Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue) Reviews

• Solid ultracompact camera

  
  By AXTM3P9K11KA2 on 2008-03-08
  
  If you need a solid, reliable, and stylish point-and-shoot ultracompact digital camera that produces high-quality images, then the new Canon PowerShot SD1100IS may be right for you.
  
  I am an advanced amateur photographer and own 2 Canon digital cameras (G2 and 20D). Both have served me well over the years but recently I have found myself needing a decent ultracompact camera that I can easily carry with me at all times for unexpected photo-ops.
  
  Other current Canon models that I also researched before my purchase of the "bohemian brown" SD1100IS included the SD950IS and the SD1000.
  
  Here is my take on the SD1100IS:
  
  Strengths:
  - 8MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor (excellent resolution images with good dynamic range)
  - Solid construction (most of body made of anodized aluminum)
  - Feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hands
  - Easy to use (logical user-interface) with minimal need to consult owner's manual for basic operation
  - Multiple shooting modes to fit variety of situations (action/sports mode is a glaring omission but read section below to see possibly why)
  - Advanced metering system with accurately exposed pics in even "tricky" situations (great balance of highlights and shadows)
  - Tack-sharp images (much more so with sufficient lighting and use of built-in flash)
  - Macro mode can result in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
  - Optical IS feature helpful when shooting in either low-light conditions with flash off or at telephoto lengths
  - Fast start-up with acceptable shutter-lag (when not using flash)
  - Bright 2.5" LCD monitor (100% coverage, 230k pixels) made of polycrystalline