Manage updates with the Download AppCanon PowerShot SD970 IS (Silver and Gold)
Manufacturer: Canon Part number: 3469B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- It might take a good picture, but the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS' feature-to-price ratio is disappointing.
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CNET editors' review
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS (Silver and Gold) price range: $297.97
- Reviewed by: Joshua Goldman
- Reviewed on: 05/13/2009
- Released on: 02/17/2009
The good: Very good photo, video quality; great high-res LCD.
The bad: No optical zoom in Movie mode; slow, narrow lens; no shutter speed, aperture controls.
The bottom line: It might take a good picture, but the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS' feature-to-price ratio is disappointing.
User reviews
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Great P&S with 720p video and excellent interface
by infosky on May 24, 2009
Pros: (1) Very smart auto mode for those who just want to P&S
(2) Many useful program modes for the enthusiastic spouse
(3) Easy use interface even with few buttons
(4) Gorgeous screen that you can show the pictures to friends using itCons: (1) May be a little bit pricey but I don't agree with CNET's comment on price-to-feature ratio
(2) Video is great but the sound is subject to operation noises such zooming and finger movements.Summary: CNET's review is completely based on the spec and numerical figures of merit. Although it appears to be objective using this approach, it actually missed many important product features....
Summary: CNET's review is completely based on the spec and numerical figures of merit. Although it appears to be objective using this approach, it actually missed many important product features.
Canon SD970 (3.5 stars by CNET)and Sony DSC-W290 (4 stars by CNET) have very similar spec: 12.1 MP, 5X optical zoom, 3" screen, 720p video. But, SD970 is almost $100 more expensive.
(1) 720p video:
Both cameras can not perform optical zoom when shooting video. the optical zoo has to be set prior to shooting video. But, it was not pointed by CNET's review that Sony DSC-W290 can not perform digital zoom while Canon SD970 can.
Usually, people discount digital zoom because it loses resolution and prefer cropping the pictures in computer after shooting with full resolution. However, this argument is not valid when it comes to shoot video. It is not an easy task to edit video. I can not imagine shoot video without zooming. This is a very large design flaw of Sony DSC-W290.
(2) User interface:
Canon SD970 has fewer buttons yet is more user friendly. It comes with a radial dial which allows the user to select options or pictures much faster. It has more program modes with some creative modes. The feature of stitching mode is very useful.
(3) Both cameras have 3" screen. Canon SD970 has twice many dots than Sony W290. The picture scrolling and slide show animation of SD970 are great.
(4) Appearance:
This feature would be very subjective. Do we purchase camera for its appearance? I think, for many, they do. Canon SD970 and SD960 are very good looking. The body shape and seam lines are more artistic. Even the shapes of the buttons are.
Understanding the competition, the features of SD97 can be fully appreciated. I think CNET review for Canon SD970 missed many important features which make this camera superior to its competitions. Therefore, I disagreed with its comment on price-to-feature ratio.7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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INCREDIBLE flagship Canon Camera.. worth every penny
by Jondoyle24 on April 29, 2009
Pros: every single detail.
looks, weight, picture quality, hd video quality, extra features, menu options, menu navigation, PICTURE QUALITYYYYYYYYYY, price for what you get.. and did i say PICTURE QUALITYCons: HD video a little grainy indoors with low light.. with good lighting it goes away.
balance of camera sitting with full lens out isnt that good. just retract the lens first.Summary: ALL i can say is wowowow.I owned a Canon SD 750 for a while and loved that camera and finally sdecided to upgrade to the 970.
Summary: ALL i can say is wowowow.I owned a Canon SD 750 for a while and loved that camera and finally sdecided to upgrade to the 970.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A GOOD HIGH END CAMERA
by COWBELL on November 8, 2009
Pros: A VERY HIGH END LCD SCREEN, THE EXTRA ZOOM IS NICE IN A SMALL COMPACT CAMERA, GREAT PICTURE QUALITY, STRONG BUILD AND CONSTRUCTION QUALITY.
