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Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 299
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 On: 2008-07-09
so far so good. I did a lot of research before I bought this camera and so far Im pleased. I really like the wide angle lens, large LCD screen,rechargable lithium ion battery and the color swap option. My only complaint is that the image on the screen looks grainy but the pictures are clear
 On: 2008-07-07
I bought this camera back in April this year through Amazon. I didnt use it until the past week. Then I found out that the Date/Time setting doesnt work. Its not a major problem, but it can be very annoying that whenever I turned on the camera, the Date/Time setting popped up. I called Canon, I had to pay to ship in the camera to have it (a new camera) fix.
 On: 2008-07-07
Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
On: 2008-07-06
Great little camera. Quality of pictures is excellent and the wide-angle lens is fantastic. While the camera does not have an optical view finder, I have never felt the need for it. The LCD screen is large and works great even in the brightest of daylight. Only caveat is that for taking pictures of kids, faster picture-to-picture speed would be nice. However, I suspect that to obtain more speed while maintaining quality, one would need a SLR camera. Would definitely buy this camera again.
On: 2008-07-04
If you are like me and do not know much about photography but you enjoy taking a lot of pictures, this review may be helpful.
I honestly only use the camera to point and shoot. So if you are using it for things like that the quality is excellent. Also, I really like how you can take pictures one after another without having to wait 10 seconds until the picture is saved. I honestly love how the colors turn out very bright especially during the day. If you take pictures outside a lot it is a really great compact camera.
Also, the screen is pretty big and viewing the photos are nice, crisp, and easy!
I also like the video mode. The videos turn out a decent quality for a digital camera. The quality of the video mode surprised me since it wasnt like a super-fast slideshow of pictures.
The only thing I dont like about this camera is that I cant ever take night-sceneries that great. The lights always turn out blurry.
On: 2008-07-04
I bought this camera to replace an old Canon SD250 that was "lost". Great choice. It fits in a pocket, has a gorgeous LCD screen, starts quickly, and has a decent array of features. The image stabilization and facial detection work very well. So far, the battery has been able to last on a weekend trip taking almost 300 shots, but that will decrease. For me, the form factor makes the specialty batteries worth it.
On: 2008-07-04
I have purchased 2 Canon 870ISs from Amazon now, much cheaper than retail stores are charging. The wide angle lens makes a huge difference, especially on scenic shots. The image stabilization is great. I have taken it to several professional baseball games and captured some nice action shots that turn out very clear, no blurs, IS is an awesome feature. Face recognition, cycle time between shots and even the smallish flash work great. A lot of great features in a small package and you cant beat the price. Good battery life too. Spring for a 2 or 4gb flash card and you can take photos endlessly without running out of storage. I rate this camera very very good, especially considering the price.
On: 2008-07-03
I received my new camera and the 2 spare batteries today-way before the estimated delivery date. The Canon battery charged very quickly-less than 1 1/2 hours. I was able to set everything up without even lookng at the instructions. My 3 main reasons for buying this camera were: excellent movie quality (and to my surprise it is VERY easy to shift from still to video mode), a zoom of more than 3, and a wide angle lens. My only concern was that other reviewers said the zoom did not function in the video mode. Well, they are wrong. It works! The test shots and videos look fantastic.
This camera is replacing a Casio that is just 1 1/2 years old. It still takes good pictures, but the internal battery that retains the date, time, etc is dead. Casio service wants $110 just to look at it. I said that is ridiculous for a camera that only cost several hundred dollars. The Casio is more megapixels (10 vs 8), but that was overkill. Unless you want to crop a small area and blow it way up, you dont need that many megapixels.
The only downsides to this camera that I have found so far are that there are less shooting modes than the Casio had (most of which were not necessary) and switching to sound recording requires several steps. But overall, these are small sacrafices to make for the quality and reputation of another Canon (my second digital camera was a Canon that lasted for many years, and my SLR that I used professionally and still own is a classic Canon AE1-P). I am proud to be back with Canon again!
On: 2008-07-01
This is my second Canon camera so I am obviously enough of a fan to purchase their products twice. I also only purchase another camera when the current one stops functioning for some reason, in this case it was nudged from its seat on the work bench by my wifes elbow, landing on the concrete floor of the garage. Things didnt work so well after that. I purchased the 870 after much consternation between it and the 850 based on the size of the lcd. Upon reflection, I never used the optical viewfinder on my other digital cameras so that main feature difference paled in comparison to a bigger lcd, which I use constantly to show friends photos on the fly. The only real issue is that the controls are right where I place my thumb on the back of the camera. At times, seemingly with increasing frequency, my thumb activates a mode change and the shot I am attempting to capture either must remain in the same state of paralysis or I miss it.
But all that said, I love the canon cameras. The picture quality is outstanding and for the little that I use the additional modes, they have functioned flawlessly.
On: 2008-06-29
This camera has been easy to use and produces high quality photos with excellent detail. Using the LCD instead of a view finder takes a little getting used to and in some very sunny situations, Ive guess at lining up the shot, but the results were still good. The battery life is EXCELLENT!
The only "cons" are the zoom is less than I had on my previous Fuji FinePix. Also my 6 year old dropped the camera and the lense trim ring broke. It still takes pictures, but the design of the lense trim is a bit odd. Despite this, I still love the camera!
On: 2008-06-28
Looked a long time before buying this camera. Easy to use. Crisp, clear pictures. Battery life great. No downside found. Excellent camera in this price range.
On: 2008-06-27
the camera looks sharp and takes great photos. 9 out of 10 times the photos come out clear dispite my shakey hands. Took some photos while riding in a car that was going about 80mph and they still look sharp. Wide angle also works great for scenery shots. Well worth the money.
On: 2008-06-26
When I decided I wanted a small compact digital camera I started reading some reviews. I initially thought I was leaning towards either the Sony or the waterproof Olympus. The more I read the reviews by users and pros, the easier the decision was to go for the Canon.
Ive always liked Canon products and took the leap of faith and got the SD870IS. Amazon had one of the better prices and most importantly I trusted Amazon to stand behind the purchase. Ive read some horror stories about some of the cut-rate website "storefront" places. Im not saying you can only buy from Amazon but make sure you check out reviews on whoever you make a purchase like this from.
The pictures are very clear. I moved up from a 3.2 meg digital camera so I expected improvement. I also had to spend a little time getting used to no viewfinder. But the display is very bright and Ive quickly adjusted. Id like to have both, but I appreciate the compact size of the Canon. I take more pictures because I always have my camera with me.
The zoom button took a little time getting used to but nothing inconvenient. I am also satisfied with the zoom features. Its a very intuitive camera. If youre in the market, read the reviews and make sure this one is on your list to consider.
 On: 2008-06-23
I really wanted to like this camera. The large 3" screen and quick handling are great. Very easy to use. I chose this model for the 28mm wide angle lens which worked very well.
The main problem I had was with exposure, i.e. blown out whites. I thought it was operator error, but I consistently had this problem even with adjustments to exposure compensation. The other issue I had was with recurrent spots on some pictures with flash. I thought the lens some how got dirty on this band new camera, but after cleaning it twice, the spots continue to recur. This is probably a problem with just my camera and not the SD870 in general.
My four year old Canon S410 didnt have problems with either of these issues and I expect newer models to do better, not worse. So Im returning it and buying an SD790 instead even though it doesnt have a wide angle lens.
On: 2008-06-21
Always had Canon cameras. "Upgraded" to this from SD1000 when we lost it in Disney World.
Unfortunately on just its third weekend trip its LCD has stopped functioning. No view finder so for a perfectly good weekend we had to just "guess" and shoot. Right now I have been on hold with canon warranty 800# for about 20 min.
Will update if I get good/ bad warranty service.
Recommendation: Go for SD1000 or better new SD1100 with IS. It is smaller, almost as good and cheaper.
On: 2008-06-20
This is the best digital camera we have owned. The controls are intuitive making it easy to use. It is programmed for taking pictures in a variety of settings through the automatic controls. The larger screen is extremely clear. It does not have a view finder but seeing the screen has not been a problem. The picture quality is excellent. I would highly recommend this camera for someone you wants a simple to use camera that provides great results.
On: 2008-06-19
Ive been an amateur fine art photographer since the mid `80s. This is my first digital camera. I know a few professional photographers who have Canon cameras, so I assumed that I would be happy with a Canon. I should say that I did buy it as just a "memory saver" and to take souvenir pics, but I was surprised that this camera does not have aperture and shutter controls; at least aperture and shutter priority controls. This camera has more features then I would ever use, but it does not have the two most common features of a camera. I do understand that this is an "automatic" camera, maybe designed for people who dont understand about aperture and shutter, but I still think its a marketing blunder to not have such features. I would have designed the camera for aperture and shutter priority controls with the default as all automatic.
Im also not happy about the quality of digital images. There seems to be a "noise" issue with solid colors like sky.
On: 2008-06-18
I bought this camera from Amazon.com and when ever I take pictures around dark colored objects or at a party at night, I see a lot of white patches/flare in a random order in this camera, I contacted canon and they asked me to ship the camera to their repair center in IL. I did and they said they have replaced a part that creates images, which is found behind the LCD screen. After couple of weeks I receive the camera with the same defect. I am very much disappointed in this camera.
On: 2008-06-18
I have really enjoyed this camera so far. The menus are easy to navigate and the choice of camera settings is quite large (almost too large). The pictures are great even though I have no photography skills. The camera is light but feels quite durable. The view screen is big and has great clarity. I like everything about it. The lense became stuck half in and half out when powering down at one point. Must have been defective. [...] has been great and they replaced it free of charge. The camera has been going strong ever since. I love taking pictures with it.
On: 2008-06-18
This camera was purchased as a Fathers Day gift. Much research was done, reviews read and a consult with Consumers Guide. The Canon was always rated the highest. Could not be happier with the camera
On: 2008-06-16
Ive done so much research before purchasing this camera. This camera is easy to use, and the pictures are great. Cannon certainly lives up to its reputation with this camera. I love the wide angle feature when you have alot of people that need to be included. The video works very well also. For a portable video, the sound is okay, but much better than other point/shot degitial around my house.
