Digital cameras forum: Canon SD 850 IS or 870 IS?

For the most part, they are identical.
The picture quality is identical.

The 870 has a wide angle lens (28mm focal length)
The 850 has a 35mm focal length lens (considered normal focal length for small digital cameras).

The 870 has a 3 inch LCD but no viewfinder
The 850 has a 2.5 inch LCD and an optical viewfinder.

A Note: Wide Angle Lens
Most people don't really have a need for a wide angle lens.
People in real estate, contracting, interior decorating, etc have a need for wide angle.

Here is a look at their specifications:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sd850is%2Ccanon_sd870is&show=all



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doesn't 870 also lack the optical view finder? while the 850 have it?

On DPReview it listed 850 has face detection... does 870 has it also?

thanks!

Don't expect a review site to get it right every time. It makes sense to double check any such posted 'facts' with the specs listed on the manufacturers site-

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=15655

-Pedro

Everything looks right so far. I am choosing between the 850 and 870 myself right now, they both look awesome. I am leaning 850 because it's cheaper, has the optical viewfinder (I'm sure the smaller 2.5 LCD is fine, don't need 3) I don't know if I'll use the wide angle or not, and the 850 has a better lens (I think, see below). I MAY use wide angle since I'm a snowboarder and it would be sweet for panorama views, however. But it bends the edges of the picture in, a sacrafice you have to accept with wide angle photos.

Between the 850/870 and SX100, I think only the 850 and 870 have the Time Lapse Video mode. I am going to use this ALOT, while most people won't. Imagine sunrise/sunset videos, they have alot of potential.

I think the last factor for me is the lenses.
850 - (35 - 140mm)
870 - (28 - 105 mm)

I don't really understand the differences, but it sounds like when you're NOT in wide angle mode, the 35/140mm lens will be superior - can anyone comment on that for me? If in regular mode the lenses are almost identical, I'm going to get the 870 instead.