Canon PowerShot SD880 IS (gold)
Manufacturer: Canon USA Part number: 2672B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Simply put, the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS is an excellent point-and-shoot camera.
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CNET editors' review
Canon PowerShot SD880 IS (gold) price range: $499.99
- Reviewed by: Joshua Goldman
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 10/28/2008
- Released on: 02/01/2008
The good: Excellent photo quality for its class; optical image stabilization; pleasing interface and design; wide-angle lens.
The bad: Mode dial spins a bit too freely; button positioning might bother some users; very noticeable fringing.
The bottom line: Simply put, the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS is an excellent point-and-shoot camera.
At the time of this review, the Canon PowerShot Digital Elph line featured no fewer than 10 models--not even including lingering older models--so deciphering what makes one better or different than another gets tricky (here's our succinct breakdown). The 10-megapixel PowerShot SD880 IS Digital Elph is the follow-up to the popular SD870 IS, and what a worthy successor it is. It's capable of producing truly excellent pictures for a camera of its size and it has nice components for a sub-$300 model including a wide-angle lens and optical image stabilization. There are a couple weaknesses, but nothing that keeps it from being an excellent point-and-shoot camera.
At 6.3 ounces and measuring 3.7 inches wide by 2.2 inches high by 0.9 inch deep, it'll fit more comfortably in a pants or coat pocket than a shirt pocket, but it's by no means big. Compared with the SD870 IS, the SD880 IS has the latest version of Canon's image-processing engine, Digic 4, jumps from 8 megapixels to 10, and offers a few more scene modes. The 4x f2.8-5.8 28-112mm lens is a highlight of the camera; the wide angle is so nice to have on a camera this small, and it's a tad longer zoom than on the SD870. It also records video using the H.264 codec instead of Motion JPEG.

Scene modes are plentiful--16 in all--and include Stitch Assist for panoramas and Underwater for use with an optional casing. Shooting mode lets you go fully automatic with some minor adjustments, or drop it into Program AE, which gives you control for exposure compensation, white balance, tone, and ISO.

The directional pad is pretty standard; instead it's the thumb dial that adds interest here. In SCN mode, the dial is used for rifling through your options. It's also used for swapping between Auto and Program in Shooting mode and tone control in Video. It works well, but you can barely feel stops when spinning the dial making it just a little too easy to switch out of whichever mode you want. The dial can be used for navigating Menu settings, too. Overall, I like the key design and wheel, but I can also see it confusing new users to the point of frustration.
The buttons have a pillowy, convex shape, which is not only attractive, but makes for unmistakable presses. The Print/Share button can be turned into a shortcut key to access one of nine shooting functions.
As for performance, the SD880 IS is fractionally slower than the first-rate SD870 IS. Time to first shot is 1.2 seconds and you can shoot again in 1.9 seconds. Shutter lag was great; just 0.4 second in bright conditions and 0.8 in dim. The only marked decrease in speed is if you're using the flash: the shot-to-shot time extends to 3.2 seconds, which is a generally slow time and nearly a second longer than the SD870 IS. The typical burst speed is a respectable 1.4 frames per second. The 3-inch Canon PureColor LCD II performed well in direct light and has a wide viewing angle.
More impressive than the SD880 IS's speed is the picture quality. Colors were always natural and vibrant. White balance was accurate and pictures showed good detail and sharpness at ISO 200 and below. Also, if you take a lot of landscape photos, note that the SD880 IS is prone to fringing. Video is better than average considering it tops out at 640x480.

Worth noting, too, is Canon's new Intelligent Contrast setting (i-Contrast) that theoretically just opens up shadow areas. It can be applied either automatically when you're shooting or after during playback. I recommend using it only in playback as more often than not it lightened the entire image, not just dark areas. In playback you can apply the effect in gradual levels as well and create a copy, whereas the camera decides on the level if you shoot with it on.
There's plenty more to talk about with the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS, but it only reinforces how good a pocket camera it is. If the SD870 IS was on your short list, the SD880 IS is definitely worth the small additional investment.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
| Time to first shot | Typical shot-to-shot time (flash) | Typical shot-to-shot time | Shutter lag (dim) | Shutter lag (typical) |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
User reviews
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Good in daylight but not in low light (over ISO 200)
by PixelBrat on November 3, 2008
Pros: - Great photos in daylight.
- The wheel is much improved over the SD870IS.
- Corner sharpness is greatly improved over SD870IS.
- Very bright AF assist light which helps in lower light focusing.
- Nicely recessed power buttonCons: - Low light photos are not very good. Over-aggressive noise reduction smears fine detail in anything over ISO 200. (Very noticeable in hair detail) Detail cannot be recovered in post processing.
- "Dust orbs" show up occasionally in flash shots.Summary: I really wanted to like this camera but the over-aggressive noise reduction in low light shots smears away too much fine detail for me. Photos taken in ISO200 are passable ...
Summary: I really wanted to like this camera but the over-aggressive noise reduction in low light shots smears away too much fine detail for me. Photos taken in ISO200 are passable but ISO400 and above are a muddy mess. I would rather have noise that I can remove myself with Noise Ninja and be able to retain the details. I use this camera for low light photos at parties more than in daylight so this is unacceptable for my needs. If you use it primarily in daylight you may not have a problem with it. I really wish Canon would stop cramming more megapixels into there cameras and focus more on great image quality. For now I'm sticking with older models that don't apply so much detail-robbing noise reduction.
10 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A very good, reliable camera I am very happy with it.
by GlandSchlam on January 30, 2009
Pros: Excellent photo quality for its class; optical image stabilization; pleasing interface and design; wide-angle lens.
Cons: Mode dial spins a bit too freely; button positioning might bother some users; very noticeable fringing when mishandled.
Summary: As an amateur photographer I realized that I needed something lighter than my SLR yet still powerful enough for the image to be well represented. I did my research and ...
Summary: As an amateur photographer I realized that I needed something lighter than my SLR yet still powerful enough for the image to be well represented. I did my research and found the Canon SD 880 which happened to be a great little camera because it allows you to have lots of control on how you want to take your photo. You can switch into manual settings and automatic settings, and customize the image you want with multiple features. Its wide angle lens is great for capturing a professional level photo, and the image stabilization feature captures the moment. The screen is a great size for viewing the images. And the battery lasts a long time too. Compared to carrying a big bulky SLR, the SD880 IS, is easy to carry around in your pocket without feeling too bulky or heavy. I like to take care of my equipment, so I invested in a pouch for my camera and cards, however a normal jacket pocket will work just as well.
The Canon PowerShot SD880 IS from fulfilling the promise of wide-angle digital camera pocket. How a camera looks is not as important compared to the images it can take, so I'm indifferent to how this one looks. It has a nice large button making it easier to read and operate, this camera is very easy to take pictures with even with my large hands and fingers. I noticed that the LCD display has a coating that reduces glare, so the picture is very well represented, making it easier to take the pictures that I wanted even in more extreme weather conditions. Optical quality is very important for the overall function of this camera because it will clarify the picture that is generated and is very stable even in dim light during the evenings.
Generally the pocket cameras have many problems in the resolution of images produced, but the problem with this camera is minimized with its' 10 Megapixels. I was impressed with the sharpness of corners and relatively low distortion. The Color range that can be captured will meet the needs of consumers on average, and offers a punchy image, it satisfied my needs as a photogrpher. The flash works well enough, however it will not help when taking pictures of objects further away.
I really have no love for Canon, or Sony or any other brand in general. I do my research and buy what I feel is best for me. I really have no problem recommending this camera, I am very happy with my purchase.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great POINT and SHOOT Camera
by LTS3 on November 24, 2008
Pros: Compact, feels solid, wide-angled lens, big and bright LCD, 4x zoom, takes very good pictures, interface is easier and more customizable than before, decreased distrortion
Cons: Little bit thicker than my old SD, not stunning in low light
Summary: It seems people either love or hate Canon's newest wide-angle Powershot. Personally, I think people are expecting it to act and be a lot more like a DSLR.
I ...Summary: It seems people either love or hate Canon's newest wide-angle Powershot. Personally, I think people are expecting it to act and be a lot more like a DSLR.
I had the ever popular SD750, but decided to upgrade. I am very happy with the results.
I do not think this camera is particularly noisy like most are complaining whatsoever. I have taken enough pictures in all lighting to see the results. Is it perfect in low-lit situations? No. But it is good for a point-and-shoot camera.
