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Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings By manufacturer:
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The Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH / IXUS 850 IS is a 7.1 megapixel point and shoot compact digital camera with a 3x Optical Zoom (with image stabilization) and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.
The Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH / IXUS 850 IS features face detection technology, wide angle lens (28mm), ISO of up to 1600, 30 frames per second movie mode and Digic III processor.
It will retail for $450 USD and should hit stores in early October.
See prices on the Canon Powershot SD800 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD800 at Amazon.
The Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH: Simple, Sophisticated and Image Stabilized
The 7.1 megapixel SD800 IS Digital ELPH camera is the second and newest Optical Image Stabilized Digital ELPH model in the PowerShot line, and is now the top-of-the-line Digital ELPH IS entry. Canon based the optical image stabilization system on advancements made in the development of the company's EF and video lenses, and then scaled it down to fit the diminutive Digital ELPH camera profile. Unlike electronic or "digital image stabilization systems" that typically degrade image quality, Canon’s lens shift-type stabilization system preserves maximum optical quality while providing up to three stops of shake correction in shutter speed equivalent.
This new SD800 IS model features a number of significant advancements, including improved low-light performance due to the combination of optical IS and a top ISO speed of 1600, and for the first time in the Digital ELPH series, an optical 3.8x wide range zoom lens (28-105mm equivalent), which employs Canon's UA lens technology that permits a longer zoom capability in a smaller amount of space.
The camera's large, 2.5-inch high resolution LCD screen has been enhanced to approximately 207,000 pixels with a bright, wide, easy to read viewing area and is set attractively into the Digital ELPH's rugged, stainless steel shell with its iconic perpetual curve design. In keeping with a decade of ELPH philosophy that proclaims, "great things come in small packages" this pocket-sized photo powerhouse measures just under an inch thick with lens retracted, 2.28 inches high and 3.52 inches long. The Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH carries an estimated selling price of $399.99*.
DCRP has posted their review of the Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH and they write - 'Image quality is very good overall, but not without its problems. On the positive side, I was pleased with both exposure and color accuracy. Noise levels are low through ISO 400, and sharpness was right about where I like it. The SD800 does have trouble with three photo quality issues, though: corner softness, purple fringing, and redeye. The first two are the tradeoffs for having a compact, wide-angle lens (and won't be noticeable when you actually print the photos), while the last one seems to come with the territory in the ultra-compact class.'
Trusted Reviews has posted their review of the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS and writes - 'The Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS combines every piece of cutting edge technology currently available in the digital camera market into one beautifully made high-performance package, and tops it off with superb image quality. It’s an expensive luxury gadget, but if you really want the best then you should expect to pay a little extra for it.'
Ken Rockwell reviews the Canon SD800 and writes - 'The Canon SD800 is the pocket camera to get. I'd have bought it the instant it was announced, except that I had bought the similar SD700 two months before the SD800 was announced. In other parts of the world, the SD800 is called the DIGITAL IXUS 850. The SD800 has great color, fast handling, image stabilization for use in dim light without a tripod and a wider lens than almost any pocket camera of which I know. The SD800's LCD monitor is the most accurate I have ever measured.'
DigiCam Review has reviewed the the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS where they recommend - "The Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS is an excellent ultra compact digital camera - image quality isn't perfect - but it is very good with great colour and detail. Throw in a wide angle lens to help you get more of your friends in the photo, and then add optical image stabilisation to help make sure your photos are sharp even in low light, and you end up with a cracking camera that you can take anywhere and use in almost every situation. The only aspect of the camera that might put you off is the price when compared to the competition. If you want a highly capable and pocketable digital camera with a wide-angle lens and optical image stabilisation then the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS is recommended! However, have a look at the Panasonic Lumix FX01, it offers almost identical specifications, but is nearly £90 cheaper."
Steves Digicams has written a review of the Canon Powershot SD800 IS Digital ELPH where they recommend - 'Our indoor shots were also nice. The flash has an average range of about 13 feet (at wide angle and using ISO Auto). While this unit is sufficient for close-up shots and small groups, do not expect it to illuminate large open rooms. If you need more power, look into a unit like the HF-DC1 external flash, which delivers proper illumination up to approximately 30 feet, at all zoom positions. I was able to capture nice portraits with good flash exposure and pleasing skin tones, from about 6 feet away using the telephoto end of the zoom range. The only issue I had was actually the same thing we found with the SD700. The Red-Eye reduction system doesn't work as well as a true red-eye reduction flash mode. There's no delay when using red eye reduction, as the SD800 uses the bright orange LED of the AF-assist lamp rather than a pre-flash to cause the subject's pupils to close-down. However, this can be fixed very quickly by taking only a minute or so in any image editor.'
DP Review has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS and gives it a Recommended rating, concluding, "what Canon gives with one hand - the wider lens, better screen and other tweaks - it takes away with the other (reduced image quality). But the SD800 IS still has all the qualities I loved so much in the SD700; it's fun, reliable, has image stabilization, is built and styled beautifully and it produces attractive, punchy results without the need for manual intervention. It's a perfect example of what a point and shoot camera should be, and I found myself using it socially a lot more than any of the other cameras I've currently got on test. How important the image quality issues are will depend how much time you spend looking at shots zoomed in to pixel level on-screen. If you don't intend to produce big enlargements and are simply after a truly pocketable camera with a versatile lens range and more than a dash of style, you'll love it."
Imaging Resource has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD800 IS and writes, "The Canon SD800 IS produced crisp prints at 11x14 inches, and somewhat softer but still acceptable ones at 13x19. As always though, the real test of print size came at the higher ISO settings. Here, the SD800's ISO 400 images held up reasonably well at 11x14, but were quite good at 8x10 inches. The highest size we recommend using is ISO 800, which also turned in usable 8x10 images; not bad for such a small camera. 5x7 and 4x6 shots at 800 are quite good, with very good color. ISO 1,600 images are only good at 4x6, an then only when held about two feet away.... Bottom line, low-ISO shots from the SD800 IS look excellent and hold together well at large print sizes."
Pocket-lint reviews the Canon IXUS 850 IS and writes, "Like all digital cameras with far to many pixels for the size of sensor in use, image noise and its reduction have contrived to reduce the absolute image making capabilities of this camera. In the final analysis, the 850IS has a much-improved lens and superb build; overall, image quality at lower ISOs is good and while there is no real manual control over apertures and shutter speeds, the camera’s metering and exposure control works well. ... in the end, the Canon IXUS 850IS is reduced from a great looking, well made star performer to a great looking, well made average snapper."
Digital Lifestyles has a review of the Canon Ixus 850IS and writes, "The image quality may fall slightly behind the class leaders and the lack of manual controls will frustrate advanced users, but for point’n’shooters looking for an everyday camera, the Ixus 850 could be a camera to consider. It’s a bit of a pricey number though at around £250, and the lack of durability might be of concern to those who don’t like to mollycoddle their cameras in cases all the time, but the spec sheet does make a compelling read."
See prices on the Canon Powershot SD800 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD800 at Amazon.
Posted by Darren in our Canon category on September 14, 2006