| |
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Camera. Here are the reviewers:
|
- 15 January 2010 - |
|
- 0 |
|
- 13 January 2010 - |
|
- 3.5 |
|
- 10 January 2010 - |
|
- 4.5 |
|
- 17 December 2009 - |
|
- 0 |
|
- 15 December 2009 - |
|
- 0 |
|
- 01 December 2009 - |
|
- 4 |
|
- 09 October 2009 - |
|
- 3.5 |
|
- 25 September 2009 - |
|
- 0 |
|
- 24 September 2009 - |
|
- 4 |
|
- 18 September 2009 - |
|
- 4 |
DPInterface 's conclusion / rating - 15 January 2010 |
“ The Canon PowerShot SD980 Digital ELPH, also known as the Digital IXUS 200, is Canon’s first touchscreen camera. Ironically, the reason why you would want to get the camera is not for the touchscreen, but for the 5X zoom lens with optical image stabilization that starts at an ultra-wide angle 24 mm. The wide-angle lens here is infinitely useful for indoor, group, landscape and creative angled shots; it’s quite a bit wider than even 28 mm lenses.
The other big feature on the SD980 Digital ELPH/IXUS 200 is undoubtedly its big, wide 3 inch touchscreen LCD. Screen legibility and response to touch were both good, though more resolution would certainly have been nice. Canon did a good job on adding items with big icons that are optimized for touch (without using a stylus). On the other side of the story, Canon didn’t revamp their entire user interface, so there are still a lot of parts of the interface which don’t support touch input. Simply put, it’s almost like a normal camera that happens to have a touchscreen for only a handful of functions. Hence you would still have to frequently rely on the navigation pad and buttons.
Despite its rather unique design that makes it look like bar of soap, deep at heart, the camera is still a Digital ELPH/Digital IXUS. Save for custom white balance and long exposure, there are no manual controls – instead you’ll get a do-everything Smart Auto mode, program mode and 17 scene modes. Out of those seventeen scene modes, there are three fun ones that even enthusiasts will appreciate. Creative Light mode is my favorite – where you can take night portraits with a make-believe digital SLR-like background blur effect; complete with selectable patterns for blurred-out light sources behind. The other two are Color Accent and Color Swap modes, which have been around for about five years now.
A 720p HD movie mode is present on the camera, recording at 30 frames per second with mono sound. Recording quality is pretty good and should be good enough for most uses (ie recording a play or band, home videos, etc). However, try to use zoom sparingly as only digital zoom is usable; optical zoom is fixed once you begin recording. Performance wise, the SD980 Digital ELPH/IXUS 200 is responsive and quick as with Canon’s other cameras. Autofocus is typically fast and accurate under various lighting conditions, but has the tendency to slow down at the telephoto end of the lens. My only quibble here is the sluggish continuous shooting, which is a prevalent issue in the compact camera world where 12 – 14 megapixels are becoming a standard.
Image quality produced by the camera was pretty good in terms of noise and detail. The camera’s processing likes to keep noise reduction low whenever possible (a good thing) and doesn’t smudge details as much as the competition at higher ISO levels, making even ISO 1600/3200 suitable for generic small 4 x 6 prints (though you surely can’t discern fine details like hair). However, you will get issues related to the ambitious zoom range used on this lens, such as barrel distortion, edge softness and prominent color fringing.
