Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

This is the pocket point & shoot I'd been looking for. Soldmy month-old SD700IS to get it, and never looked back. I've lived with the SD800IS now for 8 months and couldn't bemore satisfied. It's done everything I've asked it to do,from panoramas (great, easy-to-use Canon pano stitchingsoftware is included in the package) to macros. Evenlow-light and night photography from a tripod, and thephotos come out great. The image stabilization works great, and if really aphenomenal feature on a true pocket camera. Don't forget toturn it off when using a tripod or bracing against a solidobject. Being used to film and digital SLRs, I had to adjustmy shutter-button technique by learning to keep my thumb onthe bottom of the camera while pressing the shutter buttonto eliminate 'shutter button shake' from such a small andlight camera. Remember, this IS a pocket P&S, and I don't get the sameresults or have the same creative control of my Nikon D-70sor my Nikon D-200, but for a P&S, it's pretty dogging good.A lot of days, I don't want to lug my DSLR around, and justcarry my trusty SD800IS. By the way, you can carry filtersand hold them in front of the lens, and get really greatresults from that, too.I shoot in manual mode most of the time, so I can controlthe exposure parameters better. I also notice I have to runthe camera at 1/3 to 2/3 stopless exposure than the metercalls for, but I often shoot with clouds in the background,and they tend to 'blow out' if I trust the on-board meter. The color is great, and very natural, but I usually use thevivid setting and crank up the saturation for anythingthat's not portraits. The variety of settings is really waymore than I'll ever use (like color substitution), so ifthere's anything bad to say, it's that the camera has toomany color features. The onboard B&W conversion, however, isone of the best I've run across in a P&S. The small size is a blessing...I can carry it all day in myshirt pocket. It's slightly smaller than a pack ofcigarettes, so it's right there. The 'turn on' time is shortfor a pocket camera, and shutter lag is reasonable for thistype of camera.The two outstanding features (for me) are the wide-angle endof the zoom range, and the outstanding battery life. Howmany pictures do you really shoot with a pocket camerazoomed all the way out anyway?. You can usually use yourfoot zoom (walk a little closer), but there IS a limit tohow far you can back up. Great for indoors and group shots.I use mine to great advantage at industrial constructionsites. The barrel distortion is easily fixable in a lot of3rd party software and shareware. For me, a second battery is unnecessary. This past weekend,I took the camera out after no use for about a month, andit's like I just charged it. I can go a full weekendshooting and only have to change SD cards. The charger issmall with a self-contained plug, so it's convenient, too. It doesn't have the metal battery/memory door of theSD700IS, but it's not that vulnerable. I'm a klutz, and in 8months, I haven't broken it. Just be mindful not to be agorilla with it, and it's fine. I also love the viewfinder, especially for use outdoors inthe sunlight where an LCD is unreadable, and it zooms rightalong with the lens. Prints are sharp and clear, and occasionally I enlarge to11x17 with no problem. If I have to go bigger, there'ssoftware available to sharpen things up. With 7mp, it's gotenough resolution for some cropping, too, even when printingto 8 1/2x11. All in all, it's a great value, and I particularly recommendit for a travel camera. I'll probably buy an extra beforethey discontinue it, unless Canon replaces it with anotherpocket wide-angle zoom camera.

Expertise: Advanced amateur/part-time freelance pro

Problems Encountered: -Shutter lag time could be shorter, but it's not bad. Memorybuffer could be bigger to get to the next shot faster athigher resolutions.-The flash can 'burn out' faces up close - just tape a pieceof tissue paper or hold a piece of thin, white plastic (Iuse a cut piece of milk bottle) over the flash for a diffuser. -Bundled software has no provision for removing lensdistortion. Helicon Filter software is an inexpensivesolution if you don't have Photoshop (Lightroom has nodistortion removal tool as yet).

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Pentax S4i, Canon SD700IS

Items I Recommend: 2gb Sandisk memory, waterproof memory card holder, Canon underwater housing

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

To save you some time and not repeat what others are saying: I chose this camera as it uses sensor bigger than one used in SD1000 and 570 series. Bigger sensor means - less light is needed for equal quality photograph. After all other pieces of technology are applied, it's the size of sensor that determines the low light threshold. Point and shoot has always been my backup camera, where Canon 20D and 1D with big lenses can't go.It appears to me that colors are more natural than colors when Nikon and Kodak point and shoot cameras. I'm referring to AUTO mode, as that's what I needed this camera for. It's highly portable, supports 4GB SD cards, charger is 110/220V compatible out of the box.Camera has the viewfinder, if you need to save the battery life or want to preserve power for making of the picture rather than to waste it on the real time screen stuff.Screen is big enough, focus is faster than expected, overall a very nice camera. IS works great for a point and shoot. Face recognition is certainly helpful if you don't want to think much, but to simply take that picture without taking too much time to setup the shot.

