From the Manufacturer
It may be the slimmest Digital ELPH Canon has ever created, but
the impact couldn’t be bigger. The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH
captivates the senses with bold saturated colors and a daringly
original design that matches the intensity of Canon’s most innovative
camera technology. Even when picture-taking conditions seem pretty
unforgiving, you’ve got Canon on your side. So the shots you used to
miss are the images you’ll now be sharing, and the movies you never
took before will be HD unforgettable.
PowerShot SD780 IS Highlights
12.1-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer
Canon’s commitment to innovation defines the excitement of the
PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH. 12.1-megapixel resolution is more than
a number, it’s your cutting-edge link to the outstanding clarity and
quality you’ve always wanted in your images. Think bold and big,
because razor-sharp oversized prints are a breeze. Get the picture?
It’s absolutely brilliant.
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The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH has a 3x optical zoom lens that
makes it easy to get the inspiring, emotive close-ups that will make
your images lasting keepsakes. This magnificent lens gives you the
power to shoot distant subjects with razor-sharp precision and stunning
lifelike color. So you can brilliantly capture a closer shot of a
landscape, or a child’s big smile.
The PowerShot SD780 IS
Digital ELPH is equipped with Canon’s acclaimed Optical Image
Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera
shake--one of the leading causes of fuzzy or blurred shots. Even when
zoomed in, you can get the steady, crisp, brilliant images you’ll be
proud to shoot and share. And Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer
Technology is so convenient to use. It functions perfectly with or
without a flash.
HD movie shooting capability plus HDMI output
The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH lets you record video in beautiful
high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to
enjoy HD movies (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI
connector for direct connection to a high-definition monitor. You’ll
enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the
signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once.
Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings
Just set the Canon PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH to Smart AUTO and
you’re ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture taking every time.
It’s a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely
concentrate on your subject knowing that the camera has the technical
details covered. Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your
situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an
appropriate setting from 18 specially defined settings. So whether
you’re photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at
the park, you can be confident that you’re getting dramatic, memorable
images.
Shooting Modes
Advanced presets for the best possible photos under certain conditions.
With 20 Shooting Modes, you’re ready for whatever shot comes your way.
2.5-inch PureColor LCD II and wide viewing angle
The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH gives you a large 2.5-inch LCD
screen for excellent control when framing your shots. Canon’s PureColor
LCD II offers spectacular color, resolution and contrast even when
viewed at an angle. The screen is highly durable and easy to see in any
light with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating. It also
features Night Display for easy viewing in low light--a perfect feature
for gathering friends and family around to see your images.
A World of Advantages with Canon’s Technology
The DIGIC 4 image processor has evolved Face Detection Technology that
tracks the faces of moving subjects and lets the shooter enter the
frame seamlessly with the Face Detection Self-Timer.
DIGIC 4 Image Processor
Canon’s most advanced image processor, DIGIC 4, delivers evolved Face
Detection Technology that keeps every face in every photo looking its
very best. The technology finds and tracks the faces of moving subjects
until you’re ready to shoot, then delivers perfect focus. In addition,
exposure, flash and white balance are compensated, so that faces
exhibit natural skin tones and backgrounds are properly exposed.
iSAPS Technology
is an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for
digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of
different photos, iSAPS works with the advanced DIGIC 4 Image Processor
to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white
balance.
A
Face Detection Self-Timer
automatically detects an increase in the number of faces and makes the
appropriate adjustments. For instance, to include the photographer’s
face in a group shot, there’s no need to rush in. Just put the camera
on a stand or tripod, specify Face Detection Self-Timer, and the camera
will wait for the photographer’s face to get on-camera before it takes
the shot. Motion Detection tracks moving subjects in a much larger
range, and the Servo AF retains focus on a moving subject after the
shutter button is pressed halfway--allowing you to wait for the perfect
shot without refocusing.
