Friday, March 23, 2007

Canon PowerShot SD800 SPECIAL FREE BONUS

For a limited time, receive a unique coupon code for one free 20-page Classic Photo Book (a $29.99 value) from Shutterfly. Offer valid on qualifying purchases made through May 14, 2007.

Canon PowerShot SD800 - Product Details

Product Details
  • Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.3 x 1 inches ; 5.3 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
  • Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
  • ASIN: B000HAOVGM
  • Item model number: 1270B001
  • Average Customer Review: based on 144 reviews.
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1 in Camera & Photo

Canon PowerShot SD800 - Product Description

Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The PowerShot SD800 IS features a 7.1-million-pixel CCD sensor. This high-resolution imager ensures every picture will have excellent detail, even when printed large, or cropped.

Wide-Angle Zoom Lens with IS
Brand new lens design integrates a wide angle zoom (28-105mm equivalent) and image stabilization. This 3.8x wide zoom lens was designed with fewer yet "smarter" optics (dual sided aspherics and UA) to achieve a compact size with wide angle and IS while maintaining impressive image quality. The SD800 IS is the first Digital Elph to feature both of these exciting lens technologies.

DIGIC III Image Processor
Takes the performance and speed of DIGIC II to even higher levels of processing power including new face detection function, up to 1600 speed ISO, high-ISO noise reduction, lower power consumption, increased speed for SD media cards, and higher resolution image processing for enhanced LCD viewing.

Face-Priority AF/AE
Intelligent Face-Priority AF mode reliably detects faces and focuses on them. It detects three faces when shooting in standby and up to nine when shutter button is pressed halfway. When faces are detected the exposure is also biased for proper facial illumination while maintaining overall scene brightness.

Large 2.5-Inch Color LCD Monitor
Enjoy composing and reviewing images with the wide view 2.5-inch LCD monitor. With this size LCD screen, it is quite easy to navigate through the menu and utilize the direct printing features as well.

3:2 Guide, and Widescreen Mode
Helpful 3:2 guide masks the LCD screen to reveal the printable area of a standard 4 x 6-inch print. Also, capture still images in a 16:9 aspect ratio to view on widescreen computer monitors and televisions.

My Category
Improves playback experience by allowing user to put images into seven categories: People, Scenery, Events, Category 1-3, or To Do. With My Category, deleting and protecting images has never been easier.

Waterproof Case
Expand creative photo opportunities with the waterproof case WP-DC6. Take it up to 130 feet underwater and still utilize all of the controls the camera has to offer. (This case is not included. It must be purchased separately.)

Direct Printing
Features Direct Print button and exclusive printing menu for simplified printing with any PictBridge-enabled printer.

Product Description
This is the Digital ELPH that's raising the bar. There's everything you'd expect from a camera of this caliber: A 7.1 megapixel CCD to render images in magnificent detail and a DIGIC III Image Processor for stellar quality and fast operation. Yet what sets the SD800 IS Digital ELPH apart is its Wide-angle 3.8x optical zoom with Image Stabilizer technology for rock steady zooms. The Canon SD800 IS Digital ELPH, it's the Digital ELPH that's a step ahead. Wide-angle 28-105mm (35mm equivalent) 3.8x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer Technology for steady, long zoom shooting DIGIC III Image Processor with Face Detection Technology for superior image quality, fast operation and low power consumption Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with wide viewing angle for easier on-camera viewing Up to ISO 1600 to reduce image blur and expand low-light shooting capability Improved Movie Mode with Fast Frame Rate at 60 fps QVGA (320 x 240) or 30 fps VGA (640 x 480) Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading, plus ID Photo Print and Movie Print with Canon CP and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers Capacity per fully charged battery - Still Image - approx. 270 shots (NB-5L/LCD on)* approx. 600 shots (NB-5L/LCD off) Dimensions (W x H x D) - 3.52 x 2.28 x 0.99 in. / 89.5 x 58.0 x 25.1mm; 5.29 ounces

Canon PowerShot SD800 - Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features and Technical Details

* 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
* 3.8x image-stabilized wide zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
* 9-point AiAF, single point AF, Flexizone AF, and Face-priority AF
* Stores images on SD cards; powered by Lithium-ion rechargeable battery NB-5L
* Now supports SDHC cards (Secure Digital cards with over 2 GB capacity)

