Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 16-20 of 637
 Solid camera with very good video capability as a bonus. April 27, 2009
D R
18 out of 21 found this review helpful
I'll give my observations of the HD video capabilities of this camera; I wouldn't consider this a full review. I just wanted to test the limits of the camera in terms of battery life and recording time.
Procedure: I tested two times with a full charge and an empty 16GB card. I just put the camera on record and sat it on my desk.
Canon estimated that my 16GB card was good for around 85 minutes of video. It was pretty darn close. Note that this is an estimate and will vary due to the variable bit rate. I found that a 16GB memory card is the perfect match for the battery life.
Each video clip has a file size limit of 4GB due to the FAT32 limitations of current SD cards. There is also a 30 minute cap in recording time for each HD clip, although you will probably deal with the 4GB cap more often. There is an on-screen warning that the movie is getting close to either one.
The battery outlasted my memory card, but not by much. I recorded around 88 minutes of video and used up the entire card (15GB). The battery still had some life left so I popped in my spare 4GB card and the battery finally died around 2 minutes later. The average running time of the videos that reached the 4GB file size limit was around 22-24 minutes. A spare battery is recommended if you have a larger memory card and want to use this solely for video.
I hope you found this information helpful.
Tidbits:
- You can't use optical zoom while recording, only digital zoom. This is basically the only thing you can adjust once you begin filming.
- Focus is set when you start recording and does not change until you stop and start again. You can preview focus with a half-press prior to recording.
- You can use one of the three focus modes (macro, normal, infinity) for filming.
- Image Stability does work on video recording.
- The audio for recording is Mono. I don't see this as an issue. The sound quality is good, even if it is only one channel.
The best camera is the one you have with you July 15, 2009
Doctor.Generosity (Western Massachusetts)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Having been involved with photography since I was 10 years old back in the 1950's, I have used every type of compact camera - Nikons, Olympus OM SLR's, Leica CL, Minox, the famous 70's Japanese point-shoot such as Konica, always seeking the maximum photographic flexibility in the minimum package. Playing with the incredibly small Canon SD780 for a few days, it's a good time to take a step back and recognize the amazing technology which has come to us through the digital revolution. There is simply no comparison to the photographic capability which one can now carry hardly noticed in a shirt pocket, including taking high def VIDEOS! Decent pictures at ISO 800 or even 1600. Amazing. Also, Canon listen to customer feedback; their menus and interfaces are simpler and cleaner than some of the other makers. Finally, the price is really very low for the sophistication that goes into one of these babies - the equivalent of about forty bucks in 1970's dollars when the first compact cameras hit the market at much higher prices.
There is only one downside - this camera is so small, and the sensor is so small, that 12MP is too many for top picture quality. I would have voted for fewer pixels, 8 MP instead of 12MP - and get lower noise in return. The exposure sometimes leaves blownout highlights. If absolute image quality is your top priority, there may be other Canon's to look at. But if you're not that picky, the results are excellent. The video function works well and I use it all the time since I find a short movie (a few seconds) is a better remembrance of an event than a still photo. Forty three minutes of High Def video on an 8GB card, so who needs a camcorder?
Bottom line; The best camera is obviously the one you have with you. So get one of these - no excuse ever to be without it.
What an amazing camera! Big camera performance, tiny package! May 26, 2009
Eric C. Anderson (Gardnerville, NV)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I selected this camera as a "always carry" item. I own a Canon 20D professional camera with many lenses and other attachements, and it is HEAVY. So I don't take it unless I am on a photo shoot.
The SD780IS has a very important feature: an optical viewfinder. This is really helpful in bright sunlight, when you will have great difficulty using the LCD to frame a photo.
The image quality is great, the HD video is great, only complaint is that the mic is very susceptable to wind noise.
The ability to apply filters and cropping/resizing in the camera is very nice.
This camera is so small it is smaller than a credit card (only thicker). The flash works great, the focus light works great - I can take photos in complete darkness! The shutter lag is very very short.
