Canon SD870 IS - Design
(Page 2 of 4 )
Design
As I mentioned before, the design of the SD870 IS is relatively unchanged from previous SD-line models, especially the SD800 IS. You will still get the "boxy" body design, and Canon has unveiled the SD870 in two different color schemes: silver, or silver with black accents. I prefer the classic silver and black look, but it is a matter of each individual's preference.
This camera is relatively small; I would consider it a pocket camera. The overall dimensions of the SD870 are 3.65 x 2.32 x 1.02 inches, and it weighs about 5.5 ounces without the battery (about 6.4 ounces with the battery). The body of this camera, although boxy, has nice rounded corners which help it to slip in and out of pockets with ease.
The front of the SD870 sports the same Canon lens as the SD800. This lens is very capable of capturing wide-angled shots, which makes it great for group photos and landscape pictures. The lens is capable of 28 mm - 105 mm, and a maximum aperture of f/2.8-f/5.8, thus making it 35 mm equivalent. This lens also makes good use of Canon's spherical lens technology (UA), which helps maximize the sharpness and clarity in the photo.
The rear of the camera is where you can find the upgraded 3 inch LCD screen, which has 230,000 pixels of resolution. This display is designed to be viewed from any angle, and it has a protective coating which is supposed to protect it from scratches and make it easier to clean off fingerprints. The LCD screen is one of the best that I've seen in a camera of this price range. One negative of the larger screen is that Canon had to get rid of the optical viewfinder in order to make room for the extra half inch of LCD display. Many people don't mind that this feature is not included in the SD870, but it does come in handy when you are trying to save battery life by shutting off the LCD display and using the optical viewfinder instead.
To the right of the LCD display, you will find most of the SD870's controls. Here you will find a play button, print/transfer button, menu button, display button, and a multi-control pad. The control set-up is very similar to the SD750's. The print/transfer button will allow the user to transfer photos to a computer via USB, or the user can send images directly to a printer for fast photos. What's nice about the SD870 is that you may use a Canon printer or any other printer which is compatible with PictBridge.
I like the redesigned multi-control pad which is now easier to control and has a better feel to it. This control will help the user navigate through the menu system with ease. It also has a cool function which displays the desired function on the LCD screen before you even press it. It works just by resting a finger on the control pad. This feature makes setting adjustments on-the-fly quick and easy because you don't have to look away from the screen to change the settings in-camera.
Next: Features >>
More Digital Cameras Articles
More By Joe Eitel
| Recommended by Dev Hardware |
|---|
|
