Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)
) . . Also , my parents have multiple dogs - two great danes and a boston terrier ( who is VERY hyper ) - and I can take pictures of them too and they're not blurry ! The fact that it also takes SD cards made the switch from my old camera to this a breeze since it took the same type . No need to buy new specialty camera cards ! I also love the Color Accent Mode - I'm pretty sure everyone that I show it too is jealous that they don't have that feature on their cameras . I also have tested the panoramic image feature and it was quick , easy , and truly a great feat ! This camera packs a powerful little punch . I understand you can get it in different colors - but I chose the silver one and at this point I can't say anything bad about it ! If your looking for a simple , inexpensive yet great digital camera - this is the one to consider !
019 4 This camera worked well after six months , but in the past week , after the camera opened , it stayed open and beeped , saying Lens error , restart camera . Google this term and the Canon 1100IS and you'll see many people with the same problem .
A shame since I've bought numerous Canon cameras over the years and have found them to work flawlessly . There's even a class-action suit over this to get them to acknowledge the problem with the 1100IS . Google that and you'll find info on that too .
UPDATE : I've read accounts of owners who send Canon the camera in for servicing within the warranty period and for their troubles are told that it's their fault instead of a production flaw . I sent in mine prepared for the worst , but they ended up fixing it ! So in my case , they honored the warranty . I'd give the product 3 stars now , but Amazon doesn't let you change the original rating .
026 4 Usually I do not take the time , but I felt obliged to write a review for this camera . That's because it took me so long to decide which one to buy . I am a point and shoot type of person with a side of wanna-a-be photographer . So , I wanted a camera with perks but easy to use . So far I really like this camera . My old one was a Nikon cool pix.I liked it well enough , though it was a gift so not personally choosen . Anyway , I dropped that one in the river . I really wanted a canon but was concerned about the lense errors I had read about . I think it's just something you have to stay conscience of . I bought a case and I haven't had any problems . As far as picture quality , it's pretty sweet . I love the macro mode for close ups of bees and flowers and hummingbirds . However , it works great for regular pictures too . You can set it to where it makes chirping noises or barking when you shoot which is funny for kids . Also the video is really good . It only had 3x optical zoom which is another reason why I hesitated . But , I haven't found I miss it for how compact the camera is . Even with the case it fits in my purse good . I would advise you use the wrist strap always b / c it is small and could slip out of your hands and then you would probably bump the lense and get the lense error . I got the blue one and I love the color - makes it easy to know it's mine cause most people have silver . Oh yeah , I really like the different settings . It has a sunset , beach , foilage , snow , action , black and white , sepia tone , etc . I use the sunset setting every night to take a different picture of my lake sunset and it's beautiful . I've found the battery life is fine , especially if you use the view finder instead of the screen . The Nikon I had before came with a dock and tons of cords to charge it . This one has a battery-only dock the gets plugged directly in the electrical socket . Way better for everday use and trips . I've only had to charge it once so far and it's been over a month . Overall , I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend it . Especially because it was at a competitor for $50 more . * * * I almost forgot : in order to view your pictures on the camera the switch must be set to view mode . If you are concerned about the camera turning on in your purse , turn it to this mode and then push the power button off . Then , if it gets turned on accidentally , the lense will not come out b / c it is in view mode ! ( :
072 4 I can't say enough good things about this awesome camera ! I was in the market for a simple yet sophisticated camera from an older Kodak that I've had for years . I was looking around and the price and specs on this camera seemed to fit the bill . It can slip easily into your pocket and in your hand for quick snapshots ! I love the fact that the images come out so clear ! I took a small road trip just the other day and took many pictures as I was driving ( I was careful ! ) and all came out clear : ) . . Also , my parents have multiple dogs - two great danes and a boston terrier ( who is VERY hyper ) - and I can take pictures of them too and they're not blurry ! The fact that it also takes SD cards made the switch from my old camera to this a breeze since it took the same type . No need to buy new specialty camera cards ! I also love the Color Accent Mode - I'm pretty sure everyone that I show it too is jealous that they don't have that feature on their cameras . I also have tested the panoramic image feature and it was quick , easy , and truly a great feat ! This camera packs a powerful little punch . I understand you can get it in different colors - but I chose the silver one and at this point I can't say anything bad about it ! If your looking for a simple , inexpensive yet great digital camera - this is the one to consider !
077 4 This is a great little point and shoot . It's small enough to easily fit in a pocket and takes fine pictures . My one gripe is its default to crank up the ISO automatically in low light . Unless you switch to manual mode and specify your desired ISO , the camera will switch to 800 ISO and you'll get a very grainy image ( assuming you've turned off the flash ) . That complaint aside , the camera takes outstanding pictures in daylight , captures good videos , has very good battery life and has places the controls where they're easy and intuitive to access .
117 4 I am a high school student who is interested in photography ( amateur status ) and takes pictures for yearbook . I wanted a solid , attractive camera that could take fast shots , adjust to lighting quickly , and had a good auto setting , freeing me up to compose my pictures fast and effectively , rather than wasting time making sure the camera focused and that the flash worked correctly . This camera filled all those requirements , and it is the best purchase I've made in a while . I research a lot before I buy an item , and I bought this trusting that it would meet my high standards . It did ! And the blue aluminum casing is both pretty and durable . I would recommend it to anyone looking for a small , light camera that takes fast and great resolution pictures . For an incredibly low price , too !
012 4 Some people might say ( or complain ) that this is not a simple point and shoot camera , but if you leave the camera in the auto setting - - this camera is as good as they get . Those complainers might want to consider a disposable camera instead . This is not as complicated as using those $1k + cameras . The manual setting allows you to different things like stitching multiple pictures if you're trying to take a wide scenic pictures , auto focus , video , etc . I really didn't know what to expect from this camera . I also own the Canon 30D but wanted something a little more portable . I had owned others but always had problems with my images ( or my hands ) moving too much . The image stability feature on this camera works perfect . When you point this camera at a person / object - - one or more boxes come up on the screen to show you what the camera will focus on . This is very useful if you want to focus on objects that are either close to you or farther away . The boxes actually move if the object is moving so you can get a clear picture of them . I which I $1400 camera had this feature . I read the manual while on my flight to Rome and couldn't believe the feature this thing has . I made sure I had a couple of high capacity memory cards for this trip . Don't bother trying to take pictures in dark places using the flash . The pictures will come out dark . This is a common problem a lot of cameras unless you have enough flash power . When I used the video features of this camera , I was able to take some spectacular video inside several churches ( dark inside ) in Rome . The videos are stored on the memory card in . avi format . I actually downloaded these videos on my computer and pulled out individual frames . I bought an extra battery for the trip but never used it . This thing doesn't use a lot of battery power . I went a min of 2 days ( 350 + pictures ) without charging it . Even then - - I really didn't have to charge it . The menus are easy to understand and the camera allows you to adjust the video / audio quality so you can take additional pictures / video . I used Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 to put all my pictures on a DVD with music and narration and played it on a 32 - inch TV . The results were better than I expected . I'm going to try and upload a couple of pictures from my Rome , Naples and Capri trip on Amazon . I uploaded the pictures on amazon and can tell you that the results don't do this camera any justice . You can email me - - I'll send a couple of video samples that I took when I was in Rome . Please take the time to read the manual and take some sample pictures . I would not manually change the auto settings unless you are familiar with digital photography and how those changes affect your pictures . The auto mode worked very well for me .
054 4 I bought a Canon on recommendation by friends and family who have various Canon mini camears ( e.g . Powershots , Elphs , etc ) . I have to say that it's all around great camera that takes high-quality photos in most settings . Even in the darkest settings , the shots come out clear and bright ( with flash of course ) . The only time that the shots don't come out superb is when trying to capture something in lower-light settings from a considerable distance - in this case , the shots come out dark though I think they can be tweaked when downloaded . When you factor the size of the camera and the low price , this camera is a winner all around .
107 4 This is a great camera for people like me who hate to cart things around . It fits in my shirt pocket along with my glasses and pen . It takes good pictures as long as you avoid the digital zoom and don't otherwise work within its inherent limits . Low light performance is not great so if you are indoors beyond the range of the flash handheld shots are iffy . ( I haven't found a tripod that fits in my shirt pocket )
113 4 Nice camera , but I did know that it came with a battery and charger . ( Maybe I didn't read the details completely ) When I made my purchase , I also purchased a battery and charger . Now I have two battery chargers and two batteries .
118 4 I bought this to take with me to Europe . I wanted something I could put in my purse or pocket . It took great pictures , was easy to use , the battery lasted longer than any of the other camera batteries ( I was with 4 other people ) . I took an extra battery , so I always had one charged . I dropped this camera numerous times and it just kept on clicking . Each night we would upload the pics off of all 4 cameras onto a computer and my pics were by far the best quality .
141 4 I moved from an older Kodak Easyshare camera to this awesome camera . It takes amazing pictures no matter what , and has a setting for almost everything ( you just have to take the time to figure out how to use all of the different settings ) . It is a perfect size to carry with my in my pocket and seriously always takes good pictures - even if it is an action shot . Sometimes it does seem like there is a little bit of a delay when taking a picture , but that really doesn't bother me at all because its worth it for the great pictures . The only slight problem I have had is getting my pictures to my photo editing application on my computer ( I have a Macbook so I'm sure it would be fine on Windows ) , but I eventually figured it out - it's just kind of annoying . But besides that , this is by far one of the best cameras on the market for a GREAT price - I am thrilled to have it and definitely could not go back to any other type of camera . Canon is the best !
027 4 There are three annoying problems that I can see so far , otherwise the camera seems nice . The first problem is that in auto , the camera tends to overexpose so that whites are badly lacking detail . The second is that the background audio in movie mode is loud , so that if you're taking a silent movie , even a very mild wind sounds like your movie was taken during a hurricane . The third is that the recovery time is a bit slow so that the time lag before you can zoom the lens or take the next picture is noticeable . There may be a way to compensate for these faults , but I haven't found them yet . On the other hand , the size is nice , build quality seems nice , pictures are generally excellent in both sharpness and color .
028 4 For a digital camera novice who has used the same one for the last 5 years , this is a great design in terms of portability and lightweight . I wish the buttons were easier to interpret and that there were a simple mode to take basic pictures . I have found that the face detection aspect of it does slow down the picture taking . This is especially hard to overcome when trying to take pictures of small chilren who do not hold poses . The quality is excellent though .
049 4 I bought this camera for my wife who doesn't like complicated devices . So far , she has been happy with it . It is a little small to hold , but we have managed . I especially like the color highlight feature , but I believe it is a novelty that might seldom get used . We plan to use the camera on safari this summer - to capture close-up shots when my SLR has a long lens on it .
064 4 I bought this camera after having dealt with many other digital cameras and this one is the best one yet ! The picture quality is beautiful and I don't have to wait a lifetime for the flash to work as I did with other cameras . It fits great in your pocket and is lightweight . It has the face focus squares and the zoom works wonderful . I would recommend this camera to anyone .
069 4 This is the third camera i've purchased over the past few months , guess what ? they are all the same camera . . . . each one has died with the lens error message which is quickly determined to be voided by canon ' customer service ' . in less than two weeks of very casual and careful use it has barfed again and i'm once again having to pay service shipping for a product that doesn't perform and i know what the cookie cutter response is going to be . These used to be great cameras but obviously parts lately coming from ' who knows where ' need a serious boost in QA to fix this lens error problem , but thats for the next sap , i'm done with canon
089 4 Took this camera to Europe with me . The battery life is super long and it captures photos perfectly ! I love it . I've used it for about a month and have had absolutely no problems .
093 4 This camera is wonderful , it has vibrant color and lots of great features . I just love it and would advise everyone to get one .
099 4 All I want is a compact digital camera that has excellent picture quality and very easy to use so I can take it to anywhere without much of effort and knowing I can take quality pictures . This is the one . Actually , this camera is much better than I expected .
120 4 This camera takes good pictures , has a decent interface , and looks nice . But there's one major problem . After nearly a month of use , the camera turns on , reads Lens Error , and the lens will not retract when turned off . Apparently this is an ongoing problem , it makes the camera completely unusable , and Canon does not admit that it's a problem . I have yet to try returning it . Wish me luck .
133 4 This camera is very easy to use and makes beautiful pictures . I've even found and successfully used the beach , night , and portrait settings ; I never used these on our old Elph . I highly recommend this camera .
137 4 I have been looking at this camera for over a year and trying to see if i can find something better or cuter . Finally I just sucked it up and bought it and I have not regretted it a day since ! I love this camera and its features . It takes great photos ! I still need to work out the darkness in inside areas so that it wouldn't happen but everything else is great ! This is a great camera . Its compact and adorable . The Photos speak for themselves !
149 4 I'm still learning all the functionality that comes with this camera , but was able to do the basic point-and-shoot immediately upon arrival . That was one of the reasons I chose this camera - for the relatively easy menu maneurvering . It's a great compact size and I've been happy with the pictures so far .
157 4 After much research , this little camera stood out . The images that come from this camera are remarkable . The colors are amazing and I've been playing around with all of the different settings . I took a picture of my dog barking under the pets and kids setting and the picture of him was so clear and sharp . Absolutely nothing was blurred in the shot and the detail in the photo was fantastic ! I can't wait to take this on vacation with me . Now only if I can get my canon printer to live up to its standards !
182 4 I purchased this camera for my daughter . It came with the photo printer . She loves the camera and it takes really great shots . She hasn't ever used the printer though .
040 4 This camera is amazing ! It's economical , takes gorgeous photos even while moving in a car , has great zoom capability and macro ability , and the movie quality will knock your socks off . Ignore those who nitpic in their evaluations . Unless you're an 800 lb . gorilla who's hard on your toys , this camera is solid . You don't need to worry about a thing . This camera is literally a dream come true . Order a 2GB memory card , and a couple extra Canon NB - 4L Equivalent Digital Camera Battery @ [ . . . ] each and you are good to go . I just returned from vacation with 503 photos that are incredible . Just remember , rarely use flash indoors . My indoor photos of the cavernous Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art are amazing with no flash , as are detailed photos of the art . Some outdoor photos that didn't look like they would be good on the display turned out wonderful once I saw them on my pc . I even took terrific photos of storm clouds at night . This camera will make even a novice confident & adventurous . I recommend Beach Cameras as the source provider . The transition from my old PowerShot S230 was a cinch . I met once with an experienced user who helped show me a few tricks . Now that I've got those down I'll meet with her again to learn additional tricks . It's all in the user manuel , I just prefer show & tell . Once you have it , you won't leave home without it .
017 4 I am definitely an amateur , not as savvy a user as it sounds like a lot of the other reviewers are . But , from the other extreme of photographer-smartness , this is a great little camera to use . It's easy , yet has a lot of functionality , which the user guide manages to clearly explain . I needed something very small , which it is , that takes awesome pictures , which it does . Battery life seems very good , so far . My husband likes the manly brown color , too .
032 4 With all of the glowing reviews for this camera , I expected more from it . It is a great looking camera , and the menu's are easily accessible . What surprised me was how bad the picture looks in the view finder . In indoor conditions , the viewfinder shows a fuzzy , grainy picture . I thought the camera must be defective and got a second one , but it is the same . The actual pictures look clear , but I am very annoyed with the viewfinder . I haven't used the camera for that long , but it seems that I have to do a lot of red-eye editing later ( even with the red eye reduction turned on ) . My last camera , the Canon S30 , did a much better job in eliminating red-eye from all but the lightest eyed people . There is a continuous shooting mode , which allows you to set a 1 or 2 second delay before the camera takes another picture . I found that even with the shortest delay ( 1 second ) that the camera took too long to take another shot ( again , indoor conditions with flash ) . It's fine for a compact and cute camera , but I really expected more .
039 4 I lost my older SD1100is due to my carelessness and thus had to come and buy another . I refuse to replace it with anything else out there .
The 1100is is the smallest digital camera with all of the features that Canon provides in this price range . $159 bucks gets you an excellent device with 8mp and image stabilization . Honestly , if you are printing small images 4x6 or 5x7 then 4 - 5mega pixels is all you will ever need . Canon on this camera kept the 8mp but incorporated some awesome features .
My family uses this camera on a regular basis and apart from the occasional red-eye , we have no issues . Did you know that you can actually view the pictures on the camera and remove red-eye before you transfer them to your computer ? Awesome feature again .
The zoom on the camera and the flash are plentiful and in my opinion do an excellent job for general day to day photography . This is not a professionals digital camera . . . but I would not be surprised if some of them had one in their bag for occasional light duty work .
I wont go into details about what is in the box , etc . . . as that can be found on the product page .
One other thing I would like to recommend , is the EYE-FI SD Cards . . . . we use a 2gb version that allows for wireless uploads to your computer and various image sharing websites . . . . its a must buy . Why I recommend it with this camera is that I have seen very little to no battery drain when the Eye-Fi card is uploading images to the computer via our wireless network or from hotspots in airports / McDonalds etc . . .
See my review :
Enjoy .
047 4 Perfect little camera for the money . Good pics except for low light group shots . The flash isn't designed for that , just closer up shots . My wife uses for real estate and likes it . Video is not bad either with a large SD card . Don't even think about installing the software ! ! It installed on one computer but failed on the other half way through . I could not remove it and the Canon WEB site is no help at all . You can use the Microsoft downloader just fine to download pics and video . Again , don't install the software ! !
078 4 We took this camera on vacation , and the shots we got looked professional . Very user-friendly . The kids and pets setting lets you take great pictures even when there is a lot of activity - no blurs . My sister-in-law is a semi-professional photographer , and she is now going to buy one after seeing how fantastic our photos came out . I highly recommend this camera ! !
131 4 I was unprepared for the beauty of this camera . My earlier Powershot was 4 years old . The improvements are remarkable . The pictures are clear , the viewfinder is bright and the range of controls are great . I'm not into photography anymore and this unit suits me fine . I chose this one based on reviews I read on Amazon and elsewhere . I don't regret my choice at all . I am very satisfied .
