Canon Powershot SD850 IS Review



Click to take a QTVR tour of the SD850
The SD850's Optical Image Stabilization provides up to three stops of camera shake correction in shutter speed equivalent. When combined with the top ISO rating equivalent of 1600, 8-megapixel image sensor that further reduces image noise, and the fast f/2.8 4X optical zoom lens (35-140mm equivalent), the odds of taking a shaken or blurred image are dramatically reduced. This new Digital ELPH has many of the latest advances in Canon technology including the proprietary DIGIC III Image Processor. The processor enhances picture definition, vibrancy, and quality, while helping increase the speed of the cameras' startup, autofocus, shutter response, playback, and image processing speed while reducing power consumption compared to the original DIGIC chip. Consumers benefit from accelerated image transfer speed of a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. Like all of the Canon's new models, the SD850 offers a widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution setting that facilitates creating panoramic-style prints. Additionally, all new PowerShot models support 23 languages (now including Thai and Arabic). The new cameras have an improved direct printing function that permits greater flexibility in print settings, including a face brightener setting for backlit photos. Canon also enhanced the 'My Colors' mode found in the new PowerShot line. Where previously, users could only enable 'My Colors' while shooting, the current iteration permits captured images to be retouched as well, without the need for special software applications or tools. Available My Color playback modes include Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, and Vivid Red; lighter and darker skin tones, as well as options for creating black & white, sepia, neutral and positive film effects. For those who consider the ocean depths part of the Digital Elph camera line's "go anywhere" promise, Canon offers individual optional waterproof housing systems. With a depth rating of 40m/130 feet for many of the PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras, these models are a natural choice for underwater photo enthusiasts, SCUBA divers and even snorkelers.
Like all PowerShot digital cameras, these new Digital ELPHs work seamlessly with Canon's
petite SELPHY Compact Photo Printers - an essential PowerShot accessory. Consumers simply
connect their PowerShot digital camera to a SELPHY printer - such as the
SELPHY CP510 and
CP710 models. Press the lighted Print/Share button, and within seconds , images emerge.
Presto! It is that simple. Canon's SELPHY Compact Photo Printers are PictBridge
compatible. They work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras and offer excellent image
quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera. At 28
cents-per-print, printing photos directly from a digital camera is both easy and affordable.
Powershot SD850 IS Features:
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Physical Views







The SD850 compared to a standard CD disc.
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Features & Controls
PowerShot SD850 IS Specifications
Camera Effective Pixels | Approx. 8.0 million |
Image Sensor | 1/2.5-inch CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 8.3 million) |
Lens | 5.8 (W)-23.2 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 35 (W)-140 (T) mm) f/2.8 (W)-f/5.5 (T) |
Digital Zoom | Approx. 4.0x (Up to approx. 16x in combination with the optical zoom) |
Optical Viewfinder | Real-image zoom viewfinder |
LCD Monitor | 2.5-inch, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 230,000 pixels (Picture coverage 100%) |
AF System | TTL autofocus Focusing frame: 9-point AiAF/1-point AF (fixed to center) |
Shooting Distance (From the front of the lens) |
Normal: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity Macro:0.79 in.-1.6 ft./2-50cm (WIDE), 1.3-1.6 ft./40-50cm (TELE) Digital Macro:0.79 in.-1.6 ft./2-50cm (W) |
Shutter | Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter |
Shutter Speeds | 15-1/1600 sec. The shutter speed varies according to the shooting mode. Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction. |
Metering System | Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (fixed to center) |
Exposure Compensation | ± 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments |
ISO Speed | Auto, High ISO Auto, 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent |
White Balance | TTL auto, pre-set (available settings: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or Custom |
Built-in Flash | Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash off, slow synchro |
Flash Range | Normal: 1.6-11 ft./50cm-3.5m (W), 1.6-6.6 ft./50cm-2.0m (T) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto) |
Shooting Modes | Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Creative Light Effect), Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, Movie |
Color Effects | Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom Color |
Continuous Shooting | Approx. 1.3 shots/sec. (Large/Fine mode) |
Self-timer | Activates shutter after an approx. 10-sec./approx. 2-sec. delay, Custom Timer |
Recording Media | SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard |
File Format | Design rule for camera file system and DPOF Version 1.1 compliant |
Data Type |
Still images: Exif 2.2 (JPEG) Movie: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))
This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called "Exif Print"). Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera's image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.
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Compression | Superfine, Fine, Normal |
Number of Recording Pixels (Still Images) | 640 x 480 (Small) 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 3) 2,048 x 1,536 (Medium 2) 2,592 x 1,944 (Medium 1) 3,264 x 2,448 (Large) 3,264 x 1,832 (Widescreen) |
Number of Recording Pixels (Movies) |
640 x 480 / 320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps) available up to 4GB or 60 minutes per clip, 640 x 480 (2 hours at 0.5 fps/1 fps), 320 x 240 (1 min. at 60 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps
Using high-speed memory cards is recommended.
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Playback Modes | Still Image: Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume, My Colors, My Category, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Slide Show, Red-eye Correction, Transition Effects Movie: Normal Playback, Special Playback, Editing |
Direct Print | PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible |
My Camera Settings | Start-up image, start-up sound, operation sound, Self-timer sound, and shutter sound. |
Interface | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B), PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio) |
Power Source | Battery Pack NB-5L (Lithium-ion Rechargeable battery) 230 shots LCD on / 700 shots LCD off / 360 min. playback time (CIPA) AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC30 |
Operating Temperature | 0-40°C (32-104°F) |
Operating Humidity | 10-90 % |
Dimensions | 3.56 x 2.22 x 1.04 in. / 90.4 x 56.5 x 26.4mm |
Weight | Approx. 165 g (5.82 oz.) (camera body only) |
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Features & Controls
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