Canon PowerShot SD800 IS
Manufacturer: Canon USA Part number: 1270B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- A slim, stylish body, a wide-angle lens, very good photo quality, and snappy performance make the Canon PowerShot SD800 IS a great point-and-shoot.
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CNET editors' review
Canon PowerShot SD800 IS
price range: $569.99
- Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 10/03/2006
- Released on: 10/01/2006
The good: Good focal range for lens; quick performance; optical image stabilization; attractive design.
The bad: Few manual controls; extremely noisy photos at ISO 1,600.
The bottom line: A slim, stylish body, a wide-angle lens, very good photo quality, and snappy performance make the Canon PowerShot SD800 IS a great point-and-shoot.
The 7-megapixel camera's tiny body is shiny, curvy, and very attractive. But it may be just a bit too stylish for its own good. For instance, the power button is a tiny, illuminated half-oval built flush into the top panel; without actually pressing it, you might easily mistake it for an indicator light or a design flaw.
The SD800's most prominent feature is its image-stabilized, f/2.8-to-f/5.8, 28mm-to-105mm-equivalent lens. The 3.8X zoom range offers the flexibility of wide-angle focal lengths, while still providing a bit more zoom power than the average 3X point-and-shoot lens. Though the SD700 IS had a 4X zoom lens, the SD800's 28mm-equivalent wide shot more than makes up for the slightly smaller telephoto factor.
In addition to the flexible lens, the SD800 IS has some handy snapshot features. The camera's sensor can be boosted to as high as ISO 1,600 for low-light or high-movement shots, though you'll want to keep it at ISO 800 or lower because of image noise. You can shoot 30fps VGA video, or bump it up to 60fps QVGA (320x240) to capture action footage for half-speed playback. If you're looking for manual controls, however, look elsewhere; like the SD700, the SD800's aperture and shutter settings can't be changed except for a long shutter mode, its focus modes are all automatic, and the camera's manual mode allows only exposure compensation, color correction, metering, and white-balance adjustments.
The SD800 also uses the recent Digic III image processor, which Canon claims improves image quality, performance, and battery life. We didn't notice any significant improvements over the SD700's already good performance, but the SD800 seemed slightly more responsive than its predecessor. It performed excellently in our lab tests. Just 1.1 seconds after the power button was pressed, it was able to take its first shot and subsequently could snap off a shot every 1.3 seconds. Even with the onboard flash enabled, we experienced a lag of only 2 seconds between shots. Shutter lag was a negligible 0.4 second. The only disappointment was the camera's burst mode, which managed only one shot per second.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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Typical shot-to-shot time | |
Time to first shot | |
Shutter lag (typical) |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Photos were attractive, with fine detail rendering and solid color reproduction. Aside from some slight purple fringing along the borders of bright subjects, we noticed few distortions or aberrations in our photos. Image noise was acceptable to as high as ISO 800, manifesting as a fine grain that dulled colors but otherwise didn't mar photo quality too much. ISO 1,600 was a different story; a sparkly, static-filled mess that made the photo look as if it were received via a television antenna.
The Canon PowerShot SD800 IS is a great point-and-shoot camera. It's small, it sports a stabilized, wide-angle lens, and it can pump out beautiful shots at a pretty rapid pace. If you want higher resolution and don't mind losing the optical image stabilization--though we don't recommend the tradeoff--the Canon PowerShot SD900 and the Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 offer 10 megapixels in ultracompact bodies.
User reviews
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Image Stabilization fuels the hype of this one trick pony.
by zerohalcyon on October 11, 2006
Pros: Image Stabilization and the use of this in low light shooting.
Cons: The lack of quality shown everywhere esle. Poor image quality, noise, oversaturated yellow/red tones, corners that are so soft they look post-processed with a blur tool, and horrible CA.
Summary: Yesterday, I got home with my new sd800. And due to the scrutiny of the forums, I immediately had to test it. I compared exact duplicate shots from my SD550 ...
Summary: Yesterday, I got home with my new sd800. And due to the scrutiny of the forums, I immediately had to test it. I compared exact duplicate shots from my SD550 to this ?upgrade? sd800. I am very sad to say that in normal shooting conditions, this model just couldn?t keep up. The main things I saw the sd800 losing horribly to the sd550 in were: picture clarity, sharpness (edge to edge) and color accuracy (the sd800?s produces a very warm shot, too much yellow & red). This was a disappointment indeed when you compare the fact that my sd550 is almost a year old.
