Canon SD700 IS Digital ELPH (IXUS 800) Concise Review,

Review based on a production Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS (SD700 IS)
Announced just before PMA 2006 in February, the 6 megapixel SD700 IS is the new flagship model in the long-running and very successful IXUS / Digital ELPH range. The SD 700 IS is the first Canon ultra-compact ever to feature optical image stabilization, and the first to sport a 4x zoom lens, though in most other respects it is very similar to the previous 'top of the range' SD550. Ostensibly a 'point and shoot' fully automatic model, the SD700 IS nevertheless has a fairly comprehensive feature set packed into its slim metal body. Let's start, as usual, with the headline features:
6.0 million effective pixels
4x (35-140mm equiv.) zoom
ISO 800 and optical IS for flash-free indoor shooting
Canon's DIGIC II image processor, iSAPS and 9-point AiAF
Wide viewing angle 2.5" LCD screen
16 shooting modes
My Colors photo effects
Widescreen (16:9) stills recording
30fps VGA movies
SD700 IS / IXUS 800 specifications
Street price
• US: $440• UK: £290
Naming
SD 700 IS Digital ELPH (US)Digital IXUS 800 IS (EU)
Body Material
Metal and plastic
Sensor
• 1/2.5 " Type CCD• 6.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes
• 2816 x 2112• 2816 x 1584• 2272 x 1704• 1600 x 1200• 640 x 480
Movie clips
• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps• 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30 / 15fps• 160 x 120 @ 15fps• AVI (Motion JPEG compression)• WAVE audio
File formats
• Still: JPEG (Exif 2.2)• Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG compression)
Lens
• 35-140mm equiv• F2.8-5.5• 4x Optical zoom
Image stabilization
Yes (lens shift-type)
Conversion lenses
None
Digital zoom
up to 4x
Focus
• TTL• 9-point AiAF• 1-point AF (Fixed center)
AF area modes
• Normal• Macro• Infinity
AF assist lamp
Yes
Focus distance
• Normal: 1.5 ft./45cm-infinity• Macro: 0.79 in.-2.0 ft./2-60cm (WIDE), 1.3-2.0 ft./40-60cm (TELE)• Digital Macro: 0.79 in.-2.0 ft./2-60cm (WIDE)
Metering
• Evaluative• Center-weighted average• Spot
ISO sensitivity
• Auto• High ISO Auto• ISO 80• ISO 100• ISO 200• ISO 400• ISO 800
Exposure compensation
• +/- 2EV• in 1/3 stop increments
Shuttter speed
15-1/1600 sec
Aperture
F2.8-5.5
Modes
• Auto• Manual• Digital Macro• Portrait• Night Snapshot• Special Scene• Stitch Assist• Movie
Scene modes
• Foliage• Snow• Beach• Fireworks• Underwater• Indoor• Kids & Pets• Color Accent• Color Swap
White balance
• Auto• Daylight• Cloudy• Tungsten• Fluorescent• Fluorescent H• Custom
Self timer
• 2 or 10secs• Custom
Continuous shooting
approx. 2.1fps until card is full
Image parameters
• My Colors (Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive film, Lighter skin tone, Darker skin tone, Vivid blue, Vivid red, Custom color)• Saturation: 5 levels• Contrast: 5 levels• Sharpness: 5 levels• Red, Green, Blue, Skintone: 5 levels each
Flash
• Auto• Manual Flash On / Off• Slow synch• Red eye reduction• Flash exposure lock• Range: 50cm-3.5m (wide) / 2.0m (tele)
Viewfinder
Real-image zoom optical viewfinder
LCD monitor
• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT• 173,000 pixels
Connectivity
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed• AV out
Print compliance
• PictBridge• Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP printers only)
Storage
• SD / MMC compatible • 16MB card supplied
Power
• Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery NB-5L• Optional AC adapter
Other features
• Optional High Power Flash HF-DC• Optional Waterproof Case (WP-DC5)
Weight (No batt)
165 g / 5.8 oz (approx 192g / 6.7 oz with case and battery)
Dimensions
90.4 x 56.5 x 26.4 mm (3.56 x 2.22 x 1.04 in)
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.
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