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Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Compact Camera

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24 User Reviews

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• Reviewed by: ivanhoe31

  Updated: 09-28-09

  Overall Rating: 4 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:2 Years

  Strengths: - Robust - Easy to use - Quality of images is generally good

  Weaknesses: - The memory card that comes with the camera is useless.

  Overall Evaluation: Strengths- Robust - Easy to use - Quality of images is generally goodWeakness - The memory card that comes with the camera is useless. The first thing I recommend is a good memory card with decent storage.

• Reviewed by: wolfbbg1

  Updated: 08-01-07

  Overall Rating: 5 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:4 Weeks

  Strengths: Good image quality (for a P&S digicam), image stabilization, [barely] usable ISO800, 4X zoom (35-140mm), compact, light-weight, nice 2.5" LCD, still has an optical viewfinder

  Weaknesses: Flash is very, very weak; optical viewfinder is tiny

  Overall Evaluation: We bought the SD700IS for the times when I didn't feel like lugging around the DSLR and assorted lenses. 6MP is plenty since we typically never print anything larger than a 5x7 from a P&S -- our previous compact digicam was only 3MP (it died), so this was a big step up.My wife is intimidated by the plethora of controls on my DSLR, and she loves the SD700 because it has few controls. This is especially true when you are in the auto mode. However, I have been blown away by the image quality even when using the auto mode. Focus and exposure are almost always spot on.Since cameras of this form factor are so lightweight, the image stabilization is almost a necessity. Since Canon does a better job at taming noise in these tiny sensors than _anyone_ else, my friends are amazed at the natural, low-light shots I get from this camera (ISO800, no flash). I'm not going to print an 8x10 out of the resulting photo, but it looks fine at 5x7 and it captures the moment.You can read a thorough review at DPReview -- they did a great job. This camera has been superceded by both the SD800IS and the SD850IS. Both of these cameras have higher MP sensors, but the SD700IS can still hold its own.It's getting harder and harder to find these now, so good luck! I paid $295 in June 2007.

• Reviewed by:

  Updated: 01-13-07

  Overall Rating: 3 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:2 Days

  Strengths: Great features

  Weaknesses: very fragile

  Overall Evaluation: certainly not the strenght of the older Canon Power shot s series. I have a s20 that has worn corners from all the abuse I put it through. In a padded case the camera shell pulled apart from a 2 foot drop. I had read reviews that mentioned this but now I believe. Was very lucky to be able to shove and wedge it back together and have it still work. Just have to hope nothing goes wrong with it cause warrenty is void now after two days of use. Trying to super glue case. Will be very hard to carry with now without subjecting to normal wear and tear. fingers crossed but not hopeful. Nice camera if you treat it like an egg, construction cheap with metal retaining clips that deform causing shell to seperate.

• Reviewed by: nyyanks81

  Updated: 12-27-06

  Overall Rating: 4 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:6 Months

  Strengths: Small and compact and takes great quality pics

  Weaknesses: It can be made of better material (metal?) to be a bit stronger.

  Overall Evaluation: This is a great little camera. It takes great shots and its easy to transfer photos to your computer. The software is easy to use. Photos come out crisp just the way it should be. It has many fucntions for whatever you may be using it for. The digital zoom is perfect for those shots from a distance away.

• Reviewed by: CompactCameraFan

  Updated: 12-03-06

  Overall Rating: 2 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:7 Days

  Strengths: Anything good as said in all ads and reviews

  Weaknesses: Bad video recording sound and data downloading

  Overall Evaluation: The background noise is too high when taking video and the recorded sound is very low during the playback; The camera functions easily die when downloading data from the camera to a computer through the cable, and I have to take out the battery to re-start the camera in order to restore its functions very often.

• Reviewed by: laji2000

  Updated: 12-02-06

  Overall Rating: 5 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:1 Weeks

  Strengths: 4X Zoom, picture quality, coolness factor

  Weaknesses: Canon should have made the mode selector a bit easier to turn. Buttons are a little too small IMHO

  Overall Evaluation: I own a Canon Powershot A610 camera and my first reaction when I opened and searched the box that the Canon Powershot SD700 IS came in was, "Where's the camera?" I could not believe how small this camera really is. Compared to my A610 camera, the SD700 IS is tiny. Now that is both good and bad. I've only been using the SD700 IS for a day or so now, and have not really not become used to taking pictures using the SD700 IS using one hand. I think the A610 has a much more sturdier feel as you can take pictures with that camera using one hand. I really have to use both hands when taking pictures with the SD700 IS. The A610 is portable but it is a tight fit into a jeans pocket. Now I don't think the SD700 IS will have that problem as it will fit into any pocket. I haven't taken many pictures yet, but the ones I've taken have come out looking really sharp. Also, the mode selector is a little tough to turn as it both small and requires a little force to turn. Canon can definitely improve upon this design. Overall, I absolutely love this camera and will definitely recommend it because of it's great features set, the speed in which it takes continuous pictures with and without flash, and incredible picture quality.

• Reviewed by: Ellahsue

  Updated: 11-01-06

  Overall Rating: 5 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:2 Months

  Strengths: Features, Size, Quality of Photos, Ease of Use, IS feature

  Weaknesses: Small controls

  Overall Evaluation: Can't imagine a better small camera than this one. Size is perfect and Canon packed lots of features in this small box. Has a quality feel and look to it. Love the large display. IS system is great. I highly recommend it.

