Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Black)
002 4 My last digital camera was a 3.1 MP Kodak EasyShare DX6340 - - a nice little point and shoot in its day , but that was seven years ago ! Though it still works like a champ , I decided it was time to upgrade to something a little more compact that also offered better picture quality * and * HD video . I spent over a month shopping around , looking at Canon , Panasonic , and Sony models , and toyed with the idea of sacrificing small size ( and HD video ) to go with the new Canon G11 . Finally , I settled on the new SD940 IS as a reasonable compromise between size , features , and picture quality . I'm very happy I bought this thing - - so far it has really impressed me !
This thing is TINY - - it's about the same size and weight as my old Motorola RAZR cell phone ( when folded closed ) . Still , it feels quite solid . Despite the compact size , it delivers amazing performance . It boots up quickly , menus are snappy , and shot-to-shot delay is minimal . Picture quality is very good - - nothing extraordinary , but nothing to sneeze at either . I shot a number of test photos over the past couple days and I'm quite pleased . Macro mode shots are amazingly crisp and detailed . Outdoors in medium sun , I did notice some tell-tale purple fringing around high contrast areas ( the dark green leaves of a tree against a white cloud had a discernible purple halo around them when I zoomed in on the image ) . I don't know that other P & S cameras of this size will necessarily do any better with the purple fringing , but I didn't find it to be too bothersome . On my monitor colors looked quite natural , not overly-saturated nor washed out . I tried some of the manual ISO settings and below 400 I didn't notice any grain or problematic fuzziness . Obviously , you can't expect SLR quality with a P & S , but I'm very happy with the pictures this thing turns out .
The aspect that really sold me on this camera is the HD video . Of course , I mostly wanted this to take stills , but I wanted the flexibility to switch to video when the moment calls for it . For such a tiny camera , the HD video quality is stunning ! Very fluid motion , sharp picture , and remarkably clear audio ! The video is best in brightly-lit situations of course , but it does quite well in low light too if you don't mind a little grain in the image . You can choose between several memory-saving standard-def settings and high-def ( which switches to widescreen format automatically ) . While the optical zoom cannot be used in video mode , you CAN use the digital zoom up to 4x while recording - - a nice little bonus . The video files produced are . MOV files which I was able to import into iMovie on my Mac with complete ease ( and very quickly too ! ) .
The control buttons are indeed small and flat , but I have had no trouble managing them ( it helps if your fingernails are not trimmed too short ) . People with larger hands or very short fingernails might have a little more difficulty . I'm still getting used to menu navigation on this , but it seems fairly intuitive . I spent ten minutes reading through the getting started guide that comes with it , and that was helpful in outlining the basic features , but there are a lot more that the guide doesn't cover . This * does * use a proprietary battery , but the charger is fortunately very compact and charges the battery to capacity in 90 minutes . It doesn't bother me that the battery has to be taken out of the camera for charging . So far , after two days , I have not depleted the battery , so I can't comment yet on how long battery life is , but mine has already lasted through several hours of use and is still going strong .
This may not be the most versatile camera on the market - - full manual controls are limited - - but for a simple-to-use , high-quality P & S camera with crisp pictures and HD video , I think it would be hard to beat the SD940 IS . It is extremely small and lightweight and does all that most casual users could want . It may be a bit pricey compared to some others , but it's worth every penny . By the way , if you plan to use the HD video feature , be sure to get a Class 6 or higher SD memory card for best results . ( Lower-rated cards may not be fast enough to capture the stream of information being written to the card ) . Don't skimp on the card - - cheap off-brands are not always reliable and may soon die , taking your irreplaceable photos and videos with them . I got a few SanDisk Extreme III 8GB Class 6 cards to go with this and they work great !
Highly recommended !
003 4 Please do not be scared away from this camera because of the idiotic 1 star review over battery charging preferences . This is an amazing camera that takes terrific quality photos . The auto mode is fantastic . Just literally take out of the box and start to point & shoot and pictures are clear , lighting perfect , etc . The IS function is great . This was lacking in my 750 ( which I loved - but had to replace when I lost it ) . Also added HD video which is a nice touch . My videos are super clear and the sound is quite good as well . Setting it to Manual mode is quite fun and can really enhance pictures , especially low light and outdoor photos . The ISO settings aren't nearly as good as my now ancient Fuji F10 but just ok . However , this camera makes up for it with its incredible auto mode , lightweight feel and crisp clear photos . If you are looking for SLR quality then go buy one of those . If you are looking for a very portable camera that you can take with you everywhere and makes new meaning to the saying ' point-and-shoot ' , then this camera is for you . Don't miss any shots while trying to find the perfect settings . Set it to Auto and go ! This camera will not disappoint .
PS . I have this one in the blue color . Be careful it scratches easily . Get a protective sleeve if you are concerned about that kind of thing . I however am more concerned with the quality of my photos . ; )
005 4 Having finally decided that it was time to replace my reliable old Canon Powershot A95 , I went ahead and bought this brand-new model , based on the fact that I'm already familiar with Canon products and I've liked what I've seen . The new camera definitely delivers , and I'm happy I chose this over a super-zoom model that wasn't anywhere near as compact .
Pros : Much , much less shutter lag than my five-year old model ( not surprisingly ! ) , very quick start-up and equally quick focus , sharp and clear photos , accurate color , and remarkably compact considering all the features - - fits easily into a pocket . The wide-angle is a bonus , although I haven't had a chance to play with it much yet . The software that comes with the camera is the updated version of the older software I had , and is easy to learn and use .
Cons : yes , the battery has to be removed to be charged , but this is a very minor inconvenience and is no different than previous models . However , scrolling through the menus to get to the various settings is a bit of a time-consuming drawback , mostly because I was used to being able to select modes directly from a scroll wheel on the older model .
007 4 I have had many Canon cameras over the years , so I expected a lot from this camera . Prior to this one I had a SD880IS which was larger but had a really good design with a larger LCD and raised controls ( not flush like this one ) .
More about the camera . . . . .
The main thing I don't like about the camera is that with the auto mode I got some blurry shots . That was indoor on auto with flash off while subject is not completely still .
I had much better luck in program mode . I think for what I was trying to do the kids and pets scene mode would have worked better .
I always take shots with the flash off because I want natural lighting so maybe I'm just expecting too much of the camera .
What I do like :
- Black color , very nice looking
- VERY portable . With the leather case I could keep it with me all the time . The leather case has a belt loop and fits the camera very well .
- HD movie mode , although it can get jumpy if you are indoors and moving around , so the camera needs to be very steady ( using both hands helps a lot ) .
The menus are OK but I'd like access to ISO via a dedicated button rather than through the menus .
So , I am selling mine at a very low price . The other reviews , IMO , are accurate - - I am probably just expecting too much from this camera's auto mode .
Update :
I sold the camera today ( 1 - 11 - 2010 ) . The camera I bought to replace it is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 . It produces much better pictures in Auto mode , produces consistently good pictures in other modes , has better HD video that is much more stable , and many other things that I prefer ( including 12x optical zoom ) .
Note , however , that it lacks one major advantage that the Canon SD940IS has - - the incredibly small size . It was a hard decision to sell the SD940IS because with its small size and the excellent belt case available that fits it perfectly , I could have it with me wherever I went and I would hardly notice it on my belt . For a lot of people that will be the deciding advantage , so it's a matter of priorities .
In the end , I decided that it was too confusing for me to have two cameras . I have found that every camera has its learning curve , and that to take good pictures with many cameras one must take the time to experiment with the various settings . The Panasonic is much more forgiving and produces better point-and-shoot pictures with less experience . I suspect that the Canon SD940 can also provide good results but that to obtain them I would have had to spend more time learning how to use the manual settings .
I will still keep my eye on the Canon Elph cameras and predict that I will come back to them at some point in the future . For now though the Panasonic meets my needs better - - your mileage may vary .
Update 4 - 2 - 2010
I bought the successor to this camera , the SD1400IS , and like it much better . It seems like it sometimes takes Canon a few iterations of a form factor before they get it right ( in my opinion ) . The pictures are clearer , and the video much more smooth on the SD1400IS . I wrote a review of that camera and suggest people skip the SD940IS and consider the SD1400IS instead .
011 4 Battery life is 300 pictures ( with flash on = just after chargeing battery ) . . . I have the canon sd 1200 and the start up time is the same 1.5 secs , the shot to shot times on both are less than 2 secs , with the flash on 3 to 4 secs avg and a full flash for both cameras is up to 6 secs .
The black color has a better grip than the other colors . You will need to buy a high speed 4 or 8 gig sd card , you could get by with a 2 gig card , none comes with the camera . When you can , get a spare battery also ( NB - 4L BATTERY ) . It seems to me that ( 100 iso ) is a little sharper in fine detail than ( 200 iso ) useing program mode , thats just me tho , but just try to use 80 to 250 iso for the best picture . Good image image quality for this size camera useing lower iso's , a very compact camera ( a tad thiner than the canon SD 1200 , the 28mm wide lens with 4x optical zoom is a nice feature on this small camera , and the 2.7inch lcd sceen is also very nice and sharp . The SD940 has 720p HD in the movie mode some will like that , I do not use it anough to comment on how it works , sorry .
The battery door cover like the canon sd 1200 is very weak . The black color has a better grip ( texture ) to it than the other colors if that is important to you , it is not as slipery ,
The sd 940 will not take pictures like a canon ( G 11 ) or a ( S 90 ) but I like the pictures I get from this unit , even in very low light at 800 iso . ( 12 / 26 / 2009 ) > I tryed the positive film setting in my colors xmass day and it's not to bad , ( see my uploaded pictures ) and see what you think ? ?
017 4 I researched forever after my canon sd450 died . As a DSLR user , I was not looking for a camera to take award winning shots . Instead , I wanted ( in this order ) :
1 ) Super Ultra Compact
2 ) HD Video
3 ) Decent picture quality for 4x6 and 5x7 prints
I feel that this camera fits all of these needs perfectly . It is TINY . I agonized between this model and the sd780 . The sd780is is apparently even thinner than this one and includes HD-movie-mode but I ultimately decided to pick the 940is because of its better optical zoom and the wider angle . I believe they are both about the same dimensions except for depth . I can't imagine it being any thinner though so don't let that make your decision .
The picture quality goes from great to decent depending on lighting .
You will love this camera if you are looking for ultimate portability !
018 4 I was looking to replace my Cannon SD800 ( I absolutely LOVE - I think it's the best pocket camera ever made ) which had recently met with an unfortunate accident . The SD940 ended up being the best option to replace my previous camera ( which had a wide angle lens ) . Here's why :
I first purchased the Canon SD980 because it is the newest Canon pocket camera with a wide angle lens and it offers a 5X zoom . However , I had to return it as the photo quality turned out to be a BIG disappointment . The SD980 has some serious issues in Auto mode which cause it to produce blurry and / or grainy photos .
I returned the SD980 and purchased the SD940 . I am very pleased with the images produced by this model . The camera is TINY ! I like how small it is , but I would mention that the buttons might be small for someone with large hands . Camera easily fits in a back pocket . I am impressed with how well it takes photos in low light . Some graininess is to be expected , but I think it produces better images than most cameras in it's class . Also , I found the built in flash to have improved over former Canon models . The flash seems stronger and more effective .
The reason why I give this camera 4 stars and not 5 is that I think for the price , it should offer more features . It is very basic and doesn't offer any fun or fancy options like color / white balance controls , color swapping or photo effects ( which my SD800 did for the same price ) . I should also mention that I did have to return the first SD940 I purchased because I dropped it and it broke . So it is very fragile and needs to be well cared for . It lacks the durability that my SD800 had .
If you plan to use the camera exclusively on Auto mode or are willing to compromise and use P mode with limited controls ( basically ISO & flash ) , then this is a great camera for you ! Very basic , easy to use and takes great pictures compared to other cameras in it's class ( pocket / compact ) . The other BEST reason to choose this model is the WIDE ANGLE LENS . I will not buy a pocket camera without a wide angle lens . To me , it's of the highest importance . It allows me to take great shots of groups of people and also landscapes . Most of the time I am taking pictures of people or kids and it is soooooo much more effective to have the wide angle lens . I can get about 4 extra people in the same shot as I could with a regular 35mm equivalent lens .
The camera also offers HD video . I've used it in a pinch and was pleasantly surprised . However , my expectation was not high as I would never count on a pocket camera for any important video . I buy a camera for photos and a video camera for video . This assures me the best quality in each case .
019 4 This is my first pocket camera . I am very pleased with the size ( that is why the expensive price tag ) , I like the ease , the ability to turn off the sound , the less lag time , the quick response . I only have 2 batteries , will need to purchase more . I am currently getting about 2 hours per battery as it is in continual use with photos of cemetery headstones ( genealogy ) .
The camera was recently pruchased and the ease of use is great ! My favorite feature is the low light without flash . This is my reason for choosing this model . Thanks to previously read reviews .
Yes , I would purchase the camera again for this purpose .