Now, on the flip-side, and should you ever find yourself in ?overhead fan lighting,? this will be where the true benefits of the sd800 become VERY clear. If this is how you shoot, the IS will become a lifesaver for every single shot. But aside from a museum or other ?no flash,? location, RARELY am I not using the flash on my camera. And I found the trick to not having over-saturation or too much flash contrast (whatever the model) is to just lower the brightness setting prior to shooting and use a bit of Photoshop shadow highlight love. (Although this can never fully prevent your shot from the flashlight effect left on objects from shooting, but it helps). This camera is only ideal for shooting in an IS situation. Period. Or at least IMHO, but it is my review right? lol
My solution was simple. I ended up taking a risk against better judgment, returned the sd800, and got the sd900. Let me just say that the quality from this camera will NEVER be achievable from an SD800. So make the call. If IS is your ?make or break feature,? go for the 700is, or800is. However if its quality you want from your shots, and you aren?t found in low light situations often, the 550 or 900 are the way to go! Price per mega pixel being the only difference.
PS- Cnets review of both the sd900 and the sd800 showed such a fanboy lack of effort in thier lust for the sd800 they almost lost all credibility with me. Thier review of the sd900 was so minimal, I have to wonder if they even spent any time with it. And then to call the sd800 pics good? It just shows how little they do know about the things they speak. Sad. Go look at the pro reviews and it shows exactly why not to use cnet for digital camera reviews!79 out of 103 users found this user opinion helpful.
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best point and shoot digital I've ever used
by macfly76 on October 19, 2006
Pros: quick focus, good color, sharp images, image stabilization, compact size, wide-angle lens, good display
Cons: noisy images when using 1600 ISO
Summary: Ok, so this is my 8th digital camera in the past 5 years. I'm a bit of a spoiled tech junkie. My past few have been very disappointing (the ...
Summary: Ok, so this is my 8th digital camera in the past 5 years. I'm a bit of a spoiled tech junkie. My past few have been very disappointing (the Sony DSC-N1 barely lasted 4 months I hated it so much). This camera wowed me the first day and continues to impress me. It takes gorgeous pictures straight out of the camera, no futzing with photoshop required. I've used it at drunken college parties and even the pictures at the end of the night were clear and in focus. Some of the most gorgeous landscape pictures I've ever taken have been produced from this camera. It's completely pocketable, is ready to snap pictures very quickly so it's great for using on walks or when hanging out with friends and family. The colors are fully saturated and very accurate. I have a film camera I use for macro with all the fancy lenses, but this camera has a reasonably good macro mode given that it's a point and shoot. I don't use manual settings with a point and shoot, it's like driving a chevy and asking it to perform like a ferrari... you can try, but you'll be disappointed so why not use it for what it's good at? Two irritations: low light pictures without flash are noisy.. ok, that's expected but disappointing given the image stabilization (which does do wonders for indoor pictures! Finally clear pictures of family gatherings inside!!), second, it doesn't scale down the flash for macro (so when you're shooting macro something that needs just a bit of filler flash it blows it out completely). I absolutely adore this camera and whole-heartedly recommend it for the everyday photographer who just wants a camera to take gorgeous pictures of friends, family, trips, vacations, pets, etc.
35 out of 35 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A perfect second camera
by jhlien on October 22, 2006
Pros: compact with great quality of photos
Cons: Not for the moment
Summary: First of all, this is a sub-compact camera. Anyone with "high expectations" should look for something "bigger".
Second, for average users like my parents and wife, this is a convenient ...Summary: First of all, this is a sub-compact camera. Anyone with "high expectations" should look for something "bigger".
Second, for average users like my parents and wife, this is a convenient camera with practical features and excellent quality of photos and that is more than enough for them.
I usually carry two cameras when I travel or attend events. Each camera fits into different requirement of missions. For those who expect this camera to function like "Hubble Telescope", I think it is asking too much.
Overall, I think this camera is a great investment.32 out of 33 users found this user opinion helpful.
