Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital Elph Reviewed

I carry my Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital Elph with me whenever I leave the house. For a compact, portable camera, it boasts a range of features that have helped me get great photos of memorable moments in my life. Because it is so small and easy to take with me, I have been able to capture some unexpected and spontaneous events as well. Here are some of the reasons I love this camera:

Small Form Factor

As mentioned above, the PowerShot SD1000 is a compact point-and-shoot camera. At 3.38 x 2.11 x 0.76 in, it is a little longer and a little narrower and about the same thickness and weight as a deck of cards. Because of this, it is easy to slip in a pocket or purse and carry with you wherever you go. The image quality isn't quite as pristine as a DSLR, but it is great for those times when you wouldn't be likely to lug a tripod and a bag full of lenses around and good enough to be your only camera if photography isn't your profession.

Speed

With a Digic III processor, the SD1000 is ready to take a picture shortly after being powered on. This makes it great for spontaneous events, pictures of children, and sports shots. The large LCD is also pretty responsive, enabling you to frame your shot quickly as well.

Video Quality

At a maximum of 30 fps (frames per second) and a 640x480 resolution, the SD1000 has rendered my late model digital camcorder nearly obsolete. I use the Canon most of the time I want to shoot a video since the quality is as good or better than my camcorder. I only keep the camcorder because the PowerShot has one drawback: you can't change the amount of optical zoom while recording.

Face Detection

The face detection functionality on the SD1000 works wonderfully, ensuring that faces are within the focal plane.

Image Quality

With a 7.1 megapixel CCD, the Canon SD1000 allows you to take high-resolution photos. The colors are vibrant and noise is kept to a minimum. With a 3x optical zoom, it is easy to frame your shot how you want.

Shooting Modes and Manual Settings

The Powershot SD1000 comes with a set of great pre-programmed modes such as Macro, Indoor, and High ISO (up to 1600) to ensure you are using the optimal settings for shooting conditions. There are also a number of attributes that can be set manually by the advanced user such as white balance and exposure compensation.

SDHC Compliant

Because the SD1000 supports Secure Digital High Capacity memory cards, you never have to worry about running out of space. I use a 4GB card and regularly am able to store over 500 photos on the card along with some video. This is a great feature for going on an extended vacation since it eliminates the need to bring multiple digital media or back up your pictures to another source so that you can make room on your card.

Drawbacks

Despite it being a fantastic camera, the Canon PowerShot Digital Elph SD1000 does have a few things that can be improved upon for a camera in its class. In addition to the previously-mentioned inability to zoom while shooting video (digital zoom is available, but essentially worthless), the SD1000 does not have image stabilization capabilities. However, I have not noticed a great deal of blurriness in my images due to camera shake. The battery is a proprietary design and must be charged separately from the camera. Also, while transferring images to a computer via USB cable, the camera does not time out or shut off after transfer. Many times I have forgotten to turn it off and completely drained my battery. The battery life is adequate but not exeptional; a spare battery would be a good accessory for this camera.

Conclusion

Even in light of its shortcomings, the PowerShot SD1000 is a great compact point-and-shoot model. Canon has stayed true to their reputation in exceptional image quality and reliability, and the camera is fun to use. With the right settings, the SD1000 Digital Elph can take great shots even in low light or indoor conditions, and the CCD has a high enough resolution that you can have quality enlargements made of favorite shots. I highly recommend the Canon PowerShot SD1000 as a compact, on-the-go camera.