I am also happy to report I see little to no purple-fringing as the CNET report indicates. I was expecting it but have yet to see any, which is fantastic (improvement over SD750 definitely).
I can safely say that it is one of the best Canon Powershots available, and that most reviewers who are upset with its "noise issues" are frankly pixel-peeping far too much on a, once again, a POINT-AND-SHOOT.
I am very pleased with the design, and I even like the gold color and the slight heft it has to it. Feels very solid in the hand and easy to hold and use (love the spin wheel, was nervous about it, but it works fantastically in my opinion).
So, if you are hesitating, give this little baby a try, I doubt you're disappointed.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I really love this camera. Best economical value!
by Spankees on March 24, 2009
Pros: Everything from it being lightweight, user friendly, clear pictures, and enough video capacity which surprised me on the video quality.
Cons: It came with a 32MB memory card. Can't take too many pictures with that!
Summary: I have had one other Canon Powershot in my lifetime and for digital camera's I would trust no other brand. They are compact, reliable, and take really clear pictures. ...
Summary: I have had one other Canon Powershot in my lifetime and for digital camera's I would trust no other brand. They are compact, reliable, and take really clear pictures. This particular model does have enough features to satisfy the casual photographer or the die hard picture taker. I highly recommend this model for the price. You definitely get the bang for the buck.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Elph !
by tcsss on February 9, 2009
Pros: Like the image sablization, even takes steady pics when you try to trick it :)
Easy to use, good all around.Cons: Yeah, I agree, the wheel on the back is too easily turned, but just KEEP YOUR FINGER OUTTA THERE ! And you'll be fine.
Summary: I compared it to the Sony DSCT700, which is loaded with goodies, but its takes crappy pictures, Nice gadget, but I needed crisp and colorful pics. I also revied another ...
Summary: I compared it to the Sony DSCT700, which is loaded with goodies, but its takes crappy pictures, Nice gadget, but I needed crisp and colorful pics. I also revied another toy, the Nikon S60, which seemed to have a lot going for it, but taking great pictures is not one of its greatest features. I have an iphone, so I thought, what the heck? I'll just get the best camera I can for the money, and picked the canon. I'm happy !
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Solid Point and Shoot for the $$$
by scottyG2009 on December 4, 2008
Pros: Nice display, light, and wide angle lens adds a nice element to any picture
Cons: some light fringing, too many modes to note
Summary: Excellent point and shoot for the price. Wide angle lens not only compensates for lack of shot, but in some cases really captures the moment. Specific sub-modes work as advertised, ...
Summary: Excellent point and shoot for the price. Wide angle lens not only compensates for lack of shot, but in some cases really captures the moment. Specific sub-modes work as advertised, a little clunky on the wheel, but once you figure it out it easy to navigate. Worst case scenario the programmable mode lets you set the stage for the environment. Love the canon products, and this one will be used for some time.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Terrific Camera - Best I've Ever Had
by newguineafan on December 26, 2008
Pros: Nearly everything. Top-of-the-line point and shoot camera.
Cons: None of yet.
Summary: I'm still waiting to test this camera out more. However, it's the best point and shoot I've ever used and am looking forward to using it more!
Summary: I'm still waiting to test this camera out more. However, it's the best point and shoot I've ever used and am looking forward to using it more!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Smoking Hot Camera, Literally
by utsachick on October 2, 2009
Pros: Easy to use, great in all different types of lighting, battery life is long.
Cons: The flash began smoking with each picture. Canon sent my camera back w/o fixing the problem. I will never buy a Canon again due to poor customer service. Google Canon + Smoking and read about others having the same issue with their models.
Summary: I dislike Canon's limited warranty that assumes owners do not store their cameras correctly and basically blames a technical problem on the owner and not their manufacturing capabilities. Many ...
Summary: I dislike Canon's limited warranty that assumes owners do not store their cameras correctly and basically blames a technical problem on the owner and not their manufacturing capabilities. Many other canon products seem to have the same complaint and the owners ran into the same problem. They sent their cameras in for sometimes more than 60 days only to get it returned without the problem being solved. The pictures were the best and many friends went out and bought the same camera due to the quality of pictures I could take at weddings or outdoor events. I hope they don't have the same problem that I encountered and that Canon honors their warranty more. DO NOT INVEST IN A CANON PRODUCT. That's my lesson learned that I felt the need to pass on to the rest of yall.
