Canon SD1100 IS Digital ELPH (IXUS 80 IS) Concise Review
Review based on a production Canon SD1100 IS Digital ELPH (IXUS 80 IS)
The Canon Powershot SD1100 IS (IXUS 80 IS in Europe) is as fresh off the Canon engineers' drawing boards as it can get. It was announced only a few weeks ago for the PMA trade show in Las Vegas and already has made its way into the basement vault which accommodates the dpreview labs.
The camera comes as a replacement for the SD1000 (IXUS 70). The key features of this ultra compact aren't anything to write home about but the SD1100 promises to be another solid point and shoot tool coming out of the Canon stables. It combines an 8MP sensor with a 3x zoom (38-114mm equiv, optically stabilized) and lets you view images and menus on a high resolution 2.5 inch screen.
Although the spec sheet might not look overly impressive we should mention that there are a few new functions which Canon introduced with the latest additions to its line of compact cameras. Face Detection now also optimizes White Balance for the face detection frame and the new AF Point Zoom allows the user to check the focus by magnifying the AF frame when the shutter button is pressed half way.
Are these neat new little features enough to make the SD1100 stand out from the crowd? Let's find out in our review, starting, as ever, with the headline features:
- 8.0 million effective pixels
- 3x (38-114mm equiv.) zoom
- ISO 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- Canon's DIGIC III image processor, iSAPS, 9-point AiAF
- Face Detection (including white balance)
- Wide viewing angle 2.5" LCD screen (230,000 pixels)
- Canon's new motion detection technology (to avoid image blur)
- AF point zoom
- 30fps VGA movies with time lapse mode
SD1100 IS / IXUS 80 IS specifications
| Street price | • US: $250 • UK: £210 |
|---|---|
| Naming | SD 1100 IS Digital ELPH (US) |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5 " Type CCD |
| Image sizes | (L) 3264 x 2448, (M1) 2592 x 1944, (M2) 2048 x 1536, (M3, Date Stamp) 1600 x 1200, (S) 640 x 480, (W) 3264 x 1832. Resize in playback (M3, S, 320 x 240) |
| Movie clips | • (L)640 x 480, 30fps/60fps |
| File formats | • JPEG (EXIF 2.2) • AVI [Motion JPEG compression + WAVE (monaural)] |
| Lens | • 3x optical zoom |
| Image stabilization | Yes (lens shift-type) |
| Conversion lenses | No |
| Digital zoom | up to 4x |
| Focus | TTL autofocus |
| AF area mode | • AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point) • 1-point AF (fixed to center or Face Select and Track) |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | • Normal: 12 in./30cm-infinity • Macro: 1.2 in.-1.6 ft./3-50cm (W), 1.2 in.-1.6 ft./3-50cm (T) • Digital Macro: 1.2-3.9 in./3-10cm (W) |
| Metering | • Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame) • Center-weighted average • Spot (center) |
| ISO sensitivity | • AUTO |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments |
| Exposure bracketing | No |
| Shutter speed | • 1/60 - 1/1500 sec (factory default) • 15 - 1/1500 sec (total range - varies by shooting mode) |
| Aperture | F2.8 - 4.9 |
| Modes | • Auto • Manual • Digital Macro • Portrait • Night Snapshot • Color Accent • Color Swap • Stitch Assist • Movie |
| Scene modes | • Kids & Pets • Indoor • Sunset • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Fireworks • Aquarium • Underwater |
| White balance | • Auto (including Face Detection WB) |
| Self timer | 2 or 10 sec, custom |
| Continuous shooting | Approx. 1.3 fps (Large/Fine) |
| Image parameters | My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color) |
| Flash | • Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow sync, Red-Eye Reduction • Face Detection flash exposure compensation • Flash exposure lock • Range: 30cm - 3.5m (w), 2.0m (t) |
| Viewfinder | Real-image zoom optical viewfinder |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch TFT • 230,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out |
| Print compliance | • Pictbridge • DPOF v.1.1 • EXIF Print |
| Storage | • SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus. • 32MB memory card supplied |
| Power | • NB-4L Li-ion battery • Charger included • Optional AC adapter |
| Optional accessories | • Waterproof Case WP-DC22 • High-Power Flash HF-DC1 |
| Weight (No batt) | 125 g (4.4 oz) |
| Dimensions | 86.8 x 54.8 x 22.0 mm (3.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 in) |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).
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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. |
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