On: 2008-06-16
I just got back from a trip to NYC and decided to bring this camera with me. I wanted to bring my Nikon SLR but decided that I did not want to haul a heavy camera and lens around. I was worried that I would regret that decision - but I did not. This camera was great - its so light and easy that I was able to get shots that I doubt I would have gotten with my SLR. The wide angle was fantastic, and the camera is sophisticated enough that when necessary I was able to adjust the exposure compensation and ISO and was able to take some really nice pictures. I did not miss my SLR at all. I love this little camera!
On: 2008-06-15
Product appeared normal when received. Noticed noise in display screen. Took test photos in low light with my old 4MP Canon and this one to compare...my old camera looked better. Consulted with local provider and person indicated this may have been damaged somehow. Perhaps I received a defective product.
On: 2008-06-15
I bought this at Ken Rockwells suggestion. Like he said, I set the camera to Manual, then Vivid. So far the photos Ive taken have been really, really nice that even my brother (who already has a Nikon D40 SLR) wants to get the same camera too! I usually take photos without a flas but whenever I need to apply it, Im quite happy at how far the flash can reach.
I highly recommend this camera, but would suggest that any buyer read through the manual. Dont get me wrong--the camera is very user friendly, but theres nothing like the manual to tell you all the amazing features that packed into this tiny camera!
On: 2008-06-14
Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
This is a wonderful camera! That is not to say it is not quite intimidating at first...because it is!
There are many facets of this camera that will never be used by the average person. As one gets more familiar with the camera, it does feel more comfortable to use, and that is a good feeling. I am just getting the capability to interface this camera with a new computer, and will know more about the task in the next week or two.
Basically, I would recommend this camera to anyone getting into digital photography. Its a beaut!
On: 2008-06-13
Great compact camera. Pictures quality is very good.
I chose this one because it has a nice large 3" screen.
(you lose the optical viewfinder because of this, but I dont think you really need that on a compact camera anymore, leave it for digital SLRs).
Overall I have been very pleased with all the Powershots!
On: 2008-06-13
Takes good clean pictures out-of-the-box but they dont seem as sharp as we had hoped.
Flash is much better compared to other digital cameras although the LCD does get smudgy.
On: 2008-06-13
I bought this camera recently before my Disneyland trip. I spent over 2 week researching for several different cameras and finally setteled for this one. I am glad I bought this camera. Picture quality is excellent. Camera is very easy to operate, even my 9 year old can take nice pictures with this camera. I was impressed by the clarity of "night mode" snaps.
Wide angle is definitely a big advantage with this camera.
Only negative I found was lasck of view finder, which I thought could be very useful in bright sunlight.
Overall, a great camera. Worth buying.
On: 2008-06-13
perfect little point and shoot for capturing general day to day things. the wide angle lens is a selling point on its own, no complaints so far! very durable.
On: 2008-06-09
I recommend the Canon PowerShot SD870IS to any one who is looking for a compact point and shoot camera. The SD870IS has a larger viewing screen that makes shooting quicker and easier. The interface is also very clear and intuitive. The camera does a great job with focusing. The prints always turn out great. The SD870IS has also been very durable. Our camera has been drop a couple of times and hasnt failed yet.
On: 2008-06-09
This camera is by far the best camera I have used yet! I love all the features it has. It may be a little confusing for some. But not so if youre familiar with digital cameras.
On: 2008-06-09
As a travel writer I spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World, and Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs are the most common cameras I see. Families seem to love them, because theyre so easy to carry and operate. About the size of a deck of playing cards, each of these "pocket cameras" really do slip right into a pants pocket, and their rectangular designs make them easy to grip. Best of all, they all take good photos. (How do I know? Because Ive actually gotten to use every one of these models. Nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras, which most often are Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs.)
Heres my breakdown of the ten bestselling Digital Elph models. Any of the first six are superb choices:
1ST PLACE: SD1100 IS
An update to the SD1000 (see below), this 2008 8MP beauty adds image stabilization, a slightly longer zoom (38-114 mm), another MP of photo size and a small indent on the right side for a better grip. Plus it comes in colors! My daughter has a blue one and uses it every single day. During school days the image stabilization made a real difference in her on-the-bus shots. With that heavy of use hers has gotten scratched up a bit, but the marks are small and hardly noticeable.
2ND PLACE: SD870 IS (The camera on this page)
The ELPH to buy if you want a wide-angle lens. Slightly thicker than the SD1100 IS, this 8MP model doesnt have an optical viewfinder which makes it tough to use in bright sunlight, otherwise theres little not to love. My husband uses one as a comp camera, to compose shots for the travel guide "The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World."
3RD PLACE: SD770 IS
Just released in May, this 10 MP model is, in a way, an update of the SD1100 IS (see above). I rate it lower because it costs about $50 more and doesnt come in colors. On the other hand, it has a longer battery life than the 1100 and features an improved LCD screen that is very easy to view. As for photo quality, I cant tell the difference.
4TH PLACE: SD950 IS
Theres a lot to like in this 12.1 MP camera. First off, its gorgeous. The body, though a little thick, is titanium. An upgrade to the SD850 IS (see below), it has a 3.7x zoom lens and adds manual controls as well as the ability to stitch together panoramic images. The only reason I dont rate it higher is the price.
5TH PLACE: SD890 IS
Want a long zoom lens? Heres your baby, a 2008 10 MP model with a 5x zoom. Also has the new bright LCD screen and all the other 2008 Canon goodies. The most expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH.
6TH PLACE: SD790 IS
With the same 10 MP image sensor and 3x zoom lens as the SD770 IS, this 2008 model stands out only for its larger 3-inch LCD display and, as a result, lack of optical viewfinder. The rear controls are different, too, with a flatter design that uses fewer buttons.
7TH PLACE: SD1000
In my opinion theres no reason to buy this 7.1 MP model. Released in 2007, its been replaced by the SD1100 IS (see above). The SD1000 is a fine camera but it doesnt have image stabilization, a key feature of the 2008 lineup.
8TH PLACE: SD850 IS
The ancestor to the SD890 IS, this 8 MP Elph combines a 4x zoom and 8 MP photo size with an image stabilizer. Every button, dial and switch has a quality feel. Slighter larger than the other models here, it is a little tougher to pop in and out of your pocket, but if you have larger hands it may be just what you are looking for.
9TH PLACE: SD800 IS
This 7.1 MP predecessor to the 870 doesnt focus well at its edges when set at its widest angle. Unless its priced really cheap, get the 870 instead.
10TH PLACE: SD750
The 2007 PowerShot flagship offers a light meter that adjusts for facial brightness, 17 shooting modes, some first-rate movie features and red-eye correction -- features that were innovative a year ago but are common in Canons latest models. No image stabilization; no optical viewfinder. Choose a 2008 model instead.
On: 2008-06-07
I wont ramble on (there are enough of those reviews and I am not a technical person) so I will just say, from my non technical perspective this is a GREAT camera.
I looked up loads of different makes and models and I probably wouldve found most ok but this camera takes great photos with good colors. The different modes are useful (although I havent found a good mode for indoors at night yet).
If you are a technical wiz, ignore this review. If you are looking for a camera to take great point and shoot photos...this is the puppy!
I even bought the underwater casing which is AMAZING....thoroughly recommended.
Enjoy!
On: 2008-06-07
I researched which Canon camera to buy for weeks. I will not buy anything except a Nikon or a Canon. So I bought this because it seemed like it would pay for itself! And it has! It takes great photos, has TONS of features, battery life is really long, and the Image Stabilizer feature is really nice for people with shakey hands like me! I also like the fact that you can record short movies with this for when you dont have your camcorder. I bought a 2MB memory card and I havent maxed it out yet. Oh, and the 3" display is AWESOME so you can see your pictures larger than other cameras Ive seen.
If youre an avid candid photo taker, this is for you when youre out at parties and whatnot. If youre a professional photographer, not quite that good--so stick with a more expensive camera, professionals.
I am going to Vegas in a few months, and I plan on having this camera with me every step of the way! I LOVE THIS CAMERA!
On: 2008-06-07
Ive owned the SD870 for about 3 weeks now and about 1000 Plus photos and 100 plus short video clips on a recent 2 week cruise to Russia. The wide angle lens is very nice and one of the main reason I bought the camera.
The photos tend to be good with some mixed results that Ill comment on.
The more notable problems with the camera that bothered me are:
1.In sunny outdoor shots with shadows the shadows are very dark in the photos compared to the sunny areas. This is a very noticeable effect and not very desirable! If Im standing in the shadows you almost cant make me out. If I move out of the shadow the other areas of the scene that we are interested in are way to dark. My wife also commented on this for many shots on our trip.
2.Photos indoors with good light using auto flash often come out very dark and unusable. Taking the same photo without the flash results in a much better photo in many cases. I think the image stabilization helped a lot on these shots. Not always perfect but I was pleased with the stabilization.
Video is good/ok. I used it a fair amount and its real handy to be able to take photos or video with the same camera and a real benefit to not have to carry both. There are 2 quality versions of VGA video. The lower quality VGA movies (640x480) arent bad and I used this most of the time to save space on my 16GB SD card. Indoor videos do have some noise associated with them but arent too bad. HD video would be nice I think but the SD memory space for them might make that feature questionable. Some commented that the optical zoom didnt work with video?? I think optical zoom does work on video on mine?
The use of SDHC cards is nice.
I use a very cheap 16GB SDHC 4X card I bought ($29) that holds a ton a photos and compared it against a 2GB 150X cards in terms of speed (how fast I could take photos and how fast I could transfer video to my computer) I couldnt tell any real difference between the two. However note that you do need a SDHC reader to transfer from your SDHC card to computer or used the port on the side of the camera to transfer to your computer.
The 3" LCD screen is nice but it does get a bit washed out in bright outdoor light (Still usable) and it gets smeared easily. The screen did develop a defect of about 3/4" after a few days but seemed to go away for the most part. That area of the screen is now slightly different in shading then the rest of the screen. I think I will return it while its under warrante for this problem.
Size of the camera is nice and not too bulky. It easily fits in my pocket without a case. Battery life is good/ok and I could use 1 battery for a full day of touring in Russia with lots of video and reviewing the shots I took. toward the end of the day (7 hrs) I would run out of battery so a second battery would have worked out nice but it wasnt really necessary since we had more then enough photos and I could recharge the battery back on the cruise ship. Charge time for the battery is 2 hrs.