060 4 This is my 3rd Canon camera . I have two small kids . So saying that I take a lot of pictures is an understatement . I love taking pictures and this is a great camera . I searched and reviewed all of the canon cameras very diligently before deciding on this camera . I wanted a Rebel XTI , but it is a little out of my budget right now . I wanted a camera that would take good quality pictures ( like for my Alaska Cruise coming up in June ) as well as take great pics of my kids . Some of the other canon cameras had features different from this one and I had a hard time deciding . But , this camera was a great choice ! This image stabilization is great . It has some great functions for kids , like a continuous shot function . Great for capturing my son hit the ball and run to 1st base . It has this color filter where everything is black and white , except for my sons blue baseball jersey . I have had a good time with this camera so far . Great pictures , neat tools . The technology just keep getting better . A friend of mine got the same camera about the same time I did . Her second Canon camera . She has also had great results . Great camera !
020 4 Got the PS SD1100IS to replace an older Canon digital . This is a big improvement since the other was about 3 years old , and tho it took great shots it was bulky and sometimes had a maddening delay when trying to shoot portraits . This new camera is much more compact , takes great pictures that download faster and is a joy to use . DIS was important to me and I am still testing this ; but so far it seems to be an improvement over the older stabilization technology . I got about 200 shots before needing to recharge , and charging time is quick . It will still delay a little when shooting under low light conditions , but that is the nature of digital photography . And it has less flexible capabilities for manually making your own settings ; but overall I am very pleased to have this sophisticated little camera that can go anywhere . It is smaller so you have to pay attention where you leave it ! You will need to get a decent bag for it that straps to your belt or goes over your neck . Also will need a larger memory card . The ordering process went very smoothly and there were no surprises .
063 4 This camera is awesome . I am not an expert with electronics and found this camera to be extremely easy to use . It takes excellent pictures and the the battery life is good . The load time follow a picture is quick also allowing you to take consecutive pictures quickly .
140 4 This purpose bulit camera is one of the best value for money in digital imaging as of today the 13th of August 2008 . It has all the necessary features required for all typrs of photographs taken in the normal course of life . Also comes in a convenient size . ( plug in Battery charger included )
142 4 Takes very clear photos . The directions are somewhat confusing for a novice photographer - choosing and switching to the various scenes is difficult . The automatic setting works well , though !
178 4 I have had this camera for over a year now . I like it very much . It is small , easy to use , and takes very good pictures . The only negative I have is that the Red Eye function is only OK , not great . I still get a lot of red eyes in my photos , especially in-doors and especially with kids . But having said that , the camera still takes a lot of great photos , much better than the last digital camera that I had . Also , the videos it takes are outstanding . What a great feature !
074 4 Many of us past our salad years can't hang onto those ultra-thin pocket cameras . This one is small enough for pockets & not so skinny that I drop & fumble it , thereby chasing away the deer or distracting the kids and ruining the unguarded moment I wanted to capture . Great picture quality , and a digital zoom that seems to actually work ! Very happy being spontaneous and impromptu with it .
094 4 Great camera , highly recommend it , small design and easy to use .
Amazon shipping / handling outstanding as usual .
150 4 Very light , fits in any pocket . Extremely easy to use , and takes great snap shots . Won't replace an SLR-type camera , but a great option for when you can't / don't want to lug a bigger camera around .
169 4 Very good camera , canon digital , takes great pictures ! ! ! Easy to use and handle . Good size and cool appearance .
080 4 I already own a Canon XT , which I love , but I found that , because of its size I never took it along with me all the time and missed some great shots . So I bought the Canon SD1100IS to take with me all the time . I love this little camera . It's easy to hold , has more bells and whistles than the XT and takes great photos . I also love the movie clip feature and the large LCD screen ( which I miss in the XT ) . I bought a case for it with a neck strap so that I don't have to carry it when I'm empty-handed . The downside of the camera is that I'm used to having an SLR with virtually no shutter lag , so it's hard to go back to having a camera with it . That means that I have to be careful when shooting moving objects so that they're always in the photo ( which sometimes becomes an interesting dilemma ) . Although the camera has a slow shutter speed setting you can't really adjust the shutter speed . There are set features for kids and pets , night shots , foliage and even fireworks , but you're pretty locked into the shutter speed they select . That said , the camera performs beautifully and takes great photos , equal to that of the XT . A great buy for the money !
035 4 This camera is an upgrade over my trusty SD300 , which still works apart from the mode switch getting stuck once in a while . I took literally thousands of pictures with it , and I expect the same functionality and durability with the SD1100IS . This upgrade feels solid and carries over most of the features I enjoyed with the old one , adding image stabilization and - - hallelujah - - a battery life indicator . And 8 megapixels is enough for a hi-res 300ppi print at 8 x10 . Best of all , it uses the same battery and SD cards as the old one , with the added capability of the SD HC cards . I have also owned a couple of Olympus ( good ) and a Panasonic ( awful ) , and I can honestly say I'm a Canon man . The SD1100IS is a tremendous value , looks much nicer than the SD1000 , and the blue casing is much prettier in person . Excellent quality photos . Highly recommended .
059 4 The SD1100IS is , for me , a backup travel camera . I have another much larger digital camera that serves for taking studio shots ( art work ) and telephoto details in scenery . That said , I find the SD1100IS just excellent . Get a decent neck strap so you can slip the 1100 into your T-shirt pocket ( guys here ) and you are all set . The little camera is very adaptable - - recent night shots of Philadelphia came out nicely . The macro setting works well too - - flower details can be recorded with ease .
066 4 I always look to CANON , when it comes to an imaging device . I own several Canon cameras , ( still and video ) , ( 2 ) printers and ( 2 ) scanners . The CANON SD1100IS does everything it claims with the same quality as the more expensive cameras do . With the arrival of my 2 grandchildren , I wanted a camera that captured Clean , Sharply focused pictures quickly , since babies won't pose for you . So far , since I purchased this at the end of March , I have taken over 300 photos . At present , I have only charged the battery once and it is still ready to shoot . The on-board effects add an incredible touch of professionalism to my pictures . Sunlight , indoors , at night , ambient lighting without a flash , every picture a keeper ! If you are looking for versatility , simplicity , and great pictures you will be proud of , consider the SD1100IS . I researched a lot of cameras , and the SD1100IS did all I wanted and more , for a very affordable price .
176 4 I was very relieved when I received this camera . It said used but looks new or something on the description , so I was hoping for the best . The camera really IS like brand new and works like a charm . Since nothing's completely perfect , there IS a couple scratches on the front , but it's not noticeable at all , and like the description said , it has been used ( and anything used gets a scratch or two eventually ) . It's lovely with taking photos and videos , and so it was definitely worth the money . I'm glad I was able to trust this seller .
085 4 I did extensive research prior to selecting the PowerShot SD1100IS . My other choices were the new Nikon Coolpix and the Canon 850 . My prior camera was a Pentax Optio S . While I own a Nikon SD80 it is large and less likely to be used than the smaller Canon . I wanted a viewfinder and optical image stabilization with face recognition . The new Canon has both . My complaints center around the grainy image on the display prior to taking a picture and the inability to quickly deactivate the flash for taking photos of a distant subject ( like a graduation ) . Otherwise , the Canon packs a lot of features into a small package at a very reasonable price .
036 4 This camera is a fantastic buy . Small , convenient , reasonable settings . It's about everything you could want in a point-and-shoot digital camera that can fit in your pocket .
HOWEVER , a certain percentage of these cameras experence a fatal lens error which basically means unless you send it back for repair you will never be able to use it again . Canon does not like to admit that this is a common error on their cameras , has not fixed the design flaw , and WILL NOT REPAIR it for free if you are out of warranty .
I am fortunate that this happened to me while still in warranty ( acutally less than two months after purchase ) and have sent it back to Canon for repair . It remains to be seen whether they will attempt to charge or blame me for the malfunction . I am very upset about this because I bought this camera specifically so I would be able to take pictures of our trip for our 2nd wedding anniversary , and now I cannot because it will still be in the shop .
To summarize : fantastic camera when it works , totally useless if you're unlucky and get a defective one . Just hope if you do , it shows the defect before your warranty expires or you're out $100 - 200 .
055 4 I'm an avid Canon fan and recently purchased this camera ( in blue ) for it's compact size . I own a 40D which isn't so practical to carry around for everyday use , especially with my battery grip on it ! I previously owned ( a now ancient ) S40 compact camera - which in comparison is not-so-compact . The SD1100is is amazingly small and light in weight . It features a viewer which I think will come in handy ( and has ) in bright light situations where the screen does little or no good . The 2.5 screen is plenty big , although noticeable smaller than the 3 on some of the other models . I think the viewer is worth the small trade off . IS is also an invaluable feature especially with low light situations or non-flash moments .
The main issue I have heard of with this series is with potential lens harm if the camera turns on accidentally while in it's case . It's pretty hard to do since Canon has now made this on / off button flush with the body . But , my best advice to avoid this situation is to make sure the camera is in play mode ( vs . camera mode ) when you put it back in the case . This will prevent the lens from zooming out upon turning on . I'm not really worried - this has not happened to me yet ( well , in the month that I've been carrying it around . . . EVERYWHERE ! )
Navigation is easy to pick up on this one - quite different from my older S40 , but easy enough to figure out even without reading the manual . I do suggest buying a spare battery to have on you just in case , especially if you plan on using the video mode ( which is really good ) since it sucks life quickly from the battery . I also bought a 8GB HCSD card and reader to go with it to make room for quick videos of my kid : - ) and pictures , of course .
Other than that , it performs like I expected . The flash is not the strongest , but then , it's a pocket camera . If you're looking for more strength from a flash , you'll need to go with external flashing - on a different camera as this one doesn't have that option . Knowing it's limitations , it does the job for the everyday moments when you wish you had a camera .
134 4 Just got this camera as a supplement for my other Canon , which is too big to just throw in my pocket like this can be . I am very happy with the size , weight , and images so far.I would say it is the same size and weight as a deck of cards , I might try a card case as my camera case ! The materials of this camera are very nice , with only a few problems for me right now . The entire case is made of metal , except the battery cover and cable port cover . I think the battery cover should have been made of metal also for durability , and it is a bit weak in holding it shut ; seems like it will be easy to open it accidentally , but the battery is held inside with a notch , so its just annoying for now . And on the front , it would have been nice if the silver rings that make up the lens assembly were a matte finish instead of glossy to match the rest of the camera . Flash works good , 2 - 3 sec btwn shots , and 1 sec startup time , so fast !
Otherwise , I look forward to using this little toy for some great snapshots . Will update in the future .
- Update 6 / 09
Just got back from a week vacation where I used this camera exclusively for snapshots and some movie taking . It worked very well , with the battery never needing to be charged over the whole trip . I was probably snapping about 20 shots a day and a minute or so of hd movie . The size is excellent , just tossed it in my jeans jeans pocket and go , very convenient and portable . There were only a couple of small issues : at high ISO ( night / dark shots ) there was noticable noise in the shots , but not too bad . And I only have a 2GB card , so with the hd movies , I did start to worry about space , but ended up only filling it about 2 / 3 . Something else I discovered while unloading pics to my computer is that once you take them off the camera , you can't transfer them back into the camera . I have winxp , so maybe its something with the program , but I didn't know that before . So in all , worked great and still highly recommended .
098 4 I bought the Canon Powershot SD1100 IS to replace a larger Minolta Dimage camera that I sometimes did not carry on short trips because of its size and weight . I used the Powershot for 2 months and was very happy with the results until one day just before Christmas I powered it up and the image sensor failed to transmit a picture . The camera had NEVER been dropped or roughly handled . I phoned Canon technical support and learned that spontaneous sensor failure is a common problem with this camera . And while the camera is under warranty so repair & return shipping will be free , I still had to pack up the camera and personally pay to ship it to their Powershot repair facility in Illinois . In my opinion , spontaneous failure of a critical camera system is unacceptable , and the fact that Canon knows about this problem and still requires customers to pay to ship their cameras for warranty repair is irresponsible . I would not recommend buying the Powershot SD 1100 , and I certainly won't be doing business with Canon again .
025 4 I really liked this camera for the nearly two months that it worked , but unfortunately we were hit with the dreaded Lens Error which renders the camera useless . Unfortunately Canon wants nearly as much to fix this as it would cost to buy a new one , so we have a nice silver paperweight now .
046 4 I am not sure if I am doing something wrong . The faces in an outside picture are not clear as I expected . I tried it with and without face detection . Also , I expected to be able to take pictures in low light , but that does not seem to work well . It has not been the instant gratification I expected , there may be some things I need to learn . I hope that there is nothing wrong with the camera .
050 4 I read about the canon SD1100 having a Lens error problem . Well I bought the camera anyway because I liked everything about it . Took great pictures . But then out of nowhere I went to take a picture and when I turned it on all that happened was a beep and the screen said lens error , restart camera . I've tried restarting about 100 times and it still doesn't work . This camera is not even a year old ! I will NEVER buy another Canon powershot . If you read reviews about this camera this is a common problem . Wish i would have listened !
100 4 I purchased this product as a gift for my husband as an alternative to a Casio Exilim that he had previously purchased and was unhappy with . He wanted a small camera that he could carry about with him that would take good clear photographs . The features of this camera that he specifically wanted were : compact size , anti-shake feature , reliable brand with a good track record . In short , from the product description and the outstanding customer reviews and glowing recommendations on this site and camera sites , written by lay men and expert photographers , I felt that this would be the perfect camera . Unfortunately , we didn't share the views of the majority . In a nutshell , we found 3 main faults : the image stabilization feature didn't appear to work as many of the shots that he took came out blurry / out of focus ; this camera relies heavily on the use of the flash , which makes it a problem with certain shots that you want to come out clear not using a flash feature ; the battery and memory card cover seems cheap and flimsy , which we didn't expect to find in a Canon , which are usually well built . In short , it underperformed the Casio Exilim on the picture quality and fell short of our expectations but the camera that we purchased might be faulty . We returned this camera because of these issues .
138 4 I purchased this camera because it has something to stabilize the pictures I want to take . It does SO much more . The pictures are really sharp to my eyes at least and the movies with sound are great . The battery life is not that bad and extra batteries are really cheap on ebay . It is really easy to carry and easy to use . A very good value .
147 4 I did a lot of research before I bought this camera and I must say it paid off ! Several of my friends are buying the same camera because they are so impressed with the quality of picture and ease of use . One thing that was really important to me was the ability to take motion shots without blurring and this camera is top noch at it .
151 4 I am not up on all the technical things about photography so I have not made many changes to this , except some I read from other reviewers . I don't even understand some of the instructions . But I do know what I expect a good picture to look like and this camera has not let me down . The pictures I have taken , small objects , sunsets , lightning , and people have come out great . If I want I can always edit them on the computer . The program they give you to use is so easy . I highly recommend this to even the once in awhile picture takers .
156 4 I recommend this camera . It takes great pictures . I read reviews from magazines and online sources like cnet and it works like they said it would .
165 4 I bought this camera back in December 2008 and I have LOVED it since then but this weekend , I got the dreaded Lens Error message and now have no camera . The lens is stuck out and you can't use the camera at all . I have been reading reviews and I guess this happens to a lot of people . Please watch out for this !
172 4 This little camera takes a great picture , is easy to use , and is small enough to put in your pocket . The pictures from the printer are great , and you can also transfer the pictures from the camera to your computer . I love the little printer , though , for puting pictures in a photo album . I was really surprised at the quality of the pictures from the printer . They are great .
186 4 Bought for my daughter going off to college . You can spend more , but this does everything you need . Small but not too small . Nice quality video mode . Optical viewfinder useful in bright light . She likes the color swap function . I DON'T want more disk-space-consuming megapixels than this one has , for snap-shooting . I'm a Nikon SLR guy , but I prefer the Canon compacts . . .
106 4 This camera shoots excellent pics . I can even do professional jobs with it ( once the lighting is right ) . I love the screen auto-rotation feature so you can see portrait style pics in full screen . I also like that it comes with a rechargeable battery because AA batteries don't have a large capacity and don't last as long . If you are afraid of your battery power running out on you , simply purchase a replacement battery and have it charged for back up . This camera is a MUST HAVE for the ordinary photo lover .
114 4 Without a doubt the best overall camera in its class . I have bought the powershot class cameras since they came on the market . I have upgraded as features are added or MPs significantly increase . To date between my wife and childern we have bought at least 5 - 6 powershots and never been sorry that we did.The ease of use and quality of construction coupled with a sofisicated menu of options makes purchase of this camera a very wise investment . At less than $150.00 it is truly a best buy .
123 4 This is the first time I have used a Canon and have always used Kodak digital . I am amazed at what this little camera can do and am thrilled it is so easy to use . The instruction book is detailed enough to help with all its many features . I don't see myself buying anything but another Canon in the future .
158 4 I have been buying Canon for years . I have had about 6 different cameras ( back luck with them - not from Canon but my daughter ! ) I originally bought this one becasue I love pink . As soon as I got it I was shocked to see how much it does do . In the descriptions , it does not tell you all it can do . I had the model prior to this one and I loved it . However , this one is better , cheaper , and does more ! I reccommend this to all !
159 4 The lens error happened to me , twice ! I bought a Canon digital camera and had it for not even a year and the lens stopped working , then I upgraded and bought this camera , same thing happened again . . . do NOT buy Canon ! You would be wasting your money ! ! !
126 4 I think Amazon needs to change to a 10 point rating system . I think giving this item 4 stars is not doing it justice but I can't give it 5 unless I thought it was perfect .
I bought this after sampling numerous cameras in this size class . It's small enough to fit into a shirt pocket comfortably . I chose the gold color and it looks sweet . The controls and settings are not the most intuitive but not impossible either . The 2 1 / 2 screen is ok considering how small the rest of the camera is . I guess I would be real picky asking for 3 inches . The preview image that you get on the LCD is grainy but don't be discouraged . It's not the final result when the picture is taken . I must note that this camera also has a viewfinder in case you don't want to use the LCD screen . One of my main criteria was ISO settings and shooting pictures in low light . Indoors , this camera does an amazing job . All you have to do is set it to AUTO and it will give your exposures plenty of light around the subject . It's also smart enough to know when you are outside . Although , if you are not satisfied with the AUTO flash outside , then you can adjust the ISO manually . There is some noise with that but who cares ?
