With respect to noise, a good solution would be to shoot the 12 megapixels at, say, asa 160, or 320, and then reduce it in size in photoshop to the equivalent of 6-8 megapixels. That should get rid of a lot of the noise. Also, have IS will help a lot on noise. For a pocket-type camera, it looks great to me. When you can, put it on a tripod and shoot 12 megapixels, at asa 80, and I'll be it will be pretty fantastic image quality for what it is.
Speaking of pockets though, the new SD870IS (US model numbering — IXUS 860IS in EU) looks interesting as an update to the 28mm-wide-end SD800IS. Will be looking forward to the early reviews of that one. I have been holding off on the SD800IS because of its apparently less than topnotch build quality and notably soft on the edges lens.
I was so excited, until I saw 12MP CCD, and then my heart just sank. Sigh, why, why do they tease us with all these great features, including RAW, and have a small 12MP sensor? I don't care what anyone says about how image processing has gotten better. Yes it's gotten better, but they aren't that good in 10MP sensors, and they are not any better, probably worse, in 12MP sensors. Both Fuji and Canon had the opportunity to conner the market with the cameras they had, and instead bring noisy sensors. Sigh.
httivals wrote:
With respect to noise, a good solution would be to shoot the 12 megapixels at, say, asa 160, or 320, and then reduce it in size in photoshop to the equivalent of 6-8 megapixels. That should get rid of a lot of the noise. Also, have IS will help a lot on noise. For a pocket-type camera, it looks great to me. When you can, put it on a tripod and shoot 12 megapixels, at asa 80, and I'll be it will be pretty fantastic image quality for what it is.
I'd like to know what language is that, because in another Asian language that I know, by some measure of imagination it can sound like a women's private part.
Bu11dog wrote:
The rumor is Canon skipped G8 because it sounds like a man's private part in some Asian languages.
Having more pixels is not a bad option. Use it for cropping or enlargement at low noise, low ISO. Downsample at high ISO, which can be done very effectively given the RAW option.
One thing that shouldn't be done - viewing the 12MP at 200% from 10" from the screen.
Well, on the strength of RAW support and because I will use this mostly outdoors (or indoors with a flash), I bought one. I'm going to use it in the water in Canon's waterproof enclosure, so for that, RAW is an issue for sure for white balance adjustments.
I liked the G7 but just wouldn't bring myself to buy it at the price point for a jpg only camera. For RAW - a good thing and a no brainer for me.
Dpreview just posted a sample gallery at various ISOs. I haven't looked at every picture but the 200 and 400 ISO samples that I looked at don't look bad. Yes, the 400 has some noise in the smooth areas but to me they look very usable for a P&S. And these were jpeg captures, not Raw as the software is not available. Have a look for yourself...
They are not as sharp as I would get with either of my DSLRs but at ISO 80, 100 - but very good and nicely sharp. ISO80 is excellent. At ISO200, a bit softer but very decent. Starting to see some artifacts and due to oversharpening and noise reduction at ISO400. Any of these would probably print and look very nice at 11x14.
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