If you are looking for an absolutely GREAT camera that will disappear in your pocket (you will forget it is there), this is the one!
The only limitations (in comparison to my "big" camera) is... no lens options (only built-in 3x zoom, with a very good digital zoom and image stabilizer function), and a slightly higher noise level in the image data (required because it uses a very tiny sensor). The noise is not visible for even very large prints (12 megapixels is a LOT of pixels). And, of course the adjustment options are limited (I like shutter priority, but can't do that on this camera). However, the exposure system is EXCELLENT!
I usually shoot in Program mode, with -2/3 stop exposure. This is due to the fact that auto mode causes the image to often be slightly over-exposed (as viewed on the LCD). The image is usually NOT overexposed, just looks that way. Since I like to share the photos on the camera a lot, I use this to get great color on the LCD, not just on the computer. The additional image noise from this adjustment is very tiny.
Great camera! HD video in the palm of your hand! Waiting for Canon to release the 60D so I can do HD on my big camera, too!
Amazing HD camera that is better than the Flip! April 1, 2010
Peter X. Tan
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this camera about a month ago and I couldn't have been happier. I've taken about 500 photos so far and 50 video clips and they're all perfect!
Pros:
Small size: Smaller than iPhone/iPod touch when stacked and twice as thick on the side. Ultra portable!
12.1 MP pictures are perfect quality
Auto mode makes it really easy to snap quick shots
Face detection works really well
Many features in the Program mode that will satisfy any teenager like myself
Color swap and color accent are really cool effects. Major plus!
HD video quality is amazing and I think it's better than the Flip HD. It's also MUCH smaller than the Flip Mino.
While recording a video, the camera will automatically change the brightness, tone, and exposure
Microphone is on the front instead of on the top where the speakers are so your fingers won't cover it when recording for a long time.
Ability to set custom timers and how many pictures to take.
Fast transfer to computer even when using the USB cable. Usually taking out the SD card and putting it in your computer's card reader is faster, but no need to do that with this camera.
Image Stabilization works well.
Came with a free 4gb SDHC card.
Blink detection is also really useful. If a person blinks in the photo, the powershot will review the picture and have an icon telling you to retake the picture if you can.
Only 2 hours for a full charge
Cons:
Taking a picture of a fast moving object while in Auto mode might turn out blurry. Putting it on Program mode and Kids&Pets will fix it.
In Auto mode, the camera may blow out the sky and make it all white when focusing on someone(beach photos). I recommend turning down the exposure to -1/3 or using the beach mode in Program
Audio is mono when recording videos
No option to choose what to focus on before shooting a video
Doesn't auto focus while recording videos. Annoying when i'm taking a macro video but then want to show something else
Video quality is really noisy in low light conditions, but bearable.
No optical zoom while recording a video - only digital
Viewfinder is pretty useless. Too small
Wrist wrap should be just a little longer and have a tightning feature so you can tighten it around your wrist.
Power button is just a little too small.
The switch to switch between Auto, Program, and Video could've been larger and easier to move.
very impressed July 12, 2009
R Shaw
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
I bought this camera in the gold and couldn't be happier. i took it to my garden along with my SLR camera and took 2 of several shots using both cameras. I printed them off and asked my family which ones were best. The little Cannon came in first every time. The pictures were professional quality. I bought the Canon PSC-55 Deluxe Leather Compact Case too and the camera fits in it perfectly.
edited:
I guess i should make myself clear. I have a brand new Nikon D40 also. I compared both cameras on auto setting. It's not like I wanted to compare apples to oranges. I wanted to use the same setting on both cameras and see which came out better. I also have a brand new Cannon printer. I gave an honest assessment of the outcome. i'm not saying an SLR camera is not a good camera. I'm saying at the auto settings this camera came out clearer.
I assumed feedback was to give our opinion on how a product works for us so it might help others. That was what I attempted to do. Not to offend users of SLR cameras.
Showing reviews 16-20 of 637
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