Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Black)
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Black)
Customer Review: A great pocket camera for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the problems with writing camera reviews is that people never consider the "space" which this camera occupies in the market. For example, I know that a $200 point and shoot camera will never take as awesome photos as my $3500 digital SLR, or even as my Powershot G10. But at the same time, I'm not going to go out on a night of drinking with my friends and bring a digital SLR because a) it's expensive and b) bulky.
Having said that, I'm really impressed at the output of the pictures. At the default high resolution JPG, I was blown away at how crisp the images were. At higher ISOs, the photos became progressively noisier - but that's a problem that's common among most point and shoot cameras. I'm not too worried - again, this is a camera I'm taking out and about and taking snapshots, not trying to be Annie Liebovitz. Prints at 8x10 look fine.
The 720p video is rather slick - even while goofing around taking videos, the videos were of decent enough quality that I'd be happy posting them to YouTube or Facebook. And no "rolling shutter', which is kind of cool. I'd recommend getting a Class 6 SDHC card for the camera, so it'll write the HD video fast enough to the camera without having to deal with dropping video. The optical zoom doesn't work in video mode, but digital zoom does. Digital zoom, in my experience, generally leads to awful photos and videos, so I try to avoid it all costs.
The SD780 is easy to operate, and there's virtually zero learning curve if you have experience with other Canon cameras.
One of the common complaints is that the camera's casing will attract dings, scratches and other things that will keep your camera looking less than pristine. If you're going to be buying this camera, you're better off spending $25 extra to get the Invisible Shield cover for this camera.
For under $250, this camera is great. It's smaller than my Blackberry and wallet, and makes up deficiencies by being a petite camera that fits in virtually any pocket.
Customer Review: Best point-n-shoot camera available today!
Summary: 5 Stars
As an avid photographer I value having a camera that takes good pictures, which is why I bought a Canon 40D with an L series lens and three other IS USM lenses, along with a monopod, tripod, bag, filters, etc.
Then the economic crisis hit me and I became strapped for cash, so I sold it all on ebay (I hated to do it, but had no choice).
This left me camera-less, so I looked for an inexpensive point-n-shoot. After hours and hours of research I decided on the Powershot SD780 IS and must say this thing has exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I can not believe such a small, lightweight camera can shoot video and 12 mega pixel images. With a 4GB card, shooting at 2592 x 1944 (and it goes up to 4000 x 3000 and 4000 x 2248 for wide shoot, which really are wide) I can take 2677 photos before I have to empty it (not that I would ever let it build up to that).
I'll skip all the features and details (you can read that on your own at the Canon website), but will say you will NOT be disappointed. The images are crisp, clear and always in focus. You have a plethora of scene settings to choose from, but just set it on auto and let it decide how to shoot. I guess that's what they mean by "Point-n-shoot". My favorite thing about this is how small it is! Fits right in my pocket (and is smaller than my Droid phone). I bought a belt holster on eBay for $7 and now my camera is always with me.
I also used the Amazon credit card and got $40 off, so I paid $169 for this! Talk about a bargain.
This is 5 stars all the way!
April 2010 Update: I bought a new Canon 50D with all the lens for those "professional" shots, but I STILL use this PnS camera for quick shots and because it's so portable. I find that even with $4,000 worth of professional equipment, I still find myself using this PnS - that images are REALLY good, especially outdoors.
Customer Review: Looking for a new camera? Not anymore.
Summary: 5 Stars
It's 2010. You want a new point and shoot camera.
You want it small -- like fit in pocket without a bulge small. Like shirt pocket small. Like little purse small. Like cell phone small. Or even smaller than these new sidekicks.
You also want simplicity. A simple camera. Point and shoot, baby. Like giving it to Grandma to take a photo of you wearing her moo-moo. Like hanging-out-in-Missouri-and-you-want-the-yokel-next-to-you-to-take-your-picture simple. Yeah, that simple.
But you want quality, too. 12 megapixel quality. Not have to worry about blurry photos quality. Print quality.
And, you think to yourself, wouldn't it be cool if it shot video. Like real usable video. Like HD video.
