What is difference between SD890-IS and SD950-is other than megapixels

I'm about ready to purchase a Canon point/shoot and have narrowed it down to the above two cameras. I understand the 10 MP vs 12 MP difference but am more concerned about what else is different. From what I understand the 950 is about a year older and so I'd assume that the 890 (which just came out) has newer technology in it...faster processor, etc. Is this true or are they the same camera with differnt MPs. I can't find this type of info anywhere.

I don't mind losing 2 MP if I get a more responsive processor, faster focusing, etc.

Thanks for your help.

The SD950's got a slightly smaller sensor, so no, they aren't the same camera with an upgrade. The 890's also got a slightly higher frame rate in "Continuous" (1.5 vs. 1.2 frames/sec) if that's important. Unless you want to do billboards even 10 MP is more than ample for photography.

Thanks for the quick reply Jon. Are you sure you don't have the two cameras confused? When I look at Canon's web site they show the 890 as 1.2 fps and the 950 as 1.5 fps. If the 890 does in fact have the larger sensor then that would sell me on it...but I want to verify you didn't switch both around. Thanks again.

Sorry - I did get them reversed both in speed and sensor size. The SD950 has the larger sensor and the faster frame rate, but with the extra 2 MP I don't expect the individual pixels are much different in size.

Oh well...I thought if the 890 had a larger sensor and less MP that the image would be better. I know that the larger sensor gives the 950 more MP but does it also provide better images? I've always heard that the reason the DLSRs had such great images for the same MP over the point/shoots was that the sensor was larger.

I just can't find info out there about the 890...guess it's too new. I can't find a single review anywhere. You would think Canon would have released the camera to a few people to do reviews on for those of us interested in the camera.

Thanks again Jon.

Just ran the numbers; if my reference on the sizes of 1/1.7 and 1/2.3 sensors is correct, the 950 has 0.28 MP/mm^2 while the 890 has 0.35 mp/mm^2.

Wekiva wrote in post #5426832
Oh well...I thought if the 890 had a larger sensor and less MP that the image would be better. I know that the larger sensor gives the 950 more MP but does it also provide better images? I've always heard that the reason the DLSRs had such great images for the same MP over the point/shoots was that the sensor was larger.

I just can't find info out there about the 890...guess it's too new. I can't find a single review anywhere. You would think Canon would have released the camera to a few people to do reviews on for those of us interested in the camera.

Thanks again Jon.

I haven't used either, but if I was bettin', I'd say the IQ between the two is probably not terribly different. I would focus more on zoom, wide angle, shutter speed and MP (for cropping). The SDs are all starting to look the same!

I see the SDs as 3 basic types: wide angle with 4X zoom (800 and 870), 5X zoom (new to Canon -- that's the 890) and everything else (about 3X zoom, starting at 35mm wide, there abouts). The 950 has the larger, higher MP sensor, so the IQ might be marginally better, but it won't be like the G9, because the lens is so small, and I've read the edges are fuzzy, like in all the SDs.

I've just got the Panasonic TZ5 as a replacement candidate for my SD800 (like the wide angle, but not enough zoom). The TZ5 is bigger in physical size, but does wide angle to 10X zoom, and the corners of the image are cleaner. 9MP and a 1/2.33" sensor, so IQ should be comparable to the SDs, though Pannys have more NR in camera, so the IQ out of the camera is a tweak less than Canon's. I'm testing now, to see if I'm comfortable replacing my SD. The TZ5 on Amazon is $280 at this moment. My G9 is producing better images than the TZ5, but I think the TZ5 is proving just as good (and more versatile) than the Canon. Hopefully, this'll kick Canon in the bottom, and get them going on more zoom in the SD series, but still w/WA.

I've just got the Panasonic TZ5 as a replacement candidate for my SD800 (like the wide angle, but not enough zoom). The TZ5 is bigger in physical size, but does wide angle to 10X zoom, and the corners of the image are cleaner. 9MP and a 1/2.33" sensor, so IQ should be comparable to the SDs, though Pannys have more NR in camera, so the IQ out of the camera is a tweak less than Canon's. I'm testing now, to see if I'm comfortable replacing my SD. The TZ5 on Amazon is $280 at this moment. My G9 is producing better images than the TZ5, but I think the TZ5 is proving just as good (and more versatile) than the Canon. Hopefully, this'll kick Canon in the bottom, and get them going on more zoom in the SD series, but still w/WA.[/QUOTE]

I've been thinking about the TZ5 as well since the 10x zoom comes in very handy for my son's soccer games. I played around with my friend's TZ3 and found the pics "soft" out of the camera. Do you find that the TZ5 pics are soft out of the camera as well? Do they look better after a little pp?

I would like to get the SD870 but need more zoom, especially when I don't want to bring out my 40D...

400Dboy wrote in post #5427271
I've just got the Panasonic TZ5 as a replacement candidate for my SD800 (like the wide angle, but not enough zoom). The TZ5 is bigger in physical size, but does wide angle to 10X zoom, and the corners of the image are cleaner. 9MP and a 1/2.33" sensor, so IQ should be comparable to the SDs, though Pannys have more NR in camera, so the IQ out of the camera is a tweak less than Canon's. I'm testing now, to see if I'm comfortable replacing my SD. The TZ5 on Amazon is $280 at this moment. My G9 is producing better images than the TZ5, but I think the TZ5 is proving just as good (and more versatile) than the Canon. Hopefully, this'll kick Canon in the bottom, and get them going on more zoom in the SD series, but still w/WA.

I've been thinking about the TZ5 as well since the 10x zoom comes in very handy for my son's soccer games. I played around with my friend's TZ3 and found the pics "soft" out of the camera. Do you find that the TZ5 pics are soft out of the camera as well? Do they look better after a little pp?

I would like to get the SD870 but need more zoom, especially when I don't want to bring out my 40D...

Yes, the TZ series produces softer images than the Canons. I think, overall, the Pannys apply more noise reduction and the Canons apply more sharpening in camera. The funny thing is, the suggestion on most forum boards for post processing the images is (surprise!) add noise reduction to the canons and add sharpening to the Pannys! So, they are simply making different choices in-camera. But, from everything I've read, the TZ5 image quality is much better than the TZ3, though I've never had a TZ3 to compare.

I am used to the sharp Canon pictures, so I'm going a lot of testing right now with TZ5, to see how sharp I can get those pics out of the camera. It's just been rainy the last two days here, so not much to photograph except table lamps and desk chairs The feature set of the TZ5 is just too tempting to pass up. I've got to try it (it's also only $280 right now at Amazon, so the value is there, as well)

Yes, the TZ5 pics DO respond to sharpening, so if you are OK with pp, this might be an acceptable camera. I still think the ending IQ is below the G9, but above or at least equal to my SD800.

I'll let you know how I feel later this week, but check out the dpreview.com forum boards for TZ3 talk (just dodge the fanbois).