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 let's find out if it can deliver the goods, starting as ever with the headline specification:
Although the SD 800 IS (above left) isn't strictly speaking a direct replacement for the SD 700 IS (the older model is still listed as current by Canon, and offers a different zoom range), it is an updated version of that camera. The differences are small, but in the most part fairly significant:
| Street price | • US: $390 • UK: £260 |
|---|---|
| Naming | • US name: Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH |
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5 " Type CCD |
| Image sizes | • 3072 x 2304 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps |
| File formats | • JPEG Exif 2.2 • DCF • DPOF • AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural |
| Lens | • 28-105mm (35mm equiv) |
| Image stabilization | Yes (lens shift-type) |
| Conversion lenses | None |
| Digital zoom | up to 4x |
| Focus | TTL |
| AF area modes | • AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point) • 1-point AF (fixed center) |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | Closest 3cm |
| Metering | • Evaluative • Center-weighted average • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 |
| Exposure compensation | • +/- 2EV • in 1/3 stop increments |
| Shutter speed | 15-1/1600 sec |
| Aperture | F2.8-5.8 |
| Modes | • Auto • Manual • Digital Macro • Color Accent • Color Swap • Stitch Assist • Movie • Special Scene |
| Scene modes | • Portrait • Night Snapshot • Kids & Pets • Indoor • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Fireworks • Aquarium • Underwater |
| White balance | • Auto |
| Self timer | • 2 or 10secs • Custom |
| Continuous shooting | approx 1.7fps until card is full |
| Image parameters | 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) |
| Flash | • Auto |
| Viewfinder | Real-image zoom optical viewfinder |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch P-Si TFT • 207,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out |
| Print compliance | • PictBridge • Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP printers only) |
| Storage | • SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible • 16 MB card supplied |
| Power | • Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-5L • Charger included • Optional AC adapter kit |
| Other features | • Optional High Power Flash HF-DC1 |
| Weight (No batt) | 150 g (5.3 oz) |
| Dimensions | 89.5 x 58 x 25.1 mm (3.5 x 2.3 x 1.0 inch) |
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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This article is Copyright 2006/2007 Simon Joinson / dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any 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
Canon PowerShot SD800 IS 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom | $89.95 |
Canon PowerShot SD800 IS 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom | $89.95 |
Canon PowerShot SD850 IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom | $325.00 |
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS 16.0 MP Digital Camera with 16x Optical Zoom and 720p HD Video (Red) | $179.00 |
Canon Powershot A3300 IS 16 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom (Red) | $108.00 |
Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom | $341.01 |
Canon PowerShot IXY D800 (SD700is) 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Image Stabilized Zoom (import) | $449.99 |
Canon PowerShot SX120IS 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Images Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD | $229.50 |
Canon Powershot A1000IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Grey) | $300.00 |
Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD | $168.99 |
Canon PowerShot A810 16.0 MP Digital Camera with 5x Digital Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Lens with 720p HD Video Recording (Silver) | $69.00 |
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