Canon s70 vs sd500

[ike]

I am looking to buy either a sd 500 or a s70. The features seem to be pretty similar . I have heard that the sd500 has red eye problems even with the reduction feature on and that the lcd screens are easily broken. I prefer the smaller size but the s70 sounds like a better overall camera. If anybody has any opinions it will be greatly appreciated.

[geoff3dnz]

OK. First of all, any digital camera where the flash is so close to the lens is going to have a problem with red-eye.

The features are not really similar (other than both being 7mp). The S70 can shoot RAW, has the ability to turn a JPEG shot into RAW during record review (wish my G3 had this!), 3.6x zoom (vs 3x on the SD500), wider lens etc. That said, the SD500 runs with the DigicII chip which is apparently snappier to switch between menus, shot recycle time etc rather than the Digic chip which is in the S70. (The Digic chip is no slouch though, my G3 plenty fast for me). The movie mode in the S70 is not very good compared to the one found in the SD500. The S70 has much much more manual control (focus, shutter speed, flash compensation, etc).

The S70 uses compact flash, the SD500 uses SD media - which might be a decider for you.

If the LCD screens are easily broken, then that's going to be a problem with either camera, isn't it?

Just for the record, I've just bought an SD500, and I've only had it for one evening, but I quite like already. It'll certainly do for a carry anywhere P&S. Size was a determining factor for me, I already have a (much larger) decent "better" camera.

[Burner_00]

I have the S70 and a friend has the sd500, if you want to carry it alot and your just a point and shot person, go with sd500. but the features and the quality packed in that little camera is amazing. but if your going to try to do more in depth shooting, such as ISO speeds or manual focus, then go with the S70.
I went with the S70 manuly as a intro/long last camera. I wanted something to play with to start learning cameras. shutter speeds, "film speeds", etc...
But the S70 Is big, but it packs alot in the camera, no DIGIC II wich i think is the bigest down fall (DigiC II is supose to have better low light processing and also higher speeds) but nothing beats the features found on S70.

check out http://www.steves-digicams.com/ some great reviews.