a couple basic questions - sensor size & LCD screen problems

[WendyLovesPeter]

will there be much difference in these sensor sizes 1/2.33 compared to 1/2.5. The math wiz in me says no, but I WANT to believe that the 1/2.33 will perform better in low light conditions.

I am having trouble with this - when I use the LCD screen to take pictures - the picture does not appear on paper like it does on the LCD screen - I have tops of head cut off a lot - what am I doing wrong?

I am considering the TZ5 simply for the fun factor, but I am having trouble justifying buying a "toy".

Thank you!!

 

[Anewman]

will there be much difference in these sensor sizes 1/2.33 compared to 1/2.5. The math wiz in me says no, but I WANT to believe that the 1/2.33 will perform better in low light conditions.

I am having trouble with this - when I use the LCD screen to take pictures - the picture does not appear on paper like it does on the LCD screen - I have tops of head cut off a lot - what am I doing wrong?

I am considering the TZ5 simply for the fun factor, but I am having trouble justifying buying a "toy".

Thank you!!

No math wiz
Sensor size is an important factor when it comes low light photos, but it is not the only one. A factor that few consider is the aperture of the lenses when considering different models, but there can be a 1 stop advantage depending on the two models being considered. Do both models have IS?

And then you get to the fact that some manufacturers are just better at dealing with high ISO noise, so with a difference this minute...
a smaller CANON sensor might actually perform better at higher ISO than a larger SONY sensor(not making that claim, just an example).

I would just read reviews, and go to forums where the two models you are comparing have actually been used. Sometimes math is just math, go find some real world photos and see if they are up to your standards.

 

[zackiedawg]

Also, check out some of the camera boards and review sites, where they mention pixel pitch. It's actually the more important factor than just the size of the sensor - it's how small the pixels have to be and how close together to fit on that sensor. 5MP on a 1/2.5 sensor isn't as crowded as 10MP on a 1/2.33 sensor...super-small, densely packed pixels can sometimes suffer from increased noise, blooming, and CA effects.

Otherwise, no...not a whole lot of difference between 1/2.33 and 1/2.5 - they're both really small. You probably wouldn't see much advantage in sensitivity until you compare to 1/1.8" or larger...and other factors like lens quality, maximum aperture, and processing engines also play a big part.

As for your LCD problem - it's possible your camera LCD doesn't display the whole sensor view - alot of LCDs and electronic viewfinders will show you from 85% to 95% of the actual scene the sensor will capture. You have to account for that when shooting - if you've got alot of resolution, then you can usually leave a little spare room around your composition, and if you end up with a little too much space around the edges, just crop it out.

Nothing wrong with buying a toy, as long as you enjoy it and use it! I've always had an ultra-compact camera as a companion to my larger camera - I can bring it with me for those times I don't feel like bringing the bigger cam, or those times I otherwise wouldn't have even had a camera. And if I'm going to have a second little compact, it might as well be kind of fun to use. Currently, my second camera to supplement my DSLR is a Sony T100 - a slim pocketable ultrazoom with a sliding cover, in a shiny metallic red case and a nice big LCD. It takes pretty good shots too...most of all it's fun; and it gets attention and comments for its good looks.

 

[ukcatfan]

I am having trouble with this - when I use the LCD screen to take pictures - the picture does not appear on paper like it does on the LCD screen - I have tops of head cut off a lot - what am I doing wrong?

It sounds like your problem has to do with the aspect ratio of the image compared to the print. Your camera very likely takes pictures in the 4:3 ratio. Almost all p&s cameras do. If you were trying to print it on a size with a different ratio (probably a 4x6), then you only have two options to make it fit. It either has to leave a blank bar on one side of the image or crop some of the image from the top or bottom. The 4x6 is a very popular print size, but it is a 3:2 ratio print, which is not compatible with a 4:3 image from a p&s. You should either ask the print shop to give you the blank bar that can be trimmed off instead of cropping or see if they have a 4:3 native print size. Many do have this now b/c of the popularity of p&s cameras. If you are printing from home you should be able to make it fit to the right size with your printing software.