Opinions on Canon SX500 or Nikon Coolpix L810

[blessedby3]

I am looking to replace my camera (I just have a Sony cybershot I bought a few years back). I was looking to spend $250 or less.
Does anyone have opinions on the Canon SX500 ($249.00)or Nikon Coolpix L810 ($179.00)? My DSis just bought the Nikon Coolpix P510 (4349.00), but I really dont want to spend that much money. Is the price difference worth it?

 

[hakepb]

I had a Sony H70 last year due to a price mistake. It was worth the $79 I paid for it, but I would of been disapointed if I paid nearly $200 for it.
What does that matter? It had a 16mp CCD sensor, just like the L810. And considering Nikon is known to use Sony sensors... My H70 pictures were fairly grainy and bad in low light.
I also got a Nikon Coolpix s3100 with a 14mp CCD and had the same results. So while there are some very nice 10 CCD cameras (or larger 1/1.7" 12mp CCD) 16mp seems to be too many pixels on a small sensor for acceptable picture quality.

So, IMHO, yes, the extra money for a CMOS sensor is worth it...unless you are only shooting in great lighting during golden hour...

 

[blessedby3]

I had a Sony H70 last year due to a price mistake. It was worth the $79 I paid for it, but I would of been disapointed if I paid nearly $200 for it.
What does that matter? It had a 16mp CCD sensor, just like the L810. And considering Nikon is known to use Sony sensors... My H70 pictures were fairly grainy and bad in low light.
I also got a Nikon Coolpix s3100 with a 14mp CCD and had the same results. So while there are some very nice 10 CCD cameras (or larger 1/1.7" 12mp CCD) 16mp seems to be too many pixels on a small sensor for acceptable picture quality.

So, IMHO, yes, the extra money for a CMOS sensor is worth it...unless you are only shooting in great lighting during golden hour...

You are talking a foreign language to me Do you have a link or two for an example of the camera(s) you are talking about? Are you saying I want less megapixels? Thanks for the help

 

[hakepb]

Sensors are the "film" of digital cameras.
There are 2 common technologies, the older CCD and the newer CMOS. Most, if not all top-end cameras have CMOS sensors... Mostly because CMOS are capable of 1080p video, higher burst rates and higher ISO (ideal for lower light) shots. (Although In good lighting, some people prefer the colors of CCD.)

Now, lets look at Canon. Their new top-end superzoom, the SX50 has a 12mp (megapixel) sensor while the more affordable SX500 has a 16mp sensor. The other thing you notice is their top end camera has a CMOS sensor while their cheaper camera has a CCD. Overall, Canon made those choices so that their top cameras would have the best image quality in reviews, because most review sites like DPReview only have the time to review the top cameras. (And I think they realize that the cheaper cameras are decided in store, and they didn't want to loose a MP comparison to Nikon, even though they know it reduces image quality)

Nikon is similiar with the CMOS on better cameras and CCD on cheaper ones.

Personally, I would much rather get a Canon SX260 (Canon's top end, compact travel zoom). It is currently a better deal on Amazon than either camera you mentioned and I believe it will produce better overall images. The only photographic negative is its "only" 20x zoom (which is still a bunch )

 

[hakepb]

Here's a link to a review of the SX260
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-powershot-sx260-hs

And I should mention, if you do not need zoom, and are patient, the Canon s100 is even better because it has a bigger sensor and a brighter lens:
(On Black Friday, Amazon had it for $229. Canon has released a "newer" s110 so there should be more clearance sales on the s100.)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons100