Customer Reviews

Canon PowerShot SD110 3MP Digital Elph with 2x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

I own three digital cameras and a pricy SLR and the Canon SD110 has made all the others obsolete. This camera changed my photo-taking behavior and excitement, and now I always carry it in my bag or pocket. First, you should know Canon and Nikon make the best digital cameras - primarily because they were smart in outsourcing electronics to the best Chinese component manufacturers (Flextronics, Celestica) and used their own industry-leading optical lenses. I prefer Canon because of ease of use (both camera and downloading to PC), braoder range of sophisticated features, rock solid reliability, accessories (you must get the cute leather case... all your friends will ask!), and the cameras just *look* and *feel* infinitely cooler.

The SD110 is a small, powerful, high performer even among its Canon peers. Though I provide a balanced view below, as a connoisseur of every new technology out there for cameras, I can attest this little machine boasts a ton of horsepower.

The Pros include:

1. Great pictures (up to 8"x10")
- balanced color resolution (thanks to the Digic processor)
- outside pictures are brilliant, inside pictures come out fine, though the flash is a bit strong to compensate
- nice redeye reduction, but this does delay the picture by a half second or so
- photo zoom mode, so you can zoom into part of a picture (or "move around" the picture) to check clarity, color, etc. immediately after taking the shot

2. Customizable features on par with top-line cameras
- all the same features of my Canon Rebel 2000 SLR and 3x more expensive Powershot G5. Landscape, portrait, moving images,
- color schemes are better and broader than Nikon, Sony, and Olympus: black & white, sepia, neutral, vivid, etc.

3. Ease of use
- simple menu structure, no complicated buttons
- delete bad pictures with ease, effectively increasing your total photo capacity
- photo inventory mode (advancement from earlier Canon models) that lets you look at 8-12 pictures simultaneously and flip quickly through memory by screen shots rather than one picture at a time (critical for memory cards over 64MB)
- "smart" download to Canon Zoombrowser (software that comes with the camera) - just plug in and it automatically downloads
- Zoombrowser software (new version) is clearly superior to earlier generations, and I did not need to buy Photoshop (other camera brands come with a poor software interface so you need to spend an add'l $80-100 on photo editing software)

4. Physical attributes
- compact and lighter than even the S300/400/500 series, fits in your pocket or purse easily
- SD card is wafer thin and cheaper than compactflash (which most other cameras use)
- nice silver/chrome metal finish that catches the eye
- solid rechargable battery (can take 80-100 pictures using the LCD screen) before next recharge
- recharger is small and very cool: battery slips into the bay, and the unit goes right into the wall socket
- one touch on-off (does NOT turn on-off by accident as some other cameras do)

The Cons (none of these are deal-breakers):
1. optical zoom (2x) could be more powerful but digital zoom does a decent job compensating (G5 and SLRs are superior here)
2. shutter speed can be improved: 1.0 second to take pictures (vs. 0.2sec for SLR, 0.5sec for G5), and then you can adjust how long the camera holds the LCD image for you to see
3. Included memory card (16MB) is useless. Think of this as a "practice starter"; you will want at least a 128MB SD (120 pix) or 256MB SD (245 pix) memory cards - both cheap and under $30 extra. Picture counts are estimated and at high resolution

You will not regret buying this camera. Simply amazing how much this has changed my picture taking behavior.

I just purchased this camera from my local camera retailer (cheaper than Amazon.com, if you can believe it!) after debating on the wisdom of forking over my money for this little machine. I have a fabulous Fujifilm S3000 digicam with a lot of zoom and great picture taking capibility, but I found I needed a smaller camera to carry around for those times when the S3000 would be too much of a hassle to haul places. That said, I knew deep down that I was pretty much set on the Canon PowerShot SD110 just because it was so darn cute. It's tiny, smaller than the Elph that a friend of mine bought last year, and can easily fit into the smallest of my purses without taking up much room at all. The size alone was what had initially sold me on it, and the fact that it has a good reputation for being a decent digicam (for reference, it's smaller than the average pack of cigarettes and more compact than some cell phones).