I liked using the extra button on the camera as a user defined button. I set mine up to go into Hi ISO mode. On a low light shot I could put the camera into Hi ISO mode and see the difference between shutter speed and iso. You can set it to other functions also. It takes 2 fingers to use that button so its a bit clumsy to use. Using Hi ISO all the time seemed to be questionable vs just putting the camera into Hi ISO when I needed it. I guess I will work this out as I use the camera more.
On: 2008-06-04
I love the SD870 for all the features it packs in, but most of all I like it for its simplicity. The image stabilization feature is great, and so are the different camera modes. I can easily impress friends using the color accent mode which is my favorite. Pictures are clean and crisp. Most digital cameras I used previously had issues taking pictures in the dark. The SD870 does a great job even in the dark, though it does not eliminate red eye (there is an in-camera red-eye removal tool to handle that problem). The wide angle lens captures more in a frame than a regular digital camera would, and thats great when you are taking group pictures. Battery life is good. I also purchased a 2gb SD card so I wouldnt have to worry about how many pictures to store. When I bought the SD870, I was looking for a digital camera that was small enough to fit in my pocket, had good image stabilization, decent zoom and could take great pictures even in dark settings. The SD870 does all of these and some more. Overall, I would highly recommend the SD870 to anyone who is looking for a simple, reliable camera which can take great pictures.
On: 2008-06-04
Great collors, great resolution, Siperb wide angle, fast and well made. Fantastic and beautifull screen. Impresive time lapse.... in fact all you need in a pocket camera.
On: 2008-06-03
First off, I must say that my old SD400 was AWESOME. That camera takes pictures with the best of them. I had to buy a new one because my zoom broke.
Both the sd870is and the sd950is are great cameras. I like Canons, but shopped Casio, Nikon, and Olympus, so I wouldnt be ignorant to what else was out there. Clarity-wise, they were all good. I chose Canon for the warmth/color of the pics. If youre that type, then dont bother with the other makes.
Sidenote: If youre a youtube junkie, take a hard look at the Casio Exlim - it had the most web-friendly video recorder Ive seen to date...and made me wonder why Canon doesnt get on the ball in that area.
Since the 870 and 950 got great reviews, the value became more of a factor. Why would I pay almost $100 more for one model? After a lot of contemplating and research, here were the decision factors for me:
1) Photo resolution: The 950is gave me more MP. However, I have a DSLR too, so that wasnt critical. Plus, the 870is would blow up to 8x10 or 11x14, no problem...which was as large as I would go in the house. So if you want max resolution, or will enlarge beyond that, Id go 950.
2) Video resolution. The 950 has the cool factor of filming "HD"...720p I believe. This is great if you are connecting to a TV, or if your clips are less than 15 seconds. However, if you will do web uploads (myspace, facebook, youtube)...then its worth noting that neither Canon writes video very efficiently. The best way to explain it is a very fast, smooth animation (collection of still images in motion). The HD resolution in the 950 makes the file size even larger, and the video quality of the 870 was great. So if you want bragging rights, go 950is. Otherwise, take a hard look at both.
3. 28mm wide angle. I didnt realize how important this was to me until I took it on vacation. If you dont do scenic photos, or use a DSLR for that, then its not as important. But if you do, this feature alone might make you choose the 870.
4. Screen. The lack of a little viewfinder in the 870 (typically in other cameras) didnt matter to me, because I never used it. I liked the larger screen.
5. Price.
I would recommend the 950is if youre going to enlarge beyond 11x14, want to record HD video today (without buying an HD camera), and want bragging rights to the top of the line model.
You probably can tell I chose the 870is...and its been great. For the most part, both cameras have the same weaknesses, and the gap in strengths wasnt enough to warrant the gap in price.
4/5 is because Canon cant get it together on the video recording...and because pictures with flash just wont catch any of the background.
On: 2008-06-02
I had an older Canon SD-500 and enjoyed it. It was time for a upgrade I did my usual research and bought the SD-870IS. I just love this camera. Wow! I wouldnt trade it for anything. Its just perfect. The video quality is unbelievable even with low light. If you want a good point and shoot look no further!!!!!
On: 2008-06-02
I think its exelent camera for this price, its hard to compare to my Leica D-Lux 3, but still pretty good, the only pros is low light shot without flash comes out too noisy, other wise great buy.
On: 2008-06-02
This is a great camera. It is really easy to use. I have 6 year old twins and they can zoom and shoot with this one. It is also very durable I have dropped it more than the kids and it doesnt have a scratch. It will also give you some great advanced settings if you are the advanced user. I had another Canon before this one and would highly recommend Canon Products and Amazon.com. I think this is the best camera for quality, features and price right now.
Hope this helps!!
On: 2008-06-01
Very easy to use, sharp pics, great video, nice zoom range, stylish. Im loving it!
On: 2008-05-31
I just bought the camera a little over a month ago and have no regrets. The LSD screen is perfect size to preview your pictures/movies. And the volume is great too. I love the wide angle images that it takes; one of the main reasons why I bought the camera. The bottons arent too small that your fingers keep hitting near by ones. I think its very user friendly. The only thing I have trouble with some times is at night when my pictures blur. I try to avoid the night setting and just use portrait or auto. Im not super camera savvy so I may not be the best judge on that. But for the most part the camera takes excellent pictures. I mainly use the camera for taking picutres with friends and scenery. I really dont see how any one would not like this camera other than wishing it could be more slim. But having had a Casio Exilum camera that was super slim, the pictures just were not as great as the Canons. This is the perfect camera because you dont have to sacrifice much for size with picture quality. Its still small enough to fit into my small purses along with my lipgloss and cell phone. However, if you buy the Canon leather case, that will add too much bulk and may not fit.
On: 2008-05-30
Its got a lot of features and the display is nice (even in the sun). Easy to operate....point and shoot.
On: 2008-05-29
My wife was so happy with her Canon 720, that she urged me to get a Canon digital for our April 2008 trip to a safari park in South Africa and a week in Cape Town. My son had just purchased a Canon SD870IS for the same trip because it has a 28 mm wide angle. So I purchased one also from Amazon.
The camera is fantastic. I discovered the SD870IS can take video and you can stitch still photos together to create panoramics.
I took several hundred closeup photos of animals. The 3.8 zoom lens, with night photo feature, captured the faces and yellow eyes of the 2 lionesses and the lion that crept bye about 3 feet from our open Land Rover as they were sneaking up on a herd of Impala deer. Also the exasperated look on the face of a sleepy mother leopard being pestered for attention by her cub.
However, at the end of the 2 week vcation trip, the lens retracted and extended more and more slowly when I turned off/on the camera. A fully charged battery did not correct the problem and the lens failed to function at the end when I tried to take the final two (unimportant) photos. (My sons Canon SD870IS worked/is still working perfectly).
I contacted Amazon Customer Service when I returned home. Since I had only had the camera 3 weeks Amazon immediately rushed me a replacement SD870IS.
The image stabilization was huge help as our land rover plowed through bush and gullies following elephants, Cape Buffalos, Rhinos. hippos
I found I could hold the camera (and my Panasonic CamCorder) more stable in my right hand if I grasped my right wrist with my left hand and kept both arms braced against my chest.
I am very happy with Canon, the Canon SD870IS [...].
On: 2008-05-29
This camera is really cool. Im very happy with it, I dont know too much about photography, but the camera result very easy to use to me. I love the wide angle and the play button (it allows me to access my taken pictures fast).
On: 2008-05-29
This is a wonderful camera. It diffently has improved my pictures. I wouldnt hesitate to suggest this cammera to a friend and have done so.
On: 2008-05-27
Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
Love the camera.Easy to use but I do miss the picture bridge from my older Elph!
On: 2008-05-27
This is just a great camera. I take it pretty much everywhere I go because you never no when you are going to need to take a picture of something. With the big display on the back it makes it that much eaiser to view the pictures after you have taken them and while you take them.
On: 2008-05-27
The cannon SD870IS has everything you would want in a camera in that category- trust me- I have been researching them for more than 6 months before I finally decided to buy the SD870. I just love it!! I got it a couple of weeks back and got a chance to use them extensively over the last weekend at a family party. Most people had canon SD cameras!! And I got a chance to compare mine with others including SD700, 750, 800, 900, 1100 among others. I must say the SD870 beats them all hands down!! The best thing about it is the wide angle lens( SD800 also has it). I could easily fit in 6 people in a frame when other camera would fit only 4 from the same distance.The image stabilization is 99.99% effective too!And its unique 3 inch LCD screen and the black panel on the back looks so cool!! Believe me when i say that you can see images on the screen even in very bright sunlight making the view finder irrelevant! Hardly anybody uses the viewfinder anyway!
Another cool feature is the self time- comes with 3 options including a custom setting where you can set it to click up to 10 times at one one go!! That could be very useful when you have to take pictures of a large groups.
Many other features are common to most canon SD series. Auto ISO is effective but not perfect. Exposures in the the dark may be not very good if its anywhere more than 5 feet away. Also the LCD screen shows lot of grains in insufficient light conditions.
But in spite of its ignorable shortcomings the camera is a good investment. go for it!!
On: 2008-05-26
I bought this camera after owning several professional grade Canons and must admit I wasnt expecting much from a small lightweight model. It has not only surprised me, but exceeded my expectations. Lightweight? Yes. Easy to use? Yes - I didnt look at the instructions until I had the camera for several weeks. OIS works? Yes. Very stable even in a moving vehicle. I took several pictures of the Whitestone Bridge in New York while driving after sunset. The images are clear and the color exquisite. Easy to download and print pictures? Its a snap. Great little model!
On: 2008-05-23
I got this camera based mostly on the great reviews and Im not dissapointed. Ive been using a Minolta A2 for several years but wanted a compact to carry around with me more often. I feel the picture quality on automatic is at least as good as my A2 and probably even better. Im also very happy with the video quality (using extremeIII card). I took a vid of a dog running along the road next to me and was surpised not only at the quality, but how well the stabilization worked.
