hi! i'm new here, and to digital cameras. so after a day or two of shopping and reading, i've come down to three camera choices.

canon sd400:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/sd400.html

casio exilim ex-Z55/ex-Z57
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/ex-z55.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/ex-z57.html

pentax optio S5i:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/optios5i.html


i've played with them all in the stores, and they all handle nice and function great. all even to me in that respects. now, before i go on, let me tell you guys one MAIN thing i'm concerned about. the standard 4x6 prints. i've heard differnt things from differnt people, but overall all, they each should be able to make high quality 4x6. but if one is better than the other, i'd like to know :)

i've been told by a few people that on the canon, there is noticble fringin on the outer edges of the pictures, more so than the other modles. comments?

i will be using this camera from 4x6 prints as well as use on the web/comp. i am pretty much torn at the moment between thses cameras. any comments/insights on the things i've mentioned would help me so much. thanks for your time guys.

also, from what i remeber being told, most digital cameras are at the aspect ratio of 4:3. now, if i'm correct, 4x6 prints are at a aspect ratio 3:2. now if i remeber correctly, most photo processing places will either print it as is leaving white borders on either side, or they will crop it for you, at their will. now, with this in consideration, the casio cameras DO have a 3:2 aspect ratio setting, while the canon and pentax don't. from your guy's experince, has this been a problem for you in the past, or do most photo processors do a okay job with the cropping themselves?

Most digi cams have a sensor that is roughly equivalent in proportion to 35mm frame. 4x6's do not fit this ratio. Therefor nearly every 4x6 you have ever seen has had some of the image cropped out. How many times can you remember white borders?

Really, here is the secret. When you take your pics to be processed make sure they are all horizontal. The ones that come out with borders are from ppl that take in vertically framed images that are actually vertical on the disc or memory card. Think of it this way. All print are made in the same direction, they only become vertical or horizontal when you turn them.

That being said I only have one bit of advice for you. Get the canon. If not the canon then get the pentax. But don't get the casio.

Get the canon.

Minor correction on the aspect ratio of 35mm vs P&S digitals. Many P&S digitals have 4:3 aspect ratios. 35mm and most DSLRs have a 3:2 aspect ratio - in the case of 35mm, it's 36mmX24mm. 4x6 prints from these do not need to be cropped as they fit the 3:2 ratio - 8x10 prints, on the other hand, are cropped - the correct size would be 8x12. Almo is right though in that 4x6 prints from cameras with 4:3 ratios are cropped, since the print size would actually be 4.5x6.

Astralboy - you're correct that the cameras you mentioned all have an aspect ratio of 4:3, except for the Casios which have an optional 3:2 setting only at the highest quality setting. Normally it's 2560x1920 - for the 3:2 they drop it down to 2560x1712. Since the other cameras have highest settings also around 2560x1920, you could just crop it to 3:2 yourself before printing.

Personally, of those four, I would probably buy the Canon. Good luck!

Danielle

Ok so I don't know everything, but I will someday! Then it's look out world... :p