Intelligent Contrast Correction
DIGIC 4 also makes possible the i-Contrast (Intelligent Contrast
Correction) system, which controls the compensation level in pixel
units to brighten dark areas while leaving bright areas unchanged for
better images where the main subject is dark, and more natural
transition. The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH can even use i-Contrast
in playback mode to adjust images that were shot without the setting
activated.
Red-eye Correction provides three options for removing red-eye from subjects in flash pictures.
1) Red-eye Correction during shooting actually identifies and corrects red-eye in human subjects as pictures are taken.
2) The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH can be set to automatically detect and correct red-eye during image playback.
3) You can manually locate any red eyes in a scene during image
playback on the LCD screen, and command the camera to remove them.
Life doesn’t give you second chances to capture special times. That’s
why the PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH features an ISO 1600 setting
that reduces the effects of camera shake and sharpens subjects in
low-light situations, giving you greater shooting flexibility. ISO can
be expanded to 3200 when you select ISO 3200 Special Scene mode.
What's in the Box
- PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH body
- Lithium-ion battery pack (NB-4L)
- Battery charger (CB-2LV)
- Wrist strap (WS-DC7)
- Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
- USB interface cable (IFC-400PCU)
- AV cable (AVC-DC400)
Customer Reviews
A True Pocket Camera with HD Video
I just purchased this Canon on a whim, earlier today at Best Buy.
I have been tinkering with it for the majority of the evening. My
previous SD300 is still working like a champ, however I have been
considering a video camera for some time...after some peering at the
video camera counter I wandered over to the point and shoot table...
what initially drew me in to the SD780IS was its appearance on the
display stand. The sleek matte-black body is very eye-pleasing...then I
looked at the specs. and realized that it shoots video in HD!
(1280x720) Then all the other attributes made me realize that it was
time to update my "everywhere, anytime" camera.
I proceeded to check out some of the other Canon SD cameras. The
SD960 became the other candidate...it has a little more glass(4x)zoom,
over the SD780's (3x)zoom. The SD960 has an appealing f2.8 apeture over
the SD780's f3.2. The SD960's screen is more tailored for the HD video
capture as it has a 16:9 ratio LCD panel. (Kinda nice for instant
viewing ON THE CAMERA)
After some thought I went with the SD780 for these reasons:
1. The HD video capability is awesome and comparible with the
SD960. It has a HDMI jack. The traditional 4:3 screen does not bother
me, because the video is ultimately going to be viewed on a HD
TV.(There will be an upper and lower bar on 16:9 playback through the
SD780's LCD).
2.The weaker 3x zoom is not a big deal as this camera is for
general shooting(out w/ freinds, bars, random afternoon at the beach,
mountain biking, etc.)and with this camera EASLIY fitting in my jeans
pocket or camelbak, the portability is what gives me the opportunity to
document those moments, that would otherwise be missed. The SD960 is a
little bulkier(but still small). I do also shoot with a Canon 40D,
accompanied with L optics, but the weight and bulkiness do not lend to
certain shooting circumstances. (as mentined above)
3. The user interface on the SD780IS is like most (if not all?)
preceeding SD cameras. While there is not much control in the way of
shooting settings, feature buttons like flash override, AE lock, AF
lock, and exposure compensation are present on the camera body. The
SD960IS has two buttons and a jog wheel, which lend to swims in the
menu. I'm sure the new interface on the 960 is intuitive, but I liked
the 780 due to its similarity to my old SD300.
I am very happy with the results produced thus far with the
SD780IS. The HD video is excellant, however it should be known that
once recording you can only zoom digitally. Low light cabilities and
sound in video mode are excellent. The stills I have taken look great.
Also, to the budget-minded who are upgrading from older digital
point-and-shoots, a class 4 minimum 4GB or 8GB SDHC card would be well
suited due to the demanding memory of the 12.1 million pixels, and HD
video. Also, most old card readers will not process the the SDHC cards
so you may have to purchase a new card reader as well.
I have to mention it again...the small size of the Canon SD780IS
is mind-blowing...and the functionality actually mirrors its beauty.