I got a Lowepro Apex 20AW case for it and it seems perfect for this size camera. It has some neat features like a built-in rain hood and a belt loop that doesnt require taking off your belt. Its easily big enough to have an extra memory card, battery and usb or video cable, but it would probably be a stretch to stuff the battery charger in. Its also padded well and seems to keep dust out very well.
On: 2008-05-23
I did alot of research before purchasing the 870is. I absolutely love this camera and the pictures it takes. The colors are so vivid and the options are amazing. It takes high quality pictures and is user friendly.
On: 2008-05-21
I changed my canon powershot A40 for this SD870IS. The design is beautiful, small, light, (no smallest, no ligthest). The angle of the lens is simply spectacular: in the family picture, everybody fit; camping, the trees fit, is amazing. The screen is nice. Quality of pictures is excellent (canon). There is no room for the right thumb when you take a picture, that means is a little tricky to take a picture handeling the camera just with one hand, but this does not bother me. I would recommend this camera.
On: 2008-05-21
Cameras typically boast 10x, 12x, 18x optical zoom and thats fine for birdwatching and the like (no dont take portraits with that unless you like flat faces) but few point-and-shoot cameras offer a 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens, with Image Stabilization to boot.
Buy this with a spare lenmar NB-5L equivalent battery, and a good capacity SD card - at least 2GB, and you wont be sorry at all. The 28mm wide lens can take excellent indoor shots.
Wide lenses bring in more light so youre more likely to get pictures at better ISO settings (less grainy) and the IS capability allows you yet a lower shutter speed since shake is eliminated.
With the massive 3" screen, you can pretty much view the shot as it will appear on your computer or in a print, and the 4x6 bars as well as the gridlines will assist you in getting nice printable 4"x6" shots. You wont miss the optical viewfinder. People complain, but Ive never used the optical viewfinder when Ive had this huge screen. Remember, the medium format Hasselblads boast of allowing you to look at your shot with both eyes and not force you to squint through a small hole. The spare battery will make up for any power consumed by the LCD.
A small room, a scenic view, people shots (especially if you dont want to get your subject conscious by pointing at him or her) all are possible with the wide view - the focus is intelligent enough to catch off-center subjects.
I particularly like IS for getting those artistic blurs. Normally if you take a picture with a low shutter speed, theres the blur from subject movement, and the blur from your camera shaking. Eliminate the camera shaking blur and you get wonderful, artistic motion captured in a still. A street in a busy city, with people moving and blurring just enough to suggest motion.
The diminutive size of the elphs helps in keeping them highly portable, always accessible (by the time you pull your DSLR out, your shot is gone) and the wide angle and IS features only make this camera well worth its modest price. 8MP is much more than enough, you dont need to squeeze more pixels than you will ever use. At 300dpi, an 8 MP image will get you a good poster print without a problem. The full-screen (640x480, 30fps) video capture rivals that of a decent camcorder, except youve already got your clip while your camcorder is still awaiting fumbling in your bag.
Suggestions: Dont use the flash in low light. Make do with IS and push ISO to 200 and you will still love the pictures. Turn off red-eye flash and digital zoom, both are bad ideas. Any computer can correct red-eye, which is better than using the blinking red-eye flash that renders subjects blind. Digital zoom? You can crop and enlarge on the download and storage software (e.g. iPhoto) instead of forever pixelating (= ruining) your image inside the camera.
On: 2008-05-21
I will leave picture quality reviews to the dedicated review websites and those that have the opportunity to compare many cameras side by side. I purchased this camera to replace a 4 year old kodak and after a weeklong camping vacation I will say this is a great little camera. Compact and wide angle are the key features and well worth it. Expansive vistas and tight canyon views just cannot be done this easily with a normal lens. Slight bending at the edges with the lens at its shortest length but acceptable. Small size and quick startup makes it easiy to palm during activities. I would now never choose smaller than a 4GB SDHC card - allows lots of photos and movies, quick too. But dont forget this camera is delicate and needs care. A silicone cover may make holding it a bit more secure. A small Gorilla Pod made this great fun for self portraits. The face detect seems pretty good and selection of scenes will take time to learn ... or not. AF doesnt always choose the correct object but not horrible. IS is probably critical on a camera this size but transparent in operation.
Overall: great sub compact camera for backbacking photos in wide open spaces and narrow slot canyons. Pair with small Gorilla pod, a 12V car battery charger and you have a super fun and versatile iMovie machine - if not a bit delicate.
On: 2008-05-20
This SD870IS replaces my SD700IS that got a smashed screen from caring it in my pocket. Comparing the two, the 870 has a bigger and brighter screen and the zoom and stabalization work much better. I love these cameras because I can carry them anywhere in a pocket and always get good pictures on the fly.
Just two anoyances: Ocashionally the on button is activated while in a pocket. This could damage the cammery if the lens is restricted from extending. When snaping a picture with one hand, ocasionaly my thumb presses another button simotaniosly, causing unintended results.
On: 2008-05-20
Im just going to hit on a couple things because everything has been said many times. This is a Canon Sd series camera, so its basically the same as other Sd series that cost less/more. I didnt know which one to get so i ordered both an 750 & 850 to test them out against my Sd1000 & Sd 400 The main point of this is what are you buying the camera for?
1. For all the digi-logic IX cam face following more monkey pixels yada yada both of these have they took the same pictures as my Sd1000 & Sd400. I tested all cameras in probably 10-15 situations and to tell you the truth I couldnt tell the difference just looking at them. My Sd400/1000 have both been dropped, serviced, fallen in pools...etc and there was no real difference. Some super photo pro could probably find some things, but if youre going to take this camera out and shoot you and your friends having a good time the more expensive camera probably isnt going to make that much of a difference...so dont over obsess about it.
2. The 870 uses the nb-5L battery, which is NOT the same as my sd 400/1000, so another battery charger and I cant use my old batteries.
3. This thing is kinda big. The more "stuff" and bigger zoom they pack in comes at a price with its size. Its not huge or anything, and if youre going to keep it in a case/purse it probably doesnt matter, but I like to throw it in my jeans pocket and head out the door, and its noticibly bigger (TWSS).
4. Some people say the Image Stablization is the greatest thing ever, some say it doesnt work at all; sign me up for the latter. In dark conditions it still gives blurry pics and in sunny ones its still perfect, just like all Sds. IS works great in a SLR system but not compact (IMO).
5. Little over a month old, took it out of my pocket, lens error, have to send it to get repaired. "Should" be free..but well see.
6. With that 3" screen it feels a little fragile...or maybe Im just scared of injuring it because its so big. This just doesnt feel as rugged and safe as my sd1000, which is $100 cheaper. Again this is situational, if youre super careful and carry a case and all that jazz no worries.
7. So before this sounds all negative let me just say I really like this camera and am glad i got it (if it works again). Why? because the LCD is huge and the lens is WIDE angle. Ive always had problems getting a lot of friends in the shot at the bar or hanging out and this is way better with this wide angle....that alone is worth it.
8. One touch button for playback of pics; perfect!
So I guess Im saying dont get all caught up in how many mega pixels there are becasue youre really not gunna be able to tell the difference. If you like the bigger screen get this one. If youre inside taking pics of you and your friends mostly you will thank yourself for getting a wide angle. If youre really down to 2 cameras, just order them both and test them out for a day. Itll cost you $6 shipping but youll know for sure.
Good Luck
On: 2008-05-20
My husband purchased this for me as a late Christmas and birthday gift. It took me a long time to research and I am glad that I choose this one. I recently went to a graduation and took pictures and they came out spectacular. I recommend this to everyone. It is very easy to use and reviewing is even easier.
On: 2008-05-19
Great camera if you are interested in wide-angle and macro features in a very compact design.
The colors and skin tones are very realistic and the sharpness is wonderful.
Very flexible and you can get even more control with a software like CHDK.
The only cons I found is the lack of a real diaphragm (using a ND filter instead), so you cant really control the DoF, so if you are looking for a camera to get those portraits with blurred backgrounds, maybe you need to find a better optical zoom and a really aperture control, otherwise this is really a very enjoyable every-day camera.
On: 2008-05-19
I bought a Sony Cybershot before buying this camera because the Sony was cheaper. I was disappointed with the Sony and ended up ditching it and buying this one after a coworker of mine bought it and brought it in to work. This was my first Canon so Ive never had a camera with the motion sensor before - that is a great feature. It can get really bothersome at times though. Some times it reverts to lanscape and it will take a couple of tries for you to get it back to portrait view. Thats honestly the only complaint I have with it. Other than that- I love it. Whenever I take my camera anywhere I get tons of compliments about the LCD screen. I guess Ive never noticed it before, but compared to other cameras, the Powershot does have a very bright LCD screen. The picture quality is just as great. My Sony used to take really bad night time pictures. Not the Powershot though. Even the night time pictures on this this is really great. If this camera broke today, I would QUICKLY buy the exact same camera. Im definitely satisfied.
On: 2008-05-18
ok, I have to insert this caveat first: Ive only had it one day. I will def add to this review as I own it for longer.... but heres my take on this camera as of day one:
I researched the HECK out of this camera purchase. I was up in the air about this one and the 1100IS. I liked that this one had a bigger LCD screen over the 2.5" screen the 1100IS has. The 1100IS has an optical viewfinder, but I didnt find that to be a necessity for me.
One big selling point for the 870IS is the fact that it has a wide angle lens. (and of course the big LCD screen).
The 1100IS is smaller and slimmer, but in all actuality I like my cell phone, camera and other small electronics to not be TOO small otherwise I feel like Im going to break them, drop them or lose them.
So on to the actual review. I got my 870is home last night and immediately popped the battery and extra SD card Id bought into it and started snapping away. This camera boots up SUPER quick so if you see anj awesome photo op, you dont have to wait agonizing moments for your camera to boot up while the moment potentially passes. With the flash on I was AMAZED at how fast the refresh rate was in between pics. (Considering I use to have a Nikon Coolpix 5600 that would refresh in 6-12 seconds this was SOOOOOOOOO much better!)
I snapped some ordinary quick pics of my family and kitchen which turned out great, full of color and clarity. Then I started to get into the effects menus and options.
The Color Accent mode has to by far be my favorite mode to shoot certain scenes with. I took a whole bunch of pics of my moms flowers with this mode (its really easy to pick up the color you want to accent once you read how to do it).... I even took a pic of my yellow lab who wears a red collar and ONLY accented the color red.... so everything (including him) was black and white except his collar was a bright, rich red.... AWESOME picture!
