[EMAIL PROTECTED] posted, among other things: > I am trying to decide which of these 2 digitals would be most > cost-effective to buy .... > > I normally do 3 types of pictures. (I currently have a MZ5n) > 1- nature - (usually floral) using Velvia (50 but trying 100f now) > 2- portrait - if skin tones are important, I use Portra 160NC > 3- other - I usually use Royal Gold 400 > > I have 2 questions that that will influence my decision. > 1- What type of film does a digital picture from the *istD most > resemble. And the same question for the Optio 550 > 2- If the same picture were taken with optimal settings by the > *istD and the Optio 550, how big can the picture be printed > without noticing that it was a digital rather than a film. > > If I can use the digital for type 3 only, than I will get the Optio, > however, if I can match the colour of the Portra and/or the Velvia > and can print 8x10 or larger, then I will bite the bullet and go > into hock for the *istD. >
The Optio 550 allows three different settings for colour saturation and three settings for contrast (also, three for sharpness). I haven't made a specific effort to use these settings to mimic different types of film, but adjusting them most certainly would change the answer to what type of film do the pictures from that camera most resemble. Unfortunately for your research, it's rather early yet to make comparisons between what the 550 can actually do and what the *ist D can actually do! 'Course, the Optio 550 is pocketable. The *ist D is small, I understand, but I haven't seen any claim that it's pocketable. You didn't indicate size is important to you, but I just thought I'd mention.
