Canon PowerShot SD980IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Ultra Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD (Silver)
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon PowerShot SD980IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Ultra Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD (Silver)
Customer Review: Heed the many warnings you read
Summary: 2 Stars
I received this little camera well-packaged from Amazon, as always they are the customers' best friend. The 980 is made in Japan, and it is a marvel of technology. I have had digital cameras since the late 1990's and had thought this would be my best camera ever. Not the case.
After preparing the camera, I began to take test shots to learn the features. Quickly found that my grownup man's hands had a real challenge holding this little device. I really found no comfortable, natural way to hold it. Not kidding.
720p video is very nice, good for short movies on the go. I have a Canon SD camcorder, which is much more appropriate for video. I then took lots of still pictures, they stunk. I read the entire manual on pdf and picture taking didn't improve. Then, per advice from reviews here, set to the 2nd highest MP setting (8MP) and tried all the scene types. Tons of blurry pictures. Had an anole (small salamander) on the front porch and this camera would not focus no matter what, even in macro. Also, I could not accurately slide the teeny tiny buttons. Last straw was a vertical purplish series of bands that would appear whenever there was indirect sunlight present in the frame. I could not make this camera work for stills and after 6 days, returned the unit. This guy was miserable with the 980.
As a note, I am a major fan of Canon so I bought an A1100 PowerShot instead. After using it for a while now, it gets 5 stars for super pictures, ease of use (and holding!), and exceptional value.
Customer Review: Disappointing picture quality, mediocre touchscreen
Summary: 2 Stars
After reading the mixed reviews of this camera, I was skeptical but decided to give the SD980 a try because I really wanted the 24mm wide angle lens. It was time to replace my 5 year old Canon Powershot S410 which has been a truly great camera. Bottom line is that the SD980's picture quality is noticeably worse than my S410 from 2004. Tons of noise and even if you force the camera to ISO 80, you get less noise but the images still aren't very sharp. Wide shots also suffer from a lack of detail along the edges. The touch screen was ok but if you're shooting one handed, it was too easy to tap the screen by mistake and cause problems. Personally I prefer tactile buttons over the mushy touchscreen (there are good touchscreen interfaces, such as the iPhone, but the SD980 is nothing like that). I thought Canon was the leader in the point and shoot arena but now I'm reconsidering. If all you want this for is snapshots, it'll probably be fine. The camera is very pocketable, it's so light you could even forget you have it with you. Maybe I'm too picky but my SD980 was returned after a few days of shooting - $[...] was too much for grainy photos without much detail.
The Canon S90 and Panasonic LX3 are not really in the same segment as the SD980 but I'm going to give them a try next weekend and see if either works any better.
Customer Review: Pro Photographer - Major disappointment - let me tell you why.
Summary: 2 Stars
I am a commercial photographer for 10+ years and I buy these pocket cameras because I want a camera with me at all times. They are Wonderful - up until this one. I've had the 500, 600, 630, 800, 870 and now the 980. LOVE them ALL except the 980.
I bought this to replace my 870 - which has been the best (IMHO) of the Canon line so far.
I liked the HD video idea, loved the wider lens - however.... I got one and sent it back realizing the IS really doesn't work. the 870 was amazing hand held at 1". The 980 is not working, so I returned it - Amazon's return is wonderful. The new one - same thing, so it is either me or they are both broke - or Canon went backwards on their Image Stabilization.
Picture quality I assumed would be better with the Digic 4 chip - not near as vivid as the 870 chip. The images I find are "gray" in color - not contrast.
Overall I can't wait for another Canon wide angle to come out so I can replace this. I would wait to buy - or buy another model. The 980 is a disappointment and Canon should kill it and update it. My experience and 2 cents.
Customer Review: Nice package but poor usability should make you think twice
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this camera hoping for nice general use and was disappointed by some fundamental shortcomings
The camera does well in well lit conditions or indoors at wide zoom levels. The features and touch screen works well after you get used to them
Indoors at more than half zoom and the camera struggles. The slow lens speed and small flash don't measure up to adequate performance
The 720p video is awesome, however be advised that you can not rotate wide screen movies if you take them portrait versus landscape format
Also, the camera does not provide a full owners manual - only an electronic one. This slows down the ability to get familiar with it.
Bottom line, if you need portability this is a good choice. If you need performance indoors forget it
In conclusion, I would recommend this only as a second camera to one that does better at any decent zoom settings and indoors
Customer Review: Do not buy
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this camera to replace my SD800IS. I thought, "better zoom, HD video, more mega pilels, this camera should be better than mine." Well I was wrong. This camera has a nice design and the HD video is really nice, but that is where it ends. Just about every photo I took with this camera was fuzzy and out of focus, the lines are not crisp, and the colors muted. I took the same photo from my SD800IS and the SD980IS and the 800IS was better every time, the colors were deeper, lines more crisp, and it was in focus. I have owned several Canon cameras, the 980IS was going to be my 4th. I have never had anything but good performance from them, until this one. So I am returning the 980IS and sticking with my SD800IS.