As long as you shoot amazing pictures and this camera delivers . Another requirement when choosing a digi was the video quality . I've made a few videos and I'm impressed . This is actually better than some digital camcorders or at least on the same level . And to get that level in such a small package is remarkable . You can have fun with features like color accent or color swap . There is even time lapse video on here !
Another neat photography feature is panorama . I have to say that instead of in-camera photo stitching , you have to wait until you load the images on your pc and use the included software . That's a bummer but it's something I can overlook considering what else this cam brings . That's one of my very few negatives along with the fact that you can't re-charge the battery without removing it from the camera . For the price , you get a lot of bang for your buck . Strongly recommend for the casual user who wants to take quick pics of people and landscapes . And when I say quick , I mean quick . This camera is ready to take a picture 1 second after you turn it on .
005 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I have been using a Powershot I2 IS for the last 3 years . Very good camera with a fantastic 12X Zoom . However , I wanted a camera to carry in my pocket . So many times I just didn't feel like dragging a large camera with me to various parties or events . This camera fills the bill . I carry it everywhere .
The pictures it produces are stunning . The 8MP 3X zoom produces a picture that you can crop to the point that you get almost the same picture as you would have with the 5MP 12X zoom lense ( my opinion ) . The movie feature is wonderful too , even better than the I2 IS .
The camera feels great in your hand with a solid , quality feeling . If you have used Canon cameras before the menus are very intuitive . I would not have purchased this camera ( or any camera for that matter ) if it did not have the Image Stabilization feature . This is especially a must as you get older .
By the way there is an advantage to the Brown color : If you have to use the optical view finder outside , the camera itself produces minimum glare for you eye to see more clearly through the small opening . The color also makes the LCD playback pop . And as a bonus , it really gives the camera a luxury look , you have to see it in person to appreciate the color .
I recently took it to a monthly card party and everyone went wild over it . So much so that one person sat right down at the computer and ordered one ! If you want a sub-compact , pocketable camera that takes great pictures , I highly recommend the Canon SD1100IS .
030 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Very nice camera , good quality from Canon . Only thing I don't like is the short life of battery which need to recharge daily on the trip . You should have 2 - 3 spare batteries on hand .
095 4 This camera is a great companion to my Rebel XT , but I am getting to the point where I may abandon the SLR for certain trips , due to the crisp image quality and greater portability of this model .
The PowerShot IS excels in good light , with its ISO 80 setting providing great colours .
At the opposite end , ISO 1600 is a useful setting to have , however the images become quite grainy , and if your subject is moving , you are unlikely to get a crisp snapshot in low light .
The large LCD screen makes composition easy , and the quick power up and power down makes for opportunistic shooting .
I am also a big fan of the timelapse feature , whereby you can take videos at 1 or 2s intervals and the output is stored as an AVI file at 15fps .
One adjustment I will have to make is with regards the battery life , and after using a digital SLR which can go days without a charge , I've found I need to keep a spare battery on me to keep the energy hungry LCD screen in business .
A few of the features are a bit gimmicky , such as the colour swapper , but for the price , the 8MP images pack as professional a punch as you could want from a sub $250 camera .
146 4 Wonderful SMALL camera . I set it on Auto and click away and every pic has turned out very clear . Software installation went off without a hitch and camera transfers pics over in an instant . Display is nice and bright . Battery seems to keep the camera running for forever . Still has viewfinder that's being dropped off of a lot of other cameras . I bought the gray case for the SD1000 that Amazon sells and it fits the SD1100 perfectly . A little snug at first and then stretches out . Really need the case to protect the camera if you throw it in a pack with cellphones etc . Bought 2GD memory card and it seems to hold a whole day the way I shoot but if I had it to do over I'd probably get 4GB . All in all this camera surpassed my expectations .
167 4 i bought mine in july , $150 , and i have no idea why it costs 300 dollars now . That's ridiculous . especially because mine broke , and completely would not turn on , after 9 months of use . The repair people wanted $100 dollars just to take it apart and diagnose it . Needless to say I bought a new one .
160 4 Bought this camera for my daughter for Christmas 2008 . It's a nice camera and she likes it , but suddenly after two months the lens is stuck open . She claims she didn't harm the camera in any way , but it just wouldn't close one day . Now when we try to turn the camera on , it makes a clicking noise for a while and then displays the error , lens error , restart camera . The camera is completely useless now and will not operate . I'm going to call Canon for service , but many of the posts I have read state that this is not covered by warranty .
037 4 The camera is great , the small size makes it easy to carry it around . Pictures are of good quality . The indoor shooting is too good to compare with my old Sony . My only problem is the battery life is too short . Hope it's just mine . It barely worked for me for a 2 - day trip , and we didn't use the flash light a lot . I consider that unacceptable .
045 4 As publisher of BoomerCafe.com , the online magazine for baby boomers with active lifestyles , I evaluated point-and-shoot digital cameras under $300 , carefully examined photos using Aperture on Apple Mac and came to the conclusion that the Canon SD1100 is tops . . . the best . It's better that Canon's more expensive SD870 . [ . . . ]
101 4 I bought this camera in April . After using it for a while I realized there is always a blue dot in the middle of my images . It becomes more obvious as I zoom in . The blue dot is everywhere : on my photos and on my video . I sent the camera back to Canon Factory in IL for repair and when it came back it still wasn't properly fixed . I just contacted Canon again and see what they will do about my camera . I am not sure if it's only mine camera that has this defect but I hope they would give me a new one if it cannot be repaired .
139 4 Love the camera , it's so easy to use . The display is crystal clear and the colors are amazing . The camera is great in sunlight with the manual viewfinder . It's just a great little camera ! ! ! !
As of June 6 , 2010 , my beloved camera went kaputt with the lens error , please restart message that apparently is not uncommon in the Canon Elph series . Since this is out of warranty I'm going to try some of the fixes recommended on the internet , but I'm not hopeful .
In general , this has been a great camera . As with most compact point-and-shoots , it struggled in indoor or twilight conditions when not using the flash , but it took fantabulous pictures in the outdoors and in reasonably well-lit rooms . The flash also worked well in terms of properly exposing most shots indoors . I also appreciated that the video quality ( VGA video with monoaural sound ) was pretty good for a camera of this generation , and the sound was clear . The camera video adjusted well to lighting conditions with a slight delay . You can't use the optical zoom once you've started recording .
If I buy a new camera , I'm going to get something with a bigger zoom ( 7X or 10X ) , HD 720p video , and the ability to use the optical zoom while shooting video . If the camera performs as well as this one in other areas , I'll be pretty happy . I would lean towards Canon if I hadn't just experienced this lens error problem , which I find annoying .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Original review * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Just got this camera for a vacation trip ( before the big price cut ! bummer . ) Spent the last two weeks taking well over 1000 photos on a 4GB card . Have never had my own digital camera before , but have used my friends ' cameras and also purchased a Canon A630 for work about a year ago and use that occasionally . Basically , I'm the kind of user who never really wants to think about the picture I'm taking and expects the camera to figure out the right settings so I can just press the d - - n button and get a great shot . Thus the Auto-mode on a camera is 10 times more important than all the scene mode options , because 95% of the time the camera is going to be on auto , and by the time I remember that a scene mode might be more appropriate , it's too late anyway .
From that lazy novice perspective , this is an awesome camera . It did almost all the thinking for me , and just allowed me to point ' n shoot . People , buildings , boats , skies , ocean , insects , sand , friends - - pretty much everything came out without any adjustment .
Comments on pics : I'm slightly red-green color blind , so I can't comment on the color fidelity of the shots , but these are all adjustable on the computer afterwards anyway . Focus was fantastic , with two exceptions : once when I needed to pick one non-centered boat to focus on in an array of boats at various distances , and I hadn't bothered to learn how to pick and lock focus from the manual . And should have used the infinity focus lock to take pics / video of a show in a dark theatre where flash was forbidden and the auto-focus assist lamp couldn't find the stage 50 feet away . This was the only time I got a series of blurry shots . I did use the night snapshot mode a lot to take pictures at night . That was my one concession in my expectation that the camera figure out everything . A couple times I turned the flash off because the flash was too close to someone's face and kind of flattened his skin tones and natural shadows .
I also want to point out that I have very unsteady hands , and I made little or no attempt to keep the camera still when I was shooting . Not sure whether the image stabilization feature or the high ISO capabilities kicked in here , but I very rarely got a blurry shot unless both the camera and the subject were in rapid motion . [ Update June 2009 : I finally figured out that when I'm shooting people in motion ( e.g . daytime street scenes ) I just need to turn on the kids & pets scene mode , and then no more blur . . . ] Very happy . And never saw significant noise in my photos , although I'm not particularly sensitive on this issue .
Comments on ergonomics : small camera , lighter than my smartphone , fit into pocket . Pretty easy to hold in one hand and take photos . Slightly slick surface left me worrying that it would slip out of my hands , so i often used the wrist strap .
My one wish has to do with the zoom range of the lens : it's not very wide at one end , and I often found myself inconveniently backing up to take pictures of houses . And the 3X telephoto end won't get you close up to that sea otter you spot out in the ocean surf . The Panasonic Lumix TZ series is fantastic in both of these areas , but I really didn't want to sacrifice the Canon idiot-proof simplicity , compact size , and great auto-focusing capabilities .
Comparisons to other cameras I've used or played with : It's faster and smaller than the Canon A570IS I bought for my parents 6 months ago , although the A570IS is easier to hold steady because of the big grip . Personally I would have preferred to use AA batteries like in the A570IS , but the battery life on the SD1100IS is great so far and the charger is tiny and light , so easy to pack for a trip . I think the IS image stabilization feature is critical for shaky hands and casual on-th-go one-handed shots , which gives it an advantage over amazing cameras like the A630 . We use the A630 at work to photograph everything from building problems to new member portraits , and it's great but heavy as a brick and triple the size of the SD1100IS . I do love that articulating LCD screen , tho ' . It was impossible to take discreet snapshots of people on the street with the SD1100IS - - chalk it up to pointing a pink camera in their direction , directly at eye level . With the articulating LCD you can pretend to be just fiddling with the camera while getting great spontaneous shots of your friends .
All in all , a brilliant camera for someone who really does NOT WANT to learn about technical issues of doing photography . Plus , at the current price it's a total steal , over fifty bucks less than I paid at the camera store just three weeks ago , and that was on sale !
135 4 Update : As of June 6 , 2010 , my beloved camera went kaputt with the lens error , please restart message that apparently is not uncommon in the Canon Elph series . Since this is out of warranty I'm going to try some of the fixes recommended on the internet , but I'm not hopeful .
In general , this has been a great camera . As with most compact point-and-shoots , it struggled in indoor or twilight conditions when not using the flash , but it took fantabulous pictures in the outdoors and in reasonably well-lit rooms . The flash also worked well in terms of properly exposing most shots indoors . I also appreciated that the video quality ( VGA video with monoaural sound ) was pretty good for a camera of this generation , and the sound was clear . The camera video adjusted well to lighting conditions with a slight delay . You can't use the optical zoom once you've started recording .
If I buy a new camera , I'm going to get something with a bigger zoom ( 7X or 10X ) , HD 720p video , and the ability to use the optical zoom while shooting video . If the camera performs as well as this one in other areas , I'll be pretty happy . I would lean towards Canon if I hadn't just experienced this lens error problem , which I find annoying .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Original review * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Just got this camera for a vacation trip ( before the big price cut ! bummer . ) Spent the last two weeks taking well over 1000 photos on a 4GB card . Have never had my own digital camera before , but have used my friends ' cameras and also purchased a Canon A630 for work about a year ago and use that occasionally . Basically , I'm the kind of user who never really wants to think about the picture I'm taking and expects the camera to figure out the right settings so I can just press the d - - n button and get a great shot . Thus the Auto-mode on a camera is 10 times more important than all the scene mode options , because 95% of the time the camera is going to be on auto , and by the time I remember that a scene mode might be more appropriate , it's too late anyway .
From that lazy novice perspective , this is an awesome camera . It did almost all the thinking for me , and just allowed me to point ' n shoot . People , buildings , boats , skies , ocean , insects , sand , friends - - pretty much everything came out without any adjustment .
Comments on pics : I'm slightly red-green color blind , so I can't comment on the color fidelity of the shots , but these are all adjustable on the computer afterwards anyway . Focus was fantastic , with two exceptions : once when I needed to pick one non-centered boat to focus on in an array of boats at various distances , and I hadn't bothered to learn how to pick and lock focus from the manual . And should have used the infinity focus lock to take pics / video of a show in a dark theatre where flash was forbidden and the auto-focus assist lamp couldn't find the stage 50 feet away . This was the only time I got a series of blurry shots . I did use the night snapshot mode a lot to take pictures at night . That was my one concession in my expectation that the camera figure out everything . A couple times I turned the flash off because the flash was too close to someone's face and kind of flattened his skin tones and natural shadows .
I also want to point out that I have very unsteady hands , and I made little or no attempt to keep the camera still when I was shooting . Not sure whether the image stabilization feature or the high ISO capabilities kicked in here , but I very rarely got a blurry shot unless both the camera and the subject were in rapid motion . [ Update June 2009 : I finally figured out that when I'm shooting people in motion ( e.g . daytime street scenes ) I just need to turn on the kids & pets scene mode , and then no more blur . . . ] Very happy . And never saw significant noise in my photos , although I'm not particularly sensitive on this issue .
Comments on ergonomics : small camera , lighter than my smartphone , fit into pocket . Pretty easy to hold in one hand and take photos . Slightly slick surface left me worrying that it would slip out of my hands , so i often used the wrist strap .
My one wish has to do with the zoom range of the lens : it's not very wide at one end , and I often found myself inconveniently backing up to take pictures of houses . And the 3X telephoto end won't get you close up to that sea otter you spot out in the ocean surf . The Panasonic Lumix TZ series is fantastic in both of these areas , but I really didn't want to sacrifice the Canon idiot-proof simplicity , compact size , and great auto-focusing capabilities .
Comparisons to other cameras I've used or played with : It's faster and smaller than the Canon A570IS I bought for my parents 6 months ago , although the A570IS is easier to hold steady because of the big grip . Personally I would have preferred to use AA batteries like in the A570IS , but the battery life on the SD1100IS is great so far and the charger is tiny and light , so easy to pack for a trip . I think the IS image stabilization feature is critical for shaky hands and casual on-th-go one-handed shots , which gives it an advantage over amazing cameras like the A630 . We use the A630 at work to photograph everything from building problems to new member portraits , and it's great but heavy as a brick and triple the size of the SD1100IS . I do love that articulating LCD screen , tho ' . It was impossible to take discreet snapshots of people on the street with the SD1100IS - - chalk it up to pointing a pink camera in their direction , directly at eye level . With the articulating LCD you can pretend to be just fiddling with the camera while getting great spontaneous shots of your friends .
All in all , a brilliant camera for someone who really does NOT WANT to learn about technical issues of doing photography . Plus , at the current price it's a total steal , over fifty bucks less than I paid at the camera store just three weeks ago , and that was on sale !
162 4 We have been using this camera for a few weeks .
Pros : Picture quality is excellent . Small ( fits in a pocket ) . Easy to use .
Cons : Slippery : There is a small cord that you can attach to the camera . Make sure you use it . This camera is really slippery and will fall off your hand easily . The lens is not well protected - - must take extra care when placing the camera in a bag .
Update : We've had the camera for over a year now . Works great . We are very happy with picture quality . Video rec is good . The major con is that you'll need to buy an extra battery . Make sure this is of greater quality than the standard .
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
As a travel writer I spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World , and Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs are the most common cameras I see . Families seem to love them , because they're so easy to carry and operate . About the size of a deck of playing cards , each of these pocket cameras really do slip right into a pants pocket , and their rectangular designs make them easy to grip . Best of all , they all take good photos . ( How do I know ? Because I've actually gotten to use every one of these models . Nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras , which most often are Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs . )
Here's my breakdown of the ten bestselling Digital Elph models . Any of the first six are superb choices :
1ST PLACE :
SD1100 IS
( The camera on this page )
An update to the SD1000 ( see below ) , this 2008 8MP beauty adds image stabilization , a slightly longer zoom ( 38 - 114 mm ) , another MP of photo size and a small indent on the right side for a better grip . Plus it comes in colors ! My daughter has a blue one and uses it every single day . During school days the image stabilization made a real difference in her on-the-bus shots . With that heavy of use hers has gotten scratched up a bit , but the marks are small and hardly noticeable .
2ND PLACE :
SD870 IS
The ELPH to buy if you want a wide-angle lens . Slightly thicker than the SD1100 IS , this 8MP model doesn't have an optical viewfinder which makes it tough to use in bright sunlight , otherwise there's little not to love . My husband uses one as a comp camera , to compose shots for the travel guide The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World .
3RD PLACE :
SD770 IS
Just released in May , this 10 MP model is , in a way , an update of the SD1100 IS ( see above ) . I rate it lower because it has a plastic body and doesn't come in colors . On the other hand , it has a longer battery life than the 1100 and features an improved LCD screen that is very easy to view . As for photo quality , I can't tell the difference .
4TH PLACE :
SD950 IS
There's a lot to like in this 12.1 MP camera . First off , it's gorgeous . The body , though a little thick , is titanium . An upgrade to the SD850 IS ( see below ) , it has a 3.7x zoom lens and adds manual controls as well as the ability to stitch together panoramic images . The only reason I don't rate it higher is the price .
5TH PLACE :
SD890 IS
Want a long zoom lens ? Here's your baby , a 10 MP model with a 5x zoom . Also has the new bright LCD screen and all the other 2008 Canon goodies . The most expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH .
6TH PLACE :
SD790 IS
With the same 10 MP image sensor and 3x zoom lens as the SD770 IS , this new model stands out only for its larger 3 - inch LCD display and , as a result , lack of optical viewfinder . The rear controls are different , too , with a flatter design that uses fewer buttons .
