Canon Powershot SD870 IS

Canon Powershot SD870 IS is an 8 Megapixel and 4x optical zoom camera from the PowerShot range of compact cameras of Canon. Foremost, its good performance features include good image quality, effective image stabilization and face detection. These features make it one of the most features packed compact camera in Australia.
Looking at the model number, it may seem that it is a family member of SD850 IS, but with its wider, 28mm-to-105mm, f/2.8-to-f/5.8, 3.8x optical zoom lens, it actually should be a successor of SD800 IS. It gives many advantages over its predecessor such as an 8.3-megapixel CCD sensor, a larger 3-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD, and Canon’s new Digic III processor. There are other cosmetic enhancements as well. The new processor brings along the Advanced Face Detection functionality for Canon, which is a very attractive feature as it can pick up to nine faces in a single frame. The faces can also be used for setting autofocus and exposure options.

There also some improvements in the looks especially the back side. The inclusions are the new format of Canon’s multicontroller pad which makes it similar to the SD750.  The response of this pad is much better than the SD800 IS.  An enhanced ring provided around the edge provides a much improved feeling. There is an interesting feature on the pad that when a thumb is placed on the pad in a specific orientation, the graphics on the LCD displays the options available on pressing the pad completely.

SD870 IS’s has also performed very well in the real tests. It’s very quick in starting up and taking pictures successively. Even with the flash turned, the response time was very quick. Plus the shutter lag is very less in multiple shooting conditions. These observations suggest that the camera is really packed with some really impressive features and provides a really good buying option for the Australian people.

However there is a minor limitation as well that the camera does not provide manual exposure controls and there is no optical viewfinder. Though the camera can be very well be used without these features these features can be helpful in some conditions.