Revolutionary! Beautiful and Powerful
OVERVIEW
Canon SD780IS is the perfect travel/everyday camera. It weighs a
little over 4 ounces. The size of the camera is astonishing. It is
smaller than my iPhone 3G and my wallet. I love the new 720p video
recording HD feature on the 2009 Canon P+S line. The image
stabilization for video/image stills is a winner. The clips are sharper
and clearer than the clips from the Creative Vado HD and the Flip Video
MinoHD.
PLAYBACK ON COMPUTERS
For video playback without choppiness on the computer, you need to
have at least a Core 2 Duo 1.66 GHz or higher processor on Windows
(Vista/XP SP2/XP SP 3) or Core Duo 1.66 GHz or higher processor on Mac
OS X (v10.4-v10.5)
MEMORY CARD
You should get at least 8GB Sandisk Extreme III SDHC (Class 6 or
higher) memory card for the camera. 4000x3000 resolution images can
quickly fill up your 2/4GB SD memory card.
CONCLUSION
+ Quick Continuous Snapshots
+ 720p HD Video Recording with Image Stabilization
+ Lightning Quick Startup
+ Ultra-Compact Point & Shoot Camera (Thin + Light Combo)
+ Beautiful Design
+ Great for Beginners (Very Easy To Use)
+ Bright LCD Screen
+ DIGIC IV Technology
+ Blink Detection
+ Can Edit Video Clips on the go
+ Scene Detection Mode works Flawlessly
- No Optical Zoom in Video Mode while Recording (You can Digitally Zoom)
- Monotone Sound in Video Mode
- Only 3x Optical Zoom for image stills
- View Finder is Useless
- Little Noisy/Grainy when Using Higher Than ISO400 but Acceptable
SCORE/VERDICT
09/10: Recommended
Noisy, but good
If you want this little new camera from Canon it's probably due to
it's attractive body and small size, something Canon has done well in
the past and managed to improve upon in the SD780 IS. If those two
things are topping your list, don't bother reading this review. You've
succeeded in finding a tiny, attractive little camera that can go just
about anywhere. If quality and features also matter, it's more of a
mixed bag. As usual, when you make a camera this small, the form factor
means sacrifices in more practical areas. Nonetheless, Canon does a
nice job all-around in giving you an excellent value despite the
shortcomings inherent in pocket photographic devices.
For owners of small pocket cameras, it should come as no surprise
that noise is the number one problem with this device. With a 12MP
sensor, it's no wonder there's so much noise in every photo you take.
Outdoors, indoors, pitch black, whatever: it doesn't matter. You will
see noise no matter how well-lit your scene is, whether there are dark
areas or not. This is a huge drawback if you're printing large photos.
If you're like most people and only go beyond 4x6 or 5x7 for that
occasional photo that warrants an 8x10, you don't have much to worry
about. Though cramming 12MP into a tiny little sensor, like the one
used in the SD780 IS, is certainly a cause of the high levels of noise,
the resolution it provides makes the noise imperceptible when printing
small photographs. You may notice it in an 8x10 photo taken at night,
but for your smaller prints you should get by just fine.
Where noise is a bigger problem is in the video mode. Since the
introduction of their 5D Mark II DSLR, Canon's begun to embrace
high-definition video across their photographic line. Though few
cameras in Canon's arsenal can capture HD video at this time, I believe
by the end of 2009 it should be more the norm than the exception. While
the SD780 IS doesn't capture 1080p video like the 5D Mark II, or it's
(much) bigger brother the SX1S IS, 720p is quite a feat for a camera
this small. It's comparable in size to the Flip Mino HD and only costs
about $50 more (if you're comparing by suggested retail pricing).
Though not as straightforward and simple as the Flip, by virtue of
being a still camera first and a video device second, if you're looking
for a device that does both and are willing to pay a little extra
you've found it. The video quality in the Canon SD780 IS is more
uniformly sharp (in daylight or indoors), though the Flip Mino HD tends
to pick up slightly more detail in the distance (in daylight, not
indoors). The SD780 IS gives you selective focus and stabilization.
While you may not care for selective focus, the image stabilization
offered in the SD780 IS is very nice to have when taking video clips.