Expertise: Advanced amateur

Problems Encountered: Not that it's a problem, but I always liked cameras / manufacturers that offer docking stations. It makes life so much easier. Battery/SD card compartment door is made of plastic, and that was the biggest drawback I've experienced so far. You have to be careful with the door, and I'm not sure how durable it will be after continuous use.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Kodak V550, Kodak V570, Kodak LS743, Nikon Coolpix P2, Coolpix 4600 in bigger world - Canon 10D, 20D, 1DMKII

Items I Recommend: Extra battery, silicon case

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

I really enjoy the options/features of this camera. My lastCanon was a SD450, and this is a big upgrade since it hasIS. That was one of the main reasons why i bough thiscamera. And it works!!!Reason for giving the camera a 4 for features is, i wish ithad more flexibility with aperture/shutter settings. I useto have a S70, I loved the fact i can adjust both in a smallcamera. I just wish Canon could make a smaller camera thanthe S-series that can adjust both in full manual. Design a gave a 4. I just wish that camera manufacturerswould give better color choices on there moreexpensive/better quality cameras. Its kind of a downer thatmost cameras are a silver/gray. I love having this camera, and so far the best accessoryfor this camera is a SD that folds into a USB connector.It's awesome, you don't need a card reader! I also have a spare battery, but almost dont need it. theone that came with the camera has lasted almost 4 monthswithout charging. LOVE the long battery life.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon A-1, Elan7e, A75, SD450, 30D, SD800IS

Items I Recommend: USB/SD card, silcone skin,

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

Great point & shoot digital camera I bought this camera totake travel photos because its so light weight and fits in my pocket. The small size, image stabilization, great night photos, ease of use, are just some of the features I love. This is the third Canon digital camera I've owned. I still use my Pro 1 for super Close up photos.I highly recommend this camera and B&H!

Problems Encountered: None

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon PowerShot Pro 1, Canon PowerShot A75

Items I Recommend: B&H Basic Kit for this camera

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

I got this camera for my wife (what a great trade) and I find myself getting a little jealous. I have borrowed it more than a few times and am really tempted to get one for myself.The main reason I chose the SD 800 is the wide angle lens. The 28mm equivalent wide angle comes in really handy but it doesn't come at the expense of the maximum zoom of 105mm equivalent found on other Canon SD models.The camera is super easy to use (since my wife is a bit of a technophobe). The features are amazing, especially the face sensing technology. I appreciate the thoughtful little touches that make life easier such as: automatically orienting the picture during playback, enlarging the highlighted picture when reviewing multiple pictures, compact charger with folding electrical plugs, and well placed, ergonomic controls. The camera starts up very quickly and has very little shutter lag compared to many digital point and shoots I have used.The screen is bright and very sharp, especially compared to my Canon S500 (still works great though). The camera is very compact which means it gets taken everywhere. The battery life is excellent. The camera is very stylish and the small size makes it very un-intimidating to your subjects. The camera is an excellent value, especially at $350.I find myself leaving my Nikon D200 at home more and more (Its certainly easier to carry). I only bring out the big guns when I really have to. I hate to say it, but I haven't touched my film cameras (Nikon N90s and F100) in a long while. If Canon keeps improving its products, my Nikon D200 might start getting jealous too!

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon S500, Canon SD500

Items I Recommend: SanDisk Ultra II + USB!!! No stupid adaptors to forget or lose!!!

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

I am not a pro photographer and I didn't buy this camera to do pro shooting. I bought it because I wanted a good quality picture from a trusted name. And that is exactly what I got.I do not know a lot a about picture technicalities, so all I will say is that the picture is a very good quality. Just as good as previous digital compacts I have owned. The IS is a fabulous feature, allowing me to leave the flash of in lower light. The wide angle is and absolute godsend for a camera of this size, yes there is a little barrel distortion but that is very easily corrected in post processing.Easy to use after playing with it for a while, with more than enough control. (If I wanted fully manual I would of brought one).Very happy and will be using this for a long time.

