Sony DSC P10 (5 megapixels)
or
Canon IXUS Digital 430 (Asian version) or Canon PowerShot S410 (US version) - 4 megapixels
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I can’t decide.
The reason I’m partial to the Sony is because
-my sister has the exact same camera and it takes really high quality photos . The only difference is hers is 3 megapixel.
- it takes 640×480 video clips with sound and no time limit as long as your memory card permits. Not just 3 minutes. And the video quality is just flawless.
- battery life indicator
- you can use the camera while it’s still charging
- It’s cheaper than the Canon (Sony DSC P10 costs 24,000 pesos ($432) compared to the Canon’s 27,950 ($502.70).
The reason I would want a Canon is:
- something new since my sister already has the Sony
- It can take panoramic shots
- Canon is used by Photographers.
- was chosen as Dave’s pics for 4MP cameras
- very good reviews
- Test images are awesome
- Most popular cameras among readers
I read this review (post 35) from someone who actually compared the Sony DSC P10 and the Canon S400.
I don’t want to upset anyone but I and my friend who just bought a P10 together made a test. Because we’d been mocking each other about our choices. We took the same shots with P10 and a Canon S400.
1. Sony has a greenish color which made some blues look like green. Canon has more accurate colors, although a little bit satured.
2. Canon has better focus and detail.
3. Sony makes some pictures look like washed. That also made some blue look very bright/pale although it wasn’t.
4. Sony made obvious noise on human skin. Some faces looked like they had skin problems. Canon made some faces just a little bit blurry (maybe shaky hands??) but skin tone and overall it was much closer to reality.
My friend decided to return his P10 to get an S400.
Maybe this is just too normal Canon being a lens producer and innovator for 68 years while Sony, despite not making the lenses they use, is now putting its’ name on them.
and another comparative review (post 38) between a Canon S400 and the Sony P10:
I just returned from a European vacation, and had brought along both the Canon S400 and the Sony P10. After 3,000 shots combined from both cameras, the Canon was definitely the clear winner.
The Canon’s color representation, indoor and outdoor, beat the Sony each time. Again, Sony had the green/yellow tint issue, especially outdoors in the sunlight. I think I had to take the same shot like 2 or 3 times in order to get it less yellow (couldn’t get rid of it completely). Which also tells of the inconsistency of the P10. Same setting, same conditions, but each time I started the camera it represented a different colored picture. Weird.
I was also worried about walking around with the P10 on, because with the barrel extended it would flop around. So I usually had to turn it off whenever I walked to the next location. The P10 was a bit difficult to shot and adjust with one hand. Everytime I gripped the camera for a shoot I accidentally hit the macro button with my thumb.
In any case, the P10 is an excellent camera don’t get me wrong. The clarity, when you do take a good picture, is unbelieveable. And to have such a compact camera with 5.0 mega pixels is great, with the great 640×480 MPEG. But I just couldn’t live with the many faults, and hope Sony hears people’s complaints and releases firmware for it. The Canon S400 is a great camera. I’m waiting for Canon to come out with a 5.0 mega pixel version that features 640×480 video, and it will definitely be complete. For now, I’m selling off the P10 and keeping the S400.
It’s funny to read all the comments because the people that compliment or was happy with the P10. For 80 - 90% of the poeple, that was their first or only camera, so they had nothing to compare it to. On the flip side, if you read comments of people that complained about the P10, it was usually because they were comparing it to another camera.
So anyone thinking about this camera, please do borrow another camera to compare it to or do your research extensively beforehand. You’ll have a much better perspective before making your final decision.
