Digital Cameras Ratings

If you need a solid, reliable, and stylish point-and-shoot ultracompact digital camera that produces high-quality images, then the new Canon PowerShot SD1100IS may be right for you.

I am an advanced amateur photographer and own 2 Canon digital cameras (G2 and 20D).Both have served me well over the years but recently I have found myself needing a decent ultracompact camera that I can easily carry with me at all times for unexpected photo-ops.

Other current Canon models that I also researched before my purchase of the “bohemian brown” SD1100IS included the SD950IS and the SD1000.

Here is my take on the SD1100IS:

Strengths:
- 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor (excellent resolution images with good dynamic range)
- Solid construction (most of body made of anodized aluminum)
- Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
- Easy to use (logical user-interface) with minimal need to consult owner’s manual for basic operation
- Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations (action/sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why)
- Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even “tricky” situations (great balance of highlights and shadows)
- Tack-sharp images (much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash)
- Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
- Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag (when not using flash)
- Bright 2.5″ LCD monitor (100% coverage, 230k pixels) made of polycrystalline silicon; fairly scratch-resistant (can’t vouch if this applies to keys and coins)
- Optical viewfinder (though only a tiny peephole, it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted)
- Camera made in Japan (at least those from the 1st shipment; this easily may be subject to change)

Limitations:
- Lack of manual control over aperture, shutter speed, and focusing (for the obssessive control-freaks)
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 (ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4×6 images; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable)
- Fastest shutter speed is 1/1500 sec (not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities)
- Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
- Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on (precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge)
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode (focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame, and digital zoom is permitted instead, resulting in significant image quality deterioration)
- Battery/memory card cover and hinge made of plastic (no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out, in order to prevent accidental opening)
- Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration (albeit, difficult not to expect from compact p&s)
- Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
- No RAW shooting mode

Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised, allowing for approximately 240 images.If your budget permits, I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards–vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently.

Overall Impression:
Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class, I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS.It does what it’s supposed to do.This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact, reliable, and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use.

[UPDATE: Since this review, Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon....in time for Grad & Dad's Day: the PowerShot SD770IS, SD790IS, and SD890IS.All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer.The saga of the MP race continues.If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology, then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images.We'll have to wait and see.The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS, which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons.Hopefully, the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded "lens error" nightmare.The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end.The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS (which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000); it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS.I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS, but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year....conveniently before the Holidays.

SD770IS: 10MP, 3X Optical zoom (35-105mm), 2.5" LCD monitor, Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $299.99.
SD790IS: 10MP, 3X Optical zoom (35-105mm), 3" LCD monitor, no Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $349.99.
SD890IS: 10MP, 5X Optical zoom (37-185mm), 2.5" LCD monitor, Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $399.99.]

Product Description
The Canon SD1100 IS Digital ELPH includes an 8-Megapixel 1/2.5″ CCD imager and a 3x optical zoom lens with image stabilization, which covers a range of 38-114mm equivalent. Exposure is fully automatic with 2.0EV of manual exposure compensation and four metering modes to handle difficult lighting along with a ties metering to the camera’s Face Detection system. 13 scene modes keep the camera approachable for beginners. A long-exposure mode in the Canon SD1100 IS ELPH lets you set exposure times as long as 15 seconds manually, and a 2.5″ LCD display for framing images. The Canon ELPH SD1100 IS sports a fairly wide ISO sensitivity range, from 80 to 1600.Shutter Speed -15-1/1500 seconds, Long Shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 seconds ISO Sensitivity -Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent Exposure Compensation -2 stops in 1/3-stop increments White Balance Control -Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H), and Custom Built-in Flash -Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, and Slow Synchro Flash Range -12-11 feet/30cm-3.5m (W), 12-6.6 feet/30cm-2.0m (T) Shooting Modes -Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets) Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, and Movie Self-Timer -2-seconds, 10-seconds delay, and Custom Dimensions -3.42 x 2.16 x 0.87 (86.8×54.8×22.0mm) Weight -4.41 ounces (125 grams)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Gold)

I bought a similar bundle like this but mine is 4GB. and the camera SD1200 works perfectly. I love it. but the camera case is way too large for this tiny camera. If you want to put battery, memory card etc into it you may use it but I am afraid the battery will scratch the screen. So I still need to buy a camera case which will fit exactly for this camera. The memory card is great since you can take about 1400 pictures. card reader is great light blue transparent color. I love it. It does not look like the one on the picture here! There are two battery and each battery has their own charger. I don’t know if I can use one battery charger for both because the charger said they only accept one type. But when I put the other battery on the charger it seems work as well. Screen protector is great. Based on the price I think it is a good deal although it may not be a perfect deal deal to the large case and battery charger.