Cons: (ACTIVE DISPLAY) WHAT WAS THEY THINKING...
Summary: ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AND WEIGHT AS THE CANON SD790 SD880, ALL THREE CAMERAS TAKE VERY NICE PICTURES. THE FLASH TAKES 3.5 secs TO RECHARGE AND IN (LOW LIGHT) ...
Summary: ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AND WEIGHT AS THE CANON SD790 SD880, ALL THREE CAMERAS TAKE VERY NICE PICTURES. THE FLASH TAKES 3.5 secs TO RECHARGE AND IN (LOW LIGHT) UP TO 6 secs... I LIKE THE SHARPNESS AND COLOR IN THE 970s PICTURES. IT GETS LESS RED EYE IN ITS PICTURES THAN THE CANON SD1200.(I LOVE THE SD1200 THOUGH)... ( THE 970 HAS BETTER SHUTTER LAG PERFORMANCE THAN THE CANON SD940-SD780-SD1200-SD880 ACORDING TO C-NET ), AND THE PRICE IS DOWN TO $300.00...
A GOOD HIGH END SMALL POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY, I FORGOT TO ADD THAT IT HAS VERY GOOD BATTERY LIFE .
Updated on Nov 8, 20093 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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OUTSTANDING!
by night silence on June 30, 2009
Pros: Fairly easy to operate, excellent pictures and video quality, amazing LCD, and a very smart Auto mode
Cons: Little pricey ($ 414 including leather bag and 2 GB SD card), I can barely hear the video sound while playing it in the camera.
Summary: After a lot of search online and in the market, I just purchased this digital camera (my first camera) and in short: I am very satisfied. Here are some of ...
Summary: After a lot of search online and in the market, I just purchased this digital camera (my first camera) and in short: I am very satisfied. Here are some of the good things I liked:
1- The Auto mode is very smart and you will barely need to shift to manual scenes mode.
2- The LCD is impressive.
3- Pictures and movies quality is outstanding.
4- It is my first digital camera but it was fairly easy to operate within 10 minutes of powering it on for the first time while checking the paperback operation manual (I didn't yet check the detailed operation CD).
I highly recommend it to everyone, and I don't agree with CNET review.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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IMHO the best pocket p/s of the pack
by dneumark on January 3, 2010
Pros: If you look at all the features and specs the sd970is is the best overall camera for a point 'n shoot including other brands. I'll tell you how I came to this conclusion below:
Cons: The only major problems I had with this camera was the lack of a wide screen and a somewhat limited wide angle capability when compared to other cameras in this catagory (super compact p/s).
Summary: Starting with the specs, if you compare the 970 to other cameras it is slightly slower on the recharge (time it takes to snap another pic), however the fastest in ...
Summary: Starting with the specs, if you compare the 970 to other cameras it is slightly slower on the recharge (time it takes to snap another pic), however the fastest in the Canon line. I felt it was a better trade off to NOT miss losing a chance to take another picture, than the almost 1/3 slower, upgrade to the 980, even with the wider screen, remembering that the final result is more important that what you see as basically a sample for viewing later on a larger screen or print. As for the 980's touch screen it was not developed enough like the Nikon ALL touch screen to be an issue. I considered the Nikon except I really don't like the all internal lens system which according to many pros is lacking in quality in the final result compared to the protruding lens system, given that the protruding lens is more susceptible to dust and dirt, etc. I really take a lot of photo stitch pics and I know the Canon system does a great job with this. Also the Canon Elph has proven itself by having a tough body and quality optics not necessarily found in other cameras. (I'm coming from a Casio EX v7, being the first with widescreen high resolution stereo video). The stereo had both mikes right next to each other canceling any benefit of separation. And now most cameras have all but abandoned hi res for high def H.264. Of course you have to have a dual core pc to view and edit. The reviewer wrote his review when the camera first came out so his disappointment with price-to-feature comment doesn't apply now. ($279) He was always mentioning the no zoom in video shooting, but no camera seems to have this capability so why even mention it as a con? If you really need this now in a tiny camera, you can't have it! Get a bigger one. For me, this is a very decent yet tiny hi-def video camera that takes great stills as well so I'm a happy camper. Just in case you don't get my con about the lack of wide-screen viewing, you still CAN view the whole wide screen recording but it will appear smaller with black bars above and below. Definitely a trade off but until Canon makes a sd990is with better recharge times, this is the one to get.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best Compact Digital Camera money under $300
by tygale on October 5, 2010
Pros: Great photos indoors and out especially when using the auto white balance feature. No "soft" pictures even in low light conditions due to the 3200 ISO. HD video capture is amazing! Great build quality and menu layout!