Well, here you go. This canon fits these qualifications.
Stop yakking on and asking questions. It doesn't do flippin' tricks, people. It isn't going to make your marriage any better. (But you can take cool pictures of yourself on your couch.) It's not going to make your kids look any cuter. Trust me, they be ugly. But at least you can print out the photos yourself on a Canon Pixma and nobody has to look at that creature you call a kid.
It's just a damn good camera.
Postscript: The video is definitely grainy in darker settings. Grainier than a non-HD Flip camera I have. But in the daytime or well lighted rooms? Crisp man. Like a good pilsner.
Postscript #2: It's now 6 months later and I lost my camera in some scrub brush while riding drunk on a 4-wheeler. So.... I decided to upgrade to the SD1400is. It's basically the same camera only very slightly bigger and has two extra camera modes (fishbowl and miniature). I've noticed photos, esp at night, come out better with the 1400is, but it might just be me. If both are the same price, I'd get the 1400is but I wouldn't pay too much more for it.
Customer Review: Canon makes Tiny synonym with Power
Summary: 5 Stars
A few years ago I decided to buy the smallest digicams to always carry them with me and document my life. I was in my early 20s. With micro technology getting better and better everyday, the small cams I used to have are now obsolete and (a little big) pieces of the past.
Up until the beginning of this year I had a cheap but trusty Casio that I loved because of it's size, video quality and hardness, but I dropped it many times.
I came back to Canon because I had a great experience with a Digital Elph in the past, and now I'll stick with them.
The colors, the ease of use, the SPEED, and the CRYSTAL CLEAR pictures that I get with this tiny but powerful camera are GREAT!! As always with Canon. And it's durable too, I've dropped it and it still works like a charm. The battery life is AMAZING!! If I had to choose something negative, I'd say that I don't like the slowness I get sometimes when browsing through the menu. However, that has nothing to do with the fastness of this camera... it's much faster than earlier generations of elves!!
I've mostly used this little champ for going out, trips, stuff at work that have been published in newspapers, and stuff por sites like Facebook.
I work with bigger (SLR) cameras because I have to, but for my personal stuff (documenting my life) I have always (and I will keep using) these ultracompact cameras. Above everything, I value the portability (i'm not interested in carrying bigger cameras with me), quick operation and speed this Canon offers. Those qualities, along with the true image stabilization and it's price make this tiny camera a powerful option.
I will certainly remember he SD780 when it dies (or breaks, or gets stolen). If it's too soon, I will probably replace it with another one; or the next generation tiny elph.
WONDERFUL SMALLNESS.
Customer Review: The best camera is the one you have with you
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been involved with photography since I was 10 years old back in the 1950's, I have used every type of compact camera - Nikons, Olympus OM SLR's, Leica CL, Minox, the famous 70's Japanese point-shoot such as Konica, always seeking the maximum photographic flexibility in the minimum package. Playing with the incredibly small Canon SD780 for a few days, it's a good time to take a step back and recognize the amazing technology which has come to us through the digital revolution. There is simply no comparison to the photographic capability which one can now carry hardly noticed in a shirt pocket, including taking high def VIDEOS! Decent pictures at ISO 800 or even 1600. Amazing. Also, Canon listen to customer feedback; their menus and interfaces are simpler and cleaner than some of the other makers. Finally, the price is really very low for the sophistication that goes into one of these babies - the equivalent of about forty bucks in 1970's dollars when the first compact cameras hit the market at much higher prices.
There is only one downside - this camera is so small, and the sensor is so small, that 12MP is too many for top picture quality. I would have voted for fewer pixels, 8 MP instead of 12MP - and get lower noise in return. The exposure sometimes leaves blownout highlights. If absolute image quality is your top priority, there may be other Canon's to look at. But if you're not that picky, the results are excellent. The video function works well and I use it all the time since I find a short movie (a few seconds) is a better remembrance of an event than a still photo. Forty three minutes of High Def video on an 8GB card, so who needs a camcorder?
Bottom line; The best camera is obviously the one you have with you. So get one of these - no excuse ever to be without it.