All in all, the Canon PowerShot SD980 Digital ELPH/Digital IXUS 200 is a good camera to have. I would recommend it but with reservations because it does make one ponder about value when its sibling, the SD940 Digital ELPH/IXUS 120 is almost the same camera, minus the touchscreen and ultra-wide angle lens, sells for quite a bit less. If you find yourself frequently wanting to capture ‘wider’ shots, then this is one of the few cameras out there with such a versatile lens... ”
DPInterface's rating: |
|
- 0 |
Complete review here
RegHardware 's conclusion / rating - 13 January 2010 |
“ While some touch-based functions – such as touch focus and scene selection – are great to use, others – like image delete and tagging – are clumsy. Surely, Canon could have made more of the touch technology. The lack of manual control and a mid-resolution screen are a let down on a camera costing more than £300. Indeed, the Ixus 200 IS is really an ordinary camera with an extraordinary interface. Stylish looks apart, we think Canon can do rather better than this... ”
RegHardware's rating: |
|
- 3.5 |
Complete review here
CameraLabs 's conclusion / rating - 10 January 2010 |
“ The Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS / PowerShot SD980 IS is the first Canon compact to feature a touch-screen LCD panel. This is the feature that everyone will be talking about and it provides the camera with one very useful feature - quick and simple manual focusing - all you have to do is point where you want it to focus and it's done. Beyond that, the touch-screen's utility is, well, let's say arguable. There's little, if anything it can do that can't be done just as easily with the physical controls.
If you shoot a lot of movies on your camera though, the 16:9 aspect ratio of the screen will make this a much more rewarding experience. With 2.5 inches of view in the 4:3 modes it's still as large a screen as you'll find on many mid-range compacts, plus much of the information and icons can be moved to the sides, leaving an uncluttered view for composition..
Look beyond the touch-screen though and you'll realise the real star feature of this model is the 5x optical zoom with its super wide angle (24mm to 120mm equivalent) range. There are only a handful of models that offer a field of view as wide as that. Together with the camera's 3in display, 720p video and exceptionally good image quality, it's a combination that's hard to beat... ”
CameraLabs's rating: |
|
- 4.5 |
Complete review here
Imaging Resource 's conclusion / rating - 17 December 2009 |
“ No doubt about it, combining the Canon Digital ELPH name with LCD touchscreen technology is a powerful combination all by itself. But throw in a 12.1-megapixel CCD, powerful DIGIC 4 processor, 5x optical zoom lens with image stabilization, and you get the very capable PowerShot SD980 IS. With an ultra-compact size, limited controls to worry about, and overall good exposure and color, the Canon SD980 IS offers great quality in its tiny package. A Smart Auto mode proves useful under a variety of conditions, combining Face, Blink, and Motion Detection technologies with 22 preset situations to get the best exposure. For more experienced users, the Canon SD980 IS does offer a standard Program AE mode, with a handful of adjustable exposure variables. Noise handling and lens distortion aren't optimal, but also aren't worse than average. Overall, the Canon PowerShot SD980 performs well. There's a little dilemma about which mode to use between widescreen and 4:3, but the extremely wide-angle lens is great for landscape and whole-room shots. Currently available at an MSRP of $329.99, the PowerShot SD980 IS is definitely worth considering, and a Dave's Pick... ”
Imaging Resource's rating: |
|
- 0 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraReview 's conclusion / rating - 15 December 2009 |
“ What the PowerShot SD980 IS does best is show off. Flipping through images with a swipe of the LCD or a flick of the wrist is sure to please a small crowd of friends and family. However, no camera is going to inspire any real "wow" factor if the images don't look as good as the interface. The SD980 delivers dependable image quality whether or not you choose to utilize the touch screen... ”
DigitalCameraReview's rating: |
|
- 0 |
Complete review here
Pocket-lint 's conclusion / rating - 01 December 2009 |
“ Apart from some fiddly controls the IXUS 200 IS is very nice to use and the active screen technology is great, particularly when selecting the focus point on the screen or the vertical shutter trigger. Image quality and movie picture quality is excellent and so, overall, the Canon IXUS 200 IS should be high on your list possible cameras to buy if you're in the market for a compact such as this... ”
Pocket-lint's rating: |
|
- 4 |
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 09 October 2009 |
“ Given that this is a point and shoot pocket camera, not a tank-like super zoom nor bridge model, Canon may struggle to justify the price of the Digital IXUS 200 IS and indeed a quick internet search will reveal better deals; we found one major retailer offering it from £270 at the time of writing which, psychologically at least in coming under the £300 'barrier', is much more like it.
If you're not sold on the idea of the IXUS 200 IS' wider format screen - which in truth only really comes into its own when shooting video clips - or a slightly better than average zoom range, then for portability and value the IXUS 120 IS offers itself up as a better bet from the Canon stable.
