it because of its small form factor and wide angle lens (although the lack of manual control often drives me crazy). I am looking to buy another used SD series (about the same physical size, and wide angle lens) but I can't figure out how Canon names their generation of SD series, and I am getting tired of looking up individual model specs.

Is that info available anywhere? I am mainly interested in the physical size, lens range (wide angle), sensor size, and if any model had manual control. Or, should I just look for any SD8xx series?

Thanks for any help.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw this, even the EOS line naming is strange IMHO

[Jon]

The EOS naming is actually fairly straightforward (aside from North America's use of ""Digital Rebel this, that, or the other thing). The fewer digits in the name, the more powerful the camera. So the basic bottom of the line model is the 1000D (Digital Rebel XS in the US/Canada); next up are the xx0D models (other Digital Rebels), where the numbers steadily increase with newer models. Then come the x0D models; again there's a steady increase in numbers. Initially Canon used Dx0, but that only lasted for 2 models (D30 and D60), before they changed to the 10D. Again. later models have higher numbers. Then come the xD models ("Pro" cameras); advances in those models are denoted by "Mk. II", "Mk. III", "Mk. IV".

[dmo580]

G series naming is fairly straight forward and SXX series.

Unfortunately the SDXXX series really took a turn when they introduced the 7xx and 8xx series with competing models, and the opened up the 9xx series and 1xxx series. Ugh. All I know is the 1000, 1100, 1200 are basic budget models.

The SD990 has far more manual control than the 1200.

[the jimmy]

The EOS naming is actually fairly straightforward (aside from North America's use of ""Digital Rebel this, that, or the other thing). The fewer digits in the name, the more powerful the camera. So the basic bottom of the line model is the 1000D (Digital Rebel XS in the US/Canada); next up are the xx0D models (other Digital Rebels), where the numbers steadily increase with newer models. Then come the x0D models; again there's a steady increase in numbers. Initially Canon used Dx0, but that only lasted for 2 models (D30 and D60), before they changed to the 10D. Again. later models have higher numbers. Then come the xD models ("Pro" cameras); advances in those models are denoted by "Mk. II", "Mk. III", "Mk. IV".

Okay, well I haven't been following the lineup until recently, I would say from looking at Canon's web site concerning the xD models, at the low end is the 7D, then 5D MkII, 1D MkIII, 1D MkIV, then 1Ds Mk111 (back to MkIII, but added a "s" to the D) I don't know if the "Mark" actually means or stands for something, maybe it would make more sense. I just think they could have done better, but this is really not such an important thing, just putting in my 2 cents.

[hnikesch]

The place I look for information is DPreview http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/
I think my SD990 is the best SD made so far and yes it has manual controls

[Jon]

Yeah - I misremembered on the Manual mode SD - it's the 990. The only SD in the house is my wife's SD600, so I spend less time dealing with that line.

The 1D3 and 1Ds3 are the third generation 1D models; the 1D4 is the first of the 4th generation; look for the 1Ds4 to relate to that as the 1D3 and 1Ds3 relate. But the 1Dx and 1DsX are about equal, just with different strengths. The constraints of the larger 1Ds sensor and the lag in release of the 1Ds model lead to some of the differentiation. The 5D Mk 2 (second gen. 5D) and 7D are similarly differentiated by sensor size limitations and their positions on the development path. Neither is "inferior"to the other, just different.