Pentax W20 or Canon ixus 900Ti?

Answer 1

Check out this comparison page. Click on "In-depth review" and "Read Owner Opinions" for each camera. Be sure to note that the reviews are many pages long so you don't stop after page one. Check the sample images, also. You can enlarge these to full size images if you click on the link below the picture. You will have to then put your cursor in the white space to the right of the picture and click once. After that, you can pass your cursor over the image and it will turn into a magnifier. Click it as a magnifier once and the image will go to full size and you can really examine the detail or look for artifacts like fringing or noise.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sd900%2Cpentax_optiow20&show=all

Actually, I see that there is no professional review of the Pentax, but you can read the owner opinions.

You can read a review for either camera at Steve's:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/optio_w20.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sd900.html

This seems like an odd pair to compare as they are actually in two distinctly different classes and the Ixux 900Ti is head and shoulders above the Optio W20. Of course, it costs about US$100 more, so it should be.

Here are the plus points for the Canon over the Pentax:
-10 MP vs. 7 MP
-Sensor is almost twice as large
-ISO 1600 vs. 400, with "dark mode" of ISO 3200 vs. 800
-Slightly faster lens
-Flash reaches about 50% farther
-3 meter modes, including spot vs. only an "averaging" meter
-More video modes
-OPTICAL VIEWFINDER - This is important for battery conservation and for other reasons.
-Twice the pixels on the LCD

Here are the plus points for the Pentax over the Canon:
-Costs about US$100 less than the Canon
-Offers "manual" focus
-Macro to 1 cm vs. 5 cm
-Includes internal memory, although it is only enough to hold about 8-10 pictures in best resolution
-Water resistant to 1.5 meters

See what I mean? The only "real world" advantage offered by the Pentax is that you can probably take it in the rain without fear of damage to the camera. Money talks.

Now, I will confess that I am a Canon owner. Here is my stock answer when people ask about that camera. It is called the SD900 over here, though.
~~~~~
fter answering questions here for about 8 months, I finally decided to get a Canon Powershot SD900. I was going to go for the SD700-IS, but they were out of stock everywhere and it gave me time to re-think my purchase. This is going to be a pocket camera to use when I don't want to carry one of my SLR's with me, but I still want really great image quality from the camera. Anyhow, after months and months of reading reviews, the SD900 was my top choice. I found a review in Popular Photography the day after I ordered my Canon that suggests that maybe the Pentax Optio A20 would have been a better choice, but, I don't believe it. The Pentax does have shake reduction, but I doubt this will be necessary in a camera that only zooms to an equivalent of 114 mm and I just can not believe that 10 MP on a smaller 1/2.5" sensor (Pentax) will be better than 10 MP on a 1/1.8" sensor (Canon) that is nearly twice as large.

Anyhow, go here to see the comparison article on 5 compact camera and see what you think. If you really don't want to read reviews, I am still happy that I am got the Canon SD900 and this would be my recommendation for anyone at this point, since it is what I chose for myself. I ordered from B&H Photo where the price is $343 (today) for the SD900. They have been playing with the price point for this camera since Christmas and that's why I say "today." Every time I check back, it's got a different price.

I also bought a 5-year Mack warranty for $50. If you are even a little paranoid or clutzy, I feel that it is money well-spent. These are somewhat delicate compared to SLR's.

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3471/high-5-10mp-compacts.html Click on the name of each camera to read a detailed review.

Here is a comparison page with all five cameras. Click on "In-depth review" and "Read Owner Opinions" for each camera. Be sure to note that the reviews are many pages long so you don't stop after page one. Check the sample images, also. You can enlarge these to full size images if you click on the link below the picture. You will have to then put your cursor in the white space to the right of the picture and click once. After that, you can pass your cursor over the image and it will turn into a magnifier. Click it as a magnifier once and the image will go to full size and you can really examine the detail or look for artifacts like fringing or noise.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sd900%2Ccasio_exz1000%2Coly_stylus1000%2Cpentax_optioa20%2Csamsung_nv10&show=all

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sd900.html

Here is one photo I put on-line that I took with the SD900. View this as large as possible and check out the birds. This was taken right after sunset and there were no enhancements in afterprocessing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/409551806/

Answer 2

I own the Canon SD900Ti and i would recommend this camera and any Canon digital cam. over any Pentax any time and any day. The SD900 takes amazingly clear pictures. Pictures also come out very colorful. i've owned a couple of pentax cameras in the past and i gotta say they're junk. 2 of them only lasted 8 months and the other one took pictures so bad i sold it on ebay after owning it for only 2 weeks. I've owned the SD900 since Nov. of last year and its done everything its suppose to. i can send you a sample pic. off of this camera if youd like. you wont be disapointed in getting the Canon.