Focusing on the IXUS 200 IS in a more positive manner, the camera is fun and surprisingly intuitive to use given its mix of touch screen and control-based operation. That said the implementation of the former, in present form at least, comes across as slightly half hearted; if wanted you can get away with not using the touch screen features at all and still the camera would function not just perfectly adequately, but well.
Ultimately the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS does all that's expected of it, the pebble inspired design you'll either like or you won't, and if it was £50-£100 cheaper any niggles would be largely by the by... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
|
- 3.5 |
Complete review here
Steves Digicams 's conclusion / rating - 25 September 2009 |
“ Canon's first touch screen camera, the PowerShot SD980 IS is an excellent little digicam that stands out from the rest of the PowerShot Digital ELPH line. Featuring a 12-Megapixel imaging sensor, 5x wide optical zoom lens (24-120mm) with IS, an extra-wide 3-inch touch LCD and HD movie mode, everyone in the family will enjoy using this jem. Performance is very good, and we only found a few minor issues including the weak flash, and small amounts of noise in the dark areas of all our images. Overall it is a great ultra-compact camera that can be stored away in a pocket or purse with absolutely no trouble. The touch screen is not necessary, but is a nice addition and this is the only camera available with this unique lens. With a MSRP of US $329.99, this is good choice for anyone looking for style, versatility and the latest features in a digicam... ”
Steves Digicams's rating: |
|
- 0 |
Complete review here
HardwareZone 's conclusion / rating - 24 September 2009 |
“ The IXUS 200 IS has one important factor that could contribute to its success: its stunning refined appearance. If tech gadgets have a fashion statement to fulfill, the IXUS 200 IS definitely fits the bill. It might not be the slimmest compact in the market, but its svelte form factor is still attractive enough to turn the heads of many along the streets. For the fashion conscious, the attraction between them and the IXUS 200 IS is definitely mutual - a trait which has been carried forward on several other IXUS devices in the past as well.
As pretty as it looks, this compact still needs to address its primary target - shutterbugs. Packed with a 12.1-megapixel imaging sensor and a 24mm wide-angle lens, the question that's to be asked is how the IXUS 200 IS differentiates itself from similar ones in the market. The newly added (albeit late) touch screen display with its touch actions and gestures will redefine how one interacts with the compact camera. This, and the Samsung ST550, could literally revamp the user interface of such compact cameras in the upcoming future. It's not much, but it suffices to keep the consumer interested.
The IXUS 200 IS is well-suited for those who aren't too comfortable when it comes to juggling imaging settings such as aperture and shutter speeds. In fact, if you were seeking for something along that line with a similar form factor, the upcoming Canon PowerShot S90 would be a better choice. Its imaging performance does keep to the constant quality that we've seen across the IXUS lineup, but the IXUS 200 IS has a far more appealing design and appearance. As a point-and-shoot, the IXUS 200 IS manages to give above average imaging quality. The inclusion of 720p HD movie recording function isn't exactly new, but it does give the IXUS 200 IS an edge against compacts that aren't armed with such a feature.
To enjoy all these features, you'll have to take note that the IXUS 200 IS will be priced at S$599. If convenience and making a fashion statement is of great importance to you, we figure the price tag is of no consequence... ”
HardwareZone's rating: |
|
- 4 |
Complete review here
LetsGoDigital 's conclusion / rating - 18 September 2009 |
“ We really like the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS camera. Even for a DSLR photographer, it is a pleasure to carry around a camera without constantly being aware of it in your pocket. The ease of taking a picture and the fun of operating the camera contribute to the overall positive feeling we have about the IXUS 200 IS. And if you do want more, or if you consider yourself to be a creative photographer getting the most out of his camera, you should go for a DSLR. Although I still can't think of one reason to not carry the Canon IXUS 200 IS with you as a second camera!... ”
LetsGoDigital's rating: |
|
- 4 |
Complete review here
|
|
Comments (1)
Video reviews (3)
Camera info
Digg
del.icio.us
Reddit
Google
Home