I did get to use the macro mode a few times, I LOVE that mode too along with color accent. You can get SUPER close to your subject, and you dont lose clarity.
I have yet to take any really good landscape pics or movement pics (this will come in a later update).
Ive only chipped at the tip of the iceberg of what this camera is capable of doing.... and I cant wait to figure out EVERY mode and setting on this (for the quick point and shoot person this camera also works because it is simple to point and shoot everyday photos).... Im the type who like to play around with manual settings a bit... this isnt a full blown SLR by any means, but it does have some flexibility to it to play with the settings.... and so far Im absolutely blown away by the richness, clarity and quickness of this camera.
So far, after owning this camera for one day and getting to play with it for 2-3 hours (read the manual a bit also) I LOVEEEEE this camera! I paid almost $300 for mine at Best Buy, I wasnt going to take my chances with shipping it from some online store or trying to shop for it at the cheapest deal (cuz you never know what shape that camera is really in when you try and get the cheapest deal)..... I dont mind the price either because I opened up Best Buys credit card and put the camera, case and extra SD card on it (All totalled about $350 final) and anything over $299 is 6 months no interest. So THAT was a deal enough for me to just get it at Best Buy and not try to find the CHEAPEST deal.....
Ill write more of a review once I take this on vacation in three weeks and after Ive had more time to play with it further and really sit down and read the manual about all the settings. :)
So far this is the best P&S Ive seen to date!
I wanted to make a note that I read a lot about people complaining about the indoor pics being too dark in the background when you use the flash. Mine works fine and lights up what needs to light up. Of course the background is going to be dark when the flash focuses in on the main subject and lights that up. That just naturally happens with cameras. If I notice any sort of probs with mine I will make a note of it on here. But so far this camera works exactly how I wanted it to, has features I wanted AND more and FAR exceeded my expectations.
On: 2008-05-17
Ive looked at many new cameras and particularly loved the big LCD and the wide angle option. Im still getting used to it and need to read more about the features.
On: 2008-05-16
Pros: Pic Quality, Wide Angle, 3" Bright LCD;
Cons: Battery life not impressive.
On: 2008-05-16
I have used many Digital camera, many makes. This is certainly one of the better ones for the buck. Easy to use, great battery life, quick but not great with indoor shots - gives it a 4 start. Still shopping for a small low priced camera that will take decent pictures indoors. For the price its a great camera for anyone.
On: 2008-05-14
I would recommend this camera to family and friends. My buddy talked me into getting a new one since I had a new baby on the way. I bought this camera with his advice and am very pleased. The image stabilization feature is perfect for low light when you dont want to have the flash on.
Love it.
On: 2008-05-12
Bought this camera from Costco first, the lens got stuck in the out position. Returned it and bought another one from Amazon.
No problems so far. Takes great pictures, the 3" screen is nice. Image Stabilization works good enough to take good pictures from a moving boat. Not an easy thing to do.
Price has come down since it was introduced making it a better deal.
On: 2008-05-12
Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera is amazingly user-friendly. I love the large LSD viewer and the small size and weight of the camera. A lot of "bang" for the bucks.
On: 2008-05-08
This is a great product. I upgraded from my trustworthy SD410 for IS, 3" LCD and wide angle lens. Its definitely faster (DIGIC III) than my old camera with better focusing and face detection.
On: 2008-05-06
IT IS THE BEST CAMERA AVAILABLE ON ITS SIZE AND PRICE. I AM VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PICTURES AND THE CAMERA ITSELF.
On: 2008-05-04
The Pros:
Ive owned this for about 6 weeks now and really just love it. I also own a Nikon D200 and several lenses for the brunt of my photography needs but I really needed/wanted a small pocket camera that would take nice photos and good video. This is an excellent compliment to a DSLR.
If this were my only camera, I would probably be missing the longer zooms, the wide angle that it covers is quite nice.
My favorite feature though has to be the video and the on board controls for reviewing the videos. It is just perfect for this, I coach High School athletes in the Pole Vault and this little camera is my best assistant. I have taken hundreds of videos so far and it just performs perfectly.
Battery life has been exceptional in my opinion.
The Cons:
As noted by other reviewers the on/off button is easy to hit by accident. So far I have not jammed the lens but I can see how easy it is to do. I have inadvertently turned the camera on in my pocket a number of times.
Bottom Line:
Highly Recommended Camera. You will love it.
On: 2008-05-02
Just purchased the Canon PowerShot SD870IS and cant really say how pleased I am with this new purchase. This camera is really easy to use and figure out.
The design itself is sleek and simple. Dont let the simple design fool you though, this little thing has a ton of options to work with. The wide angle pictures and image stabilization are the features that lured me into buying this beauty. Another thing was the awesome price.
I was really only looking for a point and shoot that would help me take some pictures of things at work for documentation purposes. For that purpose it is beyond anything that I could have imagined for. The options are awesome and let you fit into almost any situation you may run into.
Never before have I owned a digital camera of my own. This is a first for me so I was under the impression that I would need a lotta work to get the pictures just right. Not with the Image Stabilization working like a charm. Also the ISO options help a ton with this. The Wide Angle pictures also look stunning when taking picutres of a nice horizon scene.
The battery lasts about a week while taking picture on and off. I carry my camera everywhere I go so it varies depending on what I see. But on average the battery will last me 7-10 days. Charging it takes about 2 hours. Buying another one will be necessary when vacationing. Getting stuck without a battery is not an option when you have such a good camera =)
One thing that I will say about this package is that you will need to also buy an SD card to accomodate you properly. I got the camera and saw that it came with only a small 32MB card. I promply bought 2 SanDisk 2 GB SDSDX3-2048-901 Extreme III SD Memory Card (Retail Package) and can say that it should last me a good while. Even with the pictures on max settings I still get about 500-600 pictures for each 2GIG card.
In the end I cant say how pleased I am with this purchase. Its totally peaked my interest in photography and has let me see things in a new light. I have never delved into the photography scene however. So please take this as a review from a beginners point of view.
On: 2008-05-02
The screen is incredible. 8 megapixels was the perfect amount for me: not unnecessarily huge image sizes, but enough to produce very clear pictures. The many features are fun to utilize; I really like the color accent feature.
On: 2008-04-29
just got this camera "sight unseen" as an upgrade from an older casio, as i couldnt find it locally to give it a test drive. as i like to travel a lot, i thought the wide angle would be a great addition. but in reality, most of my photos are of my family. i have to admit, when i grabbed the camera to take a quick snapshot of my 1 year old, i was startled to see so much background. im used to a tighter crop, and realizing i would probably spend a lot of time zooming in despite being just a few feet away, ive decided to bite the bullet, return this one, and get the 850is instead.
ive still given it 4stars. the picture and response were great, and im looking forward to the 850is. just ask yourself if you REALLY want that wide angle... its NOT for everyone. i almost wish id read a similar review, so heres my service to anyone else sitting on the fence...
 On: 2008-04-29
After my (Great)Canon S60 fell for the last time I decided it was time for a new Canon. Because i have a 10D, and a 30D as well and they are great too, i am a canon man. That was a $300.00 mistake. every other picture is Blurry (with the image stablizer on or off). and i was just looking / comparing the old picrures by the S60, All the SD870is pic.s seemed blurry. Its time to give Nikon a chance. H.
On: 2008-04-28
Ive owned and bought for others a range of Canon cameras, ranging from the G2 to the EOS (Rebel, 30D) to Elph (quite a few), and most recently bought this one.
The Elph series specializes in being incredibly user friendly and and easy to use - and this one is more improvement on an already amazing product. Among other ELPH models, this one is special because this has a wide-angle lens which goes to 28mm equivalent. Indispensable for the family and landscape shots.
Other features on this camera which are highly useful:
1. Prices are now even lower than they used to be. You can get this camera under $300, even a year ago they were over.
2. Now you dont have to rotate a dial to move between Play and Shoot mode, you just press the Play button.
3. Moving to special modes (like Night shot, etc. is easier with the slider on top)
4. Button preview is an amazing feature for those not-so-camera-savvy - before you press one of the directional buttons, the screen shows you what youre about to press and what it will do in the current mode.
5. The larger screen seems brighter than previous models and is incredibly useful in daylight, evening situations
6. Face recognition seems to be improved. On the 850 I had to turn this off. On the 870, I do use it often.
Peeve: I liked the champagne finish on the 850IS better, looked more sophisticated. This one is back to bland silver
Peeve: Part of the casing is plastic - the 850 was all metal and hence "looked" more sturdy. But knowing Canon, I would say this is equally as sturdy.
Peeve: In a time when amateurs are playing around with things like HDR, exposure bracketing and other such useful features seems to be absent / hard to find.
Summary:
Incredible camera, makes taking great pictures amazingly easy. Much better and better value for money compared to other brands similar offerings. Very good user interface and ergonomics, novice users will immediately be able to use it (including the older generation). This is a better value for money than the 9xx series, which is charging more for a higher megapixel count (WHICH IS NOT WORTH IT). Go for this camera, with the wide-angle, youll need it.
On: 2008-04-27
Great camera to use whether youre new to photography or require more advanced features than the standard point-n-shoot.
Advanced features that stand out are optional ISO shift, AE/AF/FV lock, long exposure and slow flash sync. All these features are neatly hidden away in the manual mode of the camera.
One downside i noticed is the vivid mode picture captured and seen on the crisp 3" LCD does not turn out with the same vividness when reviewed on my laptop. This was when i directly copied the image from the SD card without using the included post-processing software.
On: 2008-04-26
The wide angle aspect of this camera was the first thing that attracted me to this camera. I went to Best Buy and Circuit City to check out this and other cameras and found that this camera was very easy to switch between the different modes and special features of this camera.I couldnt be more happy about my purchase. Its so easy to use, its small and takes excellent pictures, what more would you want? Buy it!!
