Most vegetation indices (VI) combine information contained in two spectral bands: red and near-infrared. These indices are established in order to minimize the effect of external factors on spectral data and to derive canopy characteristics such as leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of absorbed photosynthetic active radiation (P). The potentials and limits of different vegetation indices are discussed in this paper using the normalized difference (NDVI), perpendicular vegetation index (PVI), soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), and transformed soil adjusted vegetation index (TSAVI). The discussion is based on a sensitivity analysis in which the effect of canopy geometry (LAI and leaf inclination) and soil background are analyzed. The calculation is performed on data derived from the SAIL reflectance model. General semiempirical models, describing the relations between VI and LAI or P, are elaborated and used to derive the relative equivalent noise (REN) for the determination of LAI and P. The performances of VIs are discussed on the basis of the REN concept.