Cons: No optical zoom while recording video. Luckily, it lets you optically zoom while setting up to record video.
Summary: Similar cameras like the Sony W290 have comparable specs: 12MP, 5X zoom, 720P video, but somehow do not even qualify to exist in the same fight as the Canon SD970 ...
Summary: Similar cameras like the Sony W290 have comparable specs: 12MP, 5X zoom, 720P video, but somehow do not even qualify to exist in the same fight as the Canon SD970 IS. Canon now has similar cameras for over $300 that even include touch screen technology, but that is a trade off, and not a good one. For one, those cameras have less optical zoom (only 3X). Also, if you have any touchscreen devices, you know that the screen is prone to fingerprints, and likewise, touchscreen cameras are know different. This Canon SD970 IS navigates as well if not better than the touchscreen interface on other models with its scroll wheel. That's another point as far as control. The scroll wheel is worlds better than other cameras that only have the directional pad to navigate. Think Im lying? Compare your scroll wheel on your mouse to using the directional arrows on your keyboard to browse the internet and you will imediately understand.
One gripe I may have with the Camera is the 720p video capture does not allow optical zoom once recording has started. Luckily it does allow optical zoom while seting up for the video capture. Another downside that will not sway any prospective buyers in the market for a camera of this quality but worth mentioning is that the battery is rechargable lithium ion instead of AA. All this means is you might want a spare battery. The camera easily lasted me 350-400 shots on one battery charge and the battery charges in less than 2 hours so not really a problem. Any cameras that are of this high of quality will not offer the option for AA batteries anyways, so not an issue.
I took this camera to Alaska and Im sorry to admit it fell from my girlfriend's hands while taking a picture. It survived with merely a scratch on the body, screen unscathed. Kudos to the build quality! The screen is aboslutely stunning. cheaper cameras have lower resolution screens and it IS NOTICEABLE!. This camera takes full widescreen pictures so no cropping necessary to view on your HDTV. Viewing on that HDTV is a breeze as the camera has a built in mini HMDI port. Buy yourself an offbrand mini HDMI cable and you won't regret it.
If you're wondering whether yiou really need 12Mp or could you just live with 10MP, truth be told you probably wont see the difference unless you are printing posters. UNLESS of course you ever plan to share your photos with the HDMI cable that I just mentioned. Then, the 12 MP is worth every penny! The other thing to mention here is that on lower quality cameras that only have 10MP, 9 times out of 10 the screen resolution on the camera is lacking in qualtiy and only leaves you wanting more.
The size of the camera is slimmer than expected especially considering the 5X zoom. Boot up time is exceptional. On my trips to Europe, I would see something, turn the camera on, take the picture, and turn it off. The pictures were always on par with the better DSLRs. I must mention of course that if you actually want SLR qualtiy, buy an SLR, do not expect this to be the same. It doesnt offer as many manual efatures, it is afterall a point-and-shoot. The great thing about the camera is that it can be a point-and-shoot and take georgeous pictures, or it can be used by the more skilled photographers and produce near professional quality pictures. Some modes work well but are clearly gimics like the color replacement feature. Other modes are far more useful such as the panoramic mode. The nighttime mode even lets you adjust the shutter time to 30 seconds. Enough to capture the stars on a dark night! If you want more than that you need a DSLR. I think there are more than 15 or 20 different settings like beach, snow, kids and pets, nighttime, sunset, fireworks, aquarium, folliage, etc. Each adjusts the aperature, white balance, shutter time, color boost to make the most of your scene. And it performs MIRACLES!