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Poor Warranty fulfillment
by Mickey McRoberts on August 17, 2009
Pros: Great pictures, beautiful design, titanium
Cons: Unable to repair my 11 month old, "in warranty" camera. Technician suggested that living in Florida could be the reason with its high ambient humidity! Final determination: water damage; no repair, no further explanation and no replacement.
Summary: Suggestion: purchase what is known as an "accidental damage" after-market warranty available from at least one major national retailer and/or consider one of the many waterproof cameras models. This ...
Summary: Suggestion: purchase what is known as an "accidental damage" after-market warranty available from at least one major national retailer and/or consider one of the many waterproof cameras models. This may be one of those rare times such a policy makes good sense, especially if you have ever experienced the frustration of mediocre factory warranty service.
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Great camera for every type of photographer
by sdklein on July 19, 2009
Pros: I have owned three different of these tiny size cameras in the last six years. This is the best by far. It takes much better pictures than my Sony and the Fuji that I had. It is small, easy to use and takes amazing pictures in all light!
Cons: None. This camera is terrific.
Summary: If you are looking for a small camera, this is it. Great pictures... and that is what counts.
Summary: If you are looking for a small camera, this is it. Great pictures... and that is what counts.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon USA
- Part number: 2672B001
- Description: It's so easy to capture the magic of every moment when the SD880 IS Digital ELPH comes along for the ride. There's a terrific sense of creative options for your photographic sense with a wide range of shooting modes and a wide-angle 28mm lens - all because your camera sees the world without limits. Of course, it's a stylish point of view from a camera that merges up-to-the-moment performance with the art of impeccable design.
General
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Width 3.7 in
- Depth 0.9 in
- Height 2.2 in
- Weight 5.5 oz
- Enclosure Color Gold
- Available Body Colors Gold, silver
Main Features
- Resolution 10 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 10,300,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 10,000,000 pixels
- Light Sensitivity ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto, ISO 3200 (2Mpix)
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Indoor, Sunset, Foliage, Aquarium, Fireworks, Color swap, Underwater, Kids & pets, Color accent, Digital macro, Portrait mode, Stitch assist, Night snapshot, High sensitivity
- Special Effects Sepia, Vivid, Neutral, Vivid Red, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Black & White, Custom Effect, Positive Film, Darker Skin Tone, Lighter Skin Tone
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Max Shutter Speed 1/1600 sec
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
- Min Shutter Speed 15 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Evaluative, Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Face Detection Yes
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (warm white)
- Digital Video Format H.264
- Still Image Format JPEG
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture AVI - 640 x 480, AVI - 320 x 240
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 32 MB Flash - SD Memory Card
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Floppy Drive None
- Digital Storage Media None
- Image Storage Normal, Fine JPEG 3648 x 2736, Super-fine JPEG 2816 x 2112, JPEG 2272 x 1704, JPEG 1600 x 1200, JPEG 640 x 480, JPEG 3648 x 2048
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 ft - 14 ft
- Features AF illuminator
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 5 mm - 20 mm - F/2.8-5.8
- Focal Length 5 mm - 20 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 - 112 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) 9
- Macro Focus Range 2cm
- Lens Aperture F/2.8-5.8
- Optical Zoom 4 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 5 group(s) / 7 element(s)
- Lens Manufacturer Canon
- 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, FE lock, DPOF support, Direct print, Face detection, Audio recording, Histogram display, Exif Print support, PictBridge support, In-camera red-eye fix, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital noise reduction, Highlight point display, In-camera movie editing, RGB primary color filter, Display brightness control, Motion Detection Technology, Camera orientation detection
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 3 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 230,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Technology Electret condenser
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
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 Vista, MS Windows XP SP2, Apple Mac OS X 10.4 or later
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Battery pack, Battery charger, SD Memory Card, Wrist strap, USB interface cable, A/V cable
- Cables Included 1, 1 x A/V cable, USB cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Canon NB-5L
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Product series
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Canon PowerShot SD880 IS (gold)
Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Ultracompact, 10 megapixels, 4 x, 3 in LCD display, 32 MB - SD Memory Card
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Canon PowerShot SD880 IS (silver)
Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Ultracompact, 10 megapixels, 4 x, 3 in LCD display, 32 MB - SD Memory Card
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