On: 2008-04-26
I have been using my roomies SD800IS for almost a year now and found it to be really an amazing point n shoot camera. When i decided to buy one, i thought of getting an improved version of the same. I read a few reviews and got this camera. The first shot that i took was in auto mode in a dimly lit room and the quality was not as i would get from my SD870. The image somehow had a Tunnel effect. It had light just at the middle of the subject and dark on the corners.. Confused, i took few more pics and found the same effect. I took the same pic from SD800 and the quality was way better. No darkening on the edges.
The camera somehow dissappoints me in terms of image quality. Day shots are awesome. No complaints.. but after hours, the camera is a completely an average piece.. Dissappointed. I misplaced my manuals and CD and unfortunately cannot even return it. so, i am trying to change the settings as mentioned in the discussions, here n elsewhere, but still no significant improvement.. got a bad piece i guess..
On: 2008-04-25
This camera is nothing short of amazing, have had it for about 3 weeks now and refuse to put it down. Many neat features as well as crisp clean pictures!
On: 2008-04-25
I have ordered this product online from Amazon , and delivered to me promptly. Thanks for the Amazons service. I had read reviews about this and since I was looking for a sleek model , I decided to go for this. I just got the camera yesterday so cant write much...But I am satisfied very much with the performance.
Canon SD850 and this one SD870 is almost similar, but this one has the wide angle feature and a big 3.5 LCD screen.
On: 2008-04-24
By now - you already know enough about this camera to know why its best in its class (small size, 28mm equivalent lens, nice screen) - but there is one thing that you might not know about... This camera can have way more advanced features (that are constantly being developed)
If you google CHDK - you will find that there is an entire crew of hackers devoted to making Canon cameras more powerful. CHDK has been ported to this camera (Not to brag, but I actually helped with the porting) - and without any changes to the cameras firmware itself (the hacked firmware loads from the SD card) - you can enable way more powerful features such as RAW shooting, a live histogram, a scripting language (motion detection... etc), and even has games... Also - the CHDK disables the annoying lens-in-the-pocket problem other reviewers have mentioned.
On: 2008-04-24
We have really enjoyed this camera. It provides quailty shots and a decent IS system (which tottaly surprised me) Feel confident purchasing this item, it is worth the money / upgrade.
On: 2008-04-24
Im am a loyal Canon fan and have always stuck to their larger cameras in the past. Although I could appreciate convenience of having a small camera, I felt their small lenses didnt let in enough light to capture the photo perfectly. I currently own a digital SLR Rebel for which I purchased an image stabilized lens as an upgrade. I was so impressed with the quality of my photos with the image stabilized lens, I figured if there is any possible way to get good photos from a small camera lens, an image stabilized lens would be key. This camera is great. The image stabilized lens allows for the lens to stay open for a longer period of time (while minimizing blur from shakiness), thus capturing color and light beautifully. The camera takes beautiful shots. Its weighted nicely and feels good in the hands. As with all Canons, the buttons are laid out in a clear manner, making it easy to switch around settings. This is a great camera for someone that appreciates photography, but is looking for something small and portable. I highly recommend it.
On: 2008-04-23
Ive always been a big can of Canon. We bought this camera to replace our SD450. We are really happy with it. Display is huge. We wanted a larger display rather than a viewfinder that we would never use.
Camera is very attractive. If you have owned a Canon before, the menus should be familiar. The only big difference is that to use special scenes you have to actually change it at the top of the camera(switch) rather than through the menus.
Great camera. Great pictures.
On: 2008-04-23
Canon PowerShot SD870IS is a camera with high image quality and good look (specially the black one)..A handy camera with quite large LCD display..quick switch on/off functionality with long battery life..once charged the battery last for a few trips..I am really satisfied and would recommend it to anyone looking for a decent camera within 250-300$ price range..the only drawback I have found is its not that slick.
On: 2008-04-22
This is a great point/shoot camera for the non-technical. THe color detail is fabulous and the camera is so easy to use. It shoots fast enough to catch a kids smile. For the more technical, there are some cool features (face track, wide-angle, coloring techniques, manual ISO, red-eye remove, etc) that work excellently and are fun to try. I have nothing bad to say about this camera - except - while its a great point/shoot, its no replacement for a digital SLR. IF youre looking for a camera with SLR shooting quality - then get and SLR. But if youre looking for a great camera to put in your pocket/pocketbook. It doesnt get better than this one. PS - dont get this camera w/o a case of its own and a spare battery. Oh! and a 1G fast memory stick as well.
On: 2008-04-22
This camera replaced my trusty Canon S-400 that I bought in 2003 for $477. This camera was $300 in early Jan. 2008. With the price dropping fast, this camera cant be beat! Great photos inside and out.
In indoor low light with no flash, expect the pictures to be a little grainy. That is because the ISO has to move up to be able to take a picture with enough light.
Ive had great luck with Canon cameras. With this one, the screen was large so I protected it with a screen protector, Clear Touch Anti-Glare. It works great.
Also, indoor spots (orbs) are caused by the flash hitting moisture or dust within a few feet of the camera. This is normal for cameras where the flash is close to the lens (like in sub-compact cameras).
On: 2008-04-21
We like the speed and good response with this camera. We also like the wide angle lens.
On: 2008-04-19
Having previously owned the Sony T-70 I bought the T-200 late last year and was extremely disappointed with the quality of the pictures. By no means do I consider myself a professional photographer, but I do appreciate crip and good quality pics. I had always dismissed the cannon cameras and was about to buy the T-300 until I did more research and started reading the great reviews on the Cannon Powershots, 1100 IS and SD 870 IS. When online I had preferred the smaller 1100 IS so was about to purchase it on Amazon (off course) but decided to test them at a store first. When I saw both side by side I was impressed by the superior quality of the 870 IS. The wider angle does make a difference and being a guy I thought the 870 had a better look (sexy camera). I have taken my camera everywhere and have rarely had to delete a pic once I upload them to my computer. It would be great if there could be a mode to have the flash on... believe only has auto flash and off. but that is my only complaint. Best digital camera I have ever owned.
On: 2008-04-18
great camera! Small enough to fit into a clutch, but big enough to get some high quality shots! Having fun with it!
On: 2008-04-17
A home run. Usually travel with a big SLR. Took this on a trip, shot over 480 pictures & 12 videos over the course of a week on a single battery charge. Mostly automatic, point & shoot. LCD large, bright enough for daylight use. Focus assist light illuminates shots and framing at night. None of the digital lag and pixellation that was so annoying on older LCD viewers. Big surprise: the pictures are GREAT!
I think the pictures are actually sharper than the Canon digital Rebel. While there are several scene adjustments possible, I took lots of great pics in a variety of lighting conditions using auto point & shoot. The camera picks settings on its own-- The only times I needed to override were shooting through glass (bus windows, museum cases) and higher speed action (friends running).
Color balance was great. On standard settings, 5X7 & 8X10s look good. Significantly better than Advantix film pix, in fact.
In the past, I havent used the video features of my digital cameras. This ones a winner. The little "talkies" from the trip were priceless. The cameras up & running in about a second, so if you are a quick draw, you can catch action that youd miss with a camcorder or minicamcorder. The video quality is great on a PC, and good enough to watch on TV, yet it doesnt hog too much memory, or burn the battery.
The big SLR guns are still the king for sports / action and heavy duty flash work. For fun, travel, laughs and convenience, this is the one.
I used a caseCanon PSC-55 Deluxe Leather Compact Case for SD430, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700IS, SD800IS, SD850 IS, SD900,SD950IS & SD870IS Digital Camerason my belt to keep track of it.
Its a few more $$ than a lot of the pocket cameras out there. The only one I saw with comparable pictures was the Panasonic with a Leica lens. Others on our trip had Olympus and Kodak pocket cameras. In the same light, same conditions, pics from this camera were the sharpest, had more vibrant color, and exposure was right on > 90% of the time.
You can tell the difference between the cheap and faster memory cards. With the high speed card, it shoots as fast as you can. Image write time was noticeably slower with the $18.00 2 GB card, but movies still worked just fine. The extra $6 for a good memory card is probably worth it.
On: 2008-04-15
The only thing below my expection is shell finish. I thought it is from metal and it turned to be plastics or something, doesnt feel very steady.
On: 2008-04-12
After years of lugging around a 2.2 lb Sony F828, I decided that size really does matter. So many times I wished I had my camera, but who wants to haul a huge camera bag everywhere they go? I now have a camera that fits in my purse and Im taking pictures almost every single day.
I love it! I thought I would be giving up quality, but in many cases the Canon SD870 is better than my Sony (I ran several "side-by-side" tests). It produces excellent color and lighting. It has enough "manual" settings to be able to usually be able to make adjustments as needed. Its very easy to use.
Downsides - the flash is very weak and I needed to buy the corresponding slave flash (HF-DC1). However, the slave flash is so small and light that it fits right into my purse as well. Red eye reduction is very poor, even with the red-eye setting on and the slave flash increases the problem.
On: 2008-04-12
My PowerShot SD870 IS is an excellent camera and performs exactly as advertized. Once set up, you almost never have to change settings as the Auto function performs so well. I have not noticed any difference between using the Auto setting or specific shooting modes of which there are ten available. I did find the User Guide took some getting used to, maybe because there are so many options.
I would highly recommend this camera.
JBMCC, STUART, FL
On: 2008-04-11
Not a lot of options, but if you want simple point and shoot, this is probably a camera for you. Great day time pictures, good panaromic view features. Very limited manual options, for example in regards to flash use.
Night time and action shots are also limited.
On: 2008-04-10
What happened? I priced this camera last week and it was listed at $252 Now its $264
Why the increase?
On: 2008-04-10
This camera produces blurry pictures, unless you only take pictures with flash. Doesnt matter what settings you choose or anything, the pictures will be blurry unless you can get your subject to be very still (which kids, pets, and most adults dont do well). So much for image stabilization. The white balance color compared to real life is off when it comes to pictures indoors under incandescent/fluorescent lighting and selecting the different white balance settings doesnt help much. It does have good close-up/macro pictures with good detail. But if you are into that kind of picture-taking you should probably just go with a dSLR camera, not a point-and-shoot. Another neat thing is that it has a vertical/horizontal sensor for the display. If you tilt the camera vertically while viewing a picture, the picture will tilt the way you tilted the camera (except upside-down). Theres no flash for shadows, only standard and no-flash. The face detection works ok, even though a lot of times if even just some hair is in someones face or if they arent looking right in the direction of the camera it wont detect their face. I dont like this camera, and will be sending it back for a different one. I doubt I will be buying another Canon after this...