The image stabilizer allows for nice, smooth pans that are not offset
by the "jello effect" you get with CMOS sensors. The Flip uses a CMOS
and has that issue. The SD780 IS uses a CCD and does not. The SD780
also offers H.264 encoding at an average bit rate of about 24Mbps. For
H.264 720p video, this is a very high bit rate from a device.
Nonetheless, the files aren't too big. If you've got a 16GB SDHC card
you'll get about an hour and a half of video. Where the Flip does a
better job, however, is in noise.
Though the Flip isn't exactly the best device in low light, it
still manages pretty well for a tiny little camera. The SD780 IS looks
noisy in every situation. While the high megapixel rating keeps the
noise harder to see in a photo, when you're dealing with 720p video the
noise is very apparent. You can see it in perfect daylight, though it's
not that bothersome, and you can really see it indoors regardless of
the lighting. This is a noisy camera. Though it's forgivable in the
photographs, in most cases, it really hurts the video mode. Given the
limitations of the tiny hardware and the unfortunate megapixel race,
noise reduction would've been nice. Nonetheless, if you're looking for
an incredibly tiny device that records HD video, the SD780 IS should by
high on your list by virtue of its stabilization.
Being that this is a primarily a still camera and not a video
device, there are a lot of positives to look at. Let's start on the
outside and work our way in. Canon's clearly put a lot of thought into
the form factor. Regardless of what color you get, I think most will
agree that this is a very attractive device. It's compact and light, so
taking it with you will seem about the same as not taking it with you:
you will often forget you have it. On one hand, that's very nice. On
the other, make sure you don't lose it. Though it's not the smallest
camera you can buy, it feels a lot smaller than it is. This could be an
issue for some people. I've owned and/or reviewed a large number of
consumer imaging devices and I've never run into the problems that some
seem to have with button size. I've used a Sony camera that's a bit
smaller than this one and had no issues, whatsoever, with accidental
presses. The SD780 IS is the first device I've owned where I often make
these mistakes. If you have big fingers, you will probably find this
device extremely frustrating. For me, the problem is primarily with
what I'll call the function wheel. Kind of like an iPod, in the center
is a Function/Set button surrounded by a wheel of four other options.
Though this is not a new interface for Canon, it's awfully small on the
SD 780 and it's very easy to mistakenly push the wrong button on the
wheel (or the center button). Personally, I don't find myself running
into this problem too often because I'm not frequently changing
settings. Nonetheless, it's something you should consider if you've had
trouble with accidental button pushes in the past.
The other switches, however, are quite easy to deal with. The other
four buttons on the back panel have quite a bit of space around them,
even when not considering how small this camera is, and pushing them is
no trouble at all. One is a switch that goes from automatic photo mode
to custom photo mode to video mode. Though I've come to prefer separate
buttons for starting a video and taking a photo, much like Sanyo does
with their line of convergence cameras (which they're now calling "dual
cameras"), this switch works well in the sense that it keeps you in the
mode and saves you from remembering which button to push when you want
something. More importantly, switching modes is about as fast as you
could ask for. Though it's not my preferred way to switch modes
(because I prefer the devices to seem like there's no switch at all),
it doesn't really end up being a problem.
Lastly, there are two buttons on the top of the camera. One is for
the shutter and the other is the power button. If you have large
fingers, good luck pushing the power button. It's tiny and it isn't
raised at all. I consider my fingers normal-sized and have no
difficulty pushing the button but if you're concerned, go try the
camera in a store before you buy it. As for the shutter, that's no
problem at all. You half-depress to focus and press fully to take the
photo, like you would with pretty much any digital camera on the
market. There is also a zoom ring around the shutter button which has a
tiny little edge to it for your finger to flick. It works quite well,
despite being as tiny as it is. For the most part, the camera is very
easy to control despite its size. Though you may have difficulty when
changing settings, when it comes to general operation (aside from
turning it on and off) you shouldn't run into issues.