030 4 Let me start by saying i've played with the SD780 , SD960 , and SD1200 extensively . Upon opening the box I was immediately impressed by the design of the camera . The camera is SO much better than what I imagined - what I mean is the body is MUCH nicer compared to the 780 and even better than the photos . Online it looks like a SD780 - but I think it is much better in the build , and the 2.7 screen IS that much larger . It has a solid sleek feel , very thin , but not CHEAP and not so thin or small i'll drop it . Overall I love this camera . Has all the excellent features of the newer Canon models we've come to love ! i think this camera is well the money .
Having said all that - the photos are mostly good , but not as consistent as I'd like them to be . This is trus of any of the newer cameras that I have played with , though . my other two concerns are the lens seems to make actual noise while focusing - i do not know if this is a defect or normal . Secondly , photos with the flash are interesting - a lot of edging do you call it ? I took a photo in daylight and flash kicked in but background looks like nighttime ( indoor ) . a little weird . Resolution is great ! Low light photos with flash are awesome and crisp . can't have a shaky hand with no flash . If you are a first time Canon user ( like I was a few months ago ) it takes a little time to get used to how to get clear shots , but then once you figure it out it's good . All in all - I think this is going to be one of Canon's best sellers . As far as comparison to the SD960 it very comparible in features and quality - but the design is very different . I miss the scroll feature of the SD960 , but it's easier to delete photos on this one . I did not own a SD780 , I just played with it in the store on several occasions , but I could never get used to it - so I think the SD940 is better in design and ease of use as far as navigation goes . not sure on picture QUALITY COMparison .
034 4 I owned Canon SD 790 before this , and loved it , but had to let it go . This one is obviously more smaller and sleeker . It is definitely better than SD 780 because of 4x zoom , bigger lens and display size , and i feel also a bit more sturdier . However , the picture quality though better than 780 is lesser than older 790
The menus are quite nice and usable , and camera is definitely more faster and responsive . It stays nicely in pocket , and good enough to take all types of shots . The video quality isnt bad at all , hdmi o / p is cool and I am wondering why I need my Sony handycam anymore .
040 4 I bought this Canon camera when my five-year-old Canon bit the dust . I would have had to pay $100 to fix it , so I decided to buy a new one . This one is like my beloved old Canon in so many ways . It's easy to operate , which is great for my husband and random people who I ask to take our picture . Plus , it's so light ; it's no stress for anyone to carry it around . I love to travel and take pictures of the scenery around me in the new places I'm visiting . While it's no SLR , this camera still takes gorgeous pictures that I blow up and hang up around my house . The quality it great for a point and shoot camera .
I read and re-read the reviews on this camera . I'm very happy with my selection and think it's another solid Canon product . I would definitely recommend it .
041 4 The SD940 has a lot going for it : Exc build , extremely compact , wide angle , fast lens , high visibility , sharp lcd and effective image stabilization . However , the pics lacked definition and sharpness as compared to those from other cameras in its class , such as the Fujifilm Finepix F70 , UNLESS the proper settings are used . I suggest that the camera be set to the Program Mode ( center position of the little slider on the upper right side ) , then press Function Select ( center button on the circle ) and choose the My Colors icon . Then press Function Set again and choose N ( Neutral ) . ( V for Vivid is another option for punchier scenery colors , but this setting over-emphasizes red tones in face shots . ) You will be surprised by the difference that the N setting makes compared to the default and Auto settings . Now you have a great , very small camera that takes sharp photos .
Hope this makes your picture taking more enjoyable .
055 4 I've been a loyal Canon SD user for many years . Previously had the SD400 ( until it got stolen ) and SD600 ( gave to my brother ) . Now after having the newer Canon SD940IS for a month , I feel this camera's sleek and compact style packs a lot of punch . The Black color is also stylish and a good change to the default Silver cameras I've had before .
The video quality on 720p HD is amazing and the photos are awesome to capture those special moments . I thought I would need a viewfinder on the SD940IS , but it wasn't necessary since I rarely used the viewfinder on my previous models . Battery life is fairly good , you'll probably get a good 4 - 5 hours if it is on constantly . I carry a spare just in case .
Only one knock is that there is no full manual mode like I had on my previous versions , but the HD video mode overshadows this feature .
Overall , I'm satisfied with this camera . Well worth the price and comfort !
084 4 Everyone that comes across my camera immediately thinks - wow , nice . . . That's great and everything , but it wouldn't mean anything if the quality of the images wasn't great . This camera takes fantastic pictures for a point and shoot . Ooh - and I love that I can shoot HD video with it as well . Get a 8GB minimum memory card .
I highly recommend it .
085 4 I looked at quite a lot of cameras and reviews before deciding to buy this one .
I was floored by this tiny camera's performance . This camera is fast ! The burst feature is impressive . Indoor pics are very nice , not the greatest , but I think it depends on lighting and technique . Action shots of kids outdoors turned out great . The video quality is very impressive , I was amazed at the sound . Very very satisfied with this purchase .
092 4 I love Canon . I think they make the easiest to use and most durable cameras .
I had a Canon Elph 200 for years . It still works , I just wanted the upgrade .
What an upgrade I got ! I love the wide angle lens and huge LCD screen .
098 4 I'm a Canon fan for life . I'm a diver and love to take photos underwater . I had a Canon Powershot A95 for over 7 years , replacing a broken one with a used one when they were discontinued , and then once that one broke I couldn't find another for a reasonable price . It took amazing pictures underwater and was very good to me . So I decided to upgrade to another Canon , seeing how they make cases for all their P & S cameras . I bought this camera along with the Canon DC-WP33 , its underwater case . I got it yesterday , and have been very pleased with the images . I'm no professional photographer , and stick with the underwater setting ( which I love , and Canon's is fantastic , although I wish I could adjust the white balance while in UW mode ) while diving . But topside I like simple , easy-to-use yet functional features , and this has loads , more than I'll ever use . I love the color selections , being able to shoot in sepia , black and white , and the the contrast settings are nice as well . I should also add that the built-in flash on this camera is pretty powerful for as small as it is . I'm looking forward to seeing how well it works at depth , without a strobe .
It is really small , smaller than my Palm Pre , but just a bit . It fits in the case that came with the Pre , for scale . That's what I'm using it for now . The controls take a little getting used to . I think for the person who wants a high-quality point and shoot that can literally fit in your pocket but takes great pics and HD video , this is the one for you .
I will come back and update this review after using the camera on my dive trip , for anyone else contemplating a purchase for similar reasons .
100 4 I got this camera just a few weeks ago and I shot a few movies in 720p and a few hundred pictures . It's the third Canon SD camera I have so I am quite used with the series . The first one died after almost 6 years , the second is still in use after 3 years .
The camera looks small even if it's the same size as the other 2 - it's because the rounded corners . The buttons are OK , the menu has a huge selection of modes , but not a manual one , the image quality is very good for a camera with lenses and sensor that small .
Recording video is easy and the quality is good , but there are 2 serious problems : 1 . the length is limited not to the space on the card but to some limits Canon imposed with no evident logic behind it and 2 . the video is recorded as H264 ( great ) in a . MOV container ( very bad ) . Editing the video with popular tools like VirtualDub is almost impossible because of the poor choice of the container - AVI is far more popular .
One strange problem with the camera is that opening the door to the card compartment shuts down the camera even if the lens is out . I understand why to shut down ( it is possible to extract the battery ) but no idea why it does not retract the lens .
108 4 This is my sixth Canon camera , including two digital Rebels and four PowerShots . I bought it for its excellent wide-angle lens , and HD video mode in particular . I wanted the wide-angle lens to capture more of a scene when in a small shooting space , and this camera delivered well . It has the usual excellent shooting speed and lack of digital delay that I've come to expect from Canons . The HD video mode is excellent , and the videos look great on my 52 HD LCD TV at home .
The biggest disappointment is the picture quality of the still shots . The pictures are washed out most of the time , and facial skin tones look pasty . Pictures look flattened and there's a loss of the subtle rosy skin tones that makes pictures of faces look like they're wearing thick foundation makeup . Unlike my previous Canon digital Elphs , which I've kept for 3 - 4 years , I sold this camera on eBay after only a few months at a significant loss . Save your money and look for another camera .
115 4 The SD940IS is an easy to use , compact , take it anywhere point and shoot , with a nice set of basic features , that delivers pretty good results in many general use situations . How well the camera meets your needs , depends on how you plan to use it . To that end , these quick observations may be helpful .
Camera Body and Basic Operation :
It's not weatherproof , but the camera has a durable , solid aluminum body . The tiny body measures , 3.5 x2.1 x0.7 . The design is low profile , where the control buttons are basically flush with the surrounding surfaces . When powered on , the camera is ready to shoot almost immediately , with the lens extending only 0.8 inches . The SD940 is easy to operate with one hand , with the recycle time between shots ( when not using flash or at high ISO ) , usually a few seconds .
Lens and Autofocus :
At the widest angle ( 28mm ) there can occasionally be some funky distortion in the center part of the image . This aberration usually improves as you zoom in . The focusing area is typically a rectangular window in the center of the display . AF performance is usually pretty fast , and reasonably accurate for well lighted , stationary subjects . The SD940IS is not ideal for shooting on the fly , and generally needs to be held steady to get good results . Getting decent results shooting moving objects , mostly depends on your skill at keeping the subject in the center , and good luck with focus lock . The tiny zoom lever is located at the shutter button , and is usually very responsive and operates more reliably than some past Powershots . Typical for most point and shoots , this camera is not well suited for shooting in low light , as focusing takes a lot longer , the zoom control is less responsive , and saving an image takes longer .
Display and color rendition
There is no viewfinder , framing is via the 2.8 inch LCD display . Most displays are hard to see in direct sunlight , but this one is not too bad . Color rendition indoors is good , but like some Canon Powershots and DSLR's , when shooting in direct sunlight , images are often tinged toward yellow . This appears to be mostly an in-camera phenomena , as the color of images when viewed on the computer , look closer to normal . Seven white balance options are available , but if the color rendition of the display isn't that accurate , making custom adjustments on the fly can be tough .
Controls and Display Menu :
With such a tiny body and relatively large display , there isn't much space for controls , but Canon makes it work utilizing their familiar control system and menu design for Powershots . The camera has four basic operational modes , Auto , Program , Movie , and Review . In Auto mode , you just shoot and let the camera make all the decisions . In Program mode , basic settings like ISO , Shooting Mode , White Balance and flash , are easily accessible via the main menu . The text is quite readable , even for those who need reading glasses .
Battery and Memory Card Capacity :
The camera uses a 3.7 volt , NB - 4L type lithium Ion battery , which is a reliable and steady source of power , typically good for several hundred shots per charge . Performance seems to improve , after the battery has been cycled through a few times . Carrying at least one spare battery is recommended . Canon's NB - 4L battery is not that expensive , but there are numerous cheaper generic equivalents available on eBay . The memory card slides into the camera , right next to the battery . At the highest image quality of 4000 x 3000 pixels , about 2500 images can be stored on a 8GB card .
Movie Mode :
The SD940IS takes decent quality 720p movies , but the image generally is choppy . The audio track is smooth and continuous , but the video will often skip along . The zoom function is enabled during recording . Movies are saved in Quick Time format , unlike some older Powershots that saved video clips as AVI files .
Value and Conclusion :
Most point and shoot users are looking for a reliable performer , that can produce good results in a variety of situations , with a minimum of adjustment , without breaking the bank . The SD940IS will probably fit the bill for most casual users . While not the newest model , the price has dropped , making this a good value , in a highly competitive area of the market . Those with bigger hands , may want to hold the camera in their hands , and see how the buttons feel , before buying .
119 4 I just bought this camera , the first thing I notice was the screen is awesome and it takes noticeably longer for the camera to get ready to take the next picture .
All my other cameras had the zoom control on the back of the camera where my thumb rest ; I have to relearn how to hold this camera because the zoom control is on the front of the camera , yeah it looks like it's on top , but to operate the zoom I have to hook my finger up and over the top of the camera . It is difficult to use finesse while trying to control the zoom . I tend to have jerky zoom . I find the zoom controls disagreeable .
Don't use the lanyard that comes with this camera , it has a big bulky plastic piece that mars the paint on the camera when it rest in its case . I now have a new camera that looks like I've owned it awhile . Use your old lanyard .
The mode selector switch gets easily knock down to Program of Movie mode while in the camera case or while I'm pulling the camera out of the case .
This camera has two on buttons , the low profile on button that turns it on , and the Preview button that turns on just the picture preview .
For a point and shoot , I don't need a lot of zoom ; the 4x is a noticeable change from my old 3x . Maybe I should have upgraded sooner .
The menu is a little complex for me , but all I'm looking for is a point and shoot with a few features that let me control the exposure , like sunset or night shots . It does take great pictures and it's compact . Even with the annoying zoom and slow reset , I like this camera . I like it enough I will give it to my wife while I continue to shop for one that suits my needs .
121 4 I wanted a camera to provide an alternative to lugging my bulky Nikon SLRs around on day trips and vacations , etc . I had a previous Sony for this purpose , but it has died and was bulkier than I wanted anyway . Realizing there are trade offs between size and quality , I opted for this Canon after doing some research .