Problems Encountered: The only downfalls are the lack of a battery life indicator, flimsy battery/usb covers and the flash tends to wash out a bit. Not bad really.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: sony cybershot, canon 10d

Items I Recommend: extra battery

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

I really, really, really wanted this to be THE pocket digital. I had and used the Ricoh GR1s film camera for years as the pocket compliment to the heavy guns (biggest baddest Nikons & Canons). I hate to say it, but this camera was a REAL DISAPPOINTMENT. Why a disappointment? Two words: Image Quality. More accurately, lack of image quality. Just all around poor.I tested this against my wife's Canon sd200 which is over two years older and less than half the MP count at 3.x Here's how the OLD camera was better: sharper, definitely. Better with slow shutter speeds. Yes, I tried ALL the IS settings and I could get sharper results with hers than with the IS on. Actually, I got better results with it off [I thought IS on P&S was a joke till I bought the G7 and that is rock steady!]So, why buy a camera that has some nicer newer features when the images is not good ? Don't. Go for the sd700 or the like. There are some great new features, to be sure: ergonomics, startup and AF, movie mode greatly improved and some other stuff. But if it isn't sharp?? what's the point? If all you're looking to do is make 4x6 photos it should be fine. But if your'e willing to settle for second rate, buy the Panasonic, it's smaller, looks cooler in black, and costs way less. I've messed with a number of digital cameras and kind of know about pixels. I've owned??Canon 1Ds MkII, 1D MkII, 1Ds, 1D, 10D, Nikon D100 and shot with the 20D, 5D, , D2x, and more.Features is at 4 because though it has tons of cool 'features' sharp pictures should not be one missing. Value is there for the same reason. And Expectations For close to $400 I would expect it to beat a two year old camera that cost half as much -- but it didn't.

Problems Encountered: softness at corners (all to common with P&S zooms)??poor, really poor lens/sensor match -- photos are just not sharphorrible sharpness at max zoom [optical, not digital] I got sharper shots with the IS turned completely OFF when my wife's sd200 that's two years old out-performs the new sd800 at every point??it's a let down. I have to wonder if I got a lemon -- but my Canon Pro rep won't write back so I sold the thing as used and bought a Canon G7 [which BTW is an awesome machine. Only thing missing is RAW and a wide angle].

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon s60, Canon sd200, Canon s400, Nikon 880, Canon s70, Canon G7

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

After a lengthy and frustrating search for a wide-angle digital point-and-shoot, I settled on the SD800. For the first couple of weeks, I was carrying the SD800 as a fun gadget to have in the bag. Now, I find myself leaving the bag at home and just taking the gadget. This is the most fun I've had taking pictures since my first K-1000 over 20 yrs. ago.Canon got a lot of things right; the feel of the camera is solid and substantial, despite it's miniature dimensions. The two negatives in this area are a somewhat plasticy feeling shutter release button and a battery door that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Other than those nit-picks, the ergonomics are very good.The lens seems very clear at all focal lengths and apertures. I expected typical drop-off of quality at the edges when wide open, but the camera is incredibly sharp. I can't believe what my $400 got me.I shoot a lot of wide angle (prefer it for travel, street, and even most portraits) and have had a blast with Canons Panoramic stitch software that came with the camera (even had Mac version on the disc). I just finished a commercial project where the client required a 180 degree view of a showroom for marketing materials. For what I charge, it was a little embarrassing shooting with an elph, so I set up the Mamiya 645 equipment and used the elph for reference shots. The elph and Canon's software delivered incredible results and saved me a lot of time.Probably the best thing about the SD800 is ease of use. After an evening of tinkering around with the controls, I was able to shoot with confidence the following day (and I'm not the fastest learner when it comes to digital equipment). After a scan of the manual, and learning how to access all the features, the fun begins. My biggest hesitation about this camera was the lack of an aperture priority mode, which is the one I almost always use with my SLR equipment. However, with APO settings, exposure compensation, and Canon's IS, I'm getting so many good shots it's making me re-think my AE bias. Fun and good pictures are the bottom line with this camera, and I don't regret a thing. If I could change one thing about the camera? I wish Canon would take some styling cues from Panasonic's Lumix series. No true camera snob would admit to picking a camera for its looks, but lets just say that a matt black finish would make this camera unstoppable. Give me a matt black finish, and get the wide angle to 22 and I'll buy two more.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: A trio of 4 and 5 mp canon and sony products

Comments about Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital Camera:

Very good point and shoot which takes wonderful pictures. Better lens (for wide angle) and processor than the SD900 (which is just an upgraded SD700 with a 10X lens). Perhaps not as powerful as the G7 but capable enough for most prosumer tasks and easier to carry around as well.

Problems Encountered: Included memory is a bit small so you'll need to get more. The good news is that it supports the new larger SDHC format.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Not many. Equipment ranges from older Nikon 8008s (film) and D-200 to Sony F-717 and T-7 ultra compact

Items I Recommend: More memory