7TH PLACE :
SD1000
In my opinion there's no reason to buy this 7.1 MP model . Released in 2007 , it's been replaced by the SD1100 IS ( see above ) . The SD1000 is a fine camera but it doesn't have image stabilization , a key feature of the 2008 lineup .
8TH PLACE :
SD850 IS
The ancestor to the SD890 IS , this 8 MP Elph combines a 4x zoom and 8 MP photo size with an image stabilizer . Every button , dial and switch has a quality feel . Slighter larger than the other models here , it is a little tougher to pop in and out of your pocket , but if you have larger hands it may be just what you are looking for .
9TH PLACE :
SD800 IS
This 7.1 MP predecessor to the 870 doesn't focus well at its edges when set at its widest angle . Still , it's good training for someone who wants to compose like a pro .
10TH PLACE :
SD750
The 2007 PowerShot flagship offers a light meter that adjusts for facial brightness , 17 shooting modes , some first-rate movie features and red-eye correction - - features that were innovative a year ago but are common in Canon's 2008 models . No image stabilization ; no optical viewfinder .
003 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
As a travel writer I spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World , and Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs are the most common cameras I see . Families seem to love them , because they're so easy to carry and operate . About the size of a deck of playing cards , each of these pocket cameras really do slip right into a pants pocket , and their rectangular designs make them easy to grip . Best of all , they all take good photos . ( How do I know ? Because I've actually gotten to use every one of these models . Nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras , which most often are Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs . )
Here's my breakdown of the ten bestselling Digital Elph models . Any of the first six are superb choices :
1ST PLACE :
SD1100 IS
( The camera on this page )
An update to the SD1000 ( see below ) , this 2008 8MP beauty adds image stabilization , a slightly longer zoom ( 38 - 114 mm ) , another MP of photo size and a small indent on the right side for a better grip . Plus it comes in colors ! My daughter has a blue one and uses it every single day . During school days the image stabilization made a real difference in her on-the-bus shots . With that heavy of use hers has gotten scratched up a bit , but the marks are small and hardly noticeable .
2ND PLACE :
SD870 IS
The ELPH to buy if you want a wide-angle lens . Slightly thicker than the SD1100 IS , this 8MP model doesn't have an optical viewfinder which makes it tough to use in bright sunlight , otherwise there's little not to love . My husband uses one as a comp camera , to compose shots for the travel guide The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World .
3RD PLACE :
SD770 IS
Just released in May , this 10 MP model is , in a way , an update of the SD1100 IS ( see above ) . I rate it lower because it has a plastic body and doesn't come in colors . On the other hand , it has a longer battery life than the 1100 and features an improved LCD screen that is very easy to view . As for photo quality , I can't tell the difference .
4TH PLACE :
SD950 IS
There's a lot to like in this 12.1 MP camera . First off , it's gorgeous . The body , though a little thick , is titanium . An upgrade to the SD850 IS ( see below ) , it has a 3.7x zoom lens and adds manual controls as well as the ability to stitch together panoramic images . The only reason I don't rate it higher is the price .
5TH PLACE :
SD890 IS
Want a long zoom lens ? Here's your baby , a 10 MP model with a 5x zoom . Also has the new bright LCD screen and all the other 2008 Canon goodies . The most expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH .
6TH PLACE :
SD790 IS
With the same 10 MP image sensor and 3x zoom lens as the SD770 IS , this new model stands out only for its larger 3 - inch LCD display and , as a result , lack of optical viewfinder . The rear controls are different , too , with a flatter design that uses fewer buttons .
7TH PLACE :
SD1000
In my opinion there's no reason to buy this 7.1 MP model . Released in 2007 , it's been replaced by the SD1100 IS ( see above ) . The SD1000 is a fine camera but it doesn't have image stabilization , a key feature of the 2008 lineup .
8TH PLACE :
SD850 IS
The ancestor to the SD890 IS , this 8 MP Elph combines a 4x zoom and 8 MP photo size with an image stabilizer . Every button , dial and switch has a quality feel . Slighter larger than the other models here , it is a little tougher to pop in and out of your pocket , but if you have larger hands it may be just what you are looking for .
9TH PLACE :
SD800 IS
This 7.1 MP predecessor to the 870 doesn't focus well at its edges when set at its widest angle . Still , it's good training for someone who wants to compose like a pro .
10TH PLACE :
SD750
The 2007 PowerShot flagship offers a light meter that adjusts for facial brightness , 17 shooting modes , some first-rate movie features and red-eye correction - - features that were innovative a year ago but are common in Canon's 2008 models . No image stabilization ; no optical viewfinder .
004 4 As a travel writer I spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World , and Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs are the most common cameras I see . Families seem to love them , because they're so easy to carry and operate . About the size of a deck of playing cards , each of these pocket cameras really do slip right into a pants pocket , and their rectangular designs make them easy to grip . Best of all , they all take good photos . ( How do I know ? Because I've actually gotten to use every one of these models . Nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras , which most often are Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs . )
Here's my breakdown of the ten bestselling Digital Elph models . Any of the first six are superb choices :
1ST PLACE :
SD1100 IS
( The camera on this page )
An update to the SD1000 ( see below ) , this 2008 8MP beauty adds image stabilization , a slightly longer zoom ( 38 - 114 mm ) , another MP of photo size and a small indent on the right side for a better grip . Plus it comes in colors ! My daughter has a blue one and uses it every single day . During school days the image stabilization made a real difference in her on-the-bus shots . With that heavy of use hers has gotten scratched up a bit , but the marks are small and hardly noticeable .
2ND PLACE :
SD870 IS
The ELPH to buy if you want a wide-angle lens . Slightly thicker than the SD1100 IS , this 8MP model doesn't have an optical viewfinder which makes it tough to use in bright sunlight , otherwise there's little not to love . My husband uses one as a comp camera , to compose shots for the travel guide The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World .
3RD PLACE :
SD770 IS
Just released in May , this 10 MP model is , in a way , an update of the SD1100 IS ( see above ) . I rate it lower because it has a plastic body and doesn't come in colors . On the other hand , it has a longer battery life than the 1100 and features an improved LCD screen that is very easy to view . As for photo quality , I can't tell the difference .
4TH PLACE :
SD950 IS
There's a lot to like in this 12.1 MP camera . First off , it's gorgeous . The body , though a little thick , is titanium . An upgrade to the SD850 IS ( see below ) , it has a 3.7x zoom lens and adds manual controls as well as the ability to stitch together panoramic images . The only reason I don't rate it higher is the price .
5TH PLACE :
SD890 IS
Want a long zoom lens ? Here's your baby , a 10 MP model with a 5x zoom . Also has the new bright LCD screen and all the other 2008 Canon goodies . The most expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH .
6TH PLACE :
SD790 IS
With the same 10 MP image sensor and 3x zoom lens as the SD770 IS , this new model stands out only for its larger 3 - inch LCD display and , as a result , lack of optical viewfinder . The rear controls are different , too , with a flatter design that uses fewer buttons .
7TH PLACE :
SD1000
In my opinion there's no reason to buy this 7.1 MP model . Released in 2007 , it's been replaced by the SD1100 IS ( see above ) . The SD1000 is a fine camera but it doesn't have image stabilization , a key feature of the 2008 lineup .
8TH PLACE :
SD850 IS
The ancestor to the SD890 IS , this 8 MP Elph combines a 4x zoom and 8 MP photo size with an image stabilizer . Every button , dial and switch has a quality feel . Slighter larger than the other models here , it is a little tougher to pop in and out of your pocket , but if you have larger hands it may be just what you are looking for .
9TH PLACE :
SD800 IS
This 7.1 MP predecessor to the 870 doesn't focus well at its edges when set at its widest angle . Still , it's good training for someone who wants to compose like a pro .
10TH PLACE :
SD750
The 2007 PowerShot flagship offers a light meter that adjusts for facial brightness , 17 shooting modes , some first-rate movie features and red-eye correction - - features that were innovative a year ago but are common in Canon's 2008 models . No image stabilization ; no optical viewfinder .
033 4 Just bought the SD1100IS to replace a 1 - 1 / 2 year old Casio Exilim EX-Z850 that I broke . I checked out all of the reviews for this new Canon model and was impressed with the comments . But after receiving the camera and using it for a few weeks I am beginning to have my doubts . In fact , right now I would happily give it back to have my Casio Exilim back !
1 . Slow , slow , slow - the setup time for every shot , particularly indoor shots , is really annoying . My Casio was ready in about half the time .
2 . Grainy images on screen for any nightime indoor shots .
3 . Severely under-powered flash - I thought I read some reviews that gave it an OK rating at 10 feet . . . try about 8 feet and you might be more accurate . Many flash shots were severely darkened by lack of light . . . and often the flash only covered a portion of the image leaving faces dark and everything else in the photo bright .
4 . Used it last weekend for a wedding - roughly half of the shots had to be thrown away . . . you don't get a lot of opportunities at a wedding . Things move along at their own pace . So walking down the aisle , every other shot was blurry , or out of focus .
5 . Face Recognition software worked sometimes , and other times drove me crazy as it would not lock in anywhere near the faces . . . . I eventually shut it off .
6 . The pictures - well yes it does take nice pictures . . . if you're willing to put up with a very annoying camera . Maybe I'll get more used to it over time . I just can't afford to have so many bad shots among the good ones .
125 4 We had a PowerShot 5MP previously and liked it well enough . This model was disappointing . Pictures in ideal lighting situations are fine , but otherwise can be less than crisp . Given the popularity of this model is it's strong rankings , somewhat wondering whether we got a lemon . Anyway , we returned it .
161 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
We have been using this camera for a few weeks .
Pros : Picture quality is excellent . Small ( fits in a pocket ) . Easy to use .
Cons : Slippery : There is a small cord that you can attach to the camera . Make sure you use it . This camera is really slippery and will fall off your hand easily . The lens is not well protected - - must take extra care when placing the camera in a bag .
Update : We've had the camera for over a year now . Works great . We are very happy with picture quality . Video rec is good . The major con is that you'll need to buy an extra battery . Make sure this is of greater quality than the standard .
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
If you need a solid , reliable , and stylish point-and-shoot ultracompact digital camera that produces high-quality images , then the new Canon PowerShot SD1100IS may be right for you .
I am an advanced amateur photographer and own 2 Canon digital cameras ( G2 and 20D ) . Both have served me well over the years but recently I have found myself needing a decent ultracompact camera that I can easily carry with me at all times for unexpected photo-ops .
Other current Canon models that I also researched before my purchase of the bohemian brown SD1100IS included the SD950IS and the SD1000 .
Here is my take on the SD1100IS :
Strengths :
- 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor ( excellent resolution images with good dynamic range )
- Solid construction ( most of body made of anodized aluminum )
- Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
- Easy to use ( logical user-interface ) with minimal need to consult owner's manual for basic operation
- Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations ( action / sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why )
- Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even tricky situations ( great balance of highlights and shadows )
- Tack-sharp images ( much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash )
- Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
- Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag ( when not using flash )
- Bright 2.5 LCD monitor ( 100% coverage , 230k pixels ) made of polycrystalline silicon ; fairly scratch-resistant ( can't vouch if this applies to keys and coins )
- Optical viewfinder ( though only a tiny peephole , it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted )
- Camera made in Japan ( at least those from the 1st shipment ; this easily may be subject to change )
Limitations :
- Lack of manual control over aperture , shutter speed , and focusing ( for the obssessive control-freaks )
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 ( ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4x6 images ; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable )
- Fastest shutter speed is 1 / 1500 sec ( not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities )
- Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
- Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on ( precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge )
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode ( focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame , and digital zoom is permitted instead , resulting in significant image quality deterioration )
- Battery / memory card cover and hinge made of plastic ( no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out , in order to prevent accidental opening )
- Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration ( albeit , difficult not to expect from compact p & s )
- Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
- No RAW shooting mode
Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised , allowing for approximately 240 images . If your budget permits , I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards - - vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently .
Overall Impression :
Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class , I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS . It does what it's supposed to do . This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact , reliable , and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use .
[ UPDATE : Since this review , Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon . . . . in time for Grad & Dad's Day : the PowerShot SD770IS , SD790IS , and SD890IS . All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer . The saga of the MP race continues . If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology , then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images . We'll have to wait and see . The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS , which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons . Hopefully , the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded lens error nightmare . The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end . The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS ( which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000 ) ; it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS . I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS , but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year . . . . conveniently before the Holidays .
SD770IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $299.99 .
SD790IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 3 LCD monitor , no Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $349.99 .
SD890IS : 10MP , 5X Optical zoom ( 37 - 185mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $399.99 . ]
001 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
If you need a solid , reliable , and stylish point-and-shoot ultracompact digital camera that produces high-quality images , then the new Canon PowerShot SD1100IS may be right for you .
I am an advanced amateur photographer and own 2 Canon digital cameras ( G2 and 20D ) . Both have served me well over the years but recently I have found myself needing a decent ultracompact camera that I can easily carry with me at all times for unexpected photo-ops .
Other current Canon models that I also researched before my purchase of the bohemian brown SD1100IS included the SD950IS and the SD1000 .
Here is my take on the SD1100IS :
Strengths :
- 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor ( excellent resolution images with good dynamic range )
- Solid construction ( most of body made of anodized aluminum )
- Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
- Easy to use ( logical user-interface ) with minimal need to consult owner's manual for basic operation
- Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations ( action / sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why )
- Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even tricky situations ( great balance of highlights and shadows )
- Tack-sharp images ( much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash )
- Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
- Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag ( when not using flash )
- Bright 2.5 LCD monitor ( 100% coverage , 230k pixels ) made of polycrystalline silicon ; fairly scratch-resistant ( can't vouch if this applies to keys and coins )
- Optical viewfinder ( though only a tiny peephole , it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted )
- Camera made in Japan ( at least those from the 1st shipment ; this easily may be subject to change )
Limitations :
- Lack of manual control over aperture , shutter speed , and focusing ( for the obssessive control-freaks )
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 ( ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4x6 images ; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable )
- Fastest shutter speed is 1 / 1500 sec ( not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities )
- Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
- Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on ( precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge )
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode ( focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame , and digital zoom is permitted instead , resulting in significant image quality deterioration )
- Battery / memory card cover and hinge made of plastic ( no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out , in order to prevent accidental opening )
- Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration ( albeit , difficult not to expect from compact p & s )
- Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
- No RAW shooting mode
Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised , allowing for approximately 240 images . If your budget permits , I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards - - vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently .
Overall Impression :
Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class , I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS . It does what it's supposed to do . This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact , reliable , and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use .
[ UPDATE : Since this review , Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon . . . . in time for Grad & Dad's Day : the PowerShot SD770IS , SD790IS , and SD890IS . All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer . The saga of the MP race continues . If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology , then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images . We'll have to wait and see . The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS , which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons . Hopefully , the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded lens error nightmare . The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end . The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS ( which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000 ) ; it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS . I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS , but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year . . . . conveniently before the Holidays .
SD770IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $299.99 .
SD790IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 3 LCD monitor , no Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $349.99 .
SD890IS : 10MP , 5X Optical zoom ( 37 - 185mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $399.99 . ]
007 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
First about the SD1100 and later in the review , a comparison between Canon SD series cameras .
The former
Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom ( Silver )
was the perfect tiny camera that you could slip into your shirt pocket and bring out at a moment's notice and begin clicking away . No wonder it has been Canon's top selling model ! It was almost perfect except it did not have image stabilization like some other Canon cameras . And now with the SD1100IS Canon has added it's motion detection technology to this tiny camera which will make your shots less blurry , especially in low light .
Other enhancement over SD1000 is a slightly rounded styling which feels more comfortable in the hand and gives you a better grip . You can also choose from fun colors - Bohemian brown anyone ?
I have several Canon cameras and I use them regularly , but once again the SD1100 gets a lot of use as it's easy to carry in your tighter jean pocket / shirt pocket .
What else is nice about the SD1100 IS ?
Basic picture taking :
It takes excellent outdoor shots and has a satisfactory low light performance for its size . The face detection and auto white balance in the frame help expose faces correctly . It has a viewfinder in case the sun is too bright and an anti-reflective 2.5 screen . You can also use your high capacity SD cards in this baby .
Creative features :
With this camera you can get creative with My Colors features . The Color Accent mode where you keep any one color in the picture while the rest is black and white helped frame a blue sky , blue sea and blue jeans in a b / w group shot . Cool ! There are options to swap colors and also take b / w or sepia pics . Read the manual and you'll discover even more fun features .
The Scene modes are tried and tested and help you take the best picture . I love foliage which brings out the greens or autumn colors . Fireworks freezes the bursts of firecrackers in the sky in perfect spheres . Aquarium helped me take wonderful shots of fish , before this mode all I got was my flash reflecting on the glass of the tank . The others modes - indoor , beach , snow , kids / pets have been useful too .
Making videos :
The video mode takes movies in 3 different sizes and it has a time lapse video function . You can set the camera to record at intervals . I used it to capture sun's ascent from sunrise to mid morning and the video looks fabulous . You can even use the creative colors modes while taking video . The image stabilization helps in the video mode eliminating jerky shots .
The bottom line ? This is a great camera - it's take-along-everywhere tiny , it's got a ton of creative features and takes great pictures , it also comes in fun colors . It's the one to get !
EXTRA READING FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL NOT SURE . . .
If you want the perfect balance between image quality , features , size , layout and last but not the least the price , here is my 2 cents worth . ( I own 4 SD cameras and have done some research using all of these for the same picture at the same location . )
Image Quality : Top slot goes to the cameras in the 800 / 900 series . The image quality of SD1100 is a notch below .
Layout and controls : The controls are better on the 800 / 900 / 700 series compared to SD1100 as you have a separate instant replay button which is very useful to switch between shoot and replay mode . I LOVE this feature as it saves me a lot of time while shooting . It's so much better than the rubber slider on this 1100 model .
Screen size : This camera has a 2.5 screen with a viewfinder while some other models offer 3 inch screen but are missing the viewfinder . I prefer the larger screen as the extra .5 makes composing shots much easier . I have NEVER missed the viewfinder yet , even in bright sunlight .
