My first digital love was the Canon Digital Elph with two megapixels (2001). I still used that camera and sold photos I shot with it. Then it was stolen. I was forced to replace it. I chose the PowerShot SD990 IS, 14.7 megapixels, and it’s PERFECT. I really can’t think of any annoying problems or drawbacks. I love it for shooting videos. I use Canon software, which I love, and transfer some videos to my mp3 player. I find I use the camera a lot because I got a good little case for it. It goes into my purse with no worries. The battery life is excellent. Recharging is fast. You always need to upgrade the memory card with any new camera, since they rarely come with one large enough. If anyone wants my beloved SD990IS, they will have to fight me for it! BTW, I chose the silver case.
Copyright (c) 2009 Richard Walker
When buying a digital camera, you have either a choice to get a solid camera performer or a versatile shooter that can do many tricks, but still take good pictures. Here are two wonderful cameras that may suit one of your preferences and your budget as well.
Canon PowerShot SD880 IS
The Canon PowerShot SD880 IS is a slightly high-end camera that is priced around $250, which is not bad for a 10-megapixel shooter that has splendid photo quality. In fact, the sleek design and the photo quality alone is what makes this camera winner.
Features and Components
The excellent image quality is backed by the new DIGIC 4 Image Processor - the successor of the DIGIC III Image Processor found in the lower-end cameras. This is a combination of technologies that improve Face Detection, adds Servo AF, better corrects contrast, and captures enhanced photos. There is some noticeable fringing when photos are taken, but the new image processor makes the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS a powerful Canon PowerShot S3IS 6MP Camera point and shoot camera even on automatic modes.
Advanced users will like the different shooting modes to capture all sorts of subjects and the 4x optical zoom can allow great high-resolution shots that don't look very pixilated. Like other Canon Cameras, the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS has the same Print/Share button that allows easy printing or sharing of photos.
Bottom Line
The Canon PowerShot SD880 may not have the best button placement for some, but it is a top performer in the point and shoot category.
Samsung i8
The Samsung i8 is a cheaper alternative that easily captivates in look. But it sacrifices a bit of the camera quality in exchange for adding fun features that a selected bunch will enjoy.
Features and Components
On the camera side, the Samsung i8 can take photos up to 8 megapixels. It has a decent image processor that can bump up the image clarity a bit and has some functions that can automatically correct the exposure or contrast balance. It also has 5 levels of sharpness, contrast, saturation for photo enthusiasts to get the perfect picture. The zoom function isn't very impressive, but the other features like Digital Image Stabilization and Face Detection should allow for some pretty impressive shots.
The Samsung i8 is able to play MP3s and supports SRS Wow HD and surround sound modes. Headphones can be plugged into the camera and the neat multitasking feature allows you to take pictures or view slideshows while jamming to the music. The only drawback to this is that it drains the battery much quicker.
Fortunately, the Samsung i8 doubles as a portable multimedia player as well and can play full-length movies as long as it fits in the card. It is also capable of reading certain text formats and comes with a World Tour Guide Information feature that provides useful information on destinations.
Bottom Line
Nothing really excels in the Samsung i8, but the combination of different features and exceptional camera functions make this multi-purpose device worth the $180.
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I have a Canon PowerShot S3IS and accidentally Canon PowerShot S3IS 6MP Camera hit the format button and erased everything, can I retrieve it?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I used this camera for a year before giving it away and replacing it with a Nikon D40. I have some good things to say about it, but it has some very serious problems.
First, the good:
* Fast startup time for a point-and-shoot.
* Long zoom lens. Not the sharpest nor the most distortion-free, but acceptable for its weight and price.
* EVF is useful when there is too much sunlight to use the screen.
* Lots of features.
* Movie mode is quite respectable.
* Manual focus is dreadful, but at least they tried.
* With an optional adapter it can take filters–I use a polariser quite frequently around the water and while hiking. The filter+adapter go on and off much faster than the braindead threaded filter design found on SLRs.
I’ve only found one really bad habit, but I regard it as a showstopper: As with all point-and-shoots, it becomes almost useless above ISO 200–even at ISO 80 you will notice grainy noise. But the ISO button is positioned about where your nose goes, and you will probably also hit it with your thumb. I’ve lost many really good shots by accidentally hitting the ISO button and not noticing that I’d bumped it up too high.
I’d also think that with such a huge zoom range they could have worked in the ability to shoot at wider angle and taken a little off the long end. But no–its wide end is no wider than is standard for a point-and-shoot.
I bought this camera a couple of years ago when I decided to upgrade from my 3.2 MP fuji. I debated between this one and the then brand new S5. Eventually, price factors won and I bought the slightly older, yet much cheaper model – the S3. The camera is great. I do not like simple point and shoot cams and the proffesional cameras are way out of my leage, so this is a great place in the middle.
The 12X zoom is amazing. I very rarely use the digital zoom, but on occasions were I have, the pictures came out very well. I love the functions that the camera has and the control that is given to the user over the different options of the picture taking (shutter speed, WB, format…). The special functions are also amazing. I especially like the panarama option and the color swap function.
As for video, I was very suprised at the high quality video that you can take with the camera. They play full screen on my 22″ screen and look amazing.
All in all, this is a great camera for someone who likes to feel the camera in their hand and control the picture.