The biggest detractor for this camera is the optical zoom, however. It's just not as much as I would prefer, but that's a personal thing and others may find it works well for their needs. Since I have the larger Fujifilm camera to fill in for those times when I need a lot of optical zoom, the SD110 is perfect for just about any other situation. I also like the fact that it takes video with sound, the first of all of my digicams to offer audio recording.

The 3.2 MP is more than enough for quality photos, and I'm quite satisfied with the resolution. The flash seems a little harsh, but just a bit so. I like the fact that opperates on a rechargable battery, although this may present problems if you run out of juice somewhere where it's not possible to plug in the charger (camping trips, foreign countries, etc). In that case, it's wise to bring around a full charged back up battery.

I also bought a Lexar MMC/SD Reader and 256 MB memory card while at the store. The reader plugs into my computer via the USB port and the memory card is removed from the camera and inserted into the reader, which then uploads the photos. It's good to avoid draining the battery by directly hooking up the camera to the computer, although it's obviously not necessary if you don't wish to purchase it at an additional cost.

This is one of the best point-and-shoot 3 megapixel cameras currently produced. As with all Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, the SD110 is very easy to use. Key features include an adequate 2x optical zoom, bright 1.5" LCD screen, and movie video with sound mode. In addition, it focuses quickly, the flash is bright, and the battery life is generous. While the S410 is better than the SD110 in megapixels (4 mp vs. 3 mp) and in zoom (3x vs. 2x), the SD110 is better than the S410 in that:

(1) The SD110 is a smidgeon smaller. You'll notice the difference in your pocket.
(2) The SD110 has a better movie resolution. 640x480 on the SD110; 320x240 on the S410.
(3) The SD110 has fewer buttons in the back panel making it slightly easier to use.
(4) The SD110 is about $100 cheaper.

The optical zoom on the SD110 is less than ideal, but it has all the other must-have features, and it packs that in a teeny-tiny body--you can easily carry this in (guys) your pocket or (gals) your purse. Plus it's packaged in a beautiful white-silver exterior. A must-have accessory is a much bigger SecureDigital memory card (get at least a 256MB card). An extra battery would also be helpful--since this camera comes with an external charger--so that you will always have a fresh battery handy.

EDIT (11/27/04): Canon has introduced the PowerShot SD200 which gives you 3x optical zoom, a 2" LCD screen, and a host of other improvements.

I've chose this camera over Pentax Optio S4, Minolta Xg, and I've tried SD100 as well. Both Minolta and Pentax had better specs (x3 Zoom, 4Mp), however SD110 ends up making better pictures, and with no effort what so ever.

It is, probably, one of the easiest cameras to use. Automatic settings work perfect in almost all the cases. If you'd want to get comparable picture quality from other cameras you'll have to fiddle with manual controls for a few minutes, otherwise you get 4Mp worth of crap (and with high zoom factor as well).

Manual mode is rather simple, although lets you take good night shots (up to 15 sec. exposures). Macro mode is not as great as in other cameras, though.

Start up time is fast enough. Zoom is fast and very easy to control. Other controls are also well placed. One feature I particularly like is that it has separate "Func" and "Menu" buttons. "Menu" has basic camera settings, which are not used very often, and the "Func" menu contains all the picture settings, such as exposure compensation, ISO mode, compression quality, resolution, etc. It makes it much easier to find and change the settings you really need. The only thing I find inconvenient is the lack of a separate "quick view" button. It is necessary to use the mode selector instead.

Movie mode could be better too. Zoom and exposure are fixed the same moment you start shooting, so you do not have the same flexibility as a regular video camera (or Minolta Xg) has. At 640x480 resolution, max you can get is 30 sec at 15 fps, which makes this mode pretty much useless. The 320x240 mode is more practical in this sense. And the in-camera movie editing can help save some storage space when you need it.