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GREAT point and shoot camera
by samofsiam on October 17, 2006
Pros: Easy to use, fast boot up time, quality pictures, very versatile
Cons: No advanced features such as shutter speed, aperture, etc.
Summary: I purchased this camera 2 weeks ago. This camera replaced my Nikon Coolpix 4300, a camera that is a little more advanced than the SD800. I purchased it because I ...
Summary: I purchased this camera 2 weeks ago. This camera replaced my Nikon Coolpix 4300, a camera that is a little more advanced than the SD800. I purchased it because I wanted more of a point and shoot camera, and the Canon does it!
The thing I like about this camera is its size. About the size of a deck of cards, this camera can fit into almost any pocket.
The time it takes from pressing power and taking a shot is a LOT shorter than my Coolpix camera, turn the camera on, and by the time you point at a subject, the camera is ready to take pictures.
This camera is also very versatile, if you buy the proper accessories for it. I purchased the WP-DC9 underwater case. This lets me take pictures when I am jetskiing, swimming, at the beach, or just snowboarding. I have the ease of mind knowing that my camera will stay dry and operational.
Image stabilization is great with this camera. I was able to take pictures of a dimly lit romantic dinner with no blurs and now flash! This was impossible with my Coolpix camera. This was one of the top reasons why I considered this camera for purchase.
The downside to this camera is that it does not have any advanced features, but I believe Canon is marketing this camera as a point and shoot. I believe this camera is good for the family or an everyday camera.
Overall, if you are looking for a camera for going to Disneyland, family outings, New Years parties, etc.. something not needing a photo shoot, then this camera is for you19 out of 19 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Point and Shoot ... Really Well
by JustinJN on November 1, 2006
Pros: Speed and quality at what it is designed to do plus a little more
Cons: Canon has created the missing link in digital photo ... it packs everything you want in a point and shoot, short of the nice to have option of manual adjustment.
Summary: Alright, by now you've probably already read the "Editor's Take" from CNet. So you're wondering, are you going to miss the manual controls? Are you going to ...
Summary: Alright, by now you've probably already read the "Editor's Take" from CNet. So you're wondering, are you going to miss the manual controls? Are you going to be disappointed by the noise at higher ISOs?
Let's get jiggy with it! The SD800 rocks my world. "I see things" ... that most people don't think are there (not dead people). I was however hard pressed to see the noise that CNet's editors identified. In a wide variety of shooting environments, I have yet to be disappointed by the quality. Yes, if you ramp up the ISO, whether on the SD800 or any camera, digital or film, you're gonna see 'noise' or 'graininess'. Have we forgotten?
The SD800 packs all the speed and quality that we have come to expect from Canon in this very tiny unit. A little too tiny? Maybe.
The wide angle 28mm, you can't beat that. It really makes this investment worthwhile.
Alright, now for the missing features ... we don't have raw image formats, but really, how many have turned that on? And, we don't have aperture and shutter priority modes. I do miss them, but as far as this story goes, I can live with it and not think twice or be saddened! I wanted a point and shoot; I wanted it small; I wanted amazing quality; I wanted it packed with as much as I can get (I'm not sure why). I got pretty well all I can ask for.
Bottom line: if you're looking for a point and shoot that you can take anywhere, and rely on it to give you good shots (you compose), then this is the unit to go with! Nikon and Panasonic don't offer anything quite the same size or close to any of the features or performance.
Keep it up Canon! Don't slip like Nikon did.18 out of 19 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent Small Camera for the money
by Double Eagle on November 20, 2006
Pros: Wide angle, IS, and low light capability
Cons: Limited Manual controls-
Summary: I already had an SD550 but when I tried a friend's new SD700, I immediately bought the SD800. I've been very pleased with it for photos at night, ...
Summary: I already had an SD550 but when I tried a friend's new SD700, I immediately bought the SD800. I've been very pleased with it for photos at night, good party shots using the wide angle and some videos in a new concert hall and an aquarium. I have had to do little Photoshop enhancements to the photos I've taken and use the Manual mode with slow synchro flash and ISO 800 for most of the low light situations--Much better results than with my older SD550!
I use a Canon SLR EOS 10D for many of my photos but will be carrying the SD800 as a backup and readily available "pocket camera" as well in the future.
