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Canon PowerShot SD990 IS reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 15 December 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 27 November 2008 - |
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- 0 |
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- 19 November 2008 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 29 October 2008 - |
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- 0 |
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- 12 October 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 08 October 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 15 December 2008 |
“ The Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS / PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH is the current flagship of the IXUS / ELPH range, and the first to offer a true manual mode. While the range of f-stops selectable at any given focal length is rather restricted, probably due to the lack of a proper iris diaphragm, the 45 distinct shutter speeds and 6 different ISO settings still leave enough room for manoeuvre. Canon have also implemented a live histogram in this model, making it easy to nail the exposure in most situations. Watching the live histogram and optionally engaging the new i-Contrast feature to lift the shadows can also ensure that you get good shadow and highlight detail in all but the most contrasty light. The inclusion of a Servo AF mode promises increased chances to take sharp, well-focused photographs of moving subjects, be it a hyperactive child or the neighbour's dog. If you don't mind using the small viewfinder, you can further improve these chances by selecting the new Quick Shot mode, which turned out to work better than I expected.
If there are any criticisms that can be leveled against the Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS, they mostly concern the lens. The flagship IXUS would have deserved a wider zoom that also provides more uniform sharpness across the frame and the zoom range. A 36mm equivalent wide-angle doesn't seem enough these days, and the extensive corner softness and barrel distortion at this setting effectively mean that you are best off using this camera in the telephoto range. There, however, it is capable of producing a truly jaw-dropping amount of detail, with good sharpness across the frame, making it the ideal choice for those who want huge prints – at least at or near base sensitivity. And to be fair, the IXUS 980 IS does at least partially make up for the lack of a wide-angle lens by offering a highly useful Stitch Assist mode for those who are into panoramic shooting. As with other small-sensor compacts, high ISO performance isn't the strong point of the camera, though even the highest settings can be okay when you are shooting for smaller prints.
In summary, the Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS / PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH can be highly recommended to DSLR owners who are in the need of a second camera that they can take along even when their main 'workhorse' has to stay at home, and also to beginners who want an easy-to-use point-and-shoot that can 'grow' with them as their photography skills improve... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DPInterface 's conclusion / rating - 27 November 2008 |
“ The 14.7 megapixel Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH sounds like the most perfect compact camera ever made. High resolution, good battery life, optical image stabilization and a full manual mode with flash control and manual focus; all packed into a pocketable camera with a solid, stylish design which stands out from the crowd (You really will get weird looks when you hold up a dented-looking camera… but it’s all part of the design).
The SD990 IS Digital ELPH is a small camera which is easy to operate and hold. The camera is small and will go anywhere with you, but not tiny or excessively thin – so it is easier to get a steady grip on the camera. You’ll get a 2.5 inch LCD display on the back which is both sharp and viewable in all sorts of conditions. In a world of cameras with 3 inch screens and phones with displays even larger than that, the SD990’s LCD may seem a little small in comparison but I don’t have any issues with that.
For conserving power, being stealthy or feeling retro, there’s an optical viewfinder at your disposal on the SD990 IS Digital ELPH – a rarity that’s just about gone on compact cameras of this size nowadays. Just be careful not to bump the command dial on the back though... ”
DPInterface's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
InfoSyncWorld 's conclusion / rating - 19 November 2008 |
“ The Canon PowerShot SD990 IS is a killer intermediate camera. It's brimming with manual controls, including controls for shutter speed and aperture, it's stocked with a cavalcade of color options and it captures images up to 15MP. The SD990 IS's larger sensor lends a hand to low light shooting and captures some beautiful images. Canon's interface is highly intuitive and the spinning "Set" wheel renders manual control adjustment a cakewalk. On the downside, the SD990 IS has a small 3.7x optical zoom and a standard 2.5" LCD screen. These complaints aren't nitpicky, but easily quelched when you consider the excellent battery life and wealth of shooting options the SD990 IS brings to the table. One caveat is that this camera's high level of advanced functionality might scare the bejeezus out of inexperienced photographers. Be prepared to read the manual top to bottom, and then gear up for some of the most exciting digital imaging experiences you'll have with a compact... ”
InfoSyncWorld's rating: |
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- 3.5 |
Complete review here
Steves Digicams 's conclusion / rating - 29 October 2008 |
“ Canon's PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH is a great ultra-compact model that is stuffed with high-end features. For those of you who want the latest and greatest of technologies, all packed tightly in a small body that can be tossed into your pocket, the SD990 might just be the ticket. With robust performance, above average image quality, and loads of exposure modes, this camera is sure to be popular with everyone in your household or office. With a street price of US$379 or less, this model is at the higher end of the ultra-compact category. However, with the technologies, functions, and performance this little digicam boasts, we still feel the SD990 IS offers great "bang for your buck". One accessory we strongly suggest is at least a 2GB or larger SD/SDHC memory card, considering that the file sizes of these 14.7-megapixel images is between 5.5-8MB each... ”
Steves Digicams's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
PhotoReview 's conclusion / rating - 12 October 2008 |
“ The first Ixus with genuine manual controls, Canon's Ixus 980 IS features a 14.7-megapixel (effective) CCD sensor and 3.7x optical zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 36mm to 133mm in 35mm format and focuses to 5 cm. Equipped with the new DIGIC 4 image processor, the 980 IS also sports a 2.5-inch TFT colour LCD with 230,000 dots and a wide viewing angle.
Goodness knows why anyone needs 14.7 megapixels in a compact digicam when few users are likely print their pictures larger than A4 size (and even fewer to go to A2 size, which the camera claims to be capable of). The effective resolution difference between the two models is slight, since both sensors have the same physical dimensions. However, the new model's photosites are marginally smaller.... ”
PhotoReview's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
GoodGearGuide 's conclusion / rating - 08 October 2008 |
“ Another fantastic compact from Canon, the IXUS 980 IS takes everything that was great about past units and adds manual shooting modes, a very smooth design and a higher resolution sensor, making this one of the best high-end compacts on the market.... ”
GoodGearGuide's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
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