Camera Size : SD1100 is the winner here as it's the tiniest . The SD750 / 770 / 790 are almost as compact but 800s / 900s are bigger .
If picture quality is important for you go for the 800 / 900 series . If smaller size , with nice picture taking capability is important look at the 700 series . If you want the tiniest , convenient camera which takes pretty good shots at a bargain price go for this SD1100 .
Note : For some additional thoughts click on the comments .
008 4 First about the SD1100 and later in the review , a comparison between Canon SD series cameras .
The former
Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom ( Silver )
was the perfect tiny camera that you could slip into your shirt pocket and bring out at a moment's notice and begin clicking away . No wonder it has been Canon's top selling model ! It was almost perfect except it did not have image stabilization like some other Canon cameras . And now with the SD1100IS Canon has added it's motion detection technology to this tiny camera which will make your shots less blurry , especially in low light .
Other enhancement over SD1000 is a slightly rounded styling which feels more comfortable in the hand and gives you a better grip . You can also choose from fun colors - Bohemian brown anyone ?
I have several Canon cameras and I use them regularly , but once again the SD1100 gets a lot of use as it's easy to carry in your tighter jean pocket / shirt pocket .
What else is nice about the SD1100 IS ?
Basic picture taking :
It takes excellent outdoor shots and has a satisfactory low light performance for its size . The face detection and auto white balance in the frame help expose faces correctly . It has a viewfinder in case the sun is too bright and an anti-reflective 2.5 screen . You can also use your high capacity SD cards in this baby .
Creative features :
With this camera you can get creative with My Colors features . The Color Accent mode where you keep any one color in the picture while the rest is black and white helped frame a blue sky , blue sea and blue jeans in a b / w group shot . Cool ! There are options to swap colors and also take b / w or sepia pics . Read the manual and you'll discover even more fun features .
The Scene modes are tried and tested and help you take the best picture . I love foliage which brings out the greens or autumn colors . Fireworks freezes the bursts of firecrackers in the sky in perfect spheres . Aquarium helped me take wonderful shots of fish , before this mode all I got was my flash reflecting on the glass of the tank . The others modes - indoor , beach , snow , kids / pets have been useful too .
Making videos :
The video mode takes movies in 3 different sizes and it has a time lapse video function . You can set the camera to record at intervals . I used it to capture sun's ascent from sunrise to mid morning and the video looks fabulous . You can even use the creative colors modes while taking video . The image stabilization helps in the video mode eliminating jerky shots .
The bottom line ? This is a great camera - it's take-along-everywhere tiny , it's got a ton of creative features and takes great pictures , it also comes in fun colors . It's the one to get !
EXTRA READING FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL NOT SURE . . .
If you want the perfect balance between image quality , features , size , layout and last but not the least the price , here is my 2 cents worth . ( I own 4 SD cameras and have done some research using all of these for the same picture at the same location . )
Image Quality : Top slot goes to the cameras in the 800 / 900 series . The image quality of SD1100 is a notch below .
Layout and controls : The controls are better on the 800 / 900 / 700 series compared to SD1100 as you have a separate instant replay button which is very useful to switch between shoot and replay mode . I LOVE this feature as it saves me a lot of time while shooting . It's so much better than the rubber slider on this 1100 model .
Screen size : This camera has a 2.5 screen with a viewfinder while some other models offer 3 inch screen but are missing the viewfinder . I prefer the larger screen as the extra .5 makes composing shots much easier . I have NEVER missed the viewfinder yet , even in bright sunlight .
Camera Size : SD1100 is the winner here as it's the tiniest . The SD750 / 770 / 790 are almost as compact but 800s / 900s are bigger .
If picture quality is important for you go for the 800 / 900 series . If smaller size , with nice picture taking capability is important look at the 700 series . If you want the tiniest , convenient camera which takes pretty good shots at a bargain price go for this SD1100 .
Note : For some additional thoughts click on the comments .
015 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
( NOTE : I've had the camera for two days . )
This camera is nothing short of amazing . First , the size . It literally fits in your hand ! The size means the camera can slip into a shirt pocket and go ANYWHERE . I wear an orange safety vest at work and this camera fits neatly into a pocket . In the two days I've had this camera , I've taken almost 150 pictures ! Entirely due to the size of the camera . It goes everywhere with me now .
Features ? How did Canon pack so much into such a tiny package ? The controls are intuitive and easy to use . Most people won't crack the manual until they start taking more advanced shots . For the rookie ( read : me ) , this camera is a true point-and-shoot . The optical image stabilization is wonderful and works like a champ . The 8MP pictures look HUGE . There are two different zoom modes on this camera . A 3x regular zoom plus another 6 - 7x optical .
The battery for this camera charged in less than 90mins . Camera came with a 32MB SD card which goes very fast at 8MP . Still , the fact that Canon included one at all speaks volumes about the company . Lots of accessories are available too .
There are a bunch of more advanced features that I can't speak about . Different shooting modes , ISO settings , and other neat things . There is even a movie mode !
Images look great to this untrained eye . Your mileage will vary .
Highly recommend for people who just want to take lots and lots of pictures !
058 4 Before buying this camera , I researched all of the Canon Powershot ( ultra compact ) cameras on Canon's website , as well as , reading blogs and reviews elsewhere online . This camera is fantastic for someone who wants to take a great picture ALL of the time with the image stabilization ( IS ) feature . I would NOT buy any camera without the IS feature . I bought this camera because IT HAS MOVIE WITH SOUND ( SOUND IS KEY ) as many other models do not have sound . I also wanted a view window ( viewfinder ) in case the sun was too bright in Arizona to see the images on the nice 2.5 LCD screen . I haven't had to use the view finder yet . : - ) Now this camera isn't for zooming and taking far off shots in nature as the zoom isn't nearly strong enough for that . Things look smaller on the screen ( mountains ) than to the naked eye . But if you want a great camera for taking pictures of people , pets and with the macro setting ( up close such as jewelry to list on ebay ) this camera will be your new best friend . It is easy to work and the instructions are actually easy to understand . I am so thrilled with it . THE PICTURES ARE FANTASTIC ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! And , with amazon , you have no sales tax . . . so you will be hard pressed to find a better deal . And , you can choose the various colors vs . just having another silver camera like everyone else . I chose the Brown and love it . God Bless !
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I just returned from Europe and took over 1500 images and videos with the wonderful camera . I have a neck strap and keep the camera handy my my chest pocket . This works so smoothly . When wishing to grab a quick shot I just pull it our and is seconds it is on and ready to take a picture , video , or record audio .
The face detection works well and if the shutter is pressed half way down the face will be highlighted and sometimes enlarged to show you where the focal point is . The exposure will be on the face most of the time so if the back ground is bright you will have a properly exposed face . This works especially will if the person ( s ) are close to the camera . I have taken some beautifully exposed faces all over Europe under some difficult lighting conditions . . . back light or total darkness .
The image stabilization really helps in dim lighting like in museums where you might like to take photos of art hanging on the walls . No flash is permitted so the IS really helps . In large churches that are often dimly lit one can rest the camera further on a bench or stable surface for further help with long exposures .
I took and extra battery and swapped it out every 4 days or so to keep the battery always ready for a shot . This worked all but one time when I took about 200 shots and a few videos and ran out of battery .
The Amazon price is one of the lowest I've seen . In Europe they are about 225 to 250 Euro or about 300 to 400 American dollars , so we get a very good deal here .
The 2 Gig memory cards work fine and store a ton of information . I recorded picture tags with the camera to place audio clips with the photos at concerts , family reunions , travel directions and friends voices telling stores . I just aimed the mike on the front of the camera in the direction I wished to record . It was fun to playback the audio at a later time and relive the moment .
009 4 Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown )
I own and am a huge fan of the Canon Digital Rebel SLR and think that it takes great pictures . Unfortunately , there are times when a larger camera with all of it's accessories and lenses can be prohibitive . In preparation for an upcomming event where I would be a participant as well as spectator , I realized that I would be unable to carry around my Rebel .
So , I spent several days reading different reviews before deciding on the Canon PowerShot SD 1100 . I must stress that the fact that I already owned a Canon played no part in my decision . I did not settle on the SD 1100 out of brand loyalty . I must have read more than 30 or 40 different professional reviews of various cameras before picking this one .
I have only had this camera for a couple of days , and haven't yet used it at the event for which it was purchased , but I must say that I am extremely pleased with this camera . The most common negative comment in reviews of this camera is that it does not offer a wide variety of manual settings . I have to agree that if you are looking for a camera to launch your career as a professional photographer , this may not be the best choice for you .
The camera is ultra compact without feeling cheap . It is well designed , well made , full featured , takes great photos under a variety of conditions and exceeds all of my expectations for a more portable alternative to my full sized SLR . I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this camera and I cannot imagine why somebody wouldn't be extremely happy with this purchase .
I also recommend buying the case advertised as an accessory for this model as it has a belt loop that allows you to carry it safely and securely on your belt instead of in your pocket .
018 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
This camera worked well after six months , but in the past week , after the camera opened , it stayed open and beeped , saying Lens error , restart camera . Google this term and the Canon 1100IS and you'll see many people with the same problem .
A shame since I've bought numerous Canon cameras over the years and have found them to work flawlessly . There's even a class-action suit over this to get them to acknowledge the problem with the 1100IS . Google that and you'll find info on that too .
UPDATE : I've read accounts of owners who send Canon the camera in for servicing within the warranty period and for their troubles are told that it's their fault instead of a production flaw . I sent in mine prepared for the worst , but they ended up fixing it ! So in my case , they honored the warranty . I'd give the product 3 stars now , but Amazon doesn't let you change the original rating .
021 4 The SD1100 IS is my fourth Digital Elph camera . The previous three have been wonderful cameras . The SD1100 IS is not a good camera . It has serious autofocus problems . The autofocus in flash mode is not reliable . Approximately 20% of the photos taken with flash are out-of-focus . I have pictures taken on a tripod , with flash in which not a single object within the photoframe is in focus .
I suggest you avoid this camera .
043 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue )
I bought this camera from Amazon.com for $164.00 . It is a real nice little camera , mostly made of metal with a couple of plastic doors to its outputs & Battery / memory card compartment . I also bought the PSC - 1000 Blue case & a Hi capacity SD Memory card , ScanDisk 2GB Extreme lll SD Card . I wish I had bought the PSC - 55 case which I feel looks a lot nicer .
I have owned this camera less then a week & so far no problems .
I wish it had a rubber feel on the edges , like most cell phones have . It's real easy to stick in your pocket & not have to drag around a camera bag .
The Menu is easy to use but takes practice to see what all the icons stand for . Don't bother calling Canon's Help Desk at they are useless . They only read from the Book you are looking at .
The Battery charger is nicely made & takes 1 - 1 / 2 hr to charge .
I set the camera in the Auto mode ( which I am sure most people who buy in this price range use ) Flash to Auto , anti shake On , face detection On and resolution at L & compression at super fine . Those are the top settings & if you want to Email any of your pictures after downloading to your computer you can always knock down the resolution .
I did not install the Canon computer Software since I download straight from the Memory Card .
When turning on the camera you need to be careful that you do not interfere with the lens extending .
I think this subcompact camera is the way to go unless you are a pro or think you are a pro and want something like a $1000 & up SLR .
044 4 Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue )
I bought this camera from Amazon.com for $164.00 . It is a real nice little camera , mostly made of metal with a couple of plastic doors to its outputs & Battery / memory card compartment . I also bought the PSC - 1000 Blue case & a Hi capacity SD Memory card , ScanDisk 2GB Extreme lll SD Card . I wish I had bought the PSC - 55 case which I feel looks a lot nicer .
I have owned this camera less then a week & so far no problems .
I wish it had a rubber feel on the edges , like most cell phones have . It's real easy to stick in your pocket & not have to drag around a camera bag .
The Menu is easy to use but takes practice to see what all the icons stand for . Don't bother calling Canon's Help Desk at they are useless . They only read from the Book you are looking at .
The Battery charger is nicely made & takes 1 - 1 / 2 hr to charge .
I set the camera in the Auto mode ( which I am sure most people who buy in this price range use ) Flash to Auto , anti shake On , face detection On and resolution at L & compression at super fine . Those are the top settings & if you want to Email any of your pictures after downloading to your computer you can always knock down the resolution .
I did not install the Canon computer Software since I download straight from the Memory Card .
When turning on the camera you need to be careful that you do not interfere with the lens extending .
I think this subcompact camera is the way to go unless you are a pro or think you are a pro and want something like a $1000 & up SLR .
061 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I wanted a small point and shoot camera for in my pocket when I am not carrying my Nikon SLR , which is huge and bulky . I miss too many shots that way . I bought this one a couple of weeks ago and I am amazed . The shots are clear , and good enough to be sold on stock photography sites that are very picky . I even shot video with it to send to my husband in Iraq and it is as good as a small hand held video camera , and picture cameras never have that quality . Buy this one ! ! It is soooo worth the money : )
065 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I always look to CANON , when it comes to an imaging device . I own several Canon cameras , ( still and video ) , ( 2 ) printers and ( 2 ) scanners . The CANON SD1100IS does everything it claims with the same quality as the more expensive cameras do . With the arrival of my 2 grandchildren , I wanted a camera that captured Clean , Sharply focused pictures quickly , since babies won't pose for you . So far , since I purchased this at the end of March , I have taken over 300 photos . At present , I have only charged the battery once and it is still ready to shoot . The on-board effects add an incredible touch of professionalism to my pictures . Sunlight , indoors , at night , ambient lighting without a flash , every picture a keeper ! If you are looking for versatility , simplicity , and great pictures you will be proud of , consider the SD1100IS . I researched a lot of cameras , and the SD1100IS did all I wanted and more , for a very affordable price .
068 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This is the third camera i've purchased over the past few months , guess what ? they are all the same camera . . . . each one has died with the lens error message which is quickly determined to be voided by canon ' customer service ' . in less than two weeks of very casual and careful use it has barfed again and i'm once again having to pay service shipping for a product that doesn't perform and i know what the cookie cutter response is going to be . These used to be great cameras but obviously parts lately coming from ' who knows where ' need a serious boost in QA to fix this lens error problem , but thats for the next sap , i'm done with canon
071 4 I just bought this camera last night and I had a few hours to play with it . The picture quality is fantastic indoors and outside . The macro setting is really nice .
I was looking for a small camera under $300 that has great picture quality and movie quality . I found it ! The SD100IS is the best choice , and it looks very cool . I bought mine in brown .
075 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I bought this camera to take on short trips when my DSLR is too bulky . For me , image quality in a camera like this is less important than ease of use and sheer portability .
This PowerShot is exactly what I wanted in a camera like this . The images are nice , the camera is quite small and very light . It is just small enough to comfortably fit into the front pocket of my jeans .
The flash and zoom aren't perfect , but this IS a point and shoot camera . I don't have any complaints about the photos from this camera . The rechargeable battery is great and charges quickly .
My previous point-and-shoot had a terrible shutter delay . This camera does a nice job of taking the image right when I press the button . It's not quite as responsive as my DSLR , but still very good .
This one does take short movies , but the quality is not great . Don't buy this thinking you're going to take lots of home movies . It's good in a pinch or to capture something random , otherwise , skip the movie feature .
Recommended for the family on the go .
076 4 I bought this camera to take on short trips when my DSLR is too bulky . For me , image quality in a camera like this is less important than ease of use and sheer portability .
This PowerShot is exactly what I wanted in a camera like this . The images are nice , the camera is quite small and very light . It is just small enough to comfortably fit into the front pocket of my jeans .
The flash and zoom aren't perfect , but this IS a point and shoot camera . I don't have any complaints about the photos from this camera . The rechargeable battery is great and charges quickly .
My previous point-and-shoot had a terrible shutter delay . This camera does a nice job of taking the image right when I press the button . It's not quite as responsive as my DSLR , but still very good .
This one does take short movies , but the quality is not great . Don't buy this thinking you're going to take lots of home movies . It's good in a pinch or to capture something random , otherwise , skip the movie feature .
Recommended for the family on the go .
079 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I already own a Canon XT , which I love , but I found that , because of its size I never took it along with me all the time and missed some great shots . So I bought the Canon SD1100IS to take with me all the time . I love this little camera . It's easy to hold , has more bells and whistles than the XT and takes great photos . I also love the movie clip feature and the large LCD screen ( which I miss in the XT ) . I bought a case for it with a neck strap so that I don't have to carry it when I'm empty-handed . The downside of the camera is that I'm used to having an SLR with virtually no shutter lag , so it's hard to go back to having a camera with it . That means that I have to be careful when shooting moving objects so that they're always in the photo ( which sometimes becomes an interesting dilemma ) . Although the camera has a slow shutter speed setting you can't really adjust the shutter speed . There are set features for kids and pets , night shots , foliage and even fireworks , but you're pretty locked into the shutter speed they select . That said , the camera performs beautifully and takes great photos , equal to that of the XT . A great buy for the money !
083 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I just returned from Europe and took over 1500 images and videos with the wonderful camera . I have a neck strap and keep the camera handy my my chest pocket . This works so smoothly . When wishing to grab a quick shot I just pull it our and is seconds it is on and ready to take a picture , video , or record audio .
The face detection works well and if the shutter is pressed half way down the face will be highlighted and sometimes enlarged to show you where the focal point is . The exposure will be on the face most of the time so if the back ground is bright you will have a properly exposed face . This works especially will if the person ( s ) are close to the camera . I have taken some beautifully exposed faces all over Europe under some difficult lighting conditions . . . back light or total darkness .
The image stabilization really helps in dim lighting like in museums where you might like to take photos of art hanging on the walls . No flash is permitted so the IS really helps . In large churches that are often dimly lit one can rest the camera further on a bench or stable surface for further help with long exposures .
I took and extra battery and swapped it out every 4 days or so to keep the battery always ready for a shot . This worked all but one time when I took about 200 shots and a few videos and ran out of battery .