On: 2008-04-07
CONS
This camera is more bulky than other canons and other cameras on the market.
Some pictures and videos this camera takes comes out as "unidentified image" and therefore cannot be viewed afterwards. Until the "unidentified image" is deleted from the memory card, all the other pictures you take afterwards is unidentifiable. So, you just need to delete the "unidentified image". I see a correlation for the "unidentified images" and switching camera options while its still processing (theres a flashing green light). I have learned when the flashing green light is on, I just wait for it. Until it goes off, then I can change its different functions or change from video mode to picture mode. I have tried this, and "so far" have not come into anymore problems.
But Im still observing it, and if anymore problems occur, I may have to bring it to the manufacturer. This is why I only give this camera 2 stars.
PROS
It takes very sharp pictures and good quality videos.
It captures motion very very well, which is the main reason why I purchased this camera.
It have many functionality that you can play with, like changing colors and more that Im still trying to figure out.
It zooms in and out during a video, which older canons dont do.
On: 2008-04-07
Highly recommended. Excellent camera. If youre looking for a small, well made 8MP with all the bells and whistles, plus wide angle - this is it. Great price and very fast handling by Amazon (as usual).
On: 2008-04-07
All I really do is take photos and short video, nothing fancy. I just want to capture my toddler in the moment and Im able to do that. Shutter speed seems quick, picture quality great. The camera is easy to use. Im very satisfied!
On: 2008-04-07
I have found this camera to be excellent in every regard but one. In my previous Canon cameras, I was able to control the aperture and shutter speed manually but this option does not exist on the SD870IS. This is a minor complaint as I rarely used the option in the past. Otherwise, I have really enjoyed this camera. It takes great pictures, its fast and its compact size makes it a delight to take anywhere.
On: 2008-04-05
The SD870IS is an excellent little camera. It is small enough to be carried anywhere all the time. Yet the picture quality is excellent ,especially at low ISO setting.
The 28mm equivalent focal length is very useful in tight space and scenery. for me this focal length and the excellent picture quality are the factors that I brought this camera.
The sharp 3 inch LCD screen make the camera a real joy to be used as a show and tell for the pictures that it has taken
The shutter response is relative fast but not the response speed of DSLR. If you intend to use the camera mainly to take pictures of kids running around, DSLR is still a better choice.
It has more than enough scene mode to take care of 99% of the shooting condition. If that is not enough, there is always exposure compensation.
The IS function is really useful. You can hand held at about 3 stops lower than what you normally can without the IS. The face recognition function works most of the time, Once in a blue moon ,it will not recognize the face.
The movie function work great also. Too bad that you cannot use the optical zoom in the movie mode. However, the digital zoom is available for movie mode. However the picture quality will be degraded if the zooming ratio is too high. If you intend to use the movie function a lot, buy a fast SD card with 4 G capacity.
The flash is slightly on the weak side. So use long focal length for the head shorts and use short focal length for group of people.
There is a lot of feature for this camera. So reading the instruction book at least 3 times is highly recommended.
Since I have stated so many good thing about this camera. It is only fair for me to point out things that I do not like. I agree with the other reviewer that the power switch can be turned on accidentally. Canon should have use the same recessed power switch from the SD800 IS. Also both the battery compartment door and the door for the I/O ports are too Cheaply made for my taste.
But please do not let the above two things steer you away from buying the SD870 IS. This is the camera that I will stand by it anytime, second to my old Canon 20D.
On: 2008-03-30
I Purchased this camera on Jan 1,2008. It takes OK pictures, nothing great. The camera broke yesterday, the lens will not retract! I tried bringing it to a camera repair shop but they said I had to send it back to Canon. I had to pay shipping & insurance to ship it to them. $20.00. (I will never see that $20.00 again!!!) I have a Sony DSC P-100 that is 3 years old & NO PROBLEMS!
On: 2008-03-30
Ive bought this Canon Powershot SD870IS on Amason after comparing a lot of shops and prices. Its just as good as I anticipant and smaller than I thought. I bring it with me everyday now. Id like to recommand this to my friends and other people.
On: 2008-03-29
This camera is flawed.
Ive owned it since December 07. I am not impressed with the pictures it produces - realistic distance for the flash to work properly is about half of what it claims. ISO setting is either 800 or 200 - I have never seen it choose anything in between.
This thing is FRAGILE! Carrying around a baby chick would be easier to deal with. Stick it in your pocket at your peril - there is no time delay on the on off switch so it WILL turn on in your pocket on occasion with one simple press of the button. The lens broke in a period of 3 three weeks due to this problem. Sending it in to the factory to get it fixed under warranty was a nightmare - they claimed I dropped it (this is after speaking with someone and sending off a letter explaining what I believed happened). Nobody read the letter - the first line of which was "This camera has NOT been dropped". I got and email a few days later with the comment "This camera has been dropped". >< -$100 grrrr
I got it back and now the screen is splotched - big old dark spot on the LCD display. Awesome! Nice work guys! I sooooo want to buy another Canon product!
I want my money and my time back.
There was something good about it but, for some reason, I cant think of what that was right now. . .
.
On: 2008-03-29
This, like my previous Canon, takes awesome pictures. Many friends with other brands complimented my photos. I like the way it flashes, it isnt like some other cameras, that have a fake flash first, so everyone looks away before the picture is taken. Very satisfied, especially with outdoor shots.
On: 2008-03-29
I am thrilled with all that this camera has to offer - the wide angle lens, all the scene modes, macro capability, etc. Ive owned other Canon Power Shots in the past and this one excels them all! I couldnt have chosen a better all-around camera - its definitely one that will be taken EVERYwhere to capture all the images I desire to get!
On: 2008-03-28
As a professional photographer, picking a point and shoot was a tough decision, and after receiving the SD870IS I was not disappointed! It functions great in low-light focusing situations, the color is awesome, the flash is balanced, the screen is huge, and the menus are easy to navigate.
Youre not going to get professional images out of this camera, so if thats what youre looking for, this isnt the camera for you (check out the Powershot G9 for the most "pro" point & shoot). But if youre looking for something to toss in your bag and take with you everywhere to capture memories as they happen, then this is for sure the camera for you!
On: 2008-03-28
As an upgrade to another Canon, this has been great, although I had to change chip systems. This has more than enough resolution for my uses, but easily shifts between this and other features I like. Id recommend (and have!). I got the black, but silver carries same stuff. Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
On: 2008-03-28
This is a nice, quick and sharp little point and shoot. The LCD screen is large and clear. The camera has lots of interesting features like face recognition courtesy of the Digic processor. The focus and shutter is quick and it offers a fair amount of manual control for those who like to play.
On: 2008-03-27
This camera is okay, but I like the newer SD790IS better.
The SD870IS is a bit larger, has a very funky touch dial wheel that has now been improved upon with the 790IS. The 870IS also feels flimsy and seems to break easily where as the 790 feels much sturdier.
Theres not a whole lot of difference between the wide angles - the 870 can do 28mm and the 790 35mm at the wide end. Both camera have the 3 inch LCD screen, image stabilization, face detection, both can do videos quite well. But the SD790IS is 10 megapixels, has a faster interface, takes better pictures and has a much better button layout and form factor.
On: 2008-03-27
This is a great point and shoot camera in almost all respects. The build quality is excellent as is the 35mm wide angle lens and the videos out of the camera. As far as point and shoot take everywhere and anywhere cameras go, the Canon SD870IS is one of the top ones.
On: 2008-03-27
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TT44RA9ZFMXU This is a great point and shot camera for a lot of reasons. The 3.0 inch screen is a must have and I will never go back to using a camera with a smaller screen. The 3.0 inch screen makes it so much easier to see details when composing and viewing your photos and also much more enjoyable for movie playback. I do not miss having an optical viewfinder as I rarely if ever even used it anyway.
The 28mm wide angle zoom lens is tops as is the image stabilization. Even the movie mode is great and I use it for doing videos more than my video camera.
I think this camera is money well spend given all the features. Having a small pocketable camera that can go with you everywhere is a powerful thing.
I bought the black one and like how it looks. It may provide less glare than the chrome bezel of the silver one too.
On: 2008-03-25
This is a great product. I love it! I compare sd950, sd850 and sd870. This camera is the best because it has 3.0 LCD, wild angle plus resonable price.
On: 2008-03-25
This is the best model going in the Elph line The 900 and 1000 have more pixels but are slower to operate and have a less useful lens. The 870 has a wide angle fast lens and for most people is the best bet. Plenty of pixels for most people.
On: 2008-03-25
This is my fourth and final camera I have purchased. I originally started looking for a small point and shoot camera to fit in an underwater case, for scuba diving. I tried a Fuji 12mp, an Olympus 8mp, and finally a friends Kodak 8mp. All the cameras had there advantages. The Fuji finepix f50 se had a whopping 12mp and was a fairly quick camera, but the batter life was not that good. The Fuji also took very noisey pictures. Even at low iso. So I moved to the New 08 Olympus stylus 840. It had 5x optical, it was 8mp, 2.5in lcd. Battery life was really bad! Picture wise it took better pics than the Fuji. A lot less noise, but a lot of blurry pics. The Kodak I tried out was a little bulky for a slim cam. It took nice pictures, the batter life was good. It just seems the color was off a little. it also had a 2.5in lcd. So after playing with all these cameras and being very disappointed I went for the Canon! I knew Sony would have a better picture do to the crystal lens they use. But I did not care for how the camera settings were set up. After using the Canon sd 870 IS I fell in love. It is very fast. Battery life is great! its got a nice 3.0in lcd. That was very important for me since I planed on taking it underwater. It has a very nice wide lens that most cameras do not have in its class. The only thing I do not like about it is the manual controls. There are none. I knew this going into the camera, but I was looking for a point and shoot. "The perfect camera" is not out right now in my opinion. If your looking for a fast camera that takes great pics I would get the SD 870 IS. Pics have no noise at low iso. the noise creeps up on ya at higher iso, but thats to be expected. I have not taken any blurry pics yet! It also takes great pictures underwater with the Canon housing. Video is great too! you can zoom while in video mode. The transition from dark to light places is fast. This camera is just plane GREAT! This would be a great compact point and shoot next to any SLR. I got this just in time for my Florida Keys diving trip. All of my buddies were impressed by the cameras picture quality underwater. One buddy has last years Canon 10mp and he was pissed that my camera took way better shots! So thats it. If your wondering if you should spend the cash on this, do it! You will not be unhappy!
