Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS

Color communicates. It introduces you before you say a word, making the PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH the ultimate image-maker. Five fashion-forward hues expressed in pure aluminum add a new burst of excitement to Canon's Perpetual Curve design. Of course, a camera that brings out the best in you also delivers Canon's most advanced technology features. Call it style with substance, for a new level of picture-taking pleasure.

A Sharp Zoom Lens with Image Stabilization

Adding to the new camera's versatility and optical excellence is its sharp and fast 3X optical zoom lens (38-114mm equivalent opening up to f/2.8 at wide-angle settings and f/4.9 at telephoto settings). The PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH camera also features Canon's advanced Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) system that significantly reduces the image-blurring effects of camera shake by shifting the lens to compensate for the movement. Available for the first time in an entry level Digital ELPH, Canon's OIS technology is proven effective for extended telephoto shots as well as low-light shooting conditions and helps users get the best possible picture quality every time.

Genuine Face Detection Technology

Beyond their appeal on the social scene, the PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH cameras feature the latest and most advanced generation of Canon's Genuine Face Detection technology, thus ensuring that up to nine forward-looking faces in the frame – whether posed for a family portrait, candidly capturing friends and fun, or spontaneously snapping a toddler's expression of triumphant glee as two halting steps – are in focus and properly exposed, with or without flash. In addition to focus and exposure control, the SD1100 IS camera's Face Detection feature captures truer, more accurately lit skin tones (and hence more beautifully rendered pictures) thanks to Canon's improved face detection white balance.

Face Selection and Motion Detection Technology

While the face detection algorithm automatically prioritizes up to nine human faces in a scene, it can also be instructed via the Face Select and Track function to lock on to a single face in the crowd, ensuring that the chosen countenance is finely focused, no matter where it appears in the frame. Additionally, a new Motion Detection function linked to the camera's High ISO Auto mode improves image clarity by raising ISO speeds (and shutter speeds) for fast-moving subjects or lowering ISO speeds to reduce noise when the subject is stationary. These automatic advances provide even more ways for the PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH cameras to optimize picture quality with seamless ease.

DIGIC III

The "brain" in every new Canon digital camera is Canon's proprietary DIGIC III imaging processor. This exclusive chip is responsible for the cameras' higher performance levels including faster start up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long lag competitors far behind. What's more, DIGIC III improves both the image quality and the cameras' power consumption, extending the battery life under typical shooting conditions.

See and be Scene

The PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH camera offers users a choice of 18 shooting modes including a fully automatic mode that makes these cameras a true point-and-shoot affair; a semi-automatic "Camera M" mode which allows access to features such as Exposure Compensation and White Balance adjustments that Full Auto mode does not, as well as a plethora of scene selection modes - including Canon's new Sunset mode – that optimize image results under a variety of shooting conditions.

These scene modes put the power of Canon's collective photo expertise into the hands of even the most rookie shooter, ensuring that in the end, the shots are the best that they can be, whether indoors or out; in day or night light (and now, with the Sunset setting, in between too); through an aquarium glass; across stark snowy vistas or bleached sandy beaches; into lush, colorful foliage or at a brilliant burst of fireworks against a black satin sky.

The PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH cameras feature Canon's precise 9-point Autofocus system along with the new AF-Point Zoom feature that work together with Face Detection Technology to allow users to double check the facial expressions of their subjects, when shooting under more challenging conditions. After activating the feature in the camera's menu, the AF-Point Zoom can be engaged simply by pressing the shutter button halfway.

Streamlining the image review process, Canon's Intelligent Orientation Sensor determines whether a scene is being shot as a vertical or horizontal image and automatically adjusts it for quick and easy review on the camera's bright, sharp and easy-to-read, 230,000-pixel 2.5 inch Pure Color LCD II screen. The Image Inspection Tool feature zooms in on faces automatically during playback to make it even easier to check facial expressions. The new cameras also feature Canon's newly developed Automatic Red Eye Correction that engages in the shooting mode, minimizing the need for correction before printing or sharing images. In-Camera Trimming is yet another new advancement that allows users to adjust and save cropped versions of their images without using a computer. As an added convenience, the PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH cameras are compatible with MMC, MMC+ and HC MMC+ memory cards as well as standard SD and SDHC memory cards.

More external Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS reviews!

Sensor • 1/2.5 " Type CCD
• 7.0 million effective pixels

Image Processor DIGIC III with iSAPS technology

Image sizes (L) 3264 x 2448, (M1) 2592 x 1944, (M2) 2048 x 1536, (M3, Date Stamp) 1600 x 1200, (S) 640 x 480, (W) 3264 x 1832. Resize in playback (M3, S, 320 x 240)

Movie clips • (L)640 x 480, 30fps/30fps
• (LP) (M)320 x 240, 30fps
• (S)160 x 120, 15fps
• (Time Lapse) 640 x 480, 0.5/1fps (Playback 15fps)"

File formats • JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
• AVI [Motion JPEG compression + WAVE (monaural)]

Lens • 3x optical zoom
• 6.2 - 18.6 mm (35mm equivalent: 38–114mm)
• F2.8 - 4.9

Image stabilization Yes, sensor shift

Conversion lenses No

Digital zoom Yes, up to 4x

Focus TTL autofocus

AF area modes • AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point)
• 1-point AF (fixed to centre or Face Select and Track)

AF assist lamp Yes

Closest focus distance 3 cm from front of lens

Metering • Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame)
• Centre-weighted average
• Spot (centre)

ISO sensitivity • AUTO
• High ISO Auto (incorporating Motion Detection Technology)
• 80
• 100
• 200
• 400
• 800
• 1600

Exposure compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments

Exposure bracketing No

Shuttter speed • 1/60 - 1/1500 sec (factory default)
• 15 - 1/1500 sec (total range - varies by shooting mode)

Aperture n/a

Modes • Auto
• Manual
• Digital Macro
• Portrait
• Night Snapshot
• Color Accent
• Color Swap
• Stitch Assist
• Movie

Scene modes • Kids & Pets
• Indoor
• Sunset
• Foliage
• Snow
• Beach
• Fireworks
• Aquarium
• Underwater

White balance Auto (including Face Detection WB), Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom

White balance fine tune no

Self timer 2 or 10 sec, custom

Continuous shooting n/a

Image parameters My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)

Flash • Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow sync, Red-Eye Reduction
• Face Detection flash exposure compensation
• Flash exposure lock
• Range: 30cm - 3.5m (w), 2.0m (t)

Viewfinder n/a

LCD monitor • 2.5” PureColor LCD II TFT
• 230,000 dots
• Approx. 100% coverage

Connectivity • USB 2.0 High Speed
• AV out (PAL/NTSC)

Print compliance • Pictbridge
• DPOF v.1.1
• EXIF Print

Storage • SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus.
• 32MB memory card supplied

Power • NB-4L Li-ion battery
• Charger included

Weight (no batt) 125 g (4.4 oz)

Dimensions 86.8 x 54.8 x 22.0 mm
(3.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 in)