As of Fall 2010, this camera is on sale at Amazon for $250, and no other camera comes close as far as specifications, quality, ease of use, bang for the buck, picture quality, picture options or size.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great pocketable P-n-S digital, compact camera.
by GatorRick55 on June 10, 2010
Pros: 1) In mid-2009, one of the few pocketable 10+ MP cameras < $300 with great picture.
2) 3 inch display larger than comparable SD780 IS, easier to use.
3) Canon's included 'pocket-sized' external 100-240VAC battery charger will work across EU.Cons: 1) Can't use SDHC memory cards, as far as I can tell.
2) Requires external battery charger.
3) External surface a little too slick - needs knurling/rubberized surface somewhere (a small defect).Summary: Semi-casual photography enthusiast, I've used all the way from "Film" Rolleiflex 220 TLR, to Minolta 16PS mini-camera, to Nikon FE, to Minolta Z1 and now Canon 970 IS. This ...
Summary: Semi-casual photography enthusiast, I've used all the way from "Film" Rolleiflex 220 TLR, to Minolta 16PS mini-camera, to Nikon FE, to Minolta Z1 and now Canon 970 IS. This is the best bang for the buck of any so far. Used to shoot VG quality HD video clips from rmoving platform (riverboat) over 10 days or so, along with 300+ pictures. Would not recommend for low-light, as most humans cannot hold the camera still enough for a good quality video clip - this camera not designed for that. Good ergonomics - controls not as intuitive as some others, but controls are not needed for 99% of most functions. It'll take so many high-resolution (I used 1440x768 for snapshots) pictures so easily, you can sort them out later after you've read the manual. Size/weight tradeoff from this camera zoomed to 80mm focal length, compared to Nikon FE with 135mm zoom lens shows just how far photogrpahy has come in just a short time. You get 98% of the Film cameras quality with 10% of the weight (though the Film image can be enlarged further without loss of quality). In short, a great point-and-shoot camera, next I want to try it while scuba-diving using one of the waterproof enclosures availlable.
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Fantastic Photos & Camera
by Dancing4Life on March 7, 2010
Pros: This is a truly best-in-class camera.
It takes amazing shots, both close up as well as very far away (you can't beat the 20x zoom lens).
And it has a great array of features. It's really well-made.Cons: (1) It doesn't also have an optical viewfinder, like its predecessor, the SD890.
(2) The wrist strap that comes with it isn't adjustable, like the SD890. It's a rather cheap wrist strap (obviously, this is a relatively minor issue).Summary: I am very pleased and plan to have this camera for a long time. Well worth the price.
Summary: I am very pleased and plan to have this camera for a long time. Well worth the price.
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Great picture quality, smart controls
by peter9291 on February 8, 2010
Pros: Great picture quality, HD video, smart menus and controls, not bad in low light, longer zoom is very useful, one programmable button (I use it for video)
Cons: SLOW!! (time between shots), no zoom with video
Summary: This is the first small camera I've owned that I can carry around in my pocket with no case and not mess up the settings. It also remembers the ...
Summary: This is the first small camera I've owned that I can carry around in my pocket with no case and not mess up the settings. It also remembers the setting for the flash even when it's on automatic - a smart touch for someone like me who rarely uses the flash.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon
- Part number: 3469B001
- Description: Cool curves, powerful features and a fun way to operate the camera mark Canon's PowerShot SD970 IS Digital ELPH. Amazing resolution and expanded editing options are yours with 12.1-megapixel and you can even create HD movies. Shooting is fun and easy with Smart Auto that makes all your shots better effortlessly, and there's a user-friendly interface. And see how much fun it is to browse through your photos and even speed up image advance with a shake or tilt of the camera!