As for the lens, you do get some purple fringing in rare cases. Vignetting is lower than in other ultra-compacts. Auto focus and resolution are also pretty good compared to the competition. I guess Canon decided to go a different way than the competition. They traded off zoom ratio instead of picture quality for the compactness.

To put it all together. If you want fast and easy to use point-and-shoot camera that takes great pictures as well, there is nothing better to choose from. Even considering all its weak points, it is still the best camera there is in its market segment.

I regret that I didn't get an SD100 for $60 less, though. Since I print all my pictures at Costco anyways, and do not need the stupid PictBridge button.

I can describe this camera in one word: FABULOUS. This little camera is the whole deal, all rolled up into a tiny package. It has everything you'd need. It takes great picture with amazing clarity and vibrant colors, the videos are of great quality, and on top of that, it is the most adorable camera I've ever seen.

The 16MB memory card included with this camera is much too small, so I'd definitely recommend buying one that is at least 256MB. I have a 512MB SanDisk memory card. On the highest setting for this camera (superfine at 2048x1536), it holds about 302 pictures. On the lowest (normal at 640x480), it holds 4419.

Battery life has been okay. It's not amazing, but it is pretty good, considering the camera's size and functions. If you turn off the LCD, it saves a lot of battery, but I definitely prefer to use it. Also, some people have recommended buying an extra battery. I personally have not, but if you are going to be going on a trip where you won't be able to plug in the battery charger, it'd be helpful.

The body of the SD110 is very sturdy. It's a cool silver-white metal (though at times it looks almost champage. Amazon's pictures are somewhat misleading because the color of the camera looks different in real life) and has not yet gotten a scratch. Just in case, however, I bought the PSC-50 soft leather case. Though I wish it was included, it's only an additional $10 and can keep your camera in tip-top shape.

If you are just a snap-shot photographer like me (I take pictures of friends, etc), then this is the best camera to get. If you are looking for something more professional and need more than 2X optical zoom, then you might want to reconsider. All in all, this is an amazing camera, and you should most definitely buy it!

So today is my third day with my SD110, and I've been having a great time with it. So here is a neat pros and cons list:

pros:
size- It's small, which is convienient.
nice outdoor shots- Every shot I've taken outside has turned out very beautiful. I took it out to a nearby garden and took pics of the flowers. The colors are vivid.
video with sound- Well, a lot of cameras offer video with sound, but I really like this feature. It's really fun taking random clips of thing.
easy to use- I read most of the manual because I'm a real dork about that kind of stuff, but most of the things I could have figured out on my own.
battery life- so far, so good. I've been liberal with the number of photos I take to get a feel for how long the battery will last. I've taken about 60-70 photos, not to mention a number of movie clips, which add up to about 10 or so minutes. Not to mention all the time spent playing around with the menus (yeah, switching to foreign languages is fun!). So I might be near the end of the battery soon...maybe tomorrow...

cons:
indoor shots- It's kind of difficult getting an indoor shot that I like, especially at night. The flash seems a little too strong and a lot of things in the foreground end up looking all over-lit and such. Although, I'm not a very experienced photographer and I'm still working out all the different functions so perhaps as I get more practice these will turn out better.
battery- After taking a lot of photos in a row, the battery pack starts to get kinda hot...and it's at the spot where you hold the camera, too. I vaguely remember the manual saying something about being careful about that. Also, the battery takes a long time to charge, so that isn't fun if you're wanting to take pictures.

not sure whether it's pro or con: zoom- The zoom on this camera is not very strong. That was my biggest argument against buying this camera, since I'm kinda crazy about zoom when I use my film camera. However, I found the zoom to be adequate for the types of photos I take (snapshots of friends, etc)...not as much as I'd like, but also I don't feel like I'm missing out, though.