I have recommended this camera to several seniors in an Introdcution to Digital Photography workshop I've held in the past month and four have purchased it and are all happy with it.14 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Met or exceeded all of my expectations
by mark_patch on October 9, 2006
Pros: Very fast in all respects, great pictures, compact.
Cons: A bit pricey.
Summary: I normally shoot pictures with a Canon EOS 20D which is outstanding, but missed having something like this to just toss in my pocket. After some research, I waited for ...
Summary: I normally shoot pictures with a Canon EOS 20D which is outstanding, but missed having something like this to just toss in my pocket. After some research, I waited for this camera and the wait was very worthwhile. The 28-105mm zoom range is excellent.
12 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Horible Camera
by pwfletcher--2008 on November 12, 2006
Pros: Slim, sleek, a Canon.
Cons: Horrible pictures
Summary: I have a Canon SD400 and an SD500 that both take amazing pictures. I bought this to upgrade to a higher resolution, but the pictures are absolutely horrible. It looks ...
Summary: I have a Canon SD400 and an SD500 that both take amazing pictures. I bought this to upgrade to a higher resolution, but the pictures are absolutely horrible. It looks like a soften edges Photoshop filter was used on almost every picture and the color just isn't quite right. In short, not just bad ... but REALLY bad pictures. I am returning the SD800 tomorrow and going to try another Canon ... I have always loved their cameras and wll give them one more shot. However, if you are considering the SD800 ... DON'T!
18 out of 30 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Quality in a functional unit
by Analytical on October 13, 2006
Pros: This is what I was looking for!!!
Cons: No manual settings
Summary: I have had 4 digital cameras with most being Canons. The S2 is perfect for many applications with its excellent optical zoom. The SD800 provides greater portability with a larger ...
Summary: I have had 4 digital cameras with most being Canons. The S2 is perfect for many applications with its excellent optical zoom. The SD800 provides greater portability with a larger lcd and wide angle capability. These two cameras provide the versatility one might encounter.
Since both have the Image Stabilization, a feature one should have with anything over a 3x optical zoom. The price points on these cameras is excellent with the SD800 purchased locally, not online, for $369 the first week it was available.
To get other reviews look at DPReview.com and see that most others that have technically reviewed this find its photo quality best in class.
For such a small camera it is very comfortable to hold with the new location and design of the buttons on the back. It is much stabler than its' predecessors.10 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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One of the best little cameras out there.
by Billy Nichols on December 3, 2006
Pros: Amazing crystal clear photos, viewfinder, nice small set of manual controls
Cons: Battery life not spectacular, battery and A/V doors are really flimsy
Summary: I've been researching cameras for the past 6 months trying to find a replacement for my six year-old Fuji Fine Pix. I wanted something small and light that would ...
Summary: I've been researching cameras for the past 6 months trying to find a replacement for my six year-old Fuji Fine Pix. I wanted something small and light that would take amazingly sharp and crisp pictures. Being a Graphic Designer, I use it quite a bit for product shots and ad photos, as well as family pics.
After reading every review I could find, and buying several of these to try them out, I narrowed my choices down to the Casio EX-Z700, Sony DSC-T series (T50, T10 and T30), Fuji Fine Pix F30, Panasonic (FX07 and FX50) and the Canon SD800is. And then one by one I started to eliminate them. I found that each one has it's pros and cons and that no camera in perfect. You could either have a camera that looks beautiful or a camera that performs beautifully.
Now here's why I chose the Canon SD 800is. The Casio has great battery life and a wonderful design, but the pictures were very grainy and noisy. The Sonys and just had too many negative and mediocre consumer reviews. The Panasonic's image quality(even with the Leica lens) just fell short and, again, had mediocre professional reviews.
So, that brings us to the Canon SD 800is and the Fuji F30. Folks, I've gotta say, it's a toss-up between these two. Here's my short pro and con list for the average joe:
Fuji F30
Pros:
1. Great battery life.
2. You don't have to remove the battery from the camera to charge it.
3. It's about $100 less than the Canon.
4. Great, sharp, crisp, well saturated pictures.
Cons:
1. It's only 6 megapixels.
2. Wasn't available in-store.
3. Uses an XD memory card (and I already had an high speed SD memory card).
Canon SD 800is
Pros:
1. Amazing picture quality.
2. Uses SD memory card.
3. Optical viewfinder (in case your batteries are running low).
4. Image stabilization.
5. 7 megapixel.
