Canon S100 Canon S200 Canon S230 Canon S400 Canon S410 Canon S500

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
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I think some folks prefer the S400, because it has less noise than the S500. Have they been able to keep the noise down, or does it just get worse every generation?
 

kami333

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
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You forgot the S230:)

I think the S400 is the sweet spot, I've have a S200 and my friends S400 has not had much noise compared to mine.
 

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
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Originally posted by: goblue420
what do u mean noise?

Here is an article with pictures containing digital noise:
noise
As the mega pixels increase, the size of the individual sensors decreases because you are cramming more of them onto the chip in the same size camera. These smaller pixels have less surface area, and therefore absorb LESS light, so you have to increase the exposure time, or make them more sensitive, and that means more noise. So, all things being equal, and no changes in technology, a 10 mega pixel camera is going to have a heck of a lot more noise than a 1 mega pixel camera. but, then 10 will have a better resolution. What I am wondering is as Canon advances in mega pixels, have they also increased in noise, or do they have some technological advances that let them increase in mega pixels with out the noise penalty?
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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linh.wordpress.com
well... if they keep cramming MP's on the same size sensor... heh. But I have not noticed any noise problems w/ my s400. Granted, I never blow them up enough to notice, and I only shoot ISO50 most of the time, and no night time shots (but the s330's night mode I had before w/ it's noise redux did a nice job. have yet to try it on the s400).
 

GoSharks

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 1999
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no - noise does not always increase in each later generation. dont forget that sensor sizes may change and that the technology is always going to be improving.
 

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
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Originally posted by: GOSHARKS
no - noise does not always increase in each later generation. dont forget that sensor sizes may change and that the technology is always going to be improving.

Right.
However, if everythign stays the same, and only the pixel sensors on the chip shrink, it does increase.
And, in the Canon S series, unless I am mistaken, the camera is the same size, so the chip has to be the same size, uinles they change lens. In any case, the chip is going to be darn close to the same size.
I want to know which generations had a new technology to reduce noise, etc...