My two favorite parts of the SD780 IS body are its large screen and
port access. The screen is incredibly bright and clear, even at half
brightness (which is where it starts out of the box and probably where
you want to leave it), and is well protected by a glass covering.
Smudging is easy to clean but be careful of scratches. The refresh rate
of the screen is also excellent. Color accuracy is surprisingly good
and realistic, assuming you're not using the "my colors" feature. I've
come to expect less from Canon's devices (especially in the white
balancing department) and I was pleasantly surprised. While that isn't
entirely the display's job, what I see on the screen is what I see in
reality. No complaints. If you prefer shooting from the viewfinder,
which is perfectly reasonable, you will definitely be disappointed. The
option is nice, of course, but it's so incredibly tiny that it seems
more for show than for any actual use. I appreciate Canon's inclusion,
but I can pretty much guarantee it will never be used for any practical
purpose. My other favorite part is the port access, because it's
exactly how I like it. In the top left corner (if you're looking at the
back of the camera), you pull off this little piece of plastic to
reveal a mini HDMI port and a mini USB port. There's no proprietary
connections. It's nice to see a tiny camera not sacrifice connectivity
for the sake of size. To transfer pictures, just pull the plastic
covering away and plug the camera into your computer. The process is
the same if you want to connect the camera via HDMI to your HDTV. Canon
doesn't include the necessary cable, which is a shame, but being that
I've never once connected my camera to a television I'm not really
bothered. They do give you a standard definition cable, however, so
you're not stranded with no options. On the bottom of the camera there
is the usual slide-off access to the battery and memory card. Canon
really crammed them both in there, but in a way that's impressive and
not cumbersome. Additionally, they managed a tripod head mount on the
bottom as well, and you can pull away a little rubber covering to
reveal a hole for the tripod head's stabilizer (the little piece that
doesn't screw in but holds the camera in place on the head).
Overall, the camera body has an excellent design. It's not only
attractive but functional. The only drawback is the possibility of
accidental button pushes, but that sort of comes with the territory.
What about the camera's features? We've already discussed video
mode, which is excellent aside from the noise issues. The still camera
features and controls are quite good all around, with only a few silly
omissions. Let's start with the menu system. It's very simple. You
press the menu button and you have two columns. One is the very simple
camera options column, only giving you four choices, and the other is
the function column giving you much more to do. In the camera options,
you can turn certain functionalities on or off. Despite the paltry zoom
on this device, which is to be expected due to its size, I'd recommend
turning off digital zoom. It's on by default. Why it is even included
in cameras is something I've never quite understood. As for the
functions menu, you have a number of basic functions (display
brightness, card formatting, etc.) but also some superfluous functions
like changing the sound effects and the camera's startup image. You
don't get many choices, and the dog bark shutter sound is absent from
this device (which I always loved), but you get choices nonetheless. If
you don't want sound effects at all, there is a mute feature. You
should note, however, that this camera makes noise on startup
nonetheless. The body is a little noisy on its own. The image
stabilizer also sounds like a fan is running. I haven't heard the
microphone pick up this noise in video mode, but if operation noise is
a problem for you for whatever reason you can minimize it by turning
off image stabilization. That said, aside from getting a couple of
extra pictures out of your battery life, I can't imagine why you'd ever
want to turn it off.
Canon's autofocus has lagged behind Nikon's in the DSLR market, in
my opinion, but in their consumer devices I've been pretty pleased with
how well it works. Autofocus is very fast and, in my experience so far,
very accurate. The only problem I've consistently run into is the
minimum focal distance in normal mode. Turning on macro mode solves the
problem, and seems to be the most versatile mode (as it has no problem,
unlike some consumer cameras, focusing far off as well). The
unfortunate issue with macro focus is that it resets every time you
switch modes or turn the camera off. If you want it on, you need to set
it every single time. It would be nice to either be able to change the
default or for the camera to automatically switch to macro when it
can't manage to focus due to its proximity to the subject.