The Amazon price is one of the lowest I've seen . In Europe they are about 225 to 250 Euro or about 300 to 400 American dollars , so we get a very good deal here .
The 2 Gig memory cards work fine and store a ton of information . I recorded picture tags with the camera to place audio clips with the photos at concerts , family reunions , travel directions and friends voices telling stores . I just aimed the mike on the front of the camera in the direction I wished to record . It was fun to playback the audio at a later time and relive the moment .
086 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I need a camera for everything , business and pleasure . And , this is an ideal camera . I had the predecessor and will continue
purhasing cannon powershot cameras . Clear photos , great size cameara fits in the pocket or purse . Can't go wrong with this one . Purchase a memory card that holds dozens of pix , though .
103 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue )
I bought this for my daughter and she just loves how fast the camera is She's got small children , and when they visited , she easily got pictures of the kids jumping in the pool , and even my husband throwing them up in the air . I'm not sure how fast the second picture is , but very pleased with camera - - also , it has a viewfinder for sunny days
104 4 Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue )
I bought this for my daughter and she just loves how fast the camera is She's got small children , and when they visited , she easily got pictures of the kids jumping in the pool , and even my husband throwing them up in the air . I'm not sure how fast the second picture is , but very pleased with camera - - also , it has a viewfinder for sunny days
108 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I was just looking for a small camera to supplement my Nikon D50 . Something I could throw in my pocket when going out to dinner with friends . This camera definitely fits the bill . Also , the price point is reasonable . To go up to the next set of features ( long zoom , better LCD ) you need to add 50% to the price - - a bit more than I want to spend for a second camera .
Most of the pros and cons are covered elsewhere , so I will mention some you don't hear about . First , the camera has a stop-action movie mode , that shoots a frame every second or every other second . This is really fun for parties . Set the camera in a corner , and end up with a movie that shows the entire event in a few minutes . I set it up in the corner and made a quick 30 - second video of us cooking dinner last night .
Second , when using the time-delay shutter - - which I often do for group shots - - you can set the camera to take multiple shots when the timer goes off . No more running back to the camera to take another shot .
This is a great , take-it-anywhere , fun camera .
110 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Pink ) ( Electronics )
Purchased for my 6 year old grandaughter who is thrilled with it and has no problems taking family pictures .
Anti-shake , optical viewfinder beside LCD display are nice features .
I used before giving as gift and took great macros making an apple look real enough to eat , highlights and shadows well portrayed . Also does videos . Very uncomplicated ,
112 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Nice camera , but I did know that it came with a battery and charger . ( Maybe I didn't read the details completely ) When I made my purchase , I also purchased a battery and charger . Now I have two battery chargers and two batteries .
121 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I was looking in Consumer Reports and this camera got the best rating for sub-compacts . Then when I found it discounted to $159.00 on Amazon I jumped at it . It has been great , but you'll need to take the time to read the instructions . I mean this camera does everything , so to really take advantage of all it's capabilities you should spend the time to read the manual .
127 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
This is a great Camera , it not only takes great pictures , the movies are just as good . The only thing to keep in mind is the Transcend 4G memory card will not work with older readers . . . So my advice is to buy a Transcend card reader that costs about $15 and plugs into the computer via a USB port
130 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I was unprepared for the beauty of this camera . My earlier Powershot was 4 years old . The improvements are remarkable . The pictures are clear , the viewfinder is bright and the range of controls are great . I'm not into photography anymore and this unit suits me fine . I chose this one based on reviews I read on Amazon and elsewhere . I don't regret my choice at all . I am very satisfied .
152 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Pink ) ( Electronics )
I just came back from The Netherlands and this camera performed fantastic !
My pictures are beautiful and I was able to do many different functions with the camera . I would highly recommend to all .
164 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Pink ) with Selphy CP760 Photo Printer ( Pink ) ( Electronics )
I bought this camera back in December 2008 and I have LOVED it since then but this weekend , I got the dreaded Lens Error message and now have no camera . The lens is stuck out and you can't use the camera at all . I have been reading reviews and I guess this happens to a lot of people . Please watch out for this !
166 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
i bought mine in july , $150 , and i have no idea why it costs 300 dollars now . That's ridiculous . especially because mine broke , and completely would not turn on , after 9 months of use . The repair people wanted $100 dollars just to take it apart and diagnose it . Needless to say I bought a new one .
168 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Very good camera , canon digital , takes great pictures ! ! ! Easy to use and handle . Good size and cool appearance .
171 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Pink ) with Selphy CP760 Photo Printer ( Pink ) ( Electronics )
This little camera takes a great picture , is easy to use , and is small enough to put in your pocket . The pictures from the printer are great , and you can also transfer the pictures from the camera to your computer . I love the little printer , though , for puting pictures in a photo album . I was really surprised at the quality of the pictures from the printer . They are great .
173 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Many of the reviews I read on Amazon , and other places , are left by people who just recently purchased the item . Not real helpful . So I waited 11 months . That should be enough time to properly evaluate the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS .
I'll cut to the chase : this is a perfect point and shoot camera for people taking candid shots , vacation photos , kids , and general every day use . The quality is good , the options robust , and it's compact enough that it will fit you in your shirt pocket .
This IS not the perfect camera if you're trying to take professional looking photographs , particularly of nature and especially outside . You just don't have the focal depth to get rich pictures . My father in law has one of the Canon SLRs and you can really see the difference in quality . But you can also see and feel the difference in the size of the camera you're carrying around ( a few ounces that can fit comfortably in your pocket v . a few pounds that needs it's own case ) . I'm not saying it doesn't take good outdoor pictures , it just doesn't pick up everything that your eyes do .
If you need a camera to take to parties , the kids ' play date or soccer game , or just having fun , then this is a great camera . It has nearly all the features of other Canon cameras . Also , the video is really good quality and it saves it in . avi format .
175 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I was very relieved when I received this camera . It said used but looks new or something on the description , so I was hoping for the best . The camera really IS like brand new and works like a charm . Since nothing's completely perfect , there IS a couple scratches on the front , but it's not noticeable at all , and like the description said , it has been used ( and anything used gets a scratch or two eventually ) . It's lovely with taking photos and videos , and so it was definitely worth the money . I'm glad I was able to trust this seller .
177 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Brown ) ( Electronics )
I have had this camera for over a year now . I like it very much . It is small , easy to use , and takes very good pictures . The only negative I have is that the Red Eye function is only OK , not great . I still get a lot of red eyes in my photos , especially in-doors and especially with kids . But having said that , the camera still takes a lot of great photos , much better than the last digital camera that I had . Also , the videos it takes are outstanding . What a great feature !
181 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Pink ) with Selphy CP760 Photo Printer ( Pink ) ( Electronics )
I purchased this camera for my daughter . It came with the photo printer . She loves the camera and it takes really great shots . She hasn't ever used the printer though .
184 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I do serious photography with a large Digital SLR and all the lenses . I wanted a small camera to carry for personally use when i didn't feel like lugging all my other gear with me . This camera fits the bill perfectly . There are certainly trade offs with low light performance and ability to control all the aspects of taking a photo , but that isn't what this camera is for anyway . Save youself some money and get this instead of getting the latest camera with the highest MP count . It seriously doesn't make a difference for what you are going to use this camera for anyway , and infact may hurt low light performance ( more pixels packed into the same chip size generally equates to more image noise ) .
Personal favorite features
- Very light and sleak design
- Nice LCD screen
- Refined user interface
- Decent low light performance
- Optical stabilization ( helps sometimes - but remember this just helps in holding the camera steady , not in increasing the shutter speed to catch a moving object in low light - like my always on the go daughter ) .
- Good quality video
Wish list
- Ability to turn the flash on / off in auto mode . This is probably my only gripe . I use it in auto most of the time , but you can't make it use the flash for fill lighting or motion stop unless you go to manual mode . I always have to flip back for my wife afterwards : - )
- better default compression on the video . This is a common problem for this camera segment . The video will take up a lot of space , and may need to be convereted / compressed before sending / uploading to blog / etc . . .
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Now that Canon and its rivals are offering numerous compact and ultracompact point-and-shoot cameras in the 10 - 12 megapixel range , the price on this 8 megapixel unit has dropped dramatically . But don't be fooled by the notion that more megapixels is better - - in this class of camera , it's not necessarily true . Unless the sensor is larger , which it generally isn't , you will often not see any difference in the 10 and 12 MP cameras . In fact , you might get more noise . You are also likely to get a longer delay between shots . So if you are buying a high end digital SLR , sure , go for 12 , 14 , or now even 16 megapixels . But for a point-and-shoot compact , 7 or 8 MP is more than adequate .
This model offers 8 MP , face detection , and a variety of shooting modes that can be easily selected from a menu . It provides excellent results for everyday photography . It is also extremely compact and easily fits in a pocket or purse . If you want a camera to take along wherever you go , this is a must-have . It's also an incredible value , now available for as little as $160 - $180 .
If you buy this camera , note that it only includes a 32 MB memory card , which holds roughly 10 - 12 photos . You will certainly want to purchase a good , fast card . The SanDisk Extreme 4 GB works great and will hold over 1000 photos at the highest resolution ( 1800 - 2500 at lower image settings ) . You can now get one for $30 - $45 . Also , you may want to get an extra battery . Lenmar makes a good Canon equivalent that you can get for about $10 . ( Beware of no-name knockoffs that cost $2 or $3 ! )
Overall , excellent ultracompact point-and-shoot camera . Get this item to have with you all the time . ( And save up $1000 - $3000 + for a high-end digital SLR if you have serious , semi-pro photography needs ) .
081 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Now that Canon and its rivals are offering numerous compact and ultracompact point-and-shoot cameras in the 10 - 12 megapixel range , the price on this 8 megapixel unit has dropped dramatically . But don't be fooled by the notion that more megapixels is better - - in this class of camera , it's not necessarily true . Unless the sensor is larger , which it generally isn't , you will often not see any difference in the 10 and 12 MP cameras . In fact , you might get more noise . You are also likely to get a longer delay between shots . So if you are buying a high end digital SLR , sure , go for 12 , 14 , or now even 16 megapixels . But for a point-and-shoot compact , 7 or 8 MP is more than adequate .
This model offers 8 MP , face detection , and a variety of shooting modes that can be easily selected from a menu . It provides excellent results for everyday photography . It is also extremely compact and easily fits in a pocket or purse . If you want a camera to take along wherever you go , this is a must-have . It's also an incredible value , now available for as little as $160 - $180 .
If you buy this camera , note that it only includes a 32 MB memory card , which holds roughly 10 - 12 photos . You will certainly want to purchase a good , fast card . The SanDisk Extreme 4 GB works great and will hold over 1000 photos at the highest resolution ( 1800 - 2500 at lower image settings ) . You can now get one for $30 - $45 . Also , you may want to get an extra battery . Lenmar makes a good Canon equivalent that you can get for about $10 . ( Beware of no-name knockoffs that cost $2 or $3 ! )
Overall , excellent ultracompact point-and-shoot camera . Get this item to have with you all the time . ( And save up $1000 - $3000 + for a high-end digital SLR if you have serious , semi-pro photography needs ) .
148 4 I've only had the camera for one day . . . It was delivered this morning . . . Seems like a great camera for it's size . . . Colors and details are awesome . . .
There should be an included case , but there is none . . .32MB memory card is tiny . . . Only holds 15 wide screen shots . . . You'll need to order a small case for protection and a bigger memory card !
First off , this camera takes impressive photos . Once you get the hang of its modes , you can take some truly amazing shots . I got a lot of compliments on my shots of Peru which had some amazing shots ( y'know , that Machuu Picchu place ) . . other pros include :
1 . seriously compact size ( so light you forget it's there ) , more than small enough to fit in your jeans pocket
2 . great lookin ' - I had a brown one which people raved at
3 . amazing battery life - I never had to recharge once . I just did to satisfy my own paranoia . That includes a 4 day trek through the Andes by the way .
4 . Powerful flash
5 . Very cool editing options - you can change things to black and white or sepia . . . AFTER taking the photos . You can get rid of red-eye . It's sweet . And this is all in the camera before you transfer . . . ah , technology .
6 . You can digital zoom during video . ( be realistic , you have to pay at least a hundred more for a camera that can optically zoom for a video )
Cons :
I had an SD600 from back in the day which unfortunately got KIA'ed after being accidentally dropped in water . However , the same limitations I noticed on that camera are still present in Canon point-and-shoots . . .
1 ) Takes forever between shots . Sometimes you just get frustrated and push the button all the way thru despite the fact that the focus never wakes up . You are then rewarded with an awful pic . It seriously takes a full 3 - 4 seconds between pics for this thing to get ready and that feels like an eternity when you're trying to get shots of something that is fleeting . . . . i.e . a temple w / o people in the way , etc .
2 ) Night time modes still suck . It is seriously tricky to get this to work - usually things are blurry or way too over-exposed . And yes , anything over ISO 800 is totally useless .
3 ) Zoom is very limited . Sometimes you can honestly laugh at how weak the optical zoom is . But I have to say they've improved the digital zoom quite a bit from the 4 MP days .
4 ) Dust noise is markedly worse - y'know those annoying spots you get from dust ? I guess this is a side effect of having a more powerful camera but it can get seriously ridiculous
And the elephant in the room is . . . . the LENS ERROR . This is a defect unique to Canon and was truly a shock to me . I'm used to Canon's bouncing back from rainy days and being accidentally dropped . After using this camera ONCE at an outdoor wedding reception ( with some dustiness inevitably ocurring ) my 2 month old 1100 IS gave me a lens error 5 times within 30 minutes . Each time I had to remove the battery and start over .
This is a serious flaw and frankly fatal for me , I ended up returning what I had considered up to that point , to be a pretty sweet camera . So for all buyers out there , be aware that if you find yourself in a humid situation ( rainy ) or a dusty situation ( outdoor receptions , etc ) your lens mechanism stands a risk of failing . If you google this , many many people have run afoul of this issue and have had to pay over a hundred dollars to get their less than 1 year old cameras repaired by Canon . No thanks !
011 4 I got this camera for my daughter ( in pink of course ) in mid-April . She loves it ( size , pictures , etc . ) but after less than three months it will only flash lense error , restart when it's turned on . Too late to return to Amazon . : ( On the bright side , a trip to Canon's website support section got me through to a Repair Request Confirmation . Hopefully , this will just cost me postage to Elk Grove Village , IL .
Suspiciously , Canon doesn't list this model on their repair request input screen . . . makes you wonder if they're trying to discourage the onslaught of these that they're getting back for repair .
Here's hoping Canon will stand behind this little jewel . If I had it to do over I'd think twice . . . .
013 4 The image stabilization and the face detection work well , and most images come out wonderfully . There is a noticeable issue with noise and fast moving subjects are still an issue for me . One is common in ultra compacts and one may simply require another round with the manual so take that for what it's worth .
I found the menu and settings to be usable , but the settings I want are sometimes buried on a third level . Sometimes menu response has lagged a bit , which can be frustrating when your subject is moving faster than you are .
I moved from a Canon SD20 so having an optical zoom is wonderful . Plus , this camera is not that much larger than the SD20 so I still feel like I will take it out with me without worrying about bulk .
Battery life seems fine so far . . . much better than the SD which only holds a few minutes charge these days , despite having replaced the battery .
The SD1100 seems to do a decent job overall and overcomes the photographic failures of it's operator ( what do I know ) . If you want a simple point and shoot , you could do much worse . If you want more manual control over your pics , really good low light performance or something to document your next roller derby match , this may not be ideal .
022 4 This camera is unremarkable in its output , but is rich in features . It makes a good traveling camera , but if you decide on it , I'd set the image compensation to + 1 . Set at zero , the images tend to lack contrast and rich saturation . This is true with most cameras , both digital and print . The extra boost in exposure fills in shadow detail and boosts color saturation . Owners also should invest in a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements , if they don't have it already .
If you can cart around a slightly bigger camera , it should pay off with better quality photos ; but if you want to travel light , this is as good a way as any .
023 4 I bought the camera just 3 days before leaving for Spain . The directions were adequate and the camera is really easy to use . I not only shot photos on automatic but used the night and color options , as well as did a few movies . The software was essential because I prefer more contrast to my photos and the software allowed me to customize the images as I liked .
It was not clear to me on Amazon that the camera came with a recharger ( it did ) so I purchased a recharger . Turned out that was smart because it came with a European electrical outlet adapter that I used in Spain . I also purchased a 4G memory card . I took 535 photos and 5 movies , and there seems to be more room .
For it's size ( I carried the camera in my front pants pocket ) it takes amazing pictures . I definitely recommend the camera .
034 4 This was a great camera - - until it stopped working completely within 3 weeks . There was no ' incident ' or warning . . . but half an hour after making some movies , I went to turn the camera on and I got the message Lens Error , Restart Camera . I've tried everything , and I can't even retrieve the photos onto my computer .
So even though I expect Canon to replace this camera , since I bought it for a trip and can't take any photos , I am really bummed that it stopped working . I think they must have been using a cheaper manufacturing process , and we are all paying for it . I've used Canon products for years , and I support the company . . . but I strongly recommend getting a more reliable camera than this one .
053 4 I purchased this camera while rushing to get ready for a trip to Peru . . . it was fantastic value as I was able to get it at Costco for 149.99 w / a memory card and a case ! However , I feel I should try and warn people about some quirks I noticed about this camera . . .
Pros :
First off , this camera takes impressive photos . Once you get the hang of its modes , you can take some truly amazing shots . I got a lot of compliments on my shots of Peru which had some amazing shots ( y'know , that Machuu Picchu place ) . . other pros include :
1 . seriously compact size ( so light you forget it's there ) , more than small enough to fit in your jeans pocket
2 . great lookin ' - I had a brown one which people raved at
3 . amazing battery life - I never had to recharge once . I just did to satisfy my own paranoia . That includes a 4 day trek through the Andes by the way .
4 . Powerful flash
5 . Very cool editing options - you can change things to black and white or sepia . . . AFTER taking the photos . You can get rid of red-eye . It's sweet . And this is all in the camera before you transfer . . . ah , technology .