Product Description
This Kit Includes:
1- Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10MP (Orange) Digital Camera w/ Supplied Manufacturer Accessories Brand New USA
1- 8GB SDHC Secure Digital Memory Card (Dont Miss a Memory!)
1- USB SD Memory Card Reader (Download Images Quicker!)
1- Lithium Ion Rechargeable BP6L Battery (Not Original Canon) (Shoot Longer and Stronger!)
1- External Rapid Travel Quick-Charger (Always Have Your Spare Battery Ready to Go for Any Occassion!)
1- Padded Carrying Case w/Strap
1- Memory Card Wallet (Stay Organized!)
1- Pack of LCD Screen Protectors (Protect from Dust & Scratches!)
1- Lens/LCD Cleaning Kit
1- Mini Table Top Tripod
More about this camera:
When a camera puts a smile on your face the moment you hold it, imagine how great you’ll feel when you see your first pictures! The PowerShot SD1200 IS Digital ELPH has everything going for it – exuberant color, the sculptured style of Canon’s famed ELPH series – and the know-how that takes you to a whole new level of picture-taking accomplishment. Fun, smart and a style that follows you everywhere.

Supplied Manufacturer Accessories in addition to mentioned above:
Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-6L, Battery Charger CB-2LY, Wrist Strap WS-DC7, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU, AV Cable AVC-DC400, 1 Year Canon USA Warranty.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Orange) 8GB BP6L Battery BigVALUEInc Accessory Saver Bundle

If you need a solid, reliable, and stylish point-and-shoot ultracompact digital camera that produces high-quality images, then the new Canon PowerShot SD1100IS may be right for you.

I am an advanced amateur photographer and own 2 Canon digital cameras (G2 and 20D).Both have served me well over the years but recently I have found myself needing a decent ultracompact camera that I can easily carry with me at all times for unexpected photo-ops.

Other current Canon models that I also researched before my purchase of the “bohemian brown” SD1100IS included the SD950IS and the SD1000.

Here is my take on the SD1100IS:

Strengths:
- 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor (excellent resolution images with good dynamic range)
- Solid construction (most of body made of anodized aluminum)
- Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
- Easy to use (logical user-interface) with minimal need to consult owner’s manual for basic operation
- Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations (action/sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why)
- Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even “tricky” situations (great balance of highlights and shadows)
- Tack-sharp images (much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash)
- Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
- Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag (when not using flash)
- Bright 2.5″ LCD monitor (100% coverage, 230k pixels) made of polycrystalline silicon; fairly scratch-resistant (can’t vouch if this applies to keys and coins)
- Optical viewfinder (though only a tiny peephole, it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted)
- Camera made in Japan (at least those from the 1st shipment; this easily may be subject to change)

Limitations:
- Lack of manual control over aperture, shutter speed, and focusing (for the obssessive control-freaks)
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 (ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4×6 images; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable)
- Fastest shutter speed is 1/1500 sec (not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities)
- Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
- Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on (precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge)
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode (focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame, and digital zoom is permitted instead, resulting in significant image quality deterioration)
- Battery/memory card cover and hinge made of plastic (no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out, in order to prevent accidental opening)
- Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration (albeit, difficult not to expect from compact p&s)
- Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
- No RAW shooting mode

Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised, allowing for approximately 240 images.If your budget permits, I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards–vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently.

Overall Impression:
Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class, I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS.It does what it’s supposed to do.This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact, reliable, and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use.

[UPDATE: Since this review, Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon....in time for Grad & Dad's Day: the PowerShot SD770IS, SD790IS, and SD890IS.All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer.The saga of the MP race continues.If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology, then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images.We'll have to wait and see.The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS, which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons.Hopefully, the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded "lens error" nightmare.The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end.The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS (which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000); it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS.I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS, but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year....conveniently before the Holidays.

SD770IS: 10MP, 3X Optical zoom (35-105mm), 2.5" LCD monitor, Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $299.99.
SD790IS: 10MP, 3X Optical zoom (35-105mm), 3" LCD monitor, no Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $349.99.
SD890IS: 10MP, 5X Optical zoom (37-185mm), 2.5" LCD monitor, Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $399.99.]

Product Description
The Canon SD1100 IS Digital ELPH includes an 8-Megapixel 1/2.5″ CCD imager and a 3x optical zoom lens with image stabilization, which covers a range of 38-114mm equivalent. Exposure is fully automatic with 2.0EV of manual exposure compensation and four metering modes to handle difficult lighting along with a ties metering to the camera’s Face Detection system. 13 scene modes keep the camera approachable for beginners. A long-exposure mode in the Canon SD1100 IS ELPH lets you set exposure times as long as 15 seconds manually, and a 2.5″ LCD display for framing images. The Canon ELPH SD1100 IS sports a fairly wide ISO sensitivity range, from 80 to 1600.Shutter Speed -15-1/1500 seconds, Long Shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 seconds ISO Sensitivity -Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent Exposure Compensation -2 stops in 1/3-stop increments White Balance Control -Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H), and Custom Built-in Flash -Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, and Slow Synchro Flash Range -12-11 feet/30cm-3.5m (W), 12-6.6 feet/30cm-2.0m (T) Shooting Modes -Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets) Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, and Movie Self-Timer -2-seconds, 10-seconds delay, and Custom Dimensions -3.42 x 2.16 x 0.87 (86.8×54.8×22.0mm) Weight -4.41 ounces (125 grams)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Pink)

