Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) (OLD MODEL)

I had purchased a Canon Rebel XT DSLR as my "main" camera, but wanted something really small and simple that my wife could stick in her purse. The SD1000 was just the right size and that was the main reason I bought it. To my great surprise I quickly fell in love with this little camera and my wife doesn't get that much chance to use it. It's not a substitute for my DSLR, but it takes great pictures for its size and sure is handy to pack along. I bought the matching Canon camera case and hang it on my belt whenever I think I might want to have a camera along -- it is small and unobtrusive and the magnetic catch on the cover makes it easy to pull out the camera and snap a one-handed shot at a moments notice (makes me feel like an old-West gunslinger!) Another nice surprise is the video capability, which I wasn't even thinking about when I bought this. I setup the programmable button to enable video recording and I find that I use that a lot. It takes surprisingly good videos, and it's so simple and inconspicuous that I don't have to make a big production of it. (You can capture a lot of video on a 2GB card!) Actually, even when I get out my DSLR and assorted lenses for "serious" photograpy, I almost always take the little guy along too. It allows me to mix still pictures and videos, and when I've got a long lens on the DSLR, I can pop out the 1000 for a quick reasonably-wide-angle shot without worrying about changing lenses. There are probably "better" general-purpose cameras, but I've had this little gem for over a year now and am still delighted with its tiny size and big capability. A postscript -- I'm currently in Vail and have been packing this camera along to take pictures while snowshoeing and skiing. Not only is it really convenient, but the rest of my party has been amazed at the quality of the photos. The detail, contrast, and color is great and rarely is there any reason for subsequent photoshop enhancement -- even in snow scenes. The pictures I've been getting actually hold their own with the very expensive (and very heavy) professional style Canon DSLR used by one of the other folks on this trip, but I have mine with me all the time, whereas his mostly sits back at the lodge. I wouldn't claim this little point-and-shoot takes pictures at a par with a good DLSR with large-aperture lenses, but it sure won't embarass you either!

This camera is replacing my SD110 Digital Elph from close to 4 years ago. The basic operating controls are simpler than the older camera, as there are fewer of them. The Print share button is now programmible in the shooting mode, and should be set to Exposure Compensation. This gives the photographer very good manual control of the camera without having to delve into the Main or Set Menu, if not in the classical sense. The body is quite small, about 1/4 inch thinner than the SD110, but still quite solid in feel. The rubber cap allowing access to the USB and AV connections has been replaced by a hinged, close fitting matching plastic door. The build quality is equal to or better than the older camera, but Canon should have kept the turned metallic surrounding lens treatment of the SD110, and perhaps reversed the black treatment of the black model. Battery and memory access is equally good in both cameras. Battery life is very good in the SD1000, but warning of the need to be charged is short. In fact, it's non existant. You get warned, you might get one more shot (or not). Buy an extra battery, keep it charged, and keep it with you. Overall, the camera is worth the effort. If you've been using almost any small digital more than about 2 years old, with an optical viewfinder (or even a larger camera, like my D70 or my daughter's Digital Rebel), you will love the LCD screen on the SD1000. The optical viewfinder on the new Elph, by my reconing, shows about 2/3 to 3/4 of what the camera actually picks up, at all zoom settings. I think that optical viewfinders belong on any camera that represents itself as a serious camera, and the accuracy should be closer to 90% at distances of over 3 feet. All in all, if you also own a DSLR, this is a very nice little "daily driver". It's a small, solid and (if you carry a charged extra battery) very reliable companion. If this will be your only digital camera, start at the top and look at the Canon G7, and work your way down in price through the A700 series to the A500 series. Here you will find pretty full (almost classic?) manual control, optical viewfinders, easy program modes, and still pretty portable cameras. .....Tom

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