Announced just before PMA 2006 in February, the 6 megapixel SD700 IS is the new flagship model in the long-running and very successful IXUS / Digital ELPH range. The SD 700 IS is the first Canon ultra-compact ever to feature optical image stabilization, and the first to sport a 4x zoom lens, though in most other respects it is very similar to the previous 'top of the range' SD550. Ostensibly a 'point and shoot' fully automatic model, the SD700 IS nevertheless has a fairly comprehensive feature set packed into its slim metal body. Let's start, as usual, with the headline features:

  • 6.0 million effective pixels
  • 4x (35-140mm equiv.) zoom
  • ISO 800 and optical IS for flash-free indoor shooting
  • Canon's DIGIC II image processor, iSAPS and 9-point AiAF
  • Wide viewing angle 2.5" LCD screen
  • 16 shooting modes
  • My Colors photo effects
  • Widescreen (16:9) stills recording
  • 30fps VGA movies

SD700 IS / IXUS 800 specifications

Street price • US: $440
• UK: £290
Naming

SD 700 IS Digital ELPH (US)
Digital IXUS 800 IS (EU)

Body Material Metal and plastic
Sensor

• 1/2.5 " Type CCD
• 6.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes

• 2816 x 2112
• 2816 x 1584
• 2272 x 1704
• 1600 x 1200
• 640 x 480
Movie clips

• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps
• 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30 / 15fps
• 160 x 120 @ 15fps
• AVI (Motion JPEG compression)
• WAVE audio
File formats • Still: JPEG (Exif 2.2)
• Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG compression)
Lens

• 35-140mm equiv
• F2.8-5.5
• 4x Optical zoom
Image stabilization Yes (lens shift-type)
Conversion lenses None
Digital zoom up to 4x
Focus • TTL
• 9-point AiAF
• 1-point AF (Fixed center)
AF area modes • Normal
• Macro
• Infinity
AF assist lamp Yes
Focus distance • Normal: 1.5 ft./45cm-infinity
• Macro: 0.79 in.-2.0 ft./2-60cm (WIDE), 1.3-2.0 ft./40-60cm (TELE)
• Digital Macro: 0.79 in.-2.0 ft./2-60cm (WIDE)
Metering • Evaluative
• Center-weighted average
• Spot
ISO sensitivity • Auto
• High ISO Auto
• ISO 80
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• ISO 800
Exposure compensation • +/- 2EV
• in 1/3 stop increments
Shuttter speed 15-1/1600 sec
Aperture F2.8-5.5
Modes • Auto
• Manual
• Digital Macro
• Portrait
• Night Snapshot
• Special Scene
• Stitch Assist
• Movie
Scene modes • Foliage
• Snow
• Beach
• Fireworks
• Underwater
• Indoor
• Kids & Pets
• Color Accent
• Color Swap
White balance

• Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Tungsten
• Fluorescent
• Fluorescent H
• Custom
Self timer • 2 or 10secs
• Custom
Continuous shooting approx. 2.1fps until card is full
Image parameters • My Colors (Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive film, Lighter skin tone, Darker skin tone, Vivid blue, Vivid red, Custom color)
• Saturation: 5 levels
• Contrast: 5 levels
• Sharpness: 5 levels
• Red, Green, Blue, Skintone: 5 levels each
Flash • Auto
• Manual Flash On / Off
• Slow synch
• Red eye reduction
• Flash exposure lock
• Range: 50cm-3.5m (wide) / 2.0m (tele)
Viewfinder Real-image zoom optical viewfinder
LCD monitor • 2.5-inch P-Si TFT
• 173,000 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 / MMC compatible
• 16MB card supplied
Power • Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery NB-5L
• Optional AC adapter
Other features

• Optional High Power Flash HF-DC
• Optional Waterproof Case (WP-DC5)

Weight (No batt) 165 g / 5.8 oz (approx 192g / 6.7 oz with case and battery)
Dimensions 90.4 x 56.5 x 26.4 mm (3.56 x 2.22 x 1.04 in)