After a couple of weeks putting it to the test on several day trips and around the house , I am extremely pleased with this camera . First , it is tiny . . . I'm talking teeny tiny - which is perfect . Fits in a shirt pocket or pants pocket nicely and is not very heavy . Now I can have a quality camera with me all day and not have to have some bag over my shoulder or an overstuffed pocket .
The camera powers up FAST ! In just a couple seconds you are ready to shoot , which is great when a photo opp happens . The best setting is Auto , and the camera does a nice job of focusing and exposing your shots . The quality of the images is extremely good and rivals some of my DSLRs . What I was really surprised by , and pleased with , is the HD video quality . This little camera shoots very good quality video !
My complaints are few , and do not detract from my enjoyment of the camera , but just enough to prevent a five star rating :
- The LCD screen is hard to see in direct daylight . I understand this is the nature of most LCD screens , but because this is the only viewing option , they need to work on improving that .
- The mini-USB connection is protected by a small cover that does not open wide enough . I have to force it beyond its comfortable hinge range when inserting a slightly wider connector and am always worried I'll break it .
- Once you get beyond the 4x optical zoom and move into digital zoom territory , the picture quality drops quickly . I use the digital zoom sparingly , and when I have no other choice .
Overall , I am very happy with this little camera and plan to use it for years to come .
124 4 I bought this camera to replace a very old Casio . My main desire was to have something portable that did good video and could be used at clubs / parties etc .
I'm very impressed with the flash when using it in clubs . Even at a distance it illuminates the subjects . Also the wide angle means you can get everyone in the picture .
The macro is excellent , the best I have used in a camera of this size .
The daytime picture quality is pretty good but I was expecting a little better . I am willing to forego this for the share portability of the camera though - easy to slip into the front pocket of a pair of jeans .
161 4 The camera deserves every good review and comment given in other reviews . I am most disappointed in the lack of a printed manual , especially since there are not private manuals in the market . To me it indicates contempt for the needs of the customer on the part of Canon .
Is Canon giving up its traditional care and concern for its customers ?
162 4 I needed a replacement for my Casio card camera ( I broke the LCD ) . One of the best things about it is its cradle , connected to both computer and power ; just drop it in the cradle and it charges , push a button and it transfers images . But the new version do not come with a cradle ; you have to take out the battery each time you want to charge it . This is so bad for so many reasons . So I went searching for a replacement .
And I found this camera . I played with it extensively in a couple of stores and was tremendously impressed . First , it's almost as thin as the Casio card cameras . Second , it feels solid , not plasticky . It's responsive . The main controls are easy to use , and the screen is big enough and bright . The auxiliary controls ( menus and stuff ) are a bit challenging because they are flush to the camera body . And I was not able to find the scene modes that make the Casio cameras so incredibly useful ( for example , the whiteboard mode or the eBay mode , both of which just work ) . Interestingly , there ; s a cover in the upper right that has both a USB and an HDMI connection . Wow .
But this camera suffers fro the same fatal flaw as the new Casio cameras : you have to remove the battery to charge it . Here are the issues with that design decision :
First , opening and closing the cover . The cover was not designed to be opened and closed so much . Over time , the hinge will likely loosen , or worse , deform .
Second , it's so much ore work to open the cover , take out the battery , find the charger , put the battery in the charger , wait for the charge , put the battery back in the camera . Some might say well , it's not that big a deal . But usability isn't just about big deals , about fixing big frustrations . It's about the little deals , fixing the little frustrations , the little things that , by themselves uses don't often notice , but that add up over time . This is one of those . And it doesn't have to be : It'd be so easyto simply either provide a cradle or be able to just plug a cable into the camera .
Which brings me to , third , the battery doesn't charge when you plug the USB cable in . Huh ? ? This is so mind-boggling stupid it defies description .
Let's not that this Canon camera is not cheap . It's not competing on price , but on quality ( as Canon rightfully should ) . So to leave out this capability on such an otherwise high quality device completely undermines the trust in Canon engineering .
To be fair , having worked in high tech for so many years , I'd wager that this really was less of an engineering decision than a management decision . They didn't want to add the small cost it would take , or they wanted to push the model to market before the engineering for it could be completed , something like that .
This camera is so new that the major camera review sites ( [ . . . ] ) haven't given it a real run-through , but I'm guessing that the photo quality will be to the usual Canon high standards . And if it wasn't for this incredibly annoying flaw , it'd have been in my cart and in my hands by now . But this is a real deal killer . My search will continue , with the very real hope that Canon engineering ( or management ) will pull their heads out of their . . . you know . . . and fix this in this camera's successor , turning it from a 1 - star product into very likely a 5 - star product .
023 4 Great camera . I got it after much research because I wanted to get the smallest high quality P & S . I'm an advanced amateur with two DSLR's but needed a small P & S for the wife to use and for me to carry when I wanted something really , really small .
The SD940IS is truly small but delivers very high quality photos .
The only quibbles I have are that the menus take some getting used to and the buttons on the back are so small that they require me to use my fingernail rather than my finger to operate them .
Other than that , it's a great little camera and I'm glad I bought it .
053 4 Great pics and slim body . The only problem might be that the buttons are a little small . . . .
110 4 Great size and portability . I bought this for my mom b / c it is small and light . It is also pretty much a turn it on , snap a picture , and turn it off , and you're done . She isn't very good with gadgets so I wanted something that would basically do all the adjusting automatically . Her pictures are no longer blurry or too dark . The quality is satisfactory to me , but then again I am used to using a dslr . It fires up pretty quick and snaps the first photo within a couple seconds . It also has a decent wide angle perspective .
137 4 Great camera - had it about a week now , but there is definitely a fault in its construction / ease of use . The ON switch and the buttons on the back are set flush with the camera body making it very difficult to navigate with - especially in the dark .
Otherwise its an excellent camera - happy with the quality and its ability to take photos in low light without a flash .
Video quality seems excellent too .
042 4 I have had this camera for a few months now . Very satisfied with my purchase . The camera is extremely pocketable , with a fingerprint-proof matte black finish . The overall construction feels very sturdy , the flimsiest thing seems to be the HDMI / digital output cover . It is slightly thicker than the 780IS , but makes up for it with a slightly larger screen and longer optical zoom . The main navigation and menu buttons are flush with the body , making them slightly harder to press than regular buttons . By no means are the buttons not responsive , it is just that there isn't as much tactile response as one may like . Overall very slick , high quality design and construction .
The boot-up time is lighting fast , you can take a picture within 2 seconds of hitting the power button . Picture quality is very good , but as others have said there is a bit of noise when blown up to full size . Due to this I take pictures at 8MPs instead of 12 . Saves space and you can still edit the pictures in photoshop ( 8mp resolution = 3264x2446 , ) PLENTY of pixels for most people . The interface is easy to use , making it easy to switch between the different preset picture modes or changing the ISO , white balance etc . There aren't too many manual settings , but for the most part people who purchase this camera aren't really looking for that . The image stabilization seems excellent , as well as the auto-focus and face detection . I have noticed for the face-detection the subject ( s ) have to be fairly large in relation to the background and well lit in order for the camera to detect the faces . What I am saying is that , you can't expect to take a picture of an entire house and expect the camera to detect the face of someone standing right in front of the front door . The night-portrait setting works VERY well compared to other cameras I have used . Somehow the flash manages to place enough light on the subject while retaining the brightness in the background . The HD video quality is very good , though buy a large memory card ( I have a 16GB ) if you plan on taking videos . A one minute video will take up around 200MBs ! Also , there is no optical zoom once you start recording a video , only digital zoom .
Finally , I have a testament to this camera's build quality . As one who relishes in being a tourist and snapping pictures at whim , I tend to carry my camera in my hand often instead of in a case or in my pocket . During a trip to Hong Kong , I was carrying my camera in hand and was slightly nudged causing me to drop my camera . I'd say it fell a good 3 feet onto solid concrete . I immediately assessed the damage . The point of impact seemed to be the top / front edge of the camera ( the area between the lens and the shutter button . ) I was slightly worried as even though there were only a couple tiny scuffs on the camera , the front of the camera had seemed to slightly pop-out from the rest of the body . Incredibly , simply squeezing the front and back end of the camera popped it right back in . I turned the camera on and everything was just fine . EVERYTHING was working fine , even the orientation sensor . Can it survive another treacherous fall , I don't know . The fact that it is in perfect working order with only the slightest blemishes is truly impressive .
Overall , though not perfect , this is still an excellent camera . Yeah , you may be making minor compromises for the small size ( only 4x optical zoom , slight noise when viewing pictures full size , no optical zoom during video recording . ) However the build quality , HD video , easy to use interface , solid overall picture quality make it one of the best ultra portable cameras .
015 4 I'd had my SD750 for about two and a half years before upgrading to the SD940 IS . The features of the two cameras are similar aside from the following :
The SD940 has image stablization ; HD video ; battery indicator ; smaller size .
One thing that the SD750 had over the SD940 is the larger LCD , 3 vs . 2.7 . But given that the SD940 is smaller overall compared to the SD 750 , this really isn't a significant issue . Another thing about the SD750 was that it had buttons that were easier to use , they were raised and bigger but again , bigger camera , bigger buttons .
As for picture quality , the SD940 is wonderful , easy to use no matter what setting you use . I've played with the auto as well as the manual settings and both turn out great pics . It's a no-brainer camera , just point and click . Just printed out some 8x10 pictures that look awesome . The battery life is very good too .
One thing , this camera is really tiny , smaller than my cell phone though it's nice and weighty for its size , but it might be better suited for smaller-handed users . I can see it being difficult to manipulate for larger hands .
087 4 Great clear photos ! Way better then the stupid Coolpix camera I traded in for . The color of the photos is really great . I'm probably comparing to the Coolpix which every photo had a yellowish tint .
I'd definitely recommend this camera for the price !
135 4 I am admittedly pretty brutal on my point-and-shoots - I carry them in my pocket ( now in a case ) , I take often dozens or more photos daily in a wide variety of conditions , and I take my camera everywhere . I was okay with it when my first PowerShot went kaput after a year or so ; photos started getting blurry . I was even okay with it when the second PowerShot got some kind of nastiness in the lens after about another year . I got kind of piqued when the third PowerShot sprouted similar filth in the lens after less than a year .
It took less than a MONTH with this PowerShot to get some dust in the lens . It was purchased for me for Christmas . Today , five months later , it sprouted the middle-of-the-lens giant dark spot that just can't be coped with . ( It's been pretty bad in the meantime , but I have been trying to put up with it for money's sake . )
I carry it in a case , now , after the first couple went on me . I'm a lot more careful about what I expose the camera to , and it didn't matter - this one went in record time .
Apart from this alarming dust problem , I have to counter a lot of the glowing reviews of the Smart AUTO mode . I had it on Auto for the first few weeks of shooting , for the most part , and discovered that the ( semi - ) manual mode did me much , much better . With Auto - indoors , skin was almost invariably bleached out . I got tons of blurry pictures - far more than on program mode . I've never used auto mode since .
I wish they'd given me a more manual mode - something more analogous to the previous generation of PowerShots - I missed being able to change the ISO at the push of the control wheel-button , for one thing . But I didn't mind that too much , since most people don't seem to want that level of control . The problem was that the smart auto wasn't very smart at all .
On program mode , for the most part , the picture quality was stellar for a point-and-shoot . All of the PowerShots I've used have moments ( I guess it's charging ? ) when the flash drags down the speed dramatically , but that wasn't a big deal . The facial recognition on this one is a huge improvement over earlier PowerShots , and I found that the focal point ( again , in program mode ) tended to be more accurate as well . Macro mode seemed to suffer compared to the year-earlier model ; I had a much harder time getting the camera to focus on the macro object . I do a fair amount of macro shots and this was noticeable to me .
By and large , I have been happy with the PowerShot feature set and picture quality . If only I could clean the lens , I'd still be using any one of the three I've had in the past 2.5 years .
139 4 The portability , quality of construction of this camera is excellent !
The pictures would look nice on the camera screen , but DISAPPOINTING on a PC screen .
And the color contrast did NOT live up to my expectation !
It's price / quality is disappointing to me.It's even no better than an old-fashioned Casio camera I bought 5yrs ago !
072 4 as a professional photographer who normally uses nikon products , i finally decided to try something new in the point-and-shoot department . i LOVE this camera . it's great in low light settings even when no flash is being used . it's fast , easily portable and easy to use . definitely a great camera for the price .
079 4 Excellent product . Portable , easy to use and it takes good quality photos in low light .
074 4 Fantastic camera , fits perfectly in the hand , compact , super well built , progrmas and features easily found and logically laid out , great quality lens , great video mode , good sound quality from the mic . All this for $ 200 ? Cant beat it !
