The SD870 It's about what you may could want inside a compact compact digital photographic camera. It includes excellent image quality, a big vivid LCD display, intelligent defaults, fine low light sensitivity, an exceptional movie mode (with sound), a first rate wide angle lens and (most importantly in my circumstances) a photograph capture speed that leaves some other digicams on the dust.

I cover a reasonable measure of electronics trade events such as CES and CEDIA for my home entertainment site (Main issue Big Sound), outside apparent camera this really is quick at the draw, includes a good macro feature for close ups, as well as good low light sensitivity and zoom for distance shots at press conferences. But portability is usually key, as I ought to carry the digital camera around into my pocket along with other gadgets for note taking. I've owned a Canon S400 Digital Elph for several years, there are served me well, nonetheless the lag time between pushing the shutter button and in actual fact acquiring a picture (particularly indoors) was frustrating, along with the low light sensitivity is in addition fairly poor.

The SD870 retains each of the positive highlights of the sooner ELPH models, yet improves about the weaknesses. You are able to go from power up to pictures snapped in in regards to second. Just as soon as the digital camera is powered up and ready, it is easy to capture shots in 1/2 second or less (dependant upon lighting conditions). To have pictures in low lighting, the "Night Scene" mode (and built in optical image stabilization) is fantastic, enabling me to capture on stage action at the press event from 20 or 30 feet away (ISO sensitivity on the camera goes entirely roughly 1600, however you can get some graininess when camera goes above ISO 400). Other scene modes similar to "portrait" are likewise handy if you're moving into for that close up shot and want to capture a posed or candid pic of a partner that has an "artistic" out of focus background.

In terms of size, your camera is incredibly small, yet comfortable in your hand. The camera's aluminum frame feels solid without being weighty and controls are logically created allowing you to ready to work without cracking the manual. Unfortunately the size means it doesn't stop here take standard AA batteries, even so the Lithium Ion battery that offer it would last using a number of hundred shots in normal use. You'll want to obtain a spare battery however, as there is not always plenty of warning between in case the on screen low battery indicator starts flashing along with the camera powers itself down (hint, discover the Lenmar NB 5L equivalent it will last about so long as canon's approximately 1/3 the cost).

All to all of the, I'm happy with my acquiring the SD870 IS and am getting excited about deploying it to snap prime quality pics for the latest gadgets at next year's Electronic devices Show.

Update (2/23/08) Coming home coming from a party one night, I am mortified to discover that this SD870 lens was halfway extended inside its case, inside my pocket. Apparently the energy button was activated while inside my pocket and also lens motor has no safety in order that it tried to extend itself and also the mechanism broke when it met resistance. And so the lens would no more fully extend and also the image was perpetually out of focus. Sending it to Canon, I bought a letter back saying it can cost $100 (one time fee) necessary repairs community . was under warranty. I argued that this camera had not been abused or dropped and at last they relented and covered the repair.

However this design flaw with the lens motor would lower my score for the camera to 4 stars if I could edit the score. What good is usually a portable camera that can not be carried within the pocket? My advice is usually make battery out for everybody who is planning to pack this inside luggage or transport it somewhere it may be jostled about. And i also hope Canon addresses this which has a safety retract mechanism (or even recessed power button) later on models.