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Enclosure Color Silver
- Resolution 12.1 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 12,400,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 12,100,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.3"
- Optical Zoom 5 x
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Image Processor DIGIC 4
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Face Detection Face Detection Self-timer,
Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB,
Blink Detection technology - Digital Video Format H.264
- Image Recording Format JPEG
- AV Interfaces HDMI,
Composite video/audio Exposure & White Balance
- Light Sensitivity ISO 3200,
ISO 1600,
ISO 800,
ISO 100,
ISO 200,
ISO 80,
ISO 400,
ISO auto - Exposure Metering Evaluative,
Center-weighted,
Spot - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic - Shooting Programs Snow,
Night snapshot,
Digital macro,
Beach,
Underwater,
Exposure zoom,
Sunset,
Stitch assist,
Aquarium,
Indoor,
Foliage,
Kids & pets,
High sensitivity,
Fireworks,
Portrait mode - Special Effects Vivid Blue,
Vivid Green,
Vivid Red,
Positive Film,
Creative Light,
Vivid,
Black & White,
Sepia,
Darker Skin Tone,
Lighter Skin Tone,
Color Accent,
Color Swap - White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - White Balance Presets Daylight,
Tungsten light,
Fluorescent,
Cloudy - Max Shutter Speed 1/1600 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 15 sec
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
Lens System
- Type Canon,
5 x x Zoom lens - 6.6 mm - 33 mm - F/3.2-5.8 - Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 37 - 185 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 0.8 in - 19.7 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 6 groups / 8 elements
- Features UA lens,
Aspherical lens,
Built-in lens shield Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Fill-in mode,
Slow synchro,
Auto mode,
Flash OFF mode,
Red-eye reduction - Features AF illuminator
- Effective Flash Range 1 ft - 11.5 ft
Additional Features
- Continuous Shooting Speed 1 frame per second
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec,
10 sec - Additional Features Digital image rotation,
In-camera red-eye fix,
Scene Detection Technology,
Resizing an image,
I-Contrast (Intelligent Contrast Correction) system,
Exif Print support,
DPOF support,
RGB primary color filter,
FE lock,
Built-in speaker,
Motion Detection Technology,
AE lock,
Digital noise reduction,
Histogram display,
Camera orientation detection,
PictBridge support,
USB 2.0 compatibility,
Direct print Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type 3 in LCD display
- Resolution 461,000 pixels
- Display Features Built-in
Microphone
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB,
1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x HDMI output
Software
- Software Canon ZoomBrowser EX,
Canon PhotoStitch,
Drivers & Utilities,
Canon ImageBrowser System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support Apple Mac OS X 10.4 - 10.5,
MS Windows XP SP2,
MS Windows Vista - Peripheral Devices USB port,
CD-ROM drive Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Battery charger,
USB cable,
Wrist strap,
Audio / video cable Battery
- Supported Battery Canon NB-5L
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Memory / Storage
- Memory Card Slot SD card
- Supported Memory Cards SDHC Memory Card,
MultiMediaCard,
SD Memory Card,
MultiMediaCardplus - Image Storage Normal,
Fine JPEG 4000 x 3000,
JPEG 3264 x 2448,
JPEG 2592 x 1944,
JPEG 1600 x 1200,
JPEG 640 x 480,
JPEG 4000 x 2248 - Video Capture H.264 - 640 x 480,
H.264 - 320 x 240,
H.264 - 1280 x 720 Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
Dimensions & Weight
- Width 3.7 in
- Depth 1 in
- Height 2.2 in
- Weight 5.6 oz
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Main Features
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Canon products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Canon
- Address:
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 - Phone: 516-328-5000
- Email: mediacontact@cusa.canon.com
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