025 4 A fantastic unit.the pictures are crystal clear.battery life for me was above and better than previous units i bought.so in love with this camera
118 4 I have loved my Canon cameras , all the way back to my FTb ( now you know I'm no kid ) . I thought I would replace my battle-scarred SD870 with the tiny SD940 , after all it has about the same optical specs and more MP . I really like the small size , the black matte finish , and the overall high-quality construction - just like all the Canons I have owned . However , the image quality just doesn't cut it . I'm not sure why that is , I thought it was just the fact that I was taking a lot of indoor photos in natural light . But after I tested it in full sun , shooting landscapes , they were very soft as well . There is no excuse for that type of performance in a $250 camera in today's world . For me , image quality is most important because I do books and some large prints , and the SD940 has noticeably poorer image quality than the 3 - year old SD870 . I had to sell it , now I'm looking for a replacement .
027 4 I have always been a fan of Canon Cameras and have had several of them . This compact camera is powerful and ultra portable , I give the camera great reviews except that the buttons on the back are hard to press . I heard the review from many people stating that the buttons are hard to use and thought nothing of it but it is true they are very difficult however I still love the camera = )
029 4 I have been a Canon fan for over 25 years ( yes , since 35 mm days ) and this is my 4th Canon Digital Powershot Elph camera . . . need I say more ! Each model is an improvement from the last & yet doesn't climb in price and the photos this one produces are fabulous , plus it's so compact & light , perfect for traveling or to have on hand for those unexpected shots ! This Canon is definitely value for money too !
046 4 Have only had this camera for a couple of months but couldn't be happier . I replaced a Canon 5.0 megapixel . Was a little worried at first that I might miss the view finder but after using this camera I don't miss it at all . The screen is large enough to make it very easy to use . The controls are convenient , easy to use , and just the right size . Pictures are fantastic . Took some last week with no flash of a laser light show and was very impressed . Somewhat partial to Canon as that is the brand of my digital SLR also but this little camera gets an A + . Easy to use , easy to carry , large screen , convenient controls . Worth every cent .
064 4 I really love this camera , it is my first digital camera and boy did I pick a good one . The pictures look really good and the hd video is awesome too , my only complaint would be that in the dark it is sometimes hard to find the power button with it being flush and all , but I can overlook that , the battery live is so so . If you are planning on going on a shooting spree mixed in with video taken , you had better get a back up battery , I did . All that aside I would recommend this product
068 4 After seeing the camera in action while visiting a friend I was very impressed with the ease at which the camera was used . The picture quality and the video quality were all that I could ask for being novice . The camera seems to be the right size . fits in any pocket . Smaller and it would be hard to handle . Great product .
077 4 We have a big Canon digital camera and a big video camera . I wanted something small to take on trips or fishing that could also shoot videos . This is better than I expected ! The video quality is great , and the camera is so easy to use . There are newer versions with touch screen , but I think this one is quicker & easier to use .
081 4 I have not use video feature much yet however , the camera is very simple to operate for 70 years old and took it to short trip and loved it . small enough to place it in our bag and did not add additional weight . Our daughter also own this camera however she own the larger proffetional canon camera with large long lenzes , but she likes this little camera to take along to where ever she wants to go and shoot the photos of her family and friends .
082 4 If you are looking for a small , very portable camera , this one is great . It doesn't have a ton of features , but for what I was looking for it had everything I wanted . The zoom is great for the size and the camera is easy to put in a jacket pocket or loose pants pocket .
102 4 I started to buy cannon about three years ago . My battery can last for months at a time . Now the camera I just purchased is incredibly compact and extremely easy to use . I know reading some of these reviews you can get mixed feelings about the product , but let me reassure you , this is a great point and shoot camera . It has many features for any occasion or event . If you like cannon , you will love this product !
117 4 Most of my photography revolves around my daughter . After noticing that out of the thousands of photos I have taken of my daughter , I didn't have very many with me and her . Carrying a DSLR around everywhere is inconvenient and I wanted something better than my iPhone so I started looking for something I could put in just about any pocket . I read reviews for about two weeks before deciding on this camera . The picture quality is decent enough and it takes 720p video . Its also very easy to hold out at arms length to take a photo of myself and my daughter when we're out and about . it's a great camera to photograph our adventures without getting in the way of the fun . It's also great for photographing places I want to return to later with my DSLR . Overall I'm very happy with it . The only criticism I really have is the battery life .
122 4 I owned 3 Canon Powershots . The picture quality of SD940 was a disappointment compared to SD550 . I noticed the blurriness did not correct itself even after pressing the shutter halfway , so I sent the camera back to Canon for repair only after 2 months of ownership . Turns out that the optical sensor was defective and was replaced . Hard to believe but the pictures are sharp now . This means the camera was defective when I first bought it . Canon definitely have a quality issue they need to address otherwise they can lose a lot of faithful customers . I hope they won't be the next Toyota .
142 4 Cant figure out this camera . In Auto Mode the Camera Shake display continues to show up when taking pictures . But then when you move back a step its goes away . And this Camera Shake icon even appears when i have the camera on a table and all i am doing is pressing the shutter button down halfway . Pictures in auto mode are really not great . So blurry . They are better in the manual ( P ) mode but you have to really adjust each component to get it right . I had the old Sony digital 10mp cameras and I think their cameras were a ton better . I am definitely not happy with Canon Camera
153 4 I like the removable battery feature because I always carry a spare . One can be in the charger while you still have the use of the camera . I haven't tried the camera yet - waiting for the price to come down or my SD 750 to break . I have had great experience with Canon though and expect this model to be as good as any others this size .
155 4 I bought this as a Christmas present for my husband , so he has not yet used it . It looked good and it small and compact which is what he wanted .
129 4 It is just cool to have this camera . Small and compact and yet powerful ! Nice pictures and videos . But the Videos is not in MP3 format . You have to use QuickTime player to play the videos . Your normal Windows Media Player or Real Player will not open them on your PC . You need to download software like QuickTime .
048 4 Great Camera . . Video Quality is too good . I love this camera a lot . . I wanted a simple point and click camera . . Glad to find this one , which is so easy and has great pictures / videos .
Would definitely recommend to buy this camera
145 4 Great Camera , I just need to find out which max sd card it will take for hd video and which replacement battery you guys use ?
thx
133 4 I used this about a week and I'm really like this camera . My first Canon camera ironically was a PowerShot 35mm that I bought 19 years ago . I took a lot of pictures with it during high school , I lost it during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 because my house was flooded . I since then supported Sony CyberShot DSC-P50 ( 2.1 Megapixel ) in 2003 , and the last was DSC-W7 that was 7.2 Megapixel in 2005 . When I got the Apple 24 LED Cinema Display in May 2009 . It has a true 24 - bit Resolution with In Plane Switching ( IPS ) meaning you will have ALL 16.7 Million colors displayed . I went back and look at the pics and Sony really did not look good . Now I see why professional photographers don't consider Sony cameras . I started looking at comparisons with Nikon vs Canon . To me Canon was the best choice with color reproduction and detail and it was apparent across the entire Canon line of cameras . I look at samples well as pictures from individuals on Flickr . I wanted a smaller pocket camera to take everywhere because Camera phones was not cutting it . What helped a great deal was reading the feedback on Amazon and Canon's website . I first look at the SD980 IS and seen it had too many bad reviews . Which I concluded that SD940 IS was the best choice for features , function and ease of use . After a week I can honestly say that this is the best camera I ever own even better than the 3 - CCD Sony DCR-VX2000 that cost me $3,000 back in 2000 , simply because not only of the picture quality but excellent high definition recording , 720p @ 30 FPS video quality . I also bought a Sandisk 32GB Class 4 SDHC Memory Card in which Canon advise Class 4 minimum SDHC Cards for HD Recording . Sandisk Ultra II are Class 4 with a 15MB per second read with a 9MB per second write . I also purchased the Canon PIXMA All In One MX860 from Amazon also . I dump my HP printers because they always over saturate the picture with extra colors . Print quality from the SD940 IS looks awesome on the MX860 . It really make sense to use Canon cameras with Canon printers for best results .
013 4 I honestly did not expect this camera to be so compact . Cool ! I brought it in off the porch and the box size had me believing I had only received the SD card . It was all in there ! I warmed the camera up in my shirt pocket while the battery charged . 90 minutes later I was taking fantastic low light shots of the kids in ISO3200 mode . We made some short films of them goofing off and were playing them back on the TV using the mini HDMI output ( cable not included ) . On par with my Flip Ultra HD , but the sound is monaural . No biggee . After seeing a slideshow of the pictures I had taken , I immediately changed the image recording size to Widescreen . This format will work very well , as I usually wiew photos on the TV using the Tivo home networking feature . I crop as needed in Picasa anyway . The 16 GB SD card I ordered with the camera will hold more pictures than I probably took last year , so this amazes me . I will enjoy the lightning fast power up time of the Canon . This camera joins our old Sony DSC - 85 which is by comparison , slow , big , and heavy , but because I like it I will still break it out on Holidays . I made this buying decision based solely on research done at the Canon website . Good comparison tools . Probably will buy another battery just to have . Liking the removable battery as a feature , actually . Off to Disney next week for the real trial .
038 4 i bought this to replace my old digital camera so it is certainly an upgrade in that respect . so far , it has met my expectations - it's very compact , has a big lcd screen , is easy to navigate ( i am a canon fan ) and is stylish . i have taken some test pictures and they are great , but i haven't dabbled in the hd video function yet . for your information though , if you decide to purchase a case for this camera on amazon , get the canon psc - 55 . i bought this case in the store and they told me the canon psc - 1050 ( which I was considering to buy and is made for the sd 780 ) is too snug . on the other hand , the psc - 55 is a perfect fit but unfortunately , it has no additional compartments for camera accessories .
062 4 This is a replacement to my aging SD630 . The build quality is what you'd expect from a $250ish point and shoot . All metal body , the battery door is sturdy and the buttons have a positive feel . I shoot all canon products including a 20D and 1DMkIII and this camera is a great addition to the family . The image quality even at ISO800 looks fantastic and finally , they put a battery indicator on the display rather than only telling you once the battery is low .
The only thing I can say I dislike about this camera is that the HD video is not the best and it only use the digital zoom . Digital zoom has always been a no no to me as it's not a real zoom but from whatI read , all P & S cameras work this way so I really can't count it against Canon .
134 4 I bought this camera to replace my clunky Nikon CoolPix L5 which takes great picttures of plants and apples , but blurs anything that involves anything alive and moving . I used this camera on New Year's eve in an extremely low lit room . The camera is light a night camera , and can see in really low lighing situations . If is February and only now does the battery needs to be recharged . I have taken photos of 3 events in total since New Year's . So the camera has a definite long life , much more than my previous cameras . The thing is small and so you will need to use only one hand as otherwise you will place your fingers over the flash . This is the size of a credit card . I have placed it in really small purses , and I can carry it around in my purse every day because of its small size . It does not have options such as black and white , sepia or other variations . The video is pretty good and I have been able to zoom in while the video is going on . This is very useful . I am not crazy about the wheel zoom and would have preferred a traditional W / T switch . THis is a one hand operation camera as there are literally very few buttons to have to deal with . The wider screen is great as I am getting older . The camera is so simple to use that I do not need to see the markings on the buttons . So far I have used only video and AUTO mode . I bought the camera for indoor family functions which usually have low lighting and so this camera delivers .
036 4 I bought this camera in last month . its very handy , stylish and loaded with cool features . i like the picture as well as video quality , both day and night . overall , it is good for day to day use . i would recommend this camera ! !
057 4 I got this camera for my mom for her bday . She loves it . Its a great camera . Takes guality pictures , small and slim . The black looks good . I recommend this camera for anyone .
066 4 Not being a huge camera person , I was looking for a decent quality point and shoot camera that I didnt have to have a manual to use . Been using this for over a month and couldnt be happier with it . I usually leave it on auto and let it do its thing , and it takes great pics . Also the camera was smaller than I expected , but the LCD screen is plenty big enough to see the pics without problem . overall , if you want a point and shoot perfect pocket sized camera , this is it !
070 4 Barely can feel the camera when it is in my pocket . The images are fantastic and I can't say one negative thing about it after using it for the past month . Highly recommend this camera .
106 4 Great camera . I would definitely recommend purchasing a camera through Amazon . Its cheaper , easier , and a lot more relaxing than going to a store to pick one out . It arrived in perfect condition , same as if I would have went to the store and purchased one myself .
146 4 In the last 5 years I have had a handful of these Canon point and Shoots at my disposal - this one is not much different than the previous iterations , despite the marketing gizmos and the public's uneducated craving for more pixels . Granted , it's still a ' good ' camera . Just not much new from any other Canon PowerShot .
HD video ? not like this is a crazy ' advanced ' feature on a sensor that can see quadruple the HD format . It's a marketing trade name - believe it . And people wowed by the HDMI output are oblivious that this is CHEAPER to engineer - digital ~ digital . It has nothing to do with Quality and nor does amping it up to 12 MP .
Comparing my Powershot of 3 years ago - I tested the shutter delay between shots ( yes , a half press pre , we are talking write time - black display ) Both are the same . I could care less about the useless face recognition , I just want to recoup for the next shot FASTER . Come on , I know you can do this canon .
What drives me nuts is how Canon likes to completely revamp the menu placement . One model has the P ( program ) then others have M ( Manual ) and then some have both . Some have a time lapse function buried in the M , others have it as part of the Movie function . What I like about a company is stick-tuitiveness and consistency - these wishy-washy marketing product managers are living in a haze .