Technical Details

* Type of camera: Compact digital still camera with built-in flash and lens shift-type image stabilizer
* Type: 1/2.5-inch Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
* Total pixel count: Approximately 7.4 megapixels
* Effective pixels: Approximately 7.1 megapixels
* Focal length: 4.6 to 17.3 mm, f2.8 to f5.8 (35mm equivalent: 28 to 105mm)
* Optical zoom: 3.8x
* Digital zoom: 4x
* Combined zoom: 15x
* Focusing range: Normal: 1.5 feet to infinity; macro: 1.2 inches to 2.0 feet (wide), 1 to 2.0 feet (telephoto); digital macro: 1.2 inches to 2.0 feet (wide)
* Autofocus system: TTL Autofocus
* Optical viewfinder: Real-image optical zoom
* LCD monitor: 2.5-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color; 15-level brightness adjustment
* LCD pixels: Approximately 207,000
* LCD coverage: 100 percent
* Maximum aperture: f2.8 (W) x f5.8 (T)
* Shutter speed: 15 to 1/1600 second; long shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3 to 15 seconds
* Sensitivity: Auto, high ISO auto, ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 equivalent
* Light metering method: Evaluative, center-weight average, spot (metering frame is fixed to center)
* Exposure control method: Program AE; AE lock as available
* Exposure compensation: Plus or minus 2 stops in 1/3 increments
* White balance control: Auto, preset (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H), custom
* Built-in flash: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto with slow synchro, flash on, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash on with slow synchro, flash off
* Flash range: Normal: 1.6 to 13 feet (W), 1.6 to 6.6 feet (T); macro: 1 to 1.6 feet when sensitivity is set to ISO auto
* Recycling time: 10 seconds or less
* Flash exposure compensation: Not available
* Shooting modes: Auto, camera M, special scene (portrait, foliage, snow, beach, fireworks, aquarium, underwater, indoor, kids and pets, night snapshot), color accent, color swap, digital macro, stitch assist, movie
* Photo effects: My colors, vivid, vivid blue, vivid green, vivid red, neutral, sepia, black and white, positive film, lighter skin tone, darker skin tone, custom color
* Self-timer: Activates shutter after an approximately 2-second/10-second delay, custom
* Wireless control: Not available
* Continuous shooting: Approximately 1.7 frames per second (fps)
* Storage media: SD memory card, SDHC memory card, MultiMediaCard
* File format: Design rule for camera file system, DPOF version 1.1
* Image compression: Normal, fine, superfine
* JPEG compression mode: Still image: Exif 2.2 (JPEG); movie: AVI (image: motion JPEG; audio: monaural WAVE)
* Number of recording pixels: 640 x 480 (small); 1,600 x 1,200 (medium 3); 2,048 x 1,536 (medium 2); 2,592 x 1,944 (medium 1); 3,072 x 2,304 (large); 3.072 x 1,728 (widescreen); 640 x 480/320 x 240 (movie 1, 30 fps/15 fps) available up to 4 GB; 320 x 240 (movie 2, 1 minute at 60 fps); 160 x 120 (movie 3, 3 minutes at 15 fps)
* Playback modes file: Still image: single, magnification (approximately 2x-10x), jump, auto rotate, rotate, resume playback, my category, histogram, index (9 thumbnails), sound memos, slide show; movie: normal playback, special playback, editing
* Erase modes: Still image: single image, by date, by category, by folder, all images; movie: part of movie, all of movie
* Computer interface: USB 2.0 high-speed with mini-B jack
* Video out: NTSC/PAL
* Audio out: Monaural
* Power source: Recharge lithium battery, AC adapter kit
* Battery shooting capacity: Approximately 270 shots (LCD on); approximately 600 shots (LCD off)
* Battery playback time : Approximately 360 minutes
* Dimensions (W x H x D): 3.52 x 2.28 x .99 inches
* Weight: 5.29 ounces
* Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
* What's in the box: PowerShot SD800 IS, lithium battery pack, battery charger, SD memory card, wrist strap, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB cable, AV cable, user's manual.


Canon PowerShot SD800 Review March 21,2007

Olivier Dehon (CT, USA)
Good overall small camera.
I have Canon DSLR 20D and was looking for a very portable quality camera.
This is exactly what I got with this purchase.
I like the Scene selection which allows for settings to be very simple.
I like the face tracking capabiltiy and the good zoom for this kind of camera.
The menus are easy to follow.
The video Quality is also surprisingly good.
Battery life is good and charger is mutli-national
Overall very pleased.

Canon PowerShot SD800 Review March 21,2007

George E. Mcdonoguh (Tulsa, OK USA)

Great Camera. My first real digital camera. Can't believe how such a small camera takes such great pictures. WOW!!! Would recommend to anyone tired of dragging around an old 35mm camera and all of those lenses.
Think shipment got caught in the Christmas volume or it would probably have arrived faster. Camera, battery charger, spare battery camera case and camera instruction manual all fit in a fanny pack.


Canon PowerShot SD800 Review October 5,2006

SD800 IS - The Definitive Review, October 5, 2006
Reviewer: Keyur Mithawala


So I have been scouring the web looking for opinions about SD800 IS. Since there were no pro-reviews coming out soon and I needed a camera for the weekend trip, I took the plunge and picked up SD800 IS three days ago.


BACKGROUND:

Before I jump into the review, I want to mention that I have been using full-manual film SLRs since I was 18. My current camera collection includes Optio 43WR (to take rafting / skiing / adventure sports pics), Digital Rebel XT, and now SD800 IS. I have also spent some time with T10, SD630 and an assortment of cheaper models.

