Canon SD800 IS Digital ELPH (IXUS 850 IS) Concise Review

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:

• 7.1 Megapixels and 3.8x zoom
• Wide angle 28mm lens with Optical Image Stabilizer
• DIGIC III with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AE
• Safety Zoom for extra telephoto reach
• ISO 1600
• High resolution 2.5" LCD
• 17 shooting modes including VGA movies (30 fps) with sound
• Range of optional accessories including Underwater Case

Key differences compared to SD 700 IS

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:

• 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/AE
• ISO 1600 (SD 700 IS was ISO 800)
• SDHC card compatibility
• Improved screen (higher res, wider viewing angle)
• User interface tweaks
• Safety zoom feature (intelligent digital zoom)
• New Aquarium Special Scene mode (finally!)

SD800 IS / IXUS 850 IS specifications