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General discussion

Which Camera to buy? Sony DSC-t7 or DSC-w7 or Canon SD500

Jun 3, 2005 9:21PM PDT

i am planning to buy a digital camera...
i am confused between these three products.. i like the t7 cause its very compact, but i wonder about the image quality? for those who have it, can you help me out? if the t7 isnt goog enough, my other choices are the dsc-w7 and canon sd500, both 7 megapixel, similar, but which is which? thanks...

Discussion is locked

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Which Camera
Jun 4, 2005 12:21AM PDT

The only real complaint you ever hear about the T7 is price and weak flash (5.2 feet).

The W7 is not bigger, but it is thicker.
It has a better flash (14.7 feet).
It has an issue where it selects a slow shutter speed for flash or low light shots. This can result in blurred photos under those conditions.

The SD500 is a wee bit smaller than the T7 but thicker, but not as thick as the W7.
The SD500 main complaint is price.
It has the best flash (16.4 feet).

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If you select either of the Sony cameras, be sure to get the Pro version of the memory stick if you plan to take 640x480 videos. The regular memory stick is too slow for 640x480 videos.

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Here is a side-by-side look at the specifications:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=sony_dsct7%2Csony_dscw7%2Ccanon_sd500&show=all

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thanks for that link...
Jun 4, 2005 2:41AM PDT

from what you have said, im kinda leaning on to the canon sd 700.. but i really just wanna make sure.. lets say, the price isnt the issue for me, i just want the best point and shoot digicam from either of these brands, sony or canon.. how far really do you need the flash? is 5.2 feet really that short? and personally, from the three, what do you choose?

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Choosing
Jun 4, 2005 7:24AM PDT

Between the Sony T7, W7 and the Canon SD500.

All three take excellent photos.

If I wanted an ultra thin camera (0.6 inches thick) and don't plan on using flash, I would select the T7.
Yes...5.2 feet is really that short. You could barely photograph a crowd of two.


If I wanted a thin camera (1.1 inches thick) and want to use flash, I would select the SD500.

You may also want to consider weight.
The T7 weighs 4.7 oz
The SD500 weighs 7.1 oz
The W7 weighs 8.8 oz

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so i guess im gonna have to choose the sd500...right?
Jun 4, 2005 5:57PM PDT

cause, im gonna have to use it more often during nighttime, during parties actually, and also in the beach.. do you think im making the right decision here?

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Nighttime Parties.
Jun 5, 2005 12:17AM PDT

For flash photos at a party on a beach, the SD500 is the logical choice of the three cameras you are considering.

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further question about the flash..
Jun 4, 2005 6:04PM PDT

right now, im using my Sony DCR-PC350, the flash is kinda weak too but im using an external flash for it... how long is the flash guide no. for the sony dcr-pc350, just so i can compare it a little bit. how many feet?

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Sony DCR-PC350 Camcorder
Jun 5, 2005 12:22AM PDT
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thank u for all the help.final question bout the cnet review
Jun 5, 2005 5:05PM PDT
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SD500
Jun 6, 2005 12:23AM PDT

Lets start with the purple fringing.

It has to do with lens design, and about 50% of the cameras have the problem to some degree. You have to be looking for it to find it. It hardly ever shows up on a print.

Here is the technical explaination:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Optical/Chromatic_Aberrations_01.htm

This link has two sample photos, that show purple fringing where you are most likely to find it.
Dark tree limbs against a bright sky:

http://www.digitalcamerabasics.com/canona520.htm

It can be removed with Photoshop Elements software, if it really bothers anyone. And it seldom does.
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Regarding this:

''Consumers who want a good-looking, compact camera and don't care much about image quality.''

Before I say anything, look at the top of that page:

The Editor rates the camera as 7.2
The Users rate the camera as 8.7

I do not agree with Cnet's ranking method.
They lump all cameras into one pot (the least expensive against the most expensive) and rank them using a flawed formula.

It is unreasonable to compare a point and shoot camera to a very expensive camera.

What his statement is saying is:
The SD500 photos are not as good as photos from the Canon 20D (SLR) with a $600 lens.

Well......Duh!

Here is a link to full size photos from the SD500.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/sd500_samples.html

You be the judge.
If you have a fast internet connection, I suggest you click on the photo of the 2 1/2 story red brick building.
As it is downloading, pay attention to the upper left corner. The dark power lines against the bright blue sky.
That is where purple fringing would show up. And I see none.

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thank you for all of the information...
Jun 6, 2005 3:22AM PDT

im fully convinced in choosing the sd500..thank you,..

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Thank You!
Jun 6, 2005 1:43PM PDT

I have been looking at a new Canon SD500 also. Your post and the related links explains it precisely.
I will purchase it also. The other links before were great and informative from our Moderator, Joe.
Thanks, Kevin

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Me Too
Jun 7, 2005 1:59PM PDT

i was deciding between these cameras, until i picked up my friend's t1 and tried the flash. i HATED the weak flash. adding to the fact that microcenter was having a 20% all digital cameras, which means i got my sexy sd500 for just $399.

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luck you..
Jun 7, 2005 5:36PM PDT

im getting mine for the real price.. so you satisfied with it?

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very satisfied.
Jun 8, 2005 8:02AM PDT

i am loving it. indoor pictures are soo much better then my friend's t1. its perfect for when all of the sudden u wish you had a camera to take a picture of your friend eating a table spoon of pepper or random times when you wish you had a camera but you didnt. small enough that you can bring it along with you anywhere you go, but still powerful enough to do most of the stuff you'd want to do with a point and shoot camera.

i am going back to hong kong and mainland china for a few weeks and i'm gonna test it out a lot during that time. gonna take my sd500 and 10d with me and have a blast with it.

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Mee Too
Jun 8, 2005 2:20PM PDT

Thanks for the tip about Microcenter. Shipping Costs?

Kevin

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Sorry
Jun 8, 2005 3:13PM PDT

the thing with that was, it was a sale they had which ended on May 22, 2005. it was nice, 20% off all digital camera's excluding digital slr's. for digital slr's, you get a bag, free 2g CF card, and a 2-way tripod. the sd500 is not on their website yet, and the stores didnt even have it on display. i was in the store, and just saw a pricetag for the sd500 and jumped at the oppertunity. they only had 1 more left. ;p

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Problem replying to you
Jun 8, 2005 3:16PM PDT

Mastering01, Could not reply to your forward link. Had to go to this past post. On the trip that you plan, take some notes for us on how well the SD500 performed and post a new discussion. I just returned from Turkey three weeks ago and I was amazed at the Canon S400 and the light capturing ability without a flash inside two Mosques. Blue Mosque and the Sophia Mosque in Istanbul. Pictures without a flash were superior. Who would have thought it? The SD500 should be even better.

Please email me at jsmith8846@aol and I will send to you a few low res jpeg files from the mosques without a flash. Do not be worried about a virus. I am on a Mac platform and have sent out many attached files into text format for a number of members on the Graphic Forum. Just mention Sophia without a flash on the subject line. Wish we had that ability right now to send out emails and files to each other.

Keep in touch after your trip, and let us know how the SD500 worked for you.

Kevin Smith
jsmith8846@aol.com

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Reply to this and tracking the discussion problem on link
Jun 8, 2005 2:42PM PDT

Joe, I had a past post that I could not reply to. Only track this discussion. Have you noticed it happen before? Odd!

Kevin Smith

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for masterying01
Jun 8, 2005 5:01PM PDT

show us some pictures soon from your vacation, wanna see some more pics from the sd500.. thanks man..enjoy..

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i got the sd500/ ixus700
Jun 17, 2005 3:11PM PDT

im fully satisfied.