I have realized over the years that the smaller camera are way more useful for someone with an active lifestyle. I have put my Optio 43WR through some tough times with skydiving, falling down ski slopes, and using it underwater (no, it is not recommended by Pentax) and it came up with amazing pictures. Also imagine a cute girl at a party asking you "Is that a SLR in your pants, or ..." you get the picture (pun intended!).


WHY NEW CAMERA?

I needed to replace my aging primary companion Optio 43wr with a new ultracompact model with underwater housing which allows me to dish out the abuse I need to get great shots. Money was not an object, so I was looking only at top-of-the-line models from ALL brands. The other note-worthy contenders were Sony T-30 Black, Sony DSC N2, Fuji F30.

I was also very unhappy with the pictures in low-light conditions by 43WR. I spend a fair amount of time snapping low-light pictures, so that was a top priority for me as well.


SD 800 IS:

So here is what I have found about SD800 IS...


Gizmo factor:
- This one has to be one of the most tricked out cameras I have ever used. You can edit movies, auto-rotate pictures depending on how you hold the camera, and do many other neat things. However what appeals me most is that these tricks are not flashy or distracting: they are seamlessly integrated in the user experience.
I think this shows the maturity in Canon models, compared to some fresh brands.
- The slide-show is very classy, not cheesy as you see on most other cameras.


Creative Controls:
- No full manual here, but it has Auto-Exposure lock and Auto-Focus lock. These two controls with some creative thinking will allow you to take any shots you may need. I didn't know about these features till I bought the camera, and I am very happy to find them there!
- Color-Accent and Color-Swap are more addictive than a videogame. I have so far seen my car in multiple colors, visualized what my garden will look like in fall, and help people bring out the blue color in their eyes.


Appearance:
- Personally, I am not very impressed by the looks but everyone else seems to love the understated jewelery thing going on with it.


Lens:
- Yes, it is true. Lots of blurry corners at full wide. Lots of distortion too. I think Canon is skimping on the optics here. That's what happens when you try to stuff a 3.8x zoom in a tiny body. They should have stuck to something like 28mm to 60mm zoom, and it would have been fine.

But from a practical point of view, I don't notice the corners in a picture. Naturally I stare at the subject, and move on to the next pic. So the corners bothered me in test-shots, but not in real-life shots.

TIP: Just zoom out to 35mm equivalent and the blurry corners disappear.


Optical Stabilizer:
- Extremely effective. Worth its weight in gold. I am still gloating over the vibration-free pictures I have been taking recently.


CCD:
- Images are softer than my liking. Don't know if it is the low-quality lens, or the CCD.
- Gets very noisy after ISO 400. Fuji F30 will beat the CCD hands down.


RECOMMENDATION:
Depends on what your needs are. Look at the above facts, think about your needs, and make your own decision. I will give you three options based on my reasoning:

It is the only 28mm lens out there, and you will love it despite the lens limitations. I have numerous examples in only THREE days, where I was able to get a shot like never before. So if you feel like fitting more in a frame, get SD800 IS.

If you print all your pictures, and are a family man, DSC N2 is the way to go because of 10 megapixels and touch screen. However the images are overprocessed in camera, a Sony trademark.

If you do lots of low-light photography ala Paris Hilton, wait for Fuji to release optically stabilized camera. I couldn't wait, because I have a trip this weekend!


Canon PowerShot SD800 Review October 6,2006

Takes fantastic photos, but has some design issues., October 6, 2006
Reviewer: N. Schweitzer (Tempe, AZ United States)


This is my fourth camera from the Canon Digital Elph line (previously, I had an S330, S400 and SD400). They have always taken great photos, and Canon has truly earned my repeat business (I also had a Digital Rebel and now I have an 20D).

I've had the SD800 for a few days now. Like its predecessors, it takes fantastic photos. The image stabilizer works wonderfully, and the camera functions quite well (and faster than most compact cameras). Other reviewers have spoken about the photo quality, and you can also get detailed technical reviews elsewhere on the internet, so I won't get into that here. What I want to focus on is the functionality of the design of this camera.

Digital Elphs used to be chunks of stainless steel. I dropped my S330 from a 12ft balcony, and it emerged unscathed. This is the first camera I've had that felt like it is going to break at any moment. It is larger and clunkier than the previous generation of Elphs (e.g., it is 36% larger than the SD200/300/400), and feels "plastic-y" and cheap (despite the fact that it looks nice). The buttons are small and offer minimal feedback, so it is easy to press the wrong button, especially if you have large fingers (and even if you have only average fingers). The "mode select" dial switches between Auto, Manual, Scene, Movie and Playback modes, but it is difficult to move. The dial is stiff and has only a small raised ridge on one side, making it difficult to set the dial to the proper mode on the first try. In sum, the design of this camera makes it operation more difficult than necessary; not something I expected from a camera from Canon, espectilly one at this cost.

This camera takes amazing photos, but Canon needs to brush up on their design. For a brief moment I considered returning this camera and keeping my SD400, but this camera's features are too good to pass up. I suppose everyone will get used to the poor design, but for this amount of money, none of us should have to.