6 . You can digital zoom during video . ( be realistic , you have to pay at least a hundred more for a camera that can optically zoom for a video )
Cons :
I had an SD600 from back in the day which unfortunately got KIA'ed after being accidentally dropped in water . However , the same limitations I noticed on that camera are still present in Canon point-and-shoots . . .
1 ) Takes forever between shots . Sometimes you just get frustrated and push the button all the way thru despite the fact that the focus never wakes up . You are then rewarded with an awful pic . It seriously takes a full 3 - 4 seconds between pics for this thing to get ready and that feels like an eternity when you're trying to get shots of something that is fleeting . . . . i.e . a temple w / o people in the way , etc .
2 ) Night time modes still suck . It is seriously tricky to get this to work - usually things are blurry or way too over-exposed . And yes , anything over ISO 800 is totally useless .
3 ) Zoom is very limited . Sometimes you can honestly laugh at how weak the optical zoom is . But I have to say they've improved the digital zoom quite a bit from the 4 MP days .
4 ) Dust noise is markedly worse - y'know those annoying spots you get from dust ? I guess this is a side effect of having a more powerful camera but it can get seriously ridiculous
And the elephant in the room is . . . . the LENS ERROR . This is a defect unique to Canon and was truly a shock to me . I'm used to Canon's bouncing back from rainy days and being accidentally dropped . After using this camera ONCE at an outdoor wedding reception ( with some dustiness inevitably ocurring ) my 2 month old 1100 IS gave me a lens error 5 times within 30 minutes . Each time I had to remove the battery and start over .
This is a serious flaw and frankly fatal for me , I ended up returning what I had considered up to that point , to be a pretty sweet camera . So for all buyers out there , be aware that if you find yourself in a humid situation ( rainy ) or a dusty situation ( outdoor receptions , etc ) your lens mechanism stands a risk of failing . If you google this , many many people have run afoul of this issue and have had to pay over a hundred dollars to get their less than 1 year old cameras repaired by Canon . No thanks !
056 4 I bougth a SD1000 last year for my wife , but our daugther basically take it for herself , so I need to buy another camera for my disatisfied wife . I was happy with the SD1000 , so I choose this model thinking it will be more of the same , an I like the new colors too .
After some weeks of use , I could say that this is a better camera , it feels more solid , with better materials . The photos are better , not only because of the IS , but with the overall quality ( I have made some prints and I think all photos look better ) .
I don't give it 5 stars because of the limited manual controls . It is a very good , may I say excelent , point and shoot , but if your'e interested in experimenting with your photos , you may want to buy another model with more manual controls .
057 4 I got this camera a little over a month ago . I still have a lot to learn . I like to try and play around with buttons and features before reading the manual . I still haven't read a lot of the manual so this is just from experience .
Cannons are excellent cameras . The only reason i decided to replace my older cannon was because I am getting married , going to Hawaii and I wanted something a little newer / better for the trip of a lifetime .
My old cannon still works fine and i plan on keeping it as a backup .
Ok - on to my review .
Battery life is excellent . I had the camera for over a month , used it a lot ( especially playing around with the new features ) and finally just had to charge the battery . I bought a spare battery so i never missed a shot .
The flash is great - I seem to always have red eyes in every photo when a flash is used - this one is one of the better red eye reductions . I only had red eyes in about half the shots ( which for me is great )
There are a ton of different options as to how you can take your photo , ( indoor , outdoor , beach , sunrise , color swap , fireworks , pets , kids etc etc ) I thought this was neat , but according to my friend who is an artist , this is just a gag they use to sell more features . If you put your camera on auto it does all of the same things .
I haven't experimented enough to say if this is true or not .
I love the size of the screen - its definitely larger viewing then my old cannon however it still has a viewfinder - which i find important when owning a camera - sometimes in the dark , using the big screen is useless , you can't see anything on it , or sometimes when you ask other people to take a picture of you - they are not used to using a digital camera yet - this allows them to use the viewfinder like a regular camera and take a decent photo . Also if you god-forbid drop your camera on vacation and the screen breaks , you have a back up till you get home ( i've seen this happen to people )
Transferring photos to my iphoto program in my mac is really simple , just plug in and it goes !
I have only played around with the video function a bit . I think it seems fine . If i wanted to take really nice videos i would use a video camera , but for an on the spot use - this is a great little video camera too !
Thats all i can think of for now .
Cannons never disappoint in my experience !
084 4 I just returned from Europe and took over 1500 images and videos with the wonderful camera . I have a neck strap and keep the camera handy my my chest pocket . This works so smoothly . When wishing to grab a quick shot I just pull it our and is seconds it is on and ready to take a picture , video , or record audio .
The face detection works well and if the shutter is pressed half way down the face will be highlighted and sometimes enlarged to show you where the focal point is . The exposure will be on the face most of the time so if the back ground is bright you will have a properly exposed face . This works especially will if the person ( s ) are close to the camera . I have taken some beautifully exposed faces all over Europe under some difficult lighting conditions . . . back light or total darkness .
The image stabilization really helps in dim lighting like in museums where you might like to take photos of art hanging on the walls . No flash is permitted so the IS really helps . In large churches that are often dimly lit one can rest the camera further on a bench or stable surface for further help with long exposures .
I took and extra battery and swapped it out every 4 days or so to keep the battery always ready for a shot . This worked all but one time when I took about 200 shots and a few videos and ran out of battery .
The Amazon price is one of the lowest I've seen . In Europe they are about 225 to 250 Euro or about 300 to 400 American dollars , so we get a very good deal here .
The 2 Gig memory cards work fine and store a ton of information . I recorded picture tags with the camera to place audio clips with the photos at concerts , family reunions , travel directions and friends voices telling stores . I just aimed the mike on the front of the camera in the direction I wished to record . It was fun to playback the audio at a later time and relive the moment .
087 4 I need a camera for everything , business and pleasure . And , this is an ideal camera . I had the predecessor and will continue
purhasing cannon powershot cameras . Clear photos , great size cameara fits in the pocket or purse . Can't go wrong with this one . Purchase a memory card that holds dozens of pix , though .
102 4 This is a solid little camera that can provide excellent image quality under the right conditions . But it has two glaring deficiencies :
1 . No fill flash option in auto mode . ( There is a fill flash option in manual mode , but it's not easy for the casual user to find . ) There's red-eye reduction , of course , and you can turn the flash off completely or let the camera decide when to fire it . But with the camera in auto mode , you can't tell it to fire the flash on every shot , regardless of what its sensor thinks . Major bummer when you want to photograph a backlit subject .
2 . Shot-to-shot time is agonizingly slow , and focus time isn't especially speedy , either . This is a problem when , for example , you want to catch quick snaps of the animals you see on Disney World's Kilimanjaro Safaris . Ask me how I know .
I'm sure this is a fine camera for people who want to photograph landscapes , still lifes , and posed portraits . For candid shots of subjects in motion , it's not so great .
105 4 I had this camera for less than a month , and loving it .
Pros : Very compact , can fit in your shirt pocket
Battery life is good . It only takes 1 and 1 / 2 hour to charge
Takes crisp pictures ( I use 3.1mp to 8mp settings )
With 8GB sdhc card , I can take videos with sound at high def ( 680i )
quality ! !
Cons : It takes 2 - 3seconds to actually take a shot after you press the
shoot button so you miss some spontaneous moments .
Overall impression : Very happy with my purchase .
109 4 I was just looking for a small camera to supplement my Nikon D50 . Something I could throw in my pocket when going out to dinner with friends . This camera definitely fits the bill . Also , the price point is reasonable . To go up to the next set of features ( long zoom , better LCD ) you need to add 50% to the price - - a bit more than I want to spend for a second camera .
Most of the pros and cons are covered elsewhere , so I will mention some you don't hear about . First , the camera has a stop-action movie mode , that shoots a frame every second or every other second . This is really fun for parties . Set the camera in a corner , and end up with a movie that shows the entire event in a few minutes . I set it up in the corner and made a quick 30 - second video of us cooking dinner last night .
Second , when using the time-delay shutter - - which I often do for group shots - - you can set the camera to take multiple shots when the timer goes off . No more running back to the camera to take another shot .
This is a great , take-it-anywhere , fun camera .
111 4 Purchased for my 6 year old grandaughter who is thrilled with it and has no problems taking family pictures .
Anti-shake , optical viewfinder beside LCD display are nice features .
I used before giving as gift and took great macros making an apple look real enough to eat , highlights and shadows well portrayed . Also does videos . Very uncomplicated ,
115 4 It's been years since I purchased an ultracompact digital camera for myself . I got a few cameras for friends and family as gifts but I decided that it was about time to get a new one and retire my old Sony Cybershot . After days of research I found that I liked the image quality of Canon , so it was just a matter of choosing the camera with the features I wanted . Ultimately the research led me to the PowerShot SD1100IS . An after-Thanksgiving sale at BestBuy got me the camera , an extra battery , a case , and a 2GB SD card for only $150 . So after having used this camera for a couple months now , here is what I can say about it .
First , the good :
- Stylish , small and light . It really is an eye catcher , especially in the colors offered . Canon isn't known to make the slimmest or gimmicky cameras , but I still had people complimenting it . It's small enough to fit in my pocket without being uncomfortable or bulgy .
- Image quality rivals some dSLR shots . The lighting conditions don't even have to be ideal and I have still managed some amazing shots . I'm sure the optical image stabilization has a lot to do with it , but the colors captured just seem more like what my eyes really see . I'm not anywhere near professional , and yet this camera manages to make it easy to take good photos . I've found that I rarely if ever need to go to Photoshop to make color and contrast corrections anymore .
- Along the same lines as above , the built-in red-eye correction functionality works amazingly well . This probably isn't a new feature on most cameras , but I haven't had a new digital camera in years . I found that the red-eye correction worked far better than Photoshop's eye color tool .
- Facial recognition is scary accurate . . . when conditions are right . More on that later . I even tried pointing it at a magazine rack in the bookstore and it put boxes around the faces on the covers .
- Fast shutter speeds and startup times . It's ready to go almost as soon as you turn it on . I've managed to turn on the camera and snag a couple shots of a speedy chipmunk in my backyard before the critter can scurry away .
- Has an optical viewfinder . Never again will I strain while staring at the screen in the outdoor sunlight .
Here are the negatives that come to mind :
- Either there are no manual exposure controls , or they're hidden in such a way that I can't easily find them .
- Small-ish screen . It's the same size screen as my older Cybershot , and I can see that Canon has released ultra-compacts with bigger screens . Not too big of a deal for me given that the optical viewfinder takes up some of that valuable real-estate on such a small camera .
- It's really more of a nitpick , but the facial recognition works well only if your subjects are mostly facing forward eyes visible and their heads aren't tilted too much . People with sunglasses , or hair obscuring their eye won't be picked up from what I've found . Doesn't work at all with a sideways head .
I've taken so many more photos with this in the past 2 months and I almost never have to do any post-processing to make my shots look better now . It's small enough to go with me almost everywhere . It's great for when you're going out and hanging with friends , to major events , family gatherings , and parties . I put the most mileage on it during Thanksgiving , Christmas , New Years Eve , as well as a wedding recently and the photos turn out great . It also takes decent enough videos , at least for uploading to Facebook . If you're on the fence about this camera , I highly recommend you go for it .
116 4 I love this little camera . Takes great shots ( it's a Cannon after all ) , is very compact , great battery life , and even sports a viewfinder . I bought this as a back-up to my DSLR ( also a Cannon ) and have no regrets .
Believe me , I did a lot of research and even bought another camera which I had to return due to poor photo quality ( the Panasonic FX01 ) . If you just need a nice little pocket camera , go for the SD1100 .
136 4 I'm not a photographer but I have a newborn and a toddler so I take A LOT of pictures and each one is important to me . Photo quality is great , first and next shot delay is fantastic ( which was a major concern because the toddler doesn't wait ! ) and the functions are all intuitive - who has time to read the manual ? !
Also , just got a new laptop that runs Vista and there were no problems with compatibility .
If you're looking for a super-easy , tiny point and shoot camera that works well and takes great pics , go for it !
143 4 I bought the Canon SD1100 primarily to shoot images for online auctions and craft store listings . This meant small glass images shot at close range , indoors using natural light . I've been delighted with the Digital Macro setting , which rendered these hard-to-shoot images in very good quality ( see samples in the Image Gallery ) . The image quality is clearer and crisper than those I've seen in other sellers ' listings on those sites . I also don't have a steady hand : the image stabilization worked like a charm .
It took me a bit to wade through all the icons and instructions in the manual , but I was shooting images I was very pleased with by the second day of use . As others have noted , the memory card Canon includes only holds a few shots - - I'd recommend buying a higher capacity card the same time as the camera . But other than that I'm very happy with the camera - - my first digital .
144 4 This is a perfect pocket point-and-shoot . I bought it with a couple things in mind : 1 ) high quality photos 2 ) low price point . I wanted an inexpensive camera , but not a cheap camera - something that I can carry with me every day for a year and not feel like too much of a loss if it breaks . This camera filled all my wishes . It exceeded my expectations by taking crisp , clear video .
Canon makes a quality product , and over-delivers on features . I've been having so much fun exploring my camera and discovering all the neat extras thrown in .
The stitch assistant is capable of creating beautiful panoramas . Digital Macro is great for getting WAY up close and gets detailed shots . The time-lapse movie mode is loads of fun .
I'll eventually pony up and buy a nice DSLR , but for now , this definitely meets the need of a budding photographer or anyone who wants to capture family events and whatnot .
145 4 I own an earlier rendition of the Digital Rebel , and as most SLR users know , sometimes you just don't want to lug all that gear around . I live in NYC , and I wanted a compact camera to keep in my messenger bag for any random photo opportunities that came up throughout the day ( and didn't want to drop the cash for a G9 ) . The SD1100 really exceeded my expectations . In fact , I took it along with my Rebel on a Caribbean vacation , and I found myself shooting with the compact almost exclusively ( and I was shocked at how well it dealt with the strong lighting you run into on the beach . )
It suffers the typical compact limitations ( lots of noise at high ISO , tendency to blow out highlights in high-contrast shots , underpowered flash , etc . ) , but the SD1100 still performs WAY better in all of those categories than any small camera I've ever used . Even though it's a completely automatic affair , the various settings provide enough control to shoot in a pretty much any condition , and they're accessible enough to adjust on the fly . I love my SD1100 and absolutely recommend buying one - - it provides lots of flexibility and produces pleasing photos at an excellent value .
153 4 I just came back from The Netherlands and this camera performed fantastic !
My pictures are beautiful and I was able to do many different functions with the camera . I would highly recommend to all .
154 4 Can do almost everything you can imagine .
It has elaborate menus and settings .
Good video performance . Exellent time lapse video .
I prefer a wider angle lens and more control over aperture and speed .
170 4 I try to slip my blue sd1100 in my pocket whenever I'm heading out the door .
I've used this camera for nearly 2 years now . The best camera is the one you've got with you , and the sd1100 is slim enough that I can take it anywhere without worrying about bulging pockets . I love the sturdy metal construction on these digital elphs . Mine is a little scratched up , but that's because I've taken it everywhere . It still works great .
The focal lengths ( i.e . zoom range ) isn't really that impressive , but for snapshots , the range is just fine . As with most on camera flash , the flash is best turned off . The wide end of the lens is actually fairly fast at F / 2.8 , but the lens quickly stops down at the longer end of the zoom range . So if you want to take photos in low light , use the wide end .
The jpegs are nice quality . I like to use the vivid color setting .
The manual controls are nothing to write home about . You basically get control exposure compensation , white balance , and metering modes . No control over shutter speed or aperture . The camera does all the work .
Still , I've gotten some great use out of this camera , and it is a well-functioning , very-pocketable , point-and-shoot .
174 4 Many of the reviews I read on Amazon , and other places , are left by people who just recently purchased the item . Not real helpful . So I waited 11 months . That should be enough time to properly evaluate the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS .
I'll cut to the chase : this is a perfect point and shoot camera for people taking candid shots , vacation photos , kids , and general every day use . The quality is good , the options robust , and it's compact enough that it will fit you in your shirt pocket .
This IS not the perfect camera if you're trying to take professional looking photographs , particularly of nature and especially outside . You just don't have the focal depth to get rich pictures . My father in law has one of the Canon SLRs and you can really see the difference in quality . But you can also see and feel the difference in the size of the camera you're carrying around ( a few ounces that can fit comfortably in your pocket v . a few pounds that needs it's own case ) . I'm not saying it doesn't take good outdoor pictures , it just doesn't pick up everything that your eyes do .
If you need a camera to take to parties , the kids ' play date or soccer game , or just having fun , then this is a great camera . It has nearly all the features of other Canon cameras . Also , the video is really good quality and it saves it in . avi format .
183 4 i researched many many cameras . i have a nikon D70 ( which i love as as well ) but it is rather heavy to take every where so i decided to look into getting a smaller camera that i could shove in my pocket yet still have the features that i liked in my large camera . . . . it apeared that i was to picky i gave up the search untill i went into a ritz store that was closing ( : ' ( ) the man there answered my question and pointed me in the right direction . . . . this camera it the camera i couldnt have desighned better ! ! ! idk y they dicontunued such an amazing little camera ! !
has the ' fun ' settings of color and you can edit and crop a little bit on the camera itself
the light is good indoor and out and is a little slow on the recharge of the flash but still much faster that the average point and shoot .
the zoom goes farrr out and still the pic it almost in perfect focus dispite the photographers camera shake
i have droped this camera several times and it still works perfectly . i have also jammed the lense but when this happens the camera tells me to shut it off . when it comes back on the lense is fine !
it is a heavier point and shoot which again i like . . . makes me feel like i am holding something that wont break or fall apart .
the macro setting is awesome ! !
it dones not have an action setting but had many many others to compensate for that
again i say amazing little camera ! i would pay the 300 . . . worth every penny !
