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Canon PowerShot SD800 IS

Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Canon SD800 IS Digital ELPH (IXUS 850 IS) Concise Review,January 2007, Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS (SD800 IS)The SD800 IS (IXUS 850 IS), announced just before Photokina 2006 back in September, is a sister model to the popular SD 700 IS (IXUS 800 IS), one of the better ultra compact models launched last year. As well as an extra million pixels or so, the new model has one very welcome new feature; a 28-105mm (equiv.) zoom lens, making it one of the few cameras in this sector of the market with true wideangle capabilities. Other changes include an ISO 1600 option, DIGIC III processor (complete with face detection focus mode) and a better screen. We liked the SD 700 IS a great deal, and on paper the SD 800 IS looks like another winner. So lets find out if it can deliver the goods, starting as ever with the headline specification:7.1 Megapixels and 3.8x zoomWide angle 28mm lens with Optical Image StabilizerDIGIC III with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AESafety Zoom for extra telephoto reachISO 1600High resolution 2.5" LCD17 shooting modes including VGA movies (30 fps) with soundRange of optional accessories including Underwater CaseKey differences compared to SD 700 IS Canon PowerShot SD800 IS

More pixels (7.4 vs 6.2)Different zoom range (28-105mm vs 35-140mm)DIGIC III processor (SD 700 IS is DIGIC II)Face detection AF/AEISO 1600 (SD 700 IS was ISO 800)SDHC card compatibilityImproved screen (higher res, wider viewing angle)User interface tweaksSafety zoom feature (intelligent digital zoom)New Aquarium Special Scene mode (finally!)SD800 IS / IXUS 850 IS specifications Street priceNamingBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsFile formatsLensImage stabilizationConversion lensesDigital zoomFocusAF area modesAF assist lampFocus distanceMeteringISO sensitivityExposure compensationShutter speedApertureModesScene modesWhite balanceSelf timerContinuous shootingImage parametersFlashViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPrint complianceStoragePowerOther featuresWeight (No batt)Dimensions

• US: $390• UK: £260

Metal and plastic

• JPEG Exif 2.2• DCF• DPOF• AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural

Yes (lens shift-type)

None

up to 4x

TTL

• AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point)• 1-point AF (fixed center)

Yes

Closest 3cm

• Evaluative• Center-weighted average• Spot

• Auto• ISO 80• ISO 100• ISO 200• ISO 400• ISO 800• ISO 1600

• +/- 2EV• in 1/3 stop increments

15-1/1600 sec

F2.8-5.8

• Auto• Manual • Digital Macro• Color Accent• Color Swap • Stitch Assist• Movie• Special Scene

• Portrait• Night Snapshot• Kids & Pets• Indoor• Foliage• Snow• Beach• Fireworks• Aquarium• Underwater

• 2 or 10secs• Custom

approx 1.7fps until card is full

My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)

Real-image zoom optical viewfinder

• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT• 207,000 pixels

• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed• AV out

• PictBridge• Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP printers only)

• SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible • 16 MB card supplied

• Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-5L• Charger included• Optional AC adapter kit

150 g (5.3 oz)

89.5 x 58 x 25.1 mm (3.5 x 2.3 x 1.0 inch)

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2006/2007Simon Joinson / dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced inany electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images)please contact: Phil Askey