On: 2008-03-22
Im a pretty avid amateur photographer who uses a DSLR, but I bought this camera for my wife, who honestly, is more likely to bring a camera to a social gathering than I am.
As point-and-shoots go, I like this camera. 8MP is nice. Its not absurdly high like some other models, and so the noise performance of this camera is still pretty good. It takes reasonably noise free shots at 400ISO. Oh, and its fantastically small -- about the size of a pack of cigarettes.
The lens is also pretty decent quality, going a bit wider than youll find on most P&S cameras. I think this is an important feature for people who are taking pics in close quarters.
Battery life seems admirable. My wife can use the camera on several occasions before the battery needs to be recharged.
I personally find the menu system of the camera a little obtuse. Its just not clear what functions will be under what menu, and they seem to change based on the mode. In some modes there is more control than others. (In no mode is there full control of shutter and aperture, though you do have access to exposure compensation).
A final minor complaint is that there is this control wheel thingy that is a circle that you can click on the top, bottom, left, and right of to activate functions. However, you can also use the circle like a wheel, spinning your finger clockwise and counterclockwise to access functions. My experience is that this just doesnt work very well. The menu options scroll by in a rather squirrely manner, sometimes working, sometimes selecting, etc. Its a little weird. Ill give that it could be the size of my finger, but still -- annoying.
On: 2008-03-19
This is my first time owning a Canon. All of my past point-and-shoot cameras have been Sony Cyber-Shots. That said, I didnt know exactly what to expect from Canon, though I knew they had a certain standard of quality.
Im extremely pleased with this camera so far. Not only is it comfortable to use, but the image quality is superb. I previously owned a DSC-W80, and I was so disappointed by how muddy the picture quality was. In this age where cramming more megapixels onto small sensors is the norm, I was afraid that this 8.0mp camera would be more of the same. I was very pleasantly surprised! Canons noise reduction is mild, and doesnt destroy the image. The images are a little soft/unsharp, but that is to be expected from ANY digital compact, so thats not a knock at the product.
The camera comes with a 241 page manual. Theres a lot to do with this camera, and I recommend thumbing through the manual to get an understanding of it all. In the most basic automatic mode, it takes excellent photos, but the real fun is in the other modes.
My favorite modes in particular are the color accent and color swap. Color accent allows you to select a specific color in the frame, and isolate it in the picture. So, lets say you take a picture of your friend who is wearing a red shirt. You tell the camera to isolate the red, and that will be the ONLY color visible in the photo; the rest is black & white. Very fun mode, and very simple to use. It works much better with bold and bright colors, so soft neutrals and pastels wont work as well. Color swap is similar to the accent mode, but you get to select a color to isolate, then a second color to switch it with. So if you take that picture again of the person in red, but then select a green color to swap it with, voila! The red shirt is now green.
Image stabilization is great, but please be sensible; its not a miracle worker. If youre taking a quick indoor shot and want more natural lighting, its great. Dont expect to take low ISO night shots without a flat surface.
The fact that the lens is wide-angle, too. This has a nice zoom range.
The manual mode is great. Up to 15 seconds of exposure! Thats really amazing for a compact, in my opinion. I took a picture of my window at night, and got a nicely exposed shot of the light coming in.
Movie mode is nice, and allows digital zooming while recording, but no optical zoom.
The startup is really quick, picture reviewing is just as fast and easy, and the touch sensitive control on the back even has a scroll wheel effect if you move your thumb around the ring.
Ive honestly never been so impressed by a compact camera before. I dont even mind that theres no optical viewfinder, because the 3 inch screen is so crisp and clear that you dont mind.
It also has one flat side so you can rest it in portrait orientation and take a timed shot without a tripod.
I cant say enough good things about it. An excellent buy.
On: 2008-03-16
This camera was an easy upgrade from our old Canon digital camera. A lot of the same features with several new ones. I was able to start using it without reading through the manual. My only negative so far, is that although the screen is large, it is not easy to view outside in the sun. This is when you miss having the viewfinder. But we managed OK.
On: 2008-03-15
I bought this camera as an upgrade from my SD500. It is outstanding in almost every way. I cant quite figure out how to use the touch screen wheel, but that is a minor drawback compared to all positive attributes of this camera. I highly recommend this camera.
On: 2008-03-14
I bought this for my daughters b-day present and shes so please with this camera. She loves it.
On: 2008-03-12
First camera I got had a dead pixel on its LCD. Asked for a replacement. Amazon shipped it immediately, no questions asked. The replacement had one dead pixel on the LCD AND a dead pixel on its sensor array. Shows as a fixed red dot on the pictures. Ended up returning it for refund...
On: 2008-03-11
Its a suitable camera, but cant zoom too far. Not recommended for travelers who love to take pictures.
On: 2008-03-09
I was trying to decide between the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 and this camera. The Canon was slightly smaller, able to fit in front jeans pocket, and the image quality from other reviews was supposed to be slightly better. The TZ3 had the main benefit of 10X zoom, while Canon had 3.8x. Both had wide-angle 28mm and image stabilization, which is great. The Canon was more expensive, but the portability and potential image quality issue swayed me toward the Canon. I took the camera on a trip to Italy and Germany and was very pleased with the results. While not a full manual camera, there are a lot of adjustable controls such as ISO that can be set by the user. I used it with a Gorillapod tripod and the self-timer to take some great low-light photos at ISO 80. The 3" screen is absolutely gorgeous. This camera takes SDHC cards, and I was able to find an 8GB card for $30 at Frys, which is more than 2000 photos. I did buy an extra battery because the battery doesnt last nearly as long as claimed. In real world conditions, reviewing each photo takes up battery life so I probably got 100-150 shots per charge. Overall very pleased with this camera.
On: 2008-03-05
I purchased the Canon SD800IS last year and was ready to pickup the matching waterproof housing for my vacation to Maui. But after being questioned by friends on whether to upgrade from their SD750 to the SD870IS, I did some deeper research on the SD870IS, both online and at a local store for the hands-on experience. To my pleasant surprise, I found that the SD870IS more matched my shooting style and preference than the SD800IS even though the upgrade between models in minor. Thus, I bought the SD870IS along with the matching WP_SC17 underwater housing.
What I liked:
1) The "play" as a button keeping the camera in an always-ready-to-shoot mode instead of missing the shot because I didnt turn the mode dial.
2) I could assign the "print/share" button to something else more useful; for me, its instant movie mode.
3) The time-lapse movie mode which takes a picture every 1 or 2 seconds up to 2 hours and creates a VGA 15 fps movie.
4) The auto ISO boost which will bump the ISO up till the shaky hand icon disappears; this can be set to be done automatically or with the print/share button.
5) The 3" LCD screen - big and beautiful.
6) The now included battery-life indicator which has been missing from the ELF cameras since my original S400. Its not accurate, but does provide for some advance warning other than "your camera is about to shut off after the next shot."
What I didnt like:
1) The flash, while powerful for the size of the camera, is too close to the lens and will produce white flash orbs if theres any dust in the air. I have the same issue with the SD800IS. This is not a biggie as I prefer to take natural light photos anyways.
2) The time-lapse movie mode is limited to 2 hours. 4 hours would be perfect to capture the sunrise on top of Haleakala in Maui.
On: 2008-03-04
The Canon Powershot SD870IS is a very high quality product that takes great pictures. The 3" LCD is gorgeous and I had no problems viewing it clearly even in bright sunlight.
On: 2008-03-03
Canon PowerShot 870IS - quite a step up from my old, old digital camera.
Im not a techie, had to read the manual,yada,yada - but I DOOO love it and all its possibilities!! Had a little trouble getting my computer to talk to the camera - called Canon Helpline - fixed me right up STAT!!
On: 2008-03-03
Completely met my expectations relative to the picture quality, sharpness, and ease of use. Very portable. Zoom lens comes in handy when needed. A must for those people on the go and dont want bulky gadgets. Cant go wrong.........
On: 2008-03-03
Could not get a quality image out of this camera. Very hazy. Returned and received credit quickly with return postage paid!
On: 2008-03-02
I have no complains after using it for over 1 month. The picture quality is pretty good. Compare to SD850IS, this one is better looking too :) especially the Black option.
The small lid which covers the usb slot looks fragile. I feel that my 2 yr old will easily break it if he gets hold of the camera.Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
On: 2008-03-02
The SD870 IS is a great point and shoot camera. The wide lens really makes a difference in your pictures by helping to include more. The image stabilization is superb, even when youre zoomed to the max and a little wiggle would make things blurry. The camera itself is very nice looking, especially that 3 inch screen on the back. Buttons are a bit cramped so if you have large fingers, might want to check out a display model first. I love the battery, it holds a charge for a really long time, I have not been able to use the battery up, and Ive taken lots of pictures. Oh and the video quality is really great, get yourself a gorillapod for it and youll be making videos anywhere and everywhere for youtube.
On: 2008-03-02
I bought this to capture my new babys precious moments and Im totally satisfied. Pictures are very clear and of great quality, and most importantly, shutter speed is fast so I get to capture those wonderful smiles and expressions. Blurs are minimal especially when I choose the kids/pets setting. The other preset settings are also very easy to use (portrait, night shots, indoor, etc.) so I get perfect pictures each time. I also love it that the LCD monitor/picture viewer is HUGE so I see the pictures very clearly. This is totally worth the price and I highly recommend it!
On: 2008-03-02
I bought this camera for my sister cuz shes been taking my camera & using it for the longest time. But b4 I handed over to her Ive tested out to see the improvement. Everything looked great including the picture quality but only thing I had trouble with was the touch-sensitive scroll button. And since Im not gonna use this camera, I dont really care. I just hope she doesnt break it & ask for mine again. Thats a lil sis for ya. I blame my parents for bring my lil sister into this world to continue to antagonize me.( of course I was just joking ) Anyways, hope this helps.
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