I have owned this camera for almost 3 yrs now… i researched and researched when i bought it and i got it on sale just shy of $[...]. I LOVED it for the first year or so… LOVE the display screen, the way it flips around and you can hold it way above your head to take great zoom shots at concerts or even pics of yourself. LOVE that it has a eyehole viewfinder for those bright days that you cant see the screen all that well. Love the feel of the camera in general and all of its cool extra features — but, that lens cap is a piece of crap! I tried and tried to get a new one, but none of them fit this camera… then i purchased a few extra lenses and the extention to put them on the camera… the lens cap problem was solved then! BUT, you have to KEEP the extention and extra lenses on it all the time if you want the protection! UGH! Then it’s a pain to carry around! OH, and not to mention… that extention doesnt work so well if you are using the flash! The flash on the camera doesnt pop up tall enough to clear the extention!!! AND – you can not add a Hot SHoe to this camera to solve that problem… about 2 months after i bought this one, a friend of mine showed up with the S5 i think and hers had a Hot Shoe adapter! UGH (after 6 months of research, the one thing that i wanted that i finally gave up on, came out about a month after my purchase!!!) So, with out the hot shoe flash, you wind up with a shadow “ring around” your pic – which looks cool in some pics — but sometimes you really want the whole shot!
I have virtually quit using this camera now – b/c i am so frustrated with carrying it around in a professional’s sized bag – since i have to keep the extention on it… I bought a tiny poliroid camera that has most of the same features… but they are just a little harder to use — the thing i love about my polaroid that this camera doesnt have is that you can actually crop a pic right after you take it! So now I am looking for a replacement camera for this cannon… i want to be able to add a lens when i want – but i Dont want to have to keep it on there all the time just to protect the lens b/c i cant buy a new lens cap…
Long story short… try one of the newer versions of this camera if you are really intrested in this one!! Hopefully they have fixed that crappy cap! AND… there is NO WAY I would pay $[...] + for this camera today! THere are way too many other choices out there now!!!
This camera was a Christmas present. For three years & across 7 national parks, I have tried to use it. But the low-resolution viewfinder and underpowered LCD backlight make it just about impossible. If youre under a tree or its gloomy, its ok. If its gorgeous and sunny, youre literally shooting blind. Too bad since image quality is good — but with useless LCD and viewfinder, this camera is a huge disappointment. And its a small thing but the lense cover is constantly falling off. Should have been a great camera — but fatally flawed.
I start off by saying that I know that some of those cameras have lens problems, so if you got a lemon one, sorry. Otherwise a very useful camera. The biggest things for me is of course a 12x zoom. I had this camera for about 3 years now, and this zoom let me take amazing pictures. I travel a lot, so 12x zoom helps to take far away pictures, for example out in nature, zoos, beach, parks like Disney World/Land, where it is not an option to be closer to an object. Also the micro focus works very well. You can see my pictures at platonm(dot)com. The 6MP is not really anything to brag about, but 3 years ago, especially for the price I paid ($298.26) it was a good choice. Do not be discouraged by the fact that it needs 4AA batteries. It threw me off at first, but then looking at other options, that combined mega-zoom and low price, there was nothing else. I bought Sony BCG-34HE4 Super-Quick Worldwide Battery Charger with 4 AA NiMH Batteries for $22.95, and those work forever between charges. I can take about 300-500 pictures on one charge, even 3 years later! Including using a flash!
As all Canons it is simple and easy to use, and since it is higher-end PowerShot it has extra features, like manual/micro focus. The lens focuses nice and fast. I sometime have problems with focus on higher zoom when it cannot focus because it cannot make out depth of an object, but that’s like any other camera. It is durable. I take very good care of it, but still, nothing ever broke for me.
I just returned (last night) from a 12 day MIT alumni safari trip in Tanzania. I’ve been a serious amateur photographer for 50+ years, and had planned to take my Rebel xsi and two zoom lenses. I bought the sx1 3 months ago to evaluate it, and after many hours of using it, shooting test shots vs. the xsi, and traveling with it, I decided to take only the sx1 to Tanzania. Four people in our group had quality DSLRs and big lenses; one had an HD DVR. I am VERY happy that I chose to take the sx1. I got many more very good stills and HD videos than any one else. The DSLR people did get some exceptional stills that are better than anything the sx1 could do, but I knew that would be the case. My sx1 was always with me, always a second or two away from taking a quick shot, and even mixing stills and HD video simultaneously. I love that you can zoom while shooting video. I used Energizer “ultimate lithium” non-rechargeable AA batteries. I got 800 stills and 45 minutes of video on the first set before the “low battery” warning.
For me, reviews that point out that the sx1 image quality is not quite as good as a DSLR+lens that are 4x bigger and heavier are not helpful. It is true, and should be obvious. The big lenses are also better in dim light. In good light and mid-distance scenes, I can’t tell the difference in 8×10 images from my best DSLR and my pocket Canon SD970.
I had a choice of taking the sx1 on safari, with a total weight of 1.47 pounds including batteries, or the xsi plus a canon 17-85 and a sigma 50-500 zoom, total weight 7.05 pounds without cases and charger. The sx1 was more than worth the image quality tradeoff, and the ability to shoot HD video was a real bonus. I’m fairly new to video, but using PowerDirector I’m integrating stills and video, all 1080 HD quality, into a really attractive presentation.
I found that the Tamrac 5230 case was best for the sx1 on safari. I wore it on my belt, with the top unzipped (it has velcro and snap closures as well as the zipper). I put the spare batteries, lens cleaner, etc. in a big zip-lock bag and folded that in the bottom of the Tamrac, under the camera. The Tamrac would fit into the zip-lock bag in a downpour. I got an adapter (LensMate, I think), and kept a 58mm skylight filter on the lens, with no lens cap. I could wipe the filter clean quickly without worrying about scratching the lens. I kept a tiny tripod in the outer pouch of the Tamrac, and I was ready for anything.
If you are considering a camera in this size and price range, and you want the 20x zoom and HD video, you will love the sx1.
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