Another irk with P & S's in general is the on-camera flash . Nikon at one time had function to + / - the flash fill - Canon , not so much . It's always overblown - if you compensate - 1 or - 2 it loses everything else . I always tape a piece of 1 / 2 spun over the flash , helps a little .
If you want a reliable P & S and you DONT want to THINK - this might be ok for general use . Thats who it's made for . The average person - not a photographer who wants to get creative . But that's obvious . Right ?
059 4 funny to read reviews on amazon ; same item , some people love it , others hate it .
am surprised about the negative reviews for this camera ; i've had three other canon's , this is my fave . great pictures , good options . i use it more for art shots , ( see ? i put that it quotes to NOT be obnoxious ) , so am using Vivid color , center-focusing ( instead of face ) , and iContrast . i NEVER use the flash .
am really pleased with the pictures i am taking , and the video is great too ( when i use it , which is rare ) .
great ergonomics , great size . the black version is unobtrusive . am carrying this everywhere .
will enjoy this for as long as it lasts ( or until a newer camera insists on being bought . . . )
131 4 Bought this to replace my SD860 which , after three years of being dropped and crushed ( and two trips to Canon for repairs ) , has started failing again , well out of warrantee . I thought this tiny camera would be a great carry-arount device for every day , but I just have to say it has disappointed me , almost like I got a bum unit .
* The autofocus is quite slow , it spends a lot of time hunting for the right spot .
* The autofocus makes bad choices too often once it has settled down . This is a really undexpected problem , as this is my fourth Powershot , and I've always thought they did great at reading my mind .
* There was a not-pretty blotchy character to the images that I can almost replicate on my other cameras by turning the jpeg compression all the way up ( i.e . , quality down ) . This is not what I choose a Canon for . Even with jpeg compression set to NORMAL , the images remained low quality .
So , I suppose Canon might have tried to just squeeze a little too much into this sleek little package . I returned it , and Amazon was SUPER-NICE to give me full credit despite some bad scratches on the front . I expected only a partial , maybe 50% refund ( yes , I was willing to essentially pay to get this camera away from me ) , but they gave me all my money back . I guess my next camera purchase will have to be from Amazon .
148 4 I really was very excited about this camera . But what a disappointment.My old Cannon with 6 MP took better pictures . Most of the pictures are noisy and grainy in auto mode . I am not an expert but in manual mode made no difference to me . I tried different settings but the same results . Now I don't have time to figure this thing out . I need to be taking pictures , it is a point and shoot camera .
096 4 I am now on my 5th Canon compact point and shoot and am amazed at how Canon continues to up their game in this category . I am so happy with this new one . The photos are amazing and it is so durable . I spent days researching and came back to this camera . A real win .
150 4 Nothing spectacular here . . . The only plus is the larger LCD screen for viewing . HD video is VERY disappointing . Looks like any other video quality . Zooming doesn't auto focus so don't even try to Zoom while recording video . In HD 2 minute recording was almost 1 GB of memory . Save your $ $ and buy the $125 Canon . I will probably be returning this one to Amazon .
091 4 Swift delivery with superb features . Well pleased and wife loves it especially with a 16 GB SDHC memory card .
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
My last digital camera was a 3.1 MP Kodak EasyShare DX6340 - - a nice little point and shoot in its day , but that was seven years ago ! Though it still works like a champ , I decided it was time to upgrade to something a little more compact that also offered better picture quality * and * HD video . I spent over a month shopping around , looking at Canon , Panasonic , and Sony models , and toyed with the idea of sacrificing small size ( and HD video ) to go with the new Canon G11 . Finally , I settled on the new SD940 IS as a reasonable compromise between size , features , and picture quality . I'm very happy I bought this thing - - so far it has really impressed me !
This thing is TINY - - it's about the same size and weight as my old Motorola RAZR cell phone ( when folded closed ) . Still , it feels quite solid . Despite the compact size , it delivers amazing performance . It boots up quickly , menus are snappy , and shot-to-shot delay is minimal . Picture quality is very good - - nothing extraordinary , but nothing to sneeze at either . I shot a number of test photos over the past couple days and I'm quite pleased . Macro mode shots are amazingly crisp and detailed . Outdoors in medium sun , I did notice some tell-tale purple fringing around high contrast areas ( the dark green leaves of a tree against a white cloud had a discernible purple halo around them when I zoomed in on the image ) . I don't know that other P & S cameras of this size will necessarily do any better with the purple fringing , but I didn't find it to be too bothersome . On my monitor colors looked quite natural , not overly-saturated nor washed out . I tried some of the manual ISO settings and below 400 I didn't notice any grain or problematic fuzziness . Obviously , you can't expect SLR quality with a P & S , but I'm very happy with the pictures this thing turns out .
The aspect that really sold me on this camera is the HD video . Of course , I mostly wanted this to take stills , but I wanted the flexibility to switch to video when the moment calls for it . For such a tiny camera , the HD video quality is stunning ! Very fluid motion , sharp picture , and remarkably clear audio ! The video is best in brightly-lit situations of course , but it does quite well in low light too if you don't mind a little grain in the image . You can choose between several memory-saving standard-def settings and high-def ( which switches to widescreen format automatically ) . While the optical zoom cannot be used in video mode , you CAN use the digital zoom up to 4x while recording - - a nice little bonus . The video files produced are . MOV files which I was able to import into iMovie on my Mac with complete ease ( and very quickly too ! ) .
The control buttons are indeed small and flat , but I have had no trouble managing them ( it helps if your fingernails are not trimmed too short ) . People with larger hands or very short fingernails might have a little more difficulty . I'm still getting used to menu navigation on this , but it seems fairly intuitive . I spent ten minutes reading through the getting started guide that comes with it , and that was helpful in outlining the basic features , but there are a lot more that the guide doesn't cover . This * does * use a proprietary battery , but the charger is fortunately very compact and charges the battery to capacity in 90 minutes . It doesn't bother me that the battery has to be taken out of the camera for charging . So far , after two days , I have not depleted the battery , so I can't comment yet on how long battery life is , but mine has already lasted through several hours of use and is still going strong .
This may not be the most versatile camera on the market - - full manual controls are limited - - but for a simple-to-use , high-quality P & S camera with crisp pictures and HD video , I think it would be hard to beat the SD940 IS . It is extremely small and lightweight and does all that most casual users could want . It may be a bit pricey compared to some others , but it's worth every penny . By the way , if you plan to use the HD video feature , be sure to get a Class 6 or higher SD memory card for best results . ( Lower-rated cards may not be fast enough to capture the stream of information being written to the card ) . Don't skimp on the card - - cheap off-brands are not always reliable and may soon die , taking your irreplaceable photos and videos with them . I got a few SanDisk Extreme III 8GB Class 6 cards to go with this and they work great !
Highly recommended !
001 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
My last digital camera was a 3.1 MP Kodak EasyShare DX6340 - - a nice little point and shoot in its day , but that was seven years ago ! Though it still works like a champ , I decided it was time to upgrade to something a little more compact that also offered better picture quality * and * HD video . I spent over a month shopping around , looking at Canon , Panasonic , and Sony models , and toyed with the idea of sacrificing small size ( and HD video ) to go with the new Canon G11 . Finally , I settled on the new SD940 IS as a reasonable compromise between size , features , and picture quality . I'm very happy I bought this thing - - so far it has really impressed me !
This thing is TINY - - it's about the same size and weight as my old Motorola RAZR cell phone ( when folded closed ) . Still , it feels quite solid . Despite the compact size , it delivers amazing performance . It boots up quickly , menus are snappy , and shot-to-shot delay is minimal . Picture quality is very good - - nothing extraordinary , but nothing to sneeze at either . I shot a number of test photos over the past couple days and I'm quite pleased . Macro mode shots are amazingly crisp and detailed . Outdoors in medium sun , I did notice some tell-tale purple fringing around high contrast areas ( the dark green leaves of a tree against a white cloud had a discernible purple halo around them when I zoomed in on the image ) . I don't know that other P & S cameras of this size will necessarily do any better with the purple fringing , but I didn't find it to be too bothersome . On my monitor colors looked quite natural , not overly-saturated nor washed out . I tried some of the manual ISO settings and below 400 I didn't notice any grain or problematic fuzziness . Obviously , you can't expect SLR quality with a P & S , but I'm very happy with the pictures this thing turns out .
The aspect that really sold me on this camera is the HD video . Of course , I mostly wanted this to take stills , but I wanted the flexibility to switch to video when the moment calls for it . For such a tiny camera , the HD video quality is stunning ! Very fluid motion , sharp picture , and remarkably clear audio ! The video is best in brightly-lit situations of course , but it does quite well in low light too if you don't mind a little grain in the image . You can choose between several memory-saving standard-def settings and high-def ( which switches to widescreen format automatically ) . While the optical zoom cannot be used in video mode , you CAN use the digital zoom up to 4x while recording - - a nice little bonus . The video files produced are . MOV files which I was able to import into iMovie on my Mac with complete ease ( and very quickly too ! ) .
The control buttons are indeed small and flat , but I have had no trouble managing them ( it helps if your fingernails are not trimmed too short ) . People with larger hands or very short fingernails might have a little more difficulty . I'm still getting used to menu navigation on this , but it seems fairly intuitive . I spent ten minutes reading through the getting started guide that comes with it , and that was helpful in outlining the basic features , but there are a lot more that the guide doesn't cover . This * does * use a proprietary battery , but the charger is fortunately very compact and charges the battery to capacity in 90 minutes . It doesn't bother me that the battery has to be taken out of the camera for charging . So far , after two days , I have not depleted the battery , so I can't comment yet on how long battery life is , but mine has already lasted through several hours of use and is still going strong .
This may not be the most versatile camera on the market - - full manual controls are limited - - but for a simple-to-use , high-quality P & S camera with crisp pictures and HD video , I think it would be hard to beat the SD940 IS . It is extremely small and lightweight and does all that most casual users could want . It may be a bit pricey compared to some others , but it's worth every penny . By the way , if you plan to use the HD video feature , be sure to get a Class 6 or higher SD memory card for best results . ( Lower-rated cards may not be fast enough to capture the stream of information being written to the card ) . Don't skimp on the card - - cheap off-brands are not always reliable and may soon die , taking your irreplaceable photos and videos with them . I got a few SanDisk Extreme III 8GB Class 6 cards to go with this and they work great !
Highly recommended !
004 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Having finally decided that it was time to replace my reliable old Canon Powershot A95 , I went ahead and bought this brand-new model , based on the fact that I'm already familiar with Canon products and I've liked what I've seen . The new camera definitely delivers , and I'm happy I chose this over a super-zoom model that wasn't anywhere near as compact .
Pros : Much , much less shutter lag than my five-year old model ( not surprisingly ! ) , very quick start-up and equally quick focus , sharp and clear photos , accurate color , and remarkably compact considering all the features - - fits easily into a pocket . The wide-angle is a bonus , although I haven't had a chance to play with it much yet . The software that comes with the camera is the updated version of the older software I had , and is easy to learn and use .
Cons : yes , the battery has to be removed to be charged , but this is a very minor inconvenience and is no different than previous models . However , scrolling through the menus to get to the various settings is a bit of a time-consuming drawback , mostly because I was used to being able to select modes directly from a scroll wheel on the older model .
006 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I have had many Canon cameras over the years , so I expected a lot from this camera . Prior to this one I had a SD880IS which was larger but had a really good design with a larger LCD and raised controls ( not flush like this one ) .
More about the camera . . . . .
The main thing I don't like about the camera is that with the auto mode I got some blurry shots . That was indoor on auto with flash off while subject is not completely still .
I had much better luck in program mode . I think for what I was trying to do the kids and pets scene mode would have worked better .
I always take shots with the flash off because I want natural lighting so maybe I'm just expecting too much of the camera .
What I do like :
- Black color , very nice looking
- VERY portable . With the leather case I could keep it with me all the time . The leather case has a belt loop and fits the camera very well .
- HD movie mode , although it can get jumpy if you are indoors and moving around , so the camera needs to be very steady ( using both hands helps a lot ) .
The menus are OK but I'd like access to ISO via a dedicated button rather than through the menus .
So , I am selling mine at a very low price . The other reviews , IMO , are accurate - - I am probably just expecting too much from this camera's auto mode .
Update :
I sold the camera today ( 1 - 11 - 2010 ) . The camera I bought to replace it is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 . It produces much better pictures in Auto mode , produces consistently good pictures in other modes , has better HD video that is much more stable , and many other things that I prefer ( including 12x optical zoom ) .
Note , however , that it lacks one major advantage that the Canon SD940IS has - - the incredibly small size . It was a hard decision to sell the SD940IS because with its small size and the excellent belt case available that fits it perfectly , I could have it with me wherever I went and I would hardly notice it on my belt . For a lot of people that will be the deciding advantage , so it's a matter of priorities .
In the end , I decided that it was too confusing for me to have two cameras . I have found that every camera has its learning curve , and that to take good pictures with many cameras one must take the time to experiment with the various settings . The Panasonic is much more forgiving and produces better point-and-shoot pictures with less experience . I suspect that the Canon SD940 can also provide good results but that to obtain them I would have had to spend more time learning how to use the manual settings .