The flash does a pretty good job for being so tiny. Even from far
away, it does well. Oddly enough, close subjects were not as blown out
as I'd expected. Often times the photos looked surprisingly natural for
a flash. Nonetheless, since you're getting image noise regardless, I
recommend shooting with higher ISOs if you have a reasonable amount of
light in the room. It still tends to look more natural, especially
after a little color correction.
Exposure controls and the self-timer meet expectations. There's not
a lot of room for innovation with these features, but you can adjust
what I can only assume is the gain before taking a photo. Perhaps
you're adjusting shutter speed, though I'm not sure. You can also set a
self-timer for 2 or 10 seconds. Actually being able to choose the time
would be a nice step up, but I don't think many have complained about
the options given. They work just fine.
The SD780 IS also includes many superfluous but fun features common
to Canon's consumer line. My Colors is one of them. They give you so
many different color modes (including positive film, monotone and
sepia) I don't know why you'd want to create your own, but you do have
that option. You can also shoot in black and white with a color accent,
if you're trying to create the feel of Schindler's List in your family
photos (hopefully that includes no one), or just swap colors for
whatever reason you'd want to do that.
Playback mode is excellent. It's very easy to zoom in and out on
your photos and navigate through them. You can even display a histogram
and EXIF data while looking at the photo, which is pretty excessive but
cool for a consumer device. Video playback provides a wealth of
control, which even includes in-camera editing. This isn't terribly new
to Canon's devices but it's still nice. Personally, I'd rather edit
outside of the camera but if you need space on your card and don't have
a spare it might be a good way to solve that issue (assuming you have
parts of your videos that you want to remove).
As far as silly omissions go, when selecting an image size you can
get the normal 4:3 or 16:9 (likely a result of the video mode). Where's
the 3:2 option? Digital cameras have pioneered the 4:3 format, which,
personally, I do not like. When printing a 4x6 photo I'd prefer to
avoid cropping. Both 4:3 and 16:9 require cropping, which is
unfortunate. It seems ridiculous to not offer 3:2 shooting, but then
again that's not the norm with these devices. I think that's
unfortunate. As I've mentioned previously, the lack of an HDMI cable
and noise reduction is also too bad. The HDMI is understandable as this
camera is pretty inexpensive (and you'd never know that by looking at
it), but noise reduction is sorely missed. It's no replacement for an
actual lack of noise, but a little bit would go a long way with this
device.
The battery life is surprisingly good. Perhaps I feel that way
because I haven't used a camera this small in a long time, but being
that it can make it through the day given all the crap I put it through
with room to spare, I'm impressed. The camera also comes with a
separate charger, which is great if you want to pick up a spare
battery. It's also very easy for travel. Though I always prefer the
option, at least, to charge via USB (in case I forget the charger or
don't want to bother bringing it with me), the provided charger is very
compact and makes charging the battery an easy thing to do. The only
downside is that you constantly have to remove the battery from the
camera, but they make that access easy enough (as described earlier).
Overall, there's a lot to like about the Canon SD780 IS. The noise
issue is the biggest drawback, but educated buyers should know to
expect this when purchasing a pocket device. Everything else is mostly
trivial. Though the noise issues are a major drawback, especially if
you're interested in the mostly great HD video mode, this is a great
little camera and well worth the price thanks to the HD video mode.
In summary...
+ Attractive, tiny size and solid build
+ Surprisingly good battery life
+ Big, bright, color-accurate display
+ Menu system and on-screen interface is attractive and easy to use
+ Forgetting the noise issues, video mode is very good providing 720p video in H.264 with a high bit rate (average of 24Mbps)
+ Easy access to ports and easy to transfer photos or display them on your (HD)TV
+ The flash is surprisingly effective without being excessively bright
+ Inexpensive for what you get
= Very high resolution photos, though this comes at a cost (6 to 8 MP seems like a more logical choice)
= Image stabilization is excellent considering the size, but isn't what you get with a larger device
= Has a viewfinder, though it's pretty much useless
= Many superfluous but fun features, mainly color-related
- Physical buttons are often too small and accidental pushes are commonplace
- Images and video are extremely noisy, no matter the lighting conditions
