Reasons to choose Digital IXUS 85 IS
Released in 2008, Digital IXUS 85 IS has about 28 mm² of sensor area, 10 MP effective resolution, and a 170 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS
vs Canon PowerShot A640
VS
Sensor area
28 mm²
Digital IXUS 85 IS38 mm²
PowerShot A640- Area ratio
- 1.33:1
- Absolute difference
- 9 mm²
- Relative difference
- 33.2%
The PowerShot A640 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
Digital IXUS 85 ISMetricPowerShot A640
10 MPEffective pixels10 MP
6.16 × 4.62Sensor7.11 × 5.33
1.69 µmPixel pitch1.95 µm
2.85 µm²Pixel area3.79 µm²
35.14 MP/cm²Pixel density26.39 MP/cm²
5.62Crop factor4.87
—Maximum video—
170 gWeight327 g
SD/SDHC/MMC cardStorageMultiMedia, Secure Digital
Lithium-Ion NB-6L battery Li-ion batteryBatteryAA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The PowerShot A640 has the larger sensor area. The Digital IXUS 85 IS has the lighter body. The Digital IXUS 85 IS and PowerShot A640 have the same effective resolution. The Digital IXUS 85 IS is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose PowerShot A640
Released in 2006, PowerShot A640 has about 38 mm² of sensor area, 10 MP effective resolution, and a 327 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.