I LOVE my little new toy.I was debating to get this or Canon SD600, both in the same price range and same megapixel.After doing a lot of research online and seeing the actual models in store, I decided to get this one and I am really glad I did.What I really like about this camera so far:

1. the optical image stabilization really works wonder!at least for me who used to get a lot of fuzzy pix from my old fuji.I was able to get a too-good-to-be-true pix of my cat yearning in motion!!This may not work for everything (if there’s a lot of jittering/shaking) but it sure works for what I was looking for (without compromising the quality).One of the most common probs with compact cameras is jittering/shaking hands, and this certainly takes care that for you!

2. GREAT battery life, which is what I really love and care about.I was able to point and shoot over 100 pix so far (half of them with flash, though not consecutively) and plus some video clicks and still have full battery signal on.It’s amazing!I also compared the battery life with the canon sd600 online.. it’s about double according to some standard.

3. Nice LCD.For those of you who might be worried about missing the viewfinder on this toy, the battery life certainly makes up for it (plus the viewfinder usually doesn’t get you 100% of the actual picture anyway).Some review said that LCD playback quality is not as good, but I find no problem with it. (from a pair of non-prof/average eyes, that is)

4. Very user-friendly.I didn’t really need to read manual to figure out most features of the camera.I just got it on the hand for less than 2 days and I am already feeling like a pro with this camera.

5. fast start-up and little shutter lag~which is also important to me.

6. a lot of features.allow you to quickly change to different scene modes/effects.

Some cons that I can think of:

1. I think maybe some people will think brands like Canon has better image quality?I don’t have a new model Canon to compare with but with the previous models (in Canon & Fuji), I can’t tell much difference.(looks great to me for what I can tell)

2. No optical viewfinder (for the people who really want to have viewfinder).

3. the size of the camera is a little bigger than SD600 (and cannot compare to credit-card size casio Ex-Z60.though this can be a pro & con depending on each individual’s preference.I have small/medium hands and the camera feels just fine (I was able to use one hand to navigate the bottoms/menu and to take pix).But I can see probs with bigger hands

4. the control bottoms are kind of small (which is typical in compact cameras).Again, might be problematic with bigger hands.

***

Over all, for the price in this range, I think this is one of the best value on market right now that has a nice package of what typical people are looking for (user-friendly, long battery life, anti-shake, great/decent pix quality).You usually have to pay for an extra $100 to get that optical stabilization feature in other model (i.e. Canon SD700).

No camera is perfect but this camera has definitely come close to that!I’d definitely recommend this for anyone.I just hope the magic will last me for the years to come!have to wait to see about that!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic DMC-FX3K 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

I’ve always been a fan of Panasonic’s Optical Image Stabilizers on their Lumix line of cameras. The DMC-FX12 was quite the steal at under $200.Very compact camera without sacrificing image quality (at least not too much). There have been testimonies stating that the images produced from the DMC-FX12 are soft, but you can fix that by changing the color mode to “vivid” and presto, sharper images. The only gripe I have with this compact performer is that anything from ISO 800 and higher provides very noisy images. Most of the low light shots I’ve taken (minus the flash with color mode set to ‘natural’) were acceptable, but quite noisy.This camera has a quality Leica lens which helps contribute to some crisp images. Other than that, the flash is decent and under normal lighting conditions, you get some pretty darn good images (the image stabilizer makes a huge difference). This is a point-and-shoot camera and people tend to expect SLR quality images from a point-and-shoot camera. I have yet to come across a p&s shooter that comes anywhere close to SLR quality. As for the DMC-FX12, it’s compact, great for point-and-shoot casual shooting, and worth every penny. I was in debate of whether to get this shooter or the DMC-FX30 but I wasn’t about to shell out another extra $100 for a difference of 7mm of focal length between the 2 shooters. I chose the DMC-FX12 due to price and the image quality.

Product Description
The Panasonic DMC-FX12K features Mega O.I.S. Optical Image Stabilization, which automatically detects and compensates for handshake. See text and small thumbnail images on the 2.5″ diagonal LCD monitor with 115K pixels to increase the brightness level from the CCD to see even in low lighting. You get clear, beautiful shots even when shooting macro close-ups or taking self-portraits.White Balance -Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set Shutter Speed -8 – 1/2,000 second Built-in Flash Mode -Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction and Forced On/Off Power Supply -Lithium-ion Battery Pack (3.7V, 1150 mAh), up to 350 pictures Dimensions -Height 3.70” x Width 2.02” x Depth 0.95” Weight -0.28 pounds

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)