All in all, I think if you're just a casual photographer, this camera is pretty good. After looking at so many cameras before finally buying this one, I came to realize that what mattered the most is your intended use for the camera. So buying a 5.0 MP or higher camera just b/c there's more pixels is not going to do you much good if you never make huge prints of your photos. If you just want something that can take some decent pictures of the school picnic or your dog and is easy to carry, SD110 might be the right camera for you.

This little camera takes incredibly good pictures, very nice colors and excelent size. functionality is friendly user, and the features are very good. however its sad to say that customer support is not what I expected of Canon, my camera's metal case (2 months old) has started to deteriorate in a great matter. I took it to a cannon representative and they said that Canon would only replace the case but not the camera. considering that this is a new camera and that this is a known quality problem for them I think that they could of done better and replace the unit. if you are considering buying this device take in consideration that Canon has recently discontinued this unit due to quality issues.

My only complaint about the camera is the stingy SD card size of 16MB, but this is cheap and easy enough to fix.

Apart from that this camera seems to be an excellent buy. The battery charges very quickly, and seems to provide good life.

The photo quality is great, and the automatic mode seems to expose and fill-flash perfectly in every situation, similar to my Canon SLR.

The video feature works very well, and the microphone quality seems excellent even with a lot of background noise.

The flash seems to work great for indoor use (not tried outdoor yet) giving nice even coverage, and perfect exposures. The red-eye reduction seems to work great also.

The build quality seems to be great, and the bundled PC software and TV out cables mean that this camera can do pretty much everything I could want.

I would recommend this camera in a heartbeat if you are looking for a small point and shoot.

This camera is by far the best camera I have had. I cannot speak for those wanting to take complex shots. I have only used a couple of the specialized modes very rarely, such as black & white.

From those who want a great snapshot camera for the money, this is it. The camera has been in service for about a year now with no problems. The camera's computer seems to get the autofocus and light levels right just about every time. Buttons and camera menus are thoughtfully laid out and relatively easy to use. Some of the hieroglyphics that are used to describe some of the advanced functions are confusing. Otherwise, I was able to use the camera without reading the instruction booklet.

Battery life is exceptional. I can take about 150 photos with flash and have the LCD screen active. Switching batteries and SD cards is easy. The access door on the bottom serves both.

The included PC software works relatively well. The Zoombrowser software lets you page through all photos on the memory card and download only the ones you would like. The only drawback is that with the larger memory cards, it does take about 60 seconds to show all the photos as thumbnails. This is not a big problem though. It is the exact time I need to mix myself a drink...

I would recommend getting a 256 or 512kb memory card. The SD card that is included is small. I would also suggest users buy an additional battery. You don't want to be in the middle of a party and be required to charge the battery. The secondary battery will sit on the shelf for about a month or two before losing its charge. I purchased an aftermarket battery for about half the cost of the Canon battery. It seems to have the same performance as the OEM battery. You may wish to buy the Canon case to preserve the camera's good looks. I bought the Canon leather case for about $10 from Amazon.

Overall, the camera's logical design and small package make it a great choice for snapshot use.

I won't give this camera five stars because that would reflect perfection and that just does not exist. So I'll give it four stars with major prejudice toward the fifth. I generally shoot video, but really hate those camcorder/camera combinations. If you want to shoot video, get a camcorder. If you want to shoot stills, get a camera. So that is what I did. This unit is exceptional. I mean exceptional in every way. Clean, well designed, simply to use, and it offers manual controls that allow the artistic side in all of us. I hear complaint about the zoom. Granted, you might be a sports or nature photographer and need a long lens, but most of us folk can simply move closer for some tight framing. I also purchased the underwater case and was really impressed with that unit. Fits the camera like a glove, plus give you access to all controls. I'm using it when I shoot in very bad weather. Get this camera. lt don't buy the AC power adapter. Amazon's web site stated it would work on the SD110 but it does not. I had to return it.