Canon Powershot SD800 IS - Features
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The SD800 comes equipped with a nice set of features, the most notable being the wide-angled lens, which is new in the SD800. This lens ranges from 28mm to 105mm and offers an optical zoom of 3.8x, which is quite sufficient. The long range, wide-angled shots would be worthless if not for the image stabilization system (hence the "IS" in the title), which allows the user to take steady shots even when they are from a long distance away. The only downgrade from the SD700 to the SD800 is the optical zoom going from 4x to 3.8x. This difference is really not even noticeable, and the upgrade in the SD800 of the wide-angle lens more than makes up for this small difference in zoom power.
Another feature of this camera is the ability to adjust the ISO setting up to 1600, for low-light applications. As with most, if not all, point-and-shoot cameras, this high of a setting is not recommended. The SD800 showed considerable noise when placed on the ISO 1600 setting. I recommend keeping this setting at 400 or lower in order to keep image noise at an acceptable level. Using the ISO 800 setting can produce decent results if the image is to be used for smaller prints (4x6 or lower). See the pictures below for a comparison of ISO 80 and ISO 1600.
Canon seems to market their compact digital point-and-shoot cameras to the average digital camera user, and not the professional photographer who may need a small, back-up camera. The lack of manual controls on most of Canon's compact digital cameras, including the SD800, supports this theory. Professional photographers require the use of manual controls in order to get the exact shot they are looking for, while the average user doesn't tinker with manual controls and would rather have a camera that is automatic and easy to use. I would put the SD800 in the category of a great digital camera for the average user, and maybe not so much for a professional. The only manual controls on the SD800 are exposure compensation, color correction, metering, and white-balance adjustments. The lack of manual controls will not stop the average user from buying this camera, because of its ease of use and good quality.
All of the operations of the SD800 are controlled by Canon's Digic III processor, which has worked really well in previous models. This processor is supposed to increase speed, performance, and even the life of the battery. Previous tests have proven that the Digic III processor is great at improving the overall function of a camera, and so it is welcomed with open arms in the SD800.
Other features in the SD800 include a video feature which records video in AVI format; a built-in microphone for recording sound; and various special effects such as color accent, darker skin tone, or lighter skin tone. The SD800 also comes equipped with various scene modes such as snow, beach, indoor, and portrait mode. These features have become pretty standard in the compact digital camera class.
When purchasing the SD800 you will get the basic equipment and software needed to get you started taking pictures right away. Included in the box are the following items:
PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH Body
Lithium Battery Pack NB-5L
Battery Charger CB-2LX
SD Memory Card SDC-16M
Wrist Strap WS-700
Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
AV Cable AVC-DC300
This package is enough to get you started, although I recommend purchasing a larger capacity SD memory card which will allow you to take more images (or images that require more memory). You may also purchase a high-powered flash (item HF-DC1) which has a maximum distance of 23 feet, if you need the extra flash power. For an average user, the high-powered flash isn't a necessary accessory to have as the flash incorporated into the SD800 will be sufficient.
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