$95 more for 1mp? Canon S2 vs. S3

On 13 Sep 2006 18:32:23 -0700, Mr.Bolshoyhuy <bolshoyhuy.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> So this salesman at J&R tries to convince me that a 1mp difference
> between the Canon S3(6mp - $400) and the S2(5mp - $305) is worth paying
> $95 more.
> Besides a slightly bigger LCD, there is no other difference.

Are you sure there are no other differences? I'm not up on the
nitty-gritty details of the Canon superzooms, but there could be some
things like a better focusing system or higher-quality video that were
added with the new model.

Assuming that the extra megapixel is the only real difference, you are
correct; since resolution goes like the square of pixel count, a 20%
increase in pixel count gives about 10% improvement in resolution. Which
isn't very much. You'll be able to make slightly larger prints before
the quality starts to go downhill (but 5 MP will make good 8x10" prints,
and most people seldom/never go bigger), and if you like to crop
pictures before printing, you can be a bit more aggressive in your
cropping.

> I kept saying that 1mp is not much, but he tried to absolutely convince
> me the resolution is higher. According to these calculations, 20mp is
> double of 5mp, correct?

Yes

[...]

> How do the S3 and S2 compare to the Kodak P712 - 7.1mp, 1/2.5" CCD,
> 36-432mm, hot shoe, $430, Fuji S9000, and the Lumix FZ30?
> I like that they use SD and AA, and have a rotatable LCD. Too bad no
> hot shoe.

For the Panasonics, the FZ5/7 are the closest equivalents to the S2/S3;
the FZ30 is a considerably larger (and pricier) camera. The Fuji is
likewise a larger camera. I'm not familiar with the Kodak.

-dms
 >> Stay informed about: $95 more for 1mp? Canon S2 vs. S3 

How about this:

The S3 comes in black.

-Drew (proud new owner of an S2)

Mr.Bolshoyhuy wrote:
> So this salesman at J&R tries to convince me that a 1mp difference
> between the Canon S3(6mp - $400) and the S2(5mp - $305) is worth paying
> $95 more.
> Besides a slightly bigger LCD, there is no other difference.
> I kept saying that 1mp is not much, but he tried to absolutely convince
> me the resolution is higher. According to these calculations, 20mp is
> double of 5mp, correct?
> doubling resolution requires quadrupling the number of megapixels.
> 8mp is _not_ double of 4mp.
> 4sqrt = 2
> 8sqrt = 2.83(not double of 2)
> 16sqrt = 4(double of 2)
>
> 100 = 10 x 10
> 200sqrt = 14.14 (not double of 10)
> 400sqrt = 20(double of 10)
>
> MPs resolution
> 4mp = 2000 x 2000
> 8mp = 4000 x 2000(_not_ double resolution of 4mp)
> 16mp = 4000 x 4000(double resolution of 4mp)
>
> How do the S3 and S2 compare to the Kodak P712 - 7.1mp, 1/2.5" CCD,
> 36-432mm, hot shoe, $430, Fuji S9000, and the Lumix FZ30?
> I like that they use SD and AA, and have a rotatable LCD. Too bad no
> hot shoe.
 >> Stay informed about: $95 more for 1mp? Canon S2 vs. S3 

In article <1158197543.109958.184300 RemoveThis @d34g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
Mr.Bolshoyhuy <bolshoyhuy RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
>So this salesman at J&R tries to convince me that a 1mp difference
>between the Canon S3(6mp - $400) and the S2(5mp - $305) is worth paying
>$95 more.

I would not pay $95 more for the S3, but Amazon.com is now selling the S3
for $340. Makes it a lot more interesting.
 >> Stay informed about: $95 more for 1mp? Canon S2 vs. S3