185 4 I do serious photography with a large Digital SLR and all the lenses . I wanted a small camera to carry for personally use when i didn't feel like lugging all my other gear with me . This camera fits the bill perfectly . There are certainly trade offs with low light performance and ability to control all the aspects of taking a photo , but that isn't what this camera is for anyway . Save youself some money and get this instead of getting the latest camera with the highest MP count . It seriously doesn't make a difference for what you are going to use this camera for anyway , and infact may hurt low light performance ( more pixels packed into the same chip size generally equates to more image noise ) .
Personal favorite features
- Very light and sleak design
- Nice LCD screen
- Refined user interface
- Decent low light performance
- Optical stabilization ( helps sometimes - but remember this just helps in holding the camera steady , not in increasing the shutter speed to catch a moving object in low light - like my always on the go daughter ) .
- Good quality video
Wish list
- Ability to turn the flash on / off in auto mode . This is probably my only gripe . I use it in auto most of the time , but you can't make it use the flash for fill lighting or motion stop unless you go to manual mode . I always have to flip back for my wife afterwards : - )
- better default compression on the video . This is a common problem for this camera segment . The video will take up a lot of space , and may need to be convereted / compressed before sending / uploading to blog / etc . . .
Strengths :
- 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor ( excellent resolution images with good dynamic range )
- Solid construction ( most of body made of anodized aluminum )
- Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
- Easy to use ( logical user-interface ) with minimal need to consult owner's manual for basic operation
- Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations ( action / sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why )
- Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even tricky situations ( great balance of highlights and shadows )
- Tack-sharp images ( much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash )
- Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
- Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag ( when not using flash )
- Bright 2.5 LCD monitor ( 100% coverage , 230k pixels ) made of polycrystalline silicon ; fairly scratch-resistant ( can't vouch if this applies to keys and coins )
- Optical viewfinder ( though only a tiny peephole , it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted )
- Camera made in Japan ( at least those from the 1st shipment ; this easily may be subject to change )
Limitations :
- Lack of manual control over aperture , shutter speed , and focusing ( for the obssessive control-freaks )
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 ( ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4x6 images ; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable )
- Fastest shutter speed is 1 / 1500 sec ( not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities )
- Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
- Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on ( precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge )
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode ( focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame , and digital zoom is permitted instead , resulting in significant image quality deterioration )
- Battery / memory card cover and hinge made of plastic ( no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out , in order to prevent accidental opening )
- Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration ( albeit , difficult not to expect from compact p & s )
- Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
- No RAW shooting mode
Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised , allowing for approximately 240 images . If your budget permits , I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards - - vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently .
Overall Impression :
Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class , I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS . It does what it's supposed to do . This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact , reliable , and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use .
[ UPDATE : Since this review , Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon . . . . in time for Grad & Dad's Day : the PowerShot SD770IS , SD790IS , and SD890IS . All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer . The saga of the MP race continues . If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology , then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images . We'll have to wait and see . The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS , which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons . Hopefully , the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded lens error nightmare . The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end . The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS ( which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000 ) ; it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS . I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS , but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year . . . . conveniently before the Holidays .
SD770IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $299.99 .
SD790IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 3 LCD monitor , no Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $349.99 .
SD890IS : 10MP , 5X Optical zoom ( 37 - 185mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $399.99 . ]
002 4 If you need a solid , reliable , and stylish point-and-shoot ultracompact digital camera that produces high-quality images , then the new Canon PowerShot SD1100IS may be right for you .
I am an advanced amateur photographer and own 2 Canon digital cameras ( G2 and 20D ) . Both have served me well over the years but recently I have found myself needing a decent ultracompact camera that I can easily carry with me at all times for unexpected photo-ops .
Other current Canon models that I also researched before my purchase of the bohemian brown SD1100IS included the SD950IS and the SD1000 .
Here is my take on the SD1100IS :
Strengths :
- 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor ( excellent resolution images with good dynamic range )
- Solid construction ( most of body made of anodized aluminum )
- Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
- Easy to use ( logical user-interface ) with minimal need to consult owner's manual for basic operation
- Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations ( action / sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why )
- Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even tricky situations ( great balance of highlights and shadows )
- Tack-sharp images ( much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash )
- Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
- Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag ( when not using flash )
- Bright 2.5 LCD monitor ( 100% coverage , 230k pixels ) made of polycrystalline silicon ; fairly scratch-resistant ( can't vouch if this applies to keys and coins )
- Optical viewfinder ( though only a tiny peephole , it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted )
- Camera made in Japan ( at least those from the 1st shipment ; this easily may be subject to change )
Limitations :
- Lack of manual control over aperture , shutter speed , and focusing ( for the obssessive control-freaks )
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 ( ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4x6 images ; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable )
- Fastest shutter speed is 1 / 1500 sec ( not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities )
- Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
- Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on ( precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge )
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode ( focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame , and digital zoom is permitted instead , resulting in significant image quality deterioration )
- Battery / memory card cover and hinge made of plastic ( no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out , in order to prevent accidental opening )
- Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration ( albeit , difficult not to expect from compact p & s )
- Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
- No RAW shooting mode
Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised , allowing for approximately 240 images . If your budget permits , I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards - - vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently .
Overall Impression :
Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class , I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS . It does what it's supposed to do . This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact , reliable , and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use .
[ UPDATE : Since this review , Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon . . . . in time for Grad & Dad's Day : the PowerShot SD770IS , SD790IS , and SD890IS . All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer . The saga of the MP race continues . If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology , then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images . We'll have to wait and see . The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS , which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons . Hopefully , the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded lens error nightmare . The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end . The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS ( which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000 ) ; it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS . I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS , but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year . . . . conveniently before the Holidays .
SD770IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $299.99 .
SD790IS : 10MP , 3X Optical zoom ( 35 - 105mm ) , 3 LCD monitor , no Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $349.99 .
SD890IS : 10MP , 5X Optical zoom ( 37 - 185mm ) , 2.5 LCD monitor , Optical viewfinder , ISO 1600 , MSRP $399.99 . ]
006 4 I have been using a Powershot I2 IS for the last 3 years . Very good camera with a fantastic 12X Zoom . However , I wanted a camera to carry in my pocket . So many times I just didn't feel like dragging a large camera with me to various parties or events . This camera fills the bill . I carry it everywhere .
The pictures it produces are stunning . The 8MP 3X zoom produces a picture that you can crop to the point that you get almost the same picture as you would have with the 5MP 12X zoom lense ( my opinion ) . The movie feature is wonderful too , even better than the I2 IS .
The camera feels great in your hand with a solid , quality feeling . If you have used Canon cameras before the menus are very intuitive . I would not have purchased this camera ( or any camera for that matter ) if it did not have the Image Stabilization feature . This is especially a must as you get older .
By the way there is an advantage to the Brown color : If you have to use the optical view finder outside , the camera itself produces minimum glare for you eye to see more clearly through the small opening . The color also makes the LCD playback pop . And as a bonus , it really gives the camera a luxury look , you have to see it in person to appreciate the color .
I recently took it to a monthly card party and everyone went wild over it . So much so that one person sat right down at the computer and ordered one ! If you want a sub-compact , pocketable camera that takes great pictures , I highly recommend the Canon SD1100IS .
014 4 I started with the SD1000 in mind but soon discovered the newly introduced SD1100 before noticing that the identically-priced SD8500 was out-selling it on Amazon by a decisive margin . Even though almost a year older than the 1100 , the 8500 offers a few attractive features : 1 . a 4X optical zoom lens , with an impressive range of 35mm - 140mm ( the 1100 ' s is 38mm - 114mm ) ; 2 . marginally faster shutter operation and less lag time between shots ; 3 . the ISO settings are reassuringly located in a familiar place ( under func menu rather than controller ) for users who prefer to make the setting manually .
The experts ' reviews admittedly favor the 8500 , though I'm convinced present consumers are overlooking two things : first , the raves were written early last year and cannot be compared to reviews for a newly-made camera with merely incremental improvements ( as the model number suggests , the SD1100 is the successor to the SD1000 , which was the direct and immediate successor to the extremely popular SD600 ) ; 2nd , the marginally slower shutter time of the 1100 ( lag between depressing the trigger and getting a response ) is the trade-off for the addition of a new feature , Motion Detection technology , which acts in harmony with automatic image stabilization to recalibrate camera settings when extra motion in front of the lens is sensed . Finally , the apparent unpopularity of this camera is misleading since it comes in five colors and Amazon is treating each separately in its sales rankings ( go with pink and save a couple of bucks ) .
I went with the 1100 ( in silver ) for several reasons : 1 . It's closer in size , weight and appearance to the ultra-compact , classic SD1000 than the rounder and slightly heavier 8500 ( for the record , the 1100 reintroduces the softer edges of the 1000 ' s predecessor , the SD600 ) ; 2 . the new Motion Detection system compensates for any additional lag time , providing sharp shots of kids and pets ; 3 . it offers an improved screen - - PureColor II ( a noticeable improvement over PureColor under both extremely dim and bright conditions ) ; 4 . the focal length is ideal for the people shooting ; 5 . at 4.41oz it's an ounce lighter than the other new Canon releases , the SD790 and SD890 ( each 5.47oz ) .
In short , this is the ideal lazy person's companion , one that makes a nice complement to the good life .
016 4 ( NOTE : I've had the camera for two days . )
This camera is nothing short of amazing . First , the size . It literally fits in your hand ! The size means the camera can slip into a shirt pocket and go ANYWHERE . I wear an orange safety vest at work and this camera fits neatly into a pocket . In the two days I've had this camera , I've taken almost 150 pictures ! Entirely due to the size of the camera . It goes everywhere with me now .
Features ? How did Canon pack so much into such a tiny package ? The controls are intuitive and easy to use . Most people won't crack the manual until they start taking more advanced shots . For the rookie ( read : me ) , this camera is a true point-and-shoot . The optical image stabilization is wonderful and works like a champ . The 8MP pictures look HUGE . There are two different zoom modes on this camera . A 3x regular zoom plus another 6 - 7x optical .
The battery for this camera charged in less than 90mins . Camera came with a 32MB SD card which goes very fast at 8MP . Still , the fact that Canon included one at all speaks volumes about the company . Lots of accessories are available too .
There are a bunch of more advanced features that I can't speak about . Different shooting modes , ISO settings , and other neat things . There is even a movie mode !
Images look great to this untrained eye . Your mileage will vary .
Highly recommend for people who just want to take lots and lots of pictures !
070 4 After some delay by Amazon who never ship the extra battery which I bought together ( Someone must be sleeping on duty ! ! ! ) and they took 8 days ( instead of 2 ) for complete delivery with no compensation for delay . Why should I pay the school fees for Amazon's mistake ( lesson ) ?
Fortunately , the camera lives up to its expectation and the experiences is great so far . I have used many different cameras ( Sony , Kodak SLR , Fujifilm etc ) but needed a ultra-compact for daily job . First , I would like to highlight some weaknesses :
1 ) Mechanical Noise - whenever the button is pressed during photo taking , the motor starts working and there is some noise of adjustment inside . It is clearly audible if you are using the viewfinder . I wonder if it will shorten the lifespan of the camera ?
2 ) Tower of light - when you try to take a shot at night with low visibility , you will notice vertical tower of light from bright road beam . Clearly , the ISO or IS cannot coordinate well .
3 ) The shutter lag - if you are taking shots between short intervals with flash , the waiting time may be significant if you are in a rush .
4 ) Weak flash - I simply cannot get a clear photo at night for a subject standing 10m away . 4m is reasonably ok . On the other hand , apply contrary thinking for battery life conversation
5 ) ISO 1600 - it is pushing to the limit and the noise level is too great to seriously put the photo into archive . ISO 800 is bad enough while 400 is ok .
6 ) Sensitive Mic - at night , the mic works perfectly but if there is 0.5m tailwind behind , you will hear hurricane during playback . Of course , I am asking for the moon .
7 ) 32MB - this is the joke for the day but without a memory card , you cannot even store 1 single shot .
8 ) Short battery life - common problem faced by other DSCs .
9 ) Face recognition - the menu describes chasing the faces by pressing the print button while depressing the button halfway . Hey , our fingers are flexible but they are not yoga trained ( yet ) .
On the features , I am impressed ( besides the obvious DIS , slim and 8MB stories ) with :
1 ) Stitch assist - this is wonderful but i have yet to try out piecing them back via software provided
2 ) Color switch - wonderful to highlight specific subject
3 ) Viewfinder - Yes , many are omitting this feature to cut cost . But this is the only way to make your battery lasts 2 times longer ( in the event you forgot to take extra battery ) .
4 ) Video - Try it . This is one great reason to buy such ultra compact camera for carrying around . The video playback is excellent .
5 ) Reasonably priced - I bought at $213 but now it is $208 . Are you waiting for $199 ?
6 ) Great for ladies . . . .
On accessories , I strongly recommend the following :
1 ) Leather casing to protect knocking and scratches ;
2 ) 4GB of memory ( format using camera ) ;
3 ) protective cover for the LCD ; and
4 ) Photo bank with 80GB for video taking .
082 4 Now that Canon and its rivals are offering numerous compact and ultracompact point-and-shoot cameras in the 10 - 12 megapixel range , the price on this 8 megapixel unit has dropped dramatically . But don't be fooled by the notion that more megapixels is better - - in this class of camera , it's not necessarily true . Unless the sensor is larger , which it generally isn't , you will often not see any difference in the 10 and 12 MP cameras . In fact , you might get more noise . You are also likely to get a longer delay between shots . So if you are buying a high end digital SLR , sure , go for 12 , 14 , or now even 16 megapixels . But for a point-and-shoot compact , 7 or 8 MP is more than adequate .
This model offers 8 MP , face detection , and a variety of shooting modes that can be easily selected from a menu . It provides excellent results for everyday photography . It is also extremely compact and easily fits in a pocket or purse . If you want a camera to take along wherever you go , this is a must-have . It's also an incredible value , now available for as little as $160 - $180 .
If you buy this camera , note that it only includes a 32 MB memory card , which holds roughly 10 - 12 photos . You will certainly want to purchase a good , fast card . The SanDisk Extreme 4 GB works great and will hold over 1000 photos at the highest resolution ( 1800 - 2500 at lower image settings ) . You can now get one for $30 - $45 . Also , you may want to get an extra battery . Lenmar makes a good Canon equivalent that you can get for about $10 . ( Beware of no-name knockoffs that cost $2 or $3 ! )
Overall , excellent ultracompact point-and-shoot camera . Get this item to have with you all the time . ( And save up $1000 - $3000 + for a high-end digital SLR if you have serious , semi-pro photography needs ) .
092 4 I bought the Cannon SD1100 IS about a month ago and I am happy with my purchase so far . I am not even going to pretend to be a camera aficionado but I am a casual photographer that enjoys simple , easy to use cameras that take great pictures . The SD1100 is everything that I was looking for in a compact digital camera .
Compared to my previous digital camera ( a Kodak CX7530 ) , the Cannon is far superior . The images are crystal clear and the included software is much more intuitive and easy to use compared to Kodak's Easy Share software . The included IS feature is nice if you have shaky hands when trying to take pictures . I also invested in a second battery which has come in handy on vacation when it's not always easy to find time to charge a single battery .
I only have a few minor complaints about the camera so far . First , the 32MB memory card included is a joke . No store even sells memory cards this small any more so investing in at least a 1GB card is a must . Secondly , the camera does have rather flimsy plastic doors for the battery / memory card and the AV outputs . The cover for the AV outputs is also a little awkward as it doesn't open fully . The only other thing I noticed about the camera was the LCD screen sometimes displays a solid vertical line or two when taking pictures at night . I noticed this when I was at a night baseball game so I don't know if there is a different setting that I should have used to negate some of the brightness of the stadium lights .
163 4 Purhcased this camera ~ 8 / 17 / 08 for spouse and very glad i did .
She is going on vacation with her girl friends and we didn't have much time to make decision on which camera to buy nor time for learning curve on how to use .
She wanted :
Something small and compact that's easily to carry
Easy to use point and shoot ( no messing around with menus )
Good battery life so she didn't have to recharge or change often
No latency ( wait ) between taking multiple pictures back to back
Stylish
Takes GREAT PICTURES
The Canon SD1100 IS 8MP delivers .
I really enjoy this camera . Super easy to use . Battery life seems pretty good ( i'll get her separate battery though for backup ) . Stylish design . Compact yet feels good in ones hand . Buttons work for both her little / petite fingers and my extra large hands . Pictures look great so far .
Items really like :
a . starts up fast after pressing power on button
b . lens retracts automatically after minute of no use
c . optical stabilization ( haven't noticed any blur in low light pics )
d . no latency between back to back pics ( possibly due to fast memory )
e . battery life appears to be very good
f . recharging battery takes only 1 : 30 hr : min
g . good zoom both during pic taking and when viewing afterwards
h . very intuitive and easy to learn all features
Looked at following in stores : Coolpix 600 & 550 ' s , Canon , Casio , Olympus .
Money wasn't an object . I really wanted to get her the best compact camera that was easy to use , durable , etc . . .
This camera met and / or superceded all our requirments and needs and it's very inexpensive ~ $185.00 US .
Added Bonus , there are tons of excellent ratings on web for this camera , so one can't go wrong , unless your needs require something this camera simply isn't designed to do .
I recommend purchasing larger memory than what came with camera :
32MB is complete inadequate
2GB is adequate
4GB is completely acceptable
However , I purchased the Patriot SDHC 16GB Class 6 memory yesterday because it was so inexpensive . Used to cost couple hundred dollars .
Paid 59.99 + tax .
I've had no problems with Memory . I didn't have to format memory . Simply inserted it into camera straight from package . It's fast . I'm able to take 8M pictures back to back without any hesitation or delay .
So far movies are working fine too .
# of pictures with 16G :
4599 8M , 3264x2448 , Superfine
6266 5M , 2592x1944 , Superfine
9641 3M , 2048x1536 , Superfine
9999 2M , 1600x1200 , Superfine
6040 WS , 3264x1832 , Superfine ( WS = Wide Screen )
It's not weather proof / water proof / shock proof like some of the more expensive memory . However , i don't plan on using it in extreme conditions anyway .
Came with free LifeTime Warranty