I will still keep my eye on the Canon Elph cameras and predict that I will come back to them at some point in the future . For now though the Panasonic meets my needs better - - your mileage may vary .
Update 4 - 2 - 2010
I bought the successor to this camera , the SD1400IS , and like it much better . It seems like it sometimes takes Canon a few iterations of a form factor before they get it right ( in my opinion ) . The pictures are clearer , and the video much more smooth on the SD1400IS . I wrote a review of that camera and suggest people skip the SD940IS and consider the SD1400IS instead .
008 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I just received my Powershot SD940 . Originally I had purchased the Powershot SD780 , but when this one came out two days later I returned it . I liked the bigger LCD on the 940 rather than the 780 ' s smaller LCD with an optical viewfinder . The 940 also has a 4x optical zoom compared to the 780 ' s 3x optical zoom . Something else I had not noticed until I received the product is that the 940 has an updated menu system . The menus are laid out more logically and can display help menus to inform the user of the cameras functions and options . This feature is not offered on the 780 . After owning both cameras , I would recommend upgrading to the Powershot SD940 unless you need an optical viewfinder . The 940 offers better zoom , bigger LCD , updated menus , and stronger performance ( I found that the menus operate more smoothly and with much less lag than the 780 ) . These are both great cameras , and I should note that the 780 is a bit smaller and lighter . Unfortunately they both have rather flat buttons that are not raised above the surface which made it a bit hard to operate at first , but I quickly got used to it . I still STRONGLY recommended !
009 4 I just received my Powershot SD940 . Originally I had purchased the Powershot SD780 , but when this one came out two days later I returned it . I liked the bigger LCD on the 940 rather than the 780 ' s smaller LCD with an optical viewfinder . The 940 also has a 4x optical zoom compared to the 780 ' s 3x optical zoom . Something else I had not noticed until I received the product is that the 940 has an updated menu system . The menus are laid out more logically and can display help menus to inform the user of the cameras functions and options . This feature is not offered on the 780 . After owning both cameras , I would recommend upgrading to the Powershot SD940 unless you need an optical viewfinder . The 940 offers better zoom , bigger LCD , updated menus , and stronger performance ( I found that the menus operate more smoothly and with much less lag than the 780 ) . These are both great cameras , and I should note that the 780 is a bit smaller and lighter . Unfortunately they both have rather flat buttons that are not raised above the surface which made it a bit hard to operate at first , but I quickly got used to it . I still STRONGLY recommended !
012 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I honestly did not expect this camera to be so compact . Cool ! I brought it in off the porch and the box size had me believing I had only received the SD card . It was all in there ! I warmed the camera up in my shirt pocket while the battery charged . 90 minutes later I was taking fantastic low light shots of the kids in ISO3200 mode . We made some short films of them goofing off and were playing them back on the TV using the mini HDMI output ( cable not included ) . On par with my Flip Ultra HD , but the sound is monaural . No biggee . After seeing a slideshow of the pictures I had taken , I immediately changed the image recording size to Widescreen . This format will work very well , as I usually wiew photos on the TV using the Tivo home networking feature . I crop as needed in Picasa anyway . The 16 GB SD card I ordered with the camera will hold more pictures than I probably took last year , so this amazes me . I will enjoy the lightning fast power up time of the Canon . This camera joins our old Sony DSC - 85 which is by comparison , slow , big , and heavy , but because I like it I will still break it out on Holidays . I made this buying decision based solely on research done at the Canon website . Good comparison tools . Probably will buy another battery just to have . Liking the removable battery as a feature , actually . Off to Disney next week for the real trial .
014 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I'd had my SD750 for about two and a half years before upgrading to the SD940 IS . The features of the two cameras are similar aside from the following :
The SD940 has image stablization ; HD video ; battery indicator ; smaller size .
One thing that the SD750 had over the SD940 is the larger LCD , 3 vs . 2.7 . But given that the SD940 is smaller overall compared to the SD 750 , this really isn't a significant issue . Another thing about the SD750 was that it had buttons that were easier to use , they were raised and bigger but again , bigger camera , bigger buttons .
As for picture quality , the SD940 is wonderful , easy to use no matter what setting you use . I've played with the auto as well as the manual settings and both turn out great pics . It's a no-brainer camera , just point and click . Just printed out some 8x10 pictures that look awesome . The battery life is very good too .
One thing , this camera is really tiny , smaller than my cell phone though it's nice and weighty for its size , but it might be better suited for smaller-handed users . I can see it being difficult to manipulate for larger hands .
016 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I researched forever after my canon sd450 died . As a DSLR user , I was not looking for a camera to take award winning shots . Instead , I wanted ( in this order ) :
1 ) Super Ultra Compact
2 ) HD Video
3 ) Decent picture quality for 4x6 and 5x7 prints
I feel that this camera fits all of these needs perfectly . It is TINY . I agonized between this model and the sd780 . The sd780is is apparently even thinner than this one and includes HD-movie-mode but I ultimately decided to pick the 940is because of its better optical zoom and the wider angle . I believe they are both about the same dimensions except for depth . I can't imagine it being any thinner though so don't let that make your decision .
The picture quality goes from great to decent depending on lighting .
You will love this camera if you are looking for ultimate portability !
020 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I have had a few digital cameras and this is by far the BEST . It takes great pictures in all different settings - outdoors day and night - indoors , kids , etc . It is very small so can fit in and out of pockets and small purses easily . Love the big viewing screen in the back too . I have to get used to the menu to able to switch the settings around quicker - but I am sure that will come as I get more familiar with the camera . I just remarked to my husband the other day how great the battery life is . I used it for the first time thanksgiving - have taken at least 100 pics and some video - and still have not needed to charge the battery ! ! !
022 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Great camera . I got it after much research because I wanted to get the smallest high quality P & S . I'm an advanced amateur with two DSLR's but needed a small P & S for the wife to use and for me to carry when I wanted something really , really small .
The SD940IS is truly small but delivers very high quality photos .
The only quibbles I have are that the menus take some getting used to and the buttons on the back are so small that they require me to use my fingernail rather than my finger to operate them .
Other than that , it's a great little camera and I'm glad I bought it .
024 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
A fantastic unit.the pictures are crystal clear.battery life for me was above and better than previous units i bought.so in love with this camera
026 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I have always been a fan of Canon Cameras and have had several of them . This compact camera is powerful and ultra portable , I give the camera great reviews except that the buttons on the back are hard to press . I heard the review from many people stating that the buttons are hard to use and thought nothing of it but it is true they are very difficult however I still love the camera = )
028 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I have been a Canon fan for over 25 years ( yes , since 35 mm days ) and this is my 4th Canon Digital Powershot Elph camera . . . need I say more ! Each model is an improvement from the last & yet doesn't climb in price and the photos this one produces are fabulous , plus it's so compact & light , perfect for traveling or to have on hand for those unexpected shots ! This Canon is definitely value for money too !
031 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I just received my Canon SD940IS several hours ago . I ordered it with 2 - Day Service , and it came early on the second day per Amazon's usual excellent service . I have the big Nikon outfit , many lenses / bags / tripods , etc . , but wanted something little , but power-packed , to take with us on a few upcoming trips . The Nikon is excellent , but would like to keep the travels simple . The SD940 is an absolute little jewel ! It will replace the Canon PowerShot SD400 that I've had for years , but it was time to boost the performance ( 12 mp vs . 5 mp . . . also 28 mm wide angle with the 940 ) . I also love the SMALL size of this marvel . You've been reading it fits in shirt or pants pockets , better believe it ! It is great in low light situations ( yup , tested it ) , and the LCD worked perfectly in the bright sun . I took a bunch of test pics , they are perfect . I also love the WIDE format Canon offers in the picture menu selections . An added benefit for me is that is uses the same batteries and case that the SD400 used , so now I have three spares . As someone mentioned in a prior review : the big cameras have their role and place , but having a small , highly portable , dynamo in your pocket means you will be ready to take all sorts of shots you very well might have missed . I would absolutely recommend the reader check this camera out !
033 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I owned Canon SD 790 before this , and loved it , but had to let it go . This one is obviously more smaller and sleeker . It is definitely better than SD 780 because of 4x zoom , bigger lens and display size , and i feel also a bit more sturdier . However , the picture quality though better than 780 is lesser than older 790
The menus are quite nice and usable , and camera is definitely more faster and responsive . It stays nicely in pocket , and good enough to take all types of shots . The video quality isnt bad at all , hdmi o / p is cool and I am wondering why I need my Sony handycam anymore .
035 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I bought this camera in last month . its very handy , stylish and loaded with cool features . i like the picture as well as video quality , both day and night . overall , it is good for day to day use . i would recommend this camera ! !
037 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
i bought this to replace my old digital camera so it is certainly an upgrade in that respect . so far , it has met my expectations - it's very compact , has a big lcd screen , is easy to navigate ( i am a canon fan ) and is stylish . i have taken some test pictures and they are great , but i haven't dabbled in the hd video function yet . for your information though , if you decide to purchase a case for this camera on amazon , get the canon psc - 55 . i bought this case in the store and they told me the canon psc - 1050 ( which I was considering to buy and is made for the sd 780 ) is too snug . on the other hand , the psc - 55 is a perfect fit but unfortunately , it has no additional compartments for camera accessories .
039 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I bought this Canon camera when my five-year-old Canon bit the dust . I would have had to pay $100 to fix it , so I decided to buy a new one . This one is like my beloved old Canon in so many ways . It's easy to operate , which is great for my husband and random people who I ask to take our picture . Plus , it's so light ; it's no stress for anyone to carry it around . I love to travel and take pictures of the scenery around me in the new places I'm visiting . While it's no SLR , this camera still takes gorgeous pictures that I blow up and hang up around my house . The quality it great for a point and shoot camera .
I read and re-read the reviews on this camera . I'm very happy with my selection and think it's another solid Canon product . I would definitely recommend it .
043 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This is my third Canon Elph digital camera and once again , I am extremely happy with all aspects of the camera . Very easy to use , great battery life , excellent picture quality , all around great camera for point and shoot photography !
045 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Have only had this camera for a couple of months but couldn't be happier . I replaced a Canon 5.0 megapixel . Was a little worried at first that I might miss the view finder but after using this camera I don't miss it at all . The screen is large enough to make it very easy to use . The controls are convenient , easy to use , and just the right size . Pictures are fantastic . Took some last week with no flash of a laser light show and was very impressed . Somewhat partial to Canon as that is the brand of my digital SLR also but this little camera gets an A + . Easy to use , easy to carry , large screen , convenient controls . Worth every cent .
047 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Great Camera . . Video Quality is too good . I love this camera a lot . . I wanted a simple point and click camera . . Glad to find this one , which is so easy and has great pictures / videos .
Would definitely recommend to buy this camera
049 4 This camera is simply beautiful . It is very sleek and light while feeling very sturdy in construction . Start up time for first shot is blazing fast even though continuous shooting is not . LCD is fairly visible even when in direct sunlight thus the lack of a viewfinder is not a deal breaker . While this camera is a little larger than the SD780IS , it packs a 4x zoom and a 28mm wide angle lens which has definitely been useful . Picture quality is not on par with any powershot since the SD790IS but taken for the sleek body , I can't complain . HD video is simply stunning for a camera of this caliber , my Vado HD simply cannot compare to this baby . Battery life is very good , the battery has lasted over 200 shots and multiple videos without a drained battery . This camera is made in China for those who care but it does not feel flimsy at all ( the newer shipment of SD780s are from China anyways ) . Buy this camera if you want a good camera with just the right amount of pep . There are other cameras out there with better IQ but they simply cannot compare to the SD940 as a whole .
050 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This camera is great , easily one of the best P & S I've ever owned or even seen among anyone who has a digital camera . I actually had the same model but with the 3x zoom and lost it on the slopes , so when I came back to get another one , I found this one with the 4x zoom and feel it is worth every penny . I rarely rave about products , especially electronics , but this one has turned out to be everything I wanted , very compact , easy to use , decent battery life , and most importantly , great quality of pics . I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking in the $200 range for a P & S digital camera .
052 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Great pics and slim body . The only problem might be that the buttons are a little small . . . .
054 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I've been a loyal Canon SD user for many years . Previously had the SD400 ( until it got stolen ) and SD600 ( gave to my brother ) . Now after having the newer Canon SD940IS for a month , I feel this camera's sleek and compact style packs a lot of punch . The Black color is also stylish and a good change to the default Silver cameras I've had before .
The video quality on 720p HD is amazing and the photos are awesome to capture those special moments . I thought I would need a viewfinder on the SD940IS , but it wasn't necessary since I rarely used the viewfinder on my previous models . Battery life is fairly good , you'll probably get a good 4 - 5 hours if it is on constantly . I carry a spare just in case .
Only one knock is that there is no full manual mode like I had on my previous versions , but the HD video mode overshadows this feature .
Overall , I'm satisfied with this camera . Well worth the price and comfort !