Cons:
1. Battery life should be better
2. Battery and A/V access doors should be built better (especially since you have access both of these quite a bit).
So, I went with the Canon and I don't have any regrets as of yet. But, if any camera manufacturers are out there and listening, please figure out a way to charge a camera with the USB cable as well as the charger. And Canon - work on your battery life and get back in the high-design game - you know you can do better.
Well, that sums it up. I hope this helps and good luck!8 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon USA
- Part number: 1270B001
- Description: Canon SD800 IS Digital ELPH raises 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 is the Digital ELPH that's a step ahead.
General
- Product Type Digital camera
- Width 3.5 in
- Depth 1 in
- Height 2.3 in
- Weight 5.3 oz
Main Features
- Resolution 7.1 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 7,400,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 7,100,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO 80, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Indoor, Foliage, Aquarium, Fireworks, Underwater, Kids & pets, Digital macro, Portrait mode, Stitch assist, Night snapshot
- Special Effects Sepia, Vivid, Neutral, Positive, Vivid Red, Color Swap, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Color Accent, Black & White, Custom Effect, Darker Skin Tone, Lighter Skin Tone
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
- Max Shutter Speed 1/1600 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 15 sec
- X-sync Speed 1/500 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Evaluative, Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Manual, Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ?2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (daylight)
- Digital Video Format AVI
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Continuous Shooting Speed 1.7 frames per second
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture AVI - 640 x 480, AVI - 640 x 480, AVI - 320 x 240, AVI - 320 x 240, AVI - 320 x 240, AVI - 160 x 120, AVI - 320 x 240 - 60 sec - Max clip duration, AVI - 160 x 120 - 180 sec - Max clip duration
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 16 MB Flash - SD Memory Card
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Super-fine JPEG 3072 x 2304, Fine JPEG 3072 x 2304, Normal JPEG 3072 x 2304, Super-fine JPEG 3072 x 1728, Fine JPEG 3072 x 1728, Normal JPEG 3072 x 1728, Super-fine JPEG 2048 x 1536, Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536, Normal JPEG 2048 x 1536, Super-fine JPEG 1600 x 1200, Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200, Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200, Super-fine JPEG 640 x 480, Fine JPEG 640 x 480, Normal JPEG 640 x 480
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Slow synchro, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 1.6 ft - 13 ft
- Features AF illuminator
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 4.6 mm - 17.3 mm - F/2.8-5.8
- Focal Length 4.6 mm - 17.3 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 - 105 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) 9
- Min Focus Range 17.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 3-60cm
- Lens Aperture F/2.8-5.8
- Optical Zoom 3.8 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 5 group(s) / 7 element(s)
- Features UA lens, Aspherical lens, Built-in lens shield
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 10 sec
- Additional Features AE lock, AF lock, FE lock, Safety zoom, DPOF support, Direct print, Face detection, Audio recording, Auto power save, Date/time stamp, Built-in speaker, Histogram display, PictBridge support, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Digital noise reduction, RGB primary color filter, Display brightness control, Camera orientation detection
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type Optical - Real-image zoom
- Viewfinder Color Support Color
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 207,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
- Software Canon PhotoStitch, Canon ImageBrowser, Drivers & Utilities, Canon ZoomBrowser EX
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows 98 SE, Apple Mac OS X 10.2 - 10.4
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive
Miscellaneous
- Carrying Case None
- Windows Vista Readiness Certified for Windows Vista
- Included Accessories Wrist strap
- Cables Included USB cable, A/V cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Canon NB-5L
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1120 mAh ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 ?F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 ?F
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- Labs information All values are expressed in seconds. Please visit our labs information page for information on how digital cameras are tested.
- CNET Labs Flash shot to shot time 2.0
- CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical 1.3
- CNET Labs Shutter lag bright 0.4
- CNET Labs Shutter lag dim 1.0
- CNET Labs Typical burst speed 1.0
- CNET Labs Wake up time 1.1
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Canon USA
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Canon USA products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://estore.usa.canon.com/
- Address:
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 - Phone: 516-328-5000
- Email: mediacontact@cusa.canon.com
