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Canon Powershot SD900 IS Review
By Movable Type Admin
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 Click to take a QTVR tour of the SD900
The flagship of the Digital ELPH camera line, the 10-megapixel PowerShot SD900 Digital ELPH takes the attractive and comfortable feel of the "perpetual curve design" and for the first time ever, renders that body in durable, yet lightweight Titanium. The result is a high-res digital camera with smooth lines, an elegant satin finish. About the size of a deck of playing cards, the SD900 Digital ELPH camera measures fractionally more than an inch thick with its 3x (37-111 mm equivalent) optical zoom lens retracted safely into the case; a mere 2.35 inches high and less than 3.6 inches long. The SD900 also features a brilliantly enhanced, 2.5- inch, 230,000-pixel, color TFT LCD screen with a wide viewing angle making images easier to preview and review, camera menus easier to read in a wide range of lighting conditions. And, for those who wish to shoot higher resolution video sequences, the camera's XGA (1024x768) 15fps movie mode is just the ticket. When combined with the new optionally available high capacity 4GB SDHC memory cards, this digital dynamo can capture action for up to 33 minutes per clip. These models feature DIGIC III, the newest iteration of Canon's ultra-efficient (and proprietary) image processor; shared thus far only with Canon's new flagship PowerShot G7 model. This new chip accounts boasts higher performance levels including faster start up, autofocus and shutter response times; improved maximum processing speed; and of course, enhanced image quality and more efficient power consumption; resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions. Thanks to the DIGIC III chip's more aggressive noise reduction, these Digital ELPH cameras are able to shoot at ISO equivalent speed ratings from 80 to as high as 1600. This increased sensitivity at the top-end allows the use of faster shutter speeds, significantly reducing camera shake and subject blur during hand held low-light photography. All of the new models offer a new 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, 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 SD900 Features:
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Physical Views
The SD900 compared to a standard CD disc.
The Powershot SD900 and the 7.1-megapixel SD800 IS.
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Features & Controls
PowerShot SD900 Specifications
| Camera Effective Pixels | Approx. 10.0 million |
| Image Sensor | 1/1.8-inch CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 10.40 million) |
| Lens | 3x optical zoom, 7.7-23.1mm f/2.8-4.9 (35mm film equivalent: 37-111mm) |
| Digital Zoom | Approx. 4.0x |
| Optical Viewfinder | Real-image zoom viewfinder |
| LCD Monitor | 2.5-inch, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 207,000 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: 2.0 in.- 1.6 ft./5-50cm (WIDE), 1-1.6 ft./30-50cm (TELE) Digital Macro: 2.0 in.- 1.6 ft./5-50cm (WIDE) |
| Shutter | Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter |
| Shutter Speeds | 15-1/2000 sec.; Long Shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec. |
| 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, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 (Standard Output Sensitivity/Recommended Exposure Index) |
| 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: 1.6-17 ft./50cm - 5.1m (W), 1.6-10 ft./50cm - 3.1m (T)(when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto) |
| Shooting Modes | Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot), Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, Movie |
| Photo Effects |
My Colors: Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom Color |
| Continuous Shooting | Approx. 2.1 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 (V1.1) 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), 2,272 x 1,704 (Medium 2), 2,816 x 2,112 (Medium 1), 3,648 x 2,736 (Large), 3,648 x 2,048 (Widescreen) |
| Number of Recording Pixels (Movies) |
640 x 480 / 320 x 240 (30 fps/15 fps) available up to 4GB, 1,024 x 768 (15 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps) |
| Playback Modes | Still Image: Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume Playback, My Category, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Slide Show Movie: Normal Playback, Special Playback, Editing |
| Direct Print | PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible |
| Erase Modes | Still Image: single image, by date, by category, by folder, all images Movie: part of movie, all of movie |
| 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 | 3.59 x 2.35 x 1.11 in. / 91.2 x 59.6 x 28.2mm |
| Weight | Approx. 165g (5.82 oz.) (camera body only) |
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Features & Controls
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