056 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I got this camera for my mom for her bday . She loves it . Its a great camera . Takes guality pictures , small and slim . The black looks good . I recommend this camera for anyone .
058 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
funny to read reviews on amazon ; same item , some people love it , others hate it .
am surprised about the negative reviews for this camera ; i've had three other canon's , this is my fave . great pictures , good options . i use it more for art shots , ( see ? i put that it quotes to NOT be obnoxious ) , so am using Vivid color , center-focusing ( instead of face ) , and iContrast . i NEVER use the flash .
am really pleased with the pictures i am taking , and the video is great too ( when i use it , which is rare ) .
great ergonomics , great size . the black version is unobtrusive . am carrying this everywhere .
will enjoy this for as long as it lasts ( or until a newer camera insists on being bought . . . )
061 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This is a replacement to my aging SD630 . The build quality is what you'd expect from a $250ish point and shoot . All metal body , the battery door is sturdy and the buttons have a positive feel . I shoot all canon products including a 20D and 1DMkIII and this camera is a great addition to the family . The image quality even at ISO800 looks fantastic and finally , they put a battery indicator on the display rather than only telling you once the battery is low .
The only thing I can say I dislike about this camera is that the HD video is not the best and it only use the digital zoom . Digital zoom has always been a no no to me as it's not a real zoom but from whatI read , all P & S cameras work this way so I really can't count it against Canon .
063 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I really love this camera , it is my first digital camera and boy did I pick a good one . The pictures look really good and the hd video is awesome too , my only complaint would be that in the dark it is sometimes hard to find the power button with it being flush and all , but I can overlook that , the battery live is so so . If you are planning on going on a shooting spree mixed in with video taken , you had better get a back up battery , I did . All that aside I would recommend this product
065 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Not being a huge camera person , I was looking for a decent quality point and shoot camera that I didnt have to have a manual to use . Been using this for over a month and couldnt be happier with it . I usually leave it on auto and let it do its thing , and it takes great pics . Also the camera was smaller than I expected , but the LCD screen is plenty big enough to see the pics without problem . overall , if you want a point and shoot perfect pocket sized camera , this is it !
067 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
After seeing the camera in action while visiting a friend I was very impressed with the ease at which the camera was used . The picture quality and the video quality were all that I could ask for being novice . The camera seems to be the right size . fits in any pocket . Smaller and it would be hard to handle . Great product .
069 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Barely can feel the camera when it is in my pocket . The images are fantastic and I can't say one negative thing about it after using it for the past month . Highly recommend this camera .
071 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
as a professional photographer who normally uses nikon products , i finally decided to try something new in the point-and-shoot department . i LOVE this camera . it's great in low light settings even when no flash is being used . it's fast , easily portable and easy to use . definitely a great camera for the price .
073 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Fantastic camera , fits perfectly in the hand , compact , super well built , progrmas and features easily found and logically laid out , great quality lens , great video mode , good sound quality from the mic . All this for $ 200 ? Cant beat it !
075 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I bought this camera because I wanted to upgrade my CANON SD1000 so after reading reviews i bought this camera . I wanted a new Canon with HD video so that was the main reason for upgrading . The SD940IS takes great pictures , you can hardly tell a difference between the SD1000 7.1 MP pics and the SD940 12.1 MP pics , but they do look slightly better on the SD940 . Now the video is another story . I go out to many electronic dance music parties and I take a lot of video . I have no video or audio issues with the SD1000 except to say that it's not in HD . The SD940 is in HD but unfortunately the audio quality on the camera is terrible . The mic is waaaaaaaaaaay too sensitive . I spent an entire night recording about 10 different videos with the camera at a club and in every single video you can hardly make out the song because the bass is just too strong for the overly sensitive microphone . Focusing on an object while taking video is also another issue . With the SD1000 all I had to do was push the button and it was immediately focused . . . with the SD940 the camera had a hard time figuring out what to focus on and I have a few videos that are completely blurry because the camera would not focus correctly . I returned the SD940 and I plan on purchasing the SD780IS instead after watching some videos of the same event I was at and I was pleased with the audio / video quality of that camera .
I am giving the camera three stars because the pictures are amazing and it has many different settings , but the video and audio quality are just not good . Below I'm leaving a link to one of the videos I took with the camera so you can see what I mean . Please see attached video .
[ . . . ]
076 4 I bought this camera because I wanted to upgrade my CANON SD1000 so after reading reviews i bought this camera . I wanted a new Canon with HD video so that was the main reason for upgrading . The SD940IS takes great pictures , you can hardly tell a difference between the SD1000 7.1 MP pics and the SD940 12.1 MP pics , but they do look slightly better on the SD940 . Now the video is another story . I go out to many electronic dance music parties and I take a lot of video . I have no video or audio issues with the SD1000 except to say that it's not in HD . The SD940 is in HD but unfortunately the audio quality on the camera is terrible . The mic is waaaaaaaaaaay too sensitive . I spent an entire night recording about 10 different videos with the camera at a club and in every single video you can hardly make out the song because the bass is just too strong for the overly sensitive microphone . Focusing on an object while taking video is also another issue . With the SD1000 all I had to do was push the button and it was immediately focused . . . with the SD940 the camera had a hard time figuring out what to focus on and I have a few videos that are completely blurry because the camera would not focus correctly . I returned the SD940 and I plan on purchasing the SD780IS instead after watching some videos of the same event I was at and I was pleased with the audio / video quality of that camera .
I am giving the camera three stars because the pictures are amazing and it has many different settings , but the video and audio quality are just not good . Below I'm leaving a link to one of the videos I took with the camera so you can see what I mean . Please see attached video .
[ . . . ]
078 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Excellent product . Portable , easy to use and it takes good quality photos in low light .
080 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I have not use video feature much yet however , the camera is very simple to operate for 70 years old and took it to short trip and loved it . small enough to place it in our bag and did not add additional weight . Our daughter also own this camera however she own the larger proffetional canon camera with large long lenzes , but she likes this little camera to take along to where ever she wants to go and shoot the photos of her family and friends .
083 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Everyone that comes across my camera immediately thinks - wow , nice . . . That's great and everything , but it wouldn't mean anything if the quality of the images wasn't great . This camera takes fantastic pictures for a point and shoot . Ooh - and I love that I can shoot HD video with it as well . Get a 8GB minimum memory card .
I highly recommend it .
086 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Great clear photos ! Way better then the stupid Coolpix camera I traded in for . The color of the photos is really great . I'm probably comparing to the Coolpix which every photo had a yellowish tint .
I'd definitely recommend this camera for the price !
088 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This camera is very portable ( fits into pocket or purse w / o even knowing it's there , takes super clear pictures , and decent videoes . The battery doesn't last as long as I'd like , but overall , heppy with it .
090 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Swift delivery with superb features . Well pleased and wife loves it especially with a 16 GB SDHC memory card .
093 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I have only had this camera for a few weeks but i love it . I had bought 4 other camera's before finding this one . I have 2 young kids and i needed a camera that takes pictures fast . In low lighting it takes a sec . to take the picture but with good bright lighting it takes immediatly . The picture quality is wonderful , the pictures are very colorful and so crisp . The buttons are small and flat but they just take some getting use to . This camera is a wonderful camera to own if you are looking for a small great picturing taking camera . I would recommend this camera to anyone .
095 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I am now on my 5th Canon compact point and shoot and am amazed at how Canon continues to up their game in this category . I am so happy with this new one . The photos are amazing and it is so durable . I spent days researching and came back to this camera . A real win .
097 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I'm a Canon fan for life . I'm a diver and love to take photos underwater . I had a Canon Powershot A95 for over 7 years , replacing a broken one with a used one when they were discontinued , and then once that one broke I couldn't find another for a reasonable price . It took amazing pictures underwater and was very good to me . So I decided to upgrade to another Canon , seeing how they make cases for all their P & S cameras . I bought this camera along with the Canon DC-WP33 , its underwater case . I got it yesterday , and have been very pleased with the images . I'm no professional photographer , and stick with the underwater setting ( which I love , and Canon's is fantastic , although I wish I could adjust the white balance while in UW mode ) while diving . But topside I like simple , easy-to-use yet functional features , and this has loads , more than I'll ever use . I love the color selections , being able to shoot in sepia , black and white , and the the contrast settings are nice as well . I should also add that the built-in flash on this camera is pretty powerful for as small as it is . I'm looking forward to seeing how well it works at depth , without a strobe .
It is really small , smaller than my Palm Pre , but just a bit . It fits in the case that came with the Pre , for scale . That's what I'm using it for now . The controls take a little getting used to . I think for the person who wants a high-quality point and shoot that can literally fit in your pocket but takes great pics and HD video , this is the one for you .
I will come back and update this review after using the camera on my dive trip , for anyone else contemplating a purchase for similar reasons .
099 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I got this camera just a few weeks ago and I shot a few movies in 720p and a few hundred pictures . It's the third Canon SD camera I have so I am quite used with the series . The first one died after almost 6 years , the second is still in use after 3 years .
The camera looks small even if it's the same size as the other 2 - it's because the rounded corners . The buttons are OK , the menu has a huge selection of modes , but not a manual one , the image quality is very good for a camera with lenses and sensor that small .
Recording video is easy and the quality is good , but there are 2 serious problems : 1 . the length is limited not to the space on the card but to some limits Canon imposed with no evident logic behind it and 2 . the video is recorded as H264 ( great ) in a . MOV container ( very bad ) . Editing the video with popular tools like VirtualDub is almost impossible because of the poor choice of the container - AVI is far more popular .
One strange problem with the camera is that opening the door to the card compartment shuts down the camera even if the lens is out . I understand why to shut down ( it is possible to extract the battery ) but no idea why it does not retract the lens .
101 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I started to buy cannon about three years ago . My battery can last for months at a time . Now the camera I just purchased is incredibly compact and extremely easy to use . I know reading some of these reviews you can get mixed feelings about the product , but let me reassure you , this is a great point and shoot camera . It has many features for any occasion or event . If you like cannon , you will love this product !
103 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This camera is perfect to go in your pocket , just make sure you get a screen protector for it .
105 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Great camera . I would definitely recommend purchasing a camera through Amazon . Its cheaper , easier , and a lot more relaxing than going to a store to pick one out . It arrived in perfect condition , same as if I would have went to the store and purchased one myself .
107 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This is my sixth Canon camera , including two digital Rebels and four PowerShots . I bought it for its excellent wide-angle lens , and HD video mode in particular . I wanted the wide-angle lens to capture more of a scene when in a small shooting space , and this camera delivered well . It has the usual excellent shooting speed and lack of digital delay that I've come to expect from Canons . The HD video mode is excellent , and the videos look great on my 52 HD LCD TV at home .
The biggest disappointment is the picture quality of the still shots . The pictures are washed out most of the time , and facial skin tones look pasty . Pictures look flattened and there's a loss of the subtle rosy skin tones that makes pictures of faces look like they're wearing thick foundation makeup . Unlike my previous Canon digital Elphs , which I've kept for 3 - 4 years , I sold this camera on eBay after only a few months at a significant loss . Save your money and look for another camera .
109 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Great size and portability . I bought this for my mom b / c it is small and light . It is also pretty much a turn it on , snap a picture , and turn it off , and you're done . She isn't very good with gadgets so I wanted something that would basically do all the adjusting automatically . Her pictures are no longer blurry or too dark . The quality is satisfactory to me , but then again I am used to using a dslr . It fires up pretty quick and snaps the first photo within a couple seconds . It also has a decent wide angle perspective .
111 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
This camera has everything.i just love this canon camera and i will keep this camera 4 next 5 years . . . Bcoz i don't trust any other camera 4 gud result .
113 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I just bought this camera and the first thing I have to say is that it's extremely small and light weight . The dimensions on this camera is extraordinary considering all the things this camera can do . The camera has a 12.1 MP sensor , but megapixels are over-rated as anything larger than 10 is over kill . I have a Canon 40D , which I love , but it only has a 10 MP sensor that would blow away this camera any day of the week , but I digress . I used to have a Canon SD890IS which again , I loved , because it was compact and easy to use , but it was still a little bulky to carry in my pocket . The SD890IS also didn't have HD video playback , which the 940IS does . To me , with those 2 selling points , I had to test the camera out .
Prior to buying the camera , I went to best buy to test out the SD780IS which is the older version of this camera and was amazed at the size of it . I took some pictures and was relatively impressed so I bought it . I brought it home and to my surprise , the camera was a return . . . the reason I knew this was because the date was already programmed into the camera and the battery fully charged . I decided to take some pictures and some video and then return the camera . After looking at the pictures , it's pretty much what you get , which is an ok camera for indoor shots , but a decent camera for outside shots . The HD video is somewhat not completely true as it is on 30FPS and it basically makes the video a larger pixel size , which means that it just blows up the video to a 720 format . It definitely looks much better than the 640x480 and if you intend to view the videos on a large screen TV , a must .
