Sensor size for compact cameras: 1/2.5 " vs. 1/1.6 " - much difference?

[spiff101]

Does anyone have any experience of comparing compact cameras with a 1/2.5" sensor (eg Canon a720IS) and with a 1/1.6" one (eg Fujifilm Finepix f50)? Is there much difference, specifically regarding their abilities to capture narrow depth of field?

I know compact digicams are just not much good in this area, but I do enjoy taking those kind of shots - and I'd like to know if it's worth going for a camera with a little-bit-bigger sensor. I've seen some fairly impressive macro shots on flickr etc from the Fujifilm, but not so much from the Canon.

[neonfish3]

I dont know the answer myself, but I found this interesting and informative article.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/digital-camera-sensor-size.htm

HTH

[PHugger]

A couple of generalizations -
Larger image sensor have less noise than smaller sensors.
Sensor with lower pixel counts have less noise than those with higher counts.
Glass is more important than features

I've heard some very good things about the Sony R1. A lot of folks over at the Mavican Forums just love it. 10mp on an APS sized CMOS sensor with a very nice Carl Zeiss lens.



PCH

[inkista]

I just threw some shots together. Here's what the Canon G9 can accomplish in macro mode, narrow-DOF-wise.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/2102191048_7a17e7340e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkista/2102191048/)
G9. f/2.8. @7.4mm (equiv=35mm) iso 1600. 1/40s. Manual. Macro on.

Thin DoF is definitely possible with the 1/1.7" sensor. This one was NOT shot Macro mode (sorry it's so fugly), with the coffee cup about 16" in front of the cd spindle. I zoomed all the way to the telephoto end of the lens. Sorry, there's some camera shake (shutter was at 1/4s. IS is a wonderful thing):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2101410881_dbf13f4ce8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkista/2101410881/)
G9. f/4.8. @44.4mm (equiv=200mm) iso 400. 1/4s. Manual. Macro off.

The three Canon cameras with the 1/1.7" 12MP sensor in them are the G9, the A650IS, and the SD950IS.

[mattdm]

Check this out:
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

They don't have the F50 yet, but the F40 is kinda close.

Keep in mind that actual sensor resolution also matters in a sense, because it determines maximum print size, and apparent in-focus area increases as print size decreases.

[inkista]

Ok, here's the other side of the picture. Here's the Flickr page for the A720IS (http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/powershot_a720_is/). There's a "Now Showing" pulldown above the pictures that will let you choose what type of pictures you want to see. You can compare macros, portraits, landscapes, etc.

[glyphon]

Bringing up another issue you might want to consider...low light photography (anything indoors under "normal" lights is considered low light).

the fujifilm F series excels at low light. I've got an F20 and it is incredible even in the dark.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdelamater99/2212922153/" title="DSCF9341 by jdelamater99, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/2212922153_cb77f571ed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCF9341" /></a>
Larger Size (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/2212922153_cb77f571ed_b.jpg)

Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/3.7
Focal Length: 14.1 mm
ISO Speed: 1600