• Reviewed by: MetalManCPA

  Updated: 09-19-06

  Overall Rating: 5 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:1 Months

  Strengths: Fast focusingClear/crisp photosVery good quality video modeA point and shoot that I can take low light photos with

  Weaknesses: Price? maybe, but compared to what?Slightly difficult menu system to get used to

  Overall Evaluation: The SD700 IS was a replacement for my Minolta Dimage XT. It's difficult to compare the two, because the Minolta was only a 3 Megapixel camera. That aside, I'll focus on the SD700 IS:A week before a cruise I was going on I decided I wanted to upgrade my camera. I wanted something of quality, and most importantly a camera that takes good pictures. I wasn't just thinking about cruise pictures, but was looking for a camera that I could happily grab every day and take with me wherever I go. I did as much reviewing as I could, and even though the SD700 IS was relatively new, it seemed to get good enough initial comments to warrant spending the $$ on.The first thing I noticed about this camera was the look and feel. It looks pretty cool, but obviously that isn't what a camera is about. It feels very sturdy and well-built. That's very important for a camera that I carry with me every day. The one thing I am fearful about is the retractable lens. I know it's just me, but my mind tells me that's just something that could break over time, moreso than a camera with a fixed lens.As far as using it is concerned, I won't get into every detail of the camera - it's parts and menus. There are several well-written fully documented professional reviews on the net explaining each item this camera has to offer.For an ameteur such as myself, I want a camera that does what i expect it to do, and this camera has not failed any expectations of mine. It's actually exceeded my expectations.Within a second of turning on the camera I can pop off a picture. I always take care to keep the wheel in auto mode when I put it away, for I know it will be set for most instances when I need it without thinking. I have found in auto mode the ISO High setting and auto flash generally cover my needs. It's fairly quick to change ISO and flash settings, so within a second or two I can change those if needed. I have the fine mode set, and use the M1 (2272x1704) setting. In manual mode, I've used the long shutter mode for night pictures and sometimes keep it on. Usually, when I'm in manual mode, I am taking my time and care in setting up the picture, so I don't really care what the settings are when I leave that mode, such as flash, long shutter, white balance, etc. The next time I use manual mode I check the settings for my particular shooting case of the moment.As far as the pictures I've taken to date, I can say the following:The daytime pictures are as perfect as they can be. I find 6-megapixels is fine for my needs. They display very well on my 19" monitor based upon my settings once transferred to my computer, and I generally print 4x6 photos with photo paper on an HP photo printer and they look pretty darn good.The low light pictures are noisy, but I expect that for what I purchased. I still get pictures in low light I've never been able to get before. Even in 4x6 printing, they capture the moment and I can look beyond the less than perfect quality just knowing I actually got the picture.I haven't used the flash all that much. At the normal 5-7 foot distance the flash works fine. I find it a little bright when too close, and haven't really played with the settings enough to see how to balance out that problem.I've had a few red-eye pictures, but I blame myself for not using the red-eye flash setting.I've used the macro setting, and the close-ups of some plant and animal life i've taken have been beautiful.I've played with the special color settings. I took a picture in the lobby of the ship of flowers with a piano player in the background. the only color I kept was the red in the flowers, and the rest was black and white. It was a very cool picture. I haven't tried the color swap yet.The video setting is a nice feature too. I have a nice mini-DV camcorder, but when I want a clip on the fly, the 640x480 at 30fps does a nice job.Reviewing the pictures on the fly are a breeze. It displays the picture i just took, and in a second I can delete it if i have the time. or, of course i can wait until I get home and delete the pictures I don't want. I purchased a Sandisk UltraII 2GB SD card for the camera, so I can hold a ton of pictures before the need to transfer.I used the slide show feature and played back the photos on my TV with the supllied cable - it was easy. Also, reviewing the pictures on the SD card with the thumbnails is handy.I find the 2.5" screen to be clear and adequate.I use the supplied photo editing software, and I find transferring the pictures from the camera to my computer to be a breeze.The camera is small enough to not to be a pain to carry, and the quality of pictures I find to be admirable. It's a point-and-shoot camera, not a professional one. These sort of cameras, to me, are for the person who just wants a picture. There are cheaper cameras on the market, but I believe you get what you pay for. The money on this beauty I find well spent.

• Reviewed by: brandonpaz

  Updated: 08-02-06

  Overall Rating: 5 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:2 Days

  Strengths: Image Stabalizer, Nice screen, good pictures, very small.

  Weaknesses: High ISO pictures can be a little grainy especially if you zoom in alot for a closer look after the picture has been taken (on the playback).

  Overall Evaluation: I was amazed by how clear the pictures came out with the image stabilizer, I actually started with the camera near my head, and moved it very quickly to my chest/stomach while taking my picture and it was still as clear as if I was not moving at all. I do a lot of wake boarding so I really love the continuous shot feature (finally even somebody with the worst timing can find the right shot, and since it is digital just delete the extras u dont need :) The Image Stabilizer really helped to get some great shots on the moving boat, even zoomed all the way out to 4x I did not have a single blurry photo! I am very impressed and happy with my purchase. Brandon

• Reviewed by: hermangerman

  Updated: 07-22-06

  Overall Rating: 4 Star Review

  Duration of ownership:1 Months

  Strengths: Size, picture quality, 4x zoom, image stabilization, LCD, stylish

  Weaknesses: Easy to scratch, a little bit of blurriness in corner

  Overall Evaluation: This camera takes great picture. The 4x zoom and image stabilization are good features; the stabilization really allows good pictures in low light situations. LCD is sharp and usable in very bright situations. Case scratches a little too easily.

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