The camera controls are a bit under-whelming , but it is intended to be a point and shoot , so even though I wish I had more control , I gave that up for size . The other camera I really wanted to purchase was the G11 or the S90 , but they were significantly more expensive and larger and I wanted the size of the camera to fit in my wife's purse or my pocket . The controls are extremely basic , meaning you can set the size of the file , timer , flash on or off , and then some canon scenes which basically automatically or you can do it manually , set a scene for a type of picture , e.g . , indoor , outdoor , night , etc .
Again , the picture quality is what you expect from a small form factor camera and the controls are pretty much non-existent , but for me , this was not the selling point . I own a great digital SLR , so I didn't need something to compete with that , I needed something that was small , took HD video , was easy to use , especially for the wife , and inexpensive , relative to the other cameras I was thinking about . I agree some of the other posters that it doesn't take the best pictures , but that wasn't my biggest reason to buying the camera at this stage .
114 4 I just bought this camera and the first thing I have to say is that it's extremely small and light weight . The dimensions on this camera is extraordinary considering all the things this camera can do . The camera has a 12.1 MP sensor , but megapixels are over-rated as anything larger than 10 is over kill . I have a Canon 40D , which I love , but it only has a 10 MP sensor that would blow away this camera any day of the week , but I digress . I used to have a Canon SD890IS which again , I loved , because it was compact and easy to use , but it was still a little bulky to carry in my pocket . The SD890IS also didn't have HD video playback , which the 940IS does . To me , with those 2 selling points , I had to test the camera out .
Prior to buying the camera , I went to best buy to test out the SD780IS which is the older version of this camera and was amazed at the size of it . I took some pictures and was relatively impressed so I bought it . I brought it home and to my surprise , the camera was a return . . . the reason I knew this was because the date was already programmed into the camera and the battery fully charged . I decided to take some pictures and some video and then return the camera . After looking at the pictures , it's pretty much what you get , which is an ok camera for indoor shots , but a decent camera for outside shots . The HD video is somewhat not completely true as it is on 30FPS and it basically makes the video a larger pixel size , which means that it just blows up the video to a 720 format . It definitely looks much better than the 640x480 and if you intend to view the videos on a large screen TV , a must .
The camera controls are a bit under-whelming , but it is intended to be a point and shoot , so even though I wish I had more control , I gave that up for size . The other camera I really wanted to purchase was the G11 or the S90 , but they were significantly more expensive and larger and I wanted the size of the camera to fit in my wife's purse or my pocket . The controls are extremely basic , meaning you can set the size of the file , timer , flash on or off , and then some canon scenes which basically automatically or you can do it manually , set a scene for a type of picture , e.g . , indoor , outdoor , night , etc .
Again , the picture quality is what you expect from a small form factor camera and the controls are pretty much non-existent , but for me , this was not the selling point . I own a great digital SLR , so I didn't need something to compete with that , I needed something that was small , took HD video , was easy to use , especially for the wife , and inexpensive , relative to the other cameras I was thinking about . I agree some of the other posters that it doesn't take the best pictures , but that wasn't my biggest reason to buying the camera at this stage .
116 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Most of my photography revolves around my daughter . After noticing that out of the thousands of photos I have taken of my daughter , I didn't have very many with me and her . Carrying a DSLR around everywhere is inconvenient and I wanted something better than my iPhone so I started looking for something I could put in just about any pocket . I read reviews for about two weeks before deciding on this camera . The picture quality is decent enough and it takes 720p video . Its also very easy to hold out at arms length to take a photo of myself and my daughter when we're out and about . it's a great camera to photograph our adventures without getting in the way of the fun . It's also great for photographing places I want to return to later with my DSLR . Overall I'm very happy with it . The only criticism I really have is the battery life .
120 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I wanted a camera to provide an alternative to lugging my bulky Nikon SLRs around on day trips and vacations , etc . I had a previous Sony for this purpose , but it has died and was bulkier than I wanted anyway . Realizing there are trade offs between size and quality , I opted for this Canon after doing some research .
After a couple of weeks putting it to the test on several day trips and around the house , I am extremely pleased with this camera . First , it is tiny . . . I'm talking teeny tiny - which is perfect . Fits in a shirt pocket or pants pocket nicely and is not very heavy . Now I can have a quality camera with me all day and not have to have some bag over my shoulder or an overstuffed pocket .
The camera powers up FAST ! In just a couple seconds you are ready to shoot , which is great when a photo opp happens . The best setting is Auto , and the camera does a nice job of focusing and exposing your shots . The quality of the images is extremely good and rivals some of my DSLRs . What I was really surprised by , and pleased with , is the HD video quality . This little camera shoots very good quality video !
My complaints are few , and do not detract from my enjoyment of the camera , but just enough to prevent a five star rating :
- The LCD screen is hard to see in direct daylight . I understand this is the nature of most LCD screens , but because this is the only viewing option , they need to work on improving that .
- The mini-USB connection is protected by a small cover that does not open wide enough . I have to force it beyond its comfortable hinge range when inserting a slightly wider connector and am always worried I'll break it .
- Once you get beyond the 4x optical zoom and move into digital zoom territory , the picture quality drops quickly . I use the digital zoom sparingly , and when I have no other choice .
Overall , I am very happy with this little camera and plan to use it for years to come .
123 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I bought this camera to replace a very old Casio . My main desire was to have something portable that did good video and could be used at clubs / parties etc .
I'm very impressed with the flash when using it in clubs . Even at a distance it illuminates the subjects . Also the wide angle means you can get everyone in the picture .
The macro is excellent , the best I have used in a camera of this size .
The daytime picture quality is pretty good but I was expecting a little better . I am willing to forego this for the share portability of the camera though - easy to slip into the front pocket of a pair of jeans .
126 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I am a professional photographer , and I actually bought this camera because I saw the good review of another pro . The camera takes good photos outdoors . . . that is if you are holding pretty still . The colors are good and the MP is good , however , I was so disappointed in ALL indoor shots . Everyone came out blurry , almost a double image . I thought something was wrong with the camera , so I sent it back . To my disappointment , there was nothing wrong . They sent me out a new one , and the results were the same ! I took 900 pictures with it and it still was horrible . As for the camera itself , it was much thinner than the Cannon I bought before , which I thought would be good for pocket carrying , but it is so slippery it's hard to hold onto . The buttons are more even with the body of the camera , so it is a lot harder to push the buttons than earlier editions of any of the point and shoot Canons . I am stuck with a camera that I really can't stand at all . I am upset because we took it to Disneyland with us , and 50% of the shots were not sharp , or blurry . I would stay away from this camera if you are looking for an excellent camera . IT IS MEDIOCRE at best .
128 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
It is just cool to have this camera . Small and compact and yet powerful ! Nice pictures and videos . But the Videos is not in MP3 format . You have to use QuickTime player to play the videos . Your normal Windows Media Player or Real Player will not open them on your PC . You need to download software like QuickTime .
130 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Bought this to replace my SD860 which , after three years of being dropped and crushed ( and two trips to Canon for repairs ) , has started failing again , well out of warrantee . I thought this tiny camera would be a great carry-arount device for every day , but I just have to say it has disappointed me , almost like I got a bum unit .
* The autofocus is quite slow , it spends a lot of time hunting for the right spot .
* The autofocus makes bad choices too often once it has settled down . This is a really undexpected problem , as this is my fourth Powershot , and I've always thought they did great at reading my mind .
* There was a not-pretty blotchy character to the images that I can almost replicate on my other cameras by turning the jpeg compression all the way up ( i.e . , quality down ) . This is not what I choose a Canon for . Even with jpeg compression set to NORMAL , the images remained low quality .
So , I suppose Canon might have tried to just squeeze a little too much into this sleek little package . I returned it , and Amazon was SUPER-NICE to give me full credit despite some bad scratches on the front . I expected only a partial , maybe 50% refund ( yes , I was willing to essentially pay to get this camera away from me ) , but they gave me all my money back . I guess my next camera purchase will have to be from Amazon .
132 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I used this about a week and I'm really like this camera . My first Canon camera ironically was a PowerShot 35mm that I bought 19 years ago . I took a lot of pictures with it during high school , I lost it during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 because my house was flooded . I since then supported Sony CyberShot DSC-P50 ( 2.1 Megapixel ) in 2003 , and the last was DSC-W7 that was 7.2 Megapixel in 2005 . When I got the Apple 24 LED Cinema Display in May 2009 . It has a true 24 - bit Resolution with In Plane Switching ( IPS ) meaning you will have ALL 16.7 Million colors displayed . I went back and look at the pics and Sony really did not look good . Now I see why professional photographers don't consider Sony cameras . I started looking at comparisons with Nikon vs Canon . To me Canon was the best choice with color reproduction and detail and it was apparent across the entire Canon line of cameras . I look at samples well as pictures from individuals on Flickr . I wanted a smaller pocket camera to take everywhere because Camera phones was not cutting it . What helped a great deal was reading the feedback on Amazon and Canon's website . I first look at the SD980 IS and seen it had too many bad reviews . Which I concluded that SD940 IS was the best choice for features , function and ease of use . After a week I can honestly say that this is the best camera I ever own even better than the 3 - CCD Sony DCR-VX2000 that cost me $3,000 back in 2000 , simply because not only of the picture quality but excellent high definition recording , 720p @ 30 FPS video quality . I also bought a Sandisk 32GB Class 4 SDHC Memory Card in which Canon advise Class 4 minimum SDHC Cards for HD Recording . Sandisk Ultra II are Class 4 with a 15MB per second read with a 9MB per second write . I also purchased the Canon PIXMA All In One MX860 from Amazon also . I dump my HP printers because they always over saturate the picture with extra colors . Print quality from the SD940 IS looks awesome on the MX860 . It really make sense to use Canon cameras with Canon printers for best results .
136 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Great camera - had it about a week now , but there is definitely a fault in its construction / ease of use . The ON switch and the buttons on the back are set flush with the camera body making it very difficult to navigate with - especially in the dark .
Otherwise its an excellent camera - happy with the quality and its ability to take photos in low light without a flash .
Video quality seems excellent too .
138 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
The portability , quality of construction of this camera is excellent !
The pictures would look nice on the camera screen , but DISAPPOINTING on a PC screen .
And the color contrast did NOT live up to my expectation !
It's price / quality is disappointing to me.It's even no better than an old-fashioned Casio camera I bought 5yrs ago !
140 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Very portable , very small . Image quality suffers - both still images and HD video . S90 stills much better , but no HD video . Last years sd 790 had very good picture quality also . Sent sd 940 back .
141 4 Very portable , very small . Image quality suffers - both still images and HD video . S90 stills much better , but no HD video . Last years sd 790 had very good picture quality also . Sent sd 940 back .
143 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Already had a Canon camera that I liked but wanted a smaller one for outdoor stuff like skiing . Can't really take a nice camera to the top of a mountain . This camera is TINY . Picture quality is fine . 12MP is useless as with all new cameras . Picture quality is no different than my 4MP Canon from a few years ago .
147 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I really was very excited about this camera . But what a disappointment.My old Cannon with 6 MP took better pictures . Most of the pictures are noisy and grainy in auto mode . I am not an expert but in manual mode made no difference to me . I tried different settings but the same results . Now I don't have time to figure this thing out . I need to be taking pictures , it is a point and shoot camera .
149 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Nothing spectacular here . . . The only plus is the larger LCD screen for viewing . HD video is VERY disappointing . Looks like any other video quality . Zooming doesn't auto focus so don't even try to Zoom while recording video . In HD 2 minute recording was almost 1 GB of memory . Save your $ $ and buy the $125 Canon . I will probably be returning this one to Amazon .
151 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Great improvement over the Canon SD700IS
which I gave to my son .
Have not been able to get the video's to
play on my XP computers YET
152 4 Great improvement over the Canon SD700IS
which I gave to my son .
Have not been able to get the video's to
play on my XP computers YET
154 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I bought this as a Christmas present for my husband , so he has not yet used it . It looked good and it small and compact which is what he wanted .
156 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Well I picked this up because I heard Canon made good products and I wanted a camera that took good pictures and recorded HD video so this seemed like the best option at the time in my price range . Boy was I wrong . Menus are easy to navigate and the camera looks great but that's where the compliments end for me . Pictures can either come out good or just plain terrible . This camera can take some very blurry pictures . Alot of the pictures I took came out as if I took them during an earthquake when I was holding the camera as steady as possible . No matter how much adjusting I did it was either a good picture or a bad one . I took far to many bad pictures for my liking .
I also dabbed a little with the HD video , it was okay inside for a point and shoot but I took it outside and the screen went completely white . I couldn't see a thing on the screen . Well that was the last straw for me and this camera went right back to Amazon . I played a little with the Sony Cybershot WX1 and then the Panasonic Lumix ZS3 and found the ZS3 to be the better camera out of the three in EVERY way . I am happy with my purchase of the ZS3 .
If you don't think what I said here is true get the cameras and test them for yourself .
158 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
there is no picture quality setting , so 12.1 mega px . just a fake , review it carefully before you buy .
160 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD940IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
The camera deserves every good review and comment given in other reviews . I am most disappointed in the lack of a printed manual , especially since there are not private manuals in the market . To me it indicates contempt for the needs of the customer on the part of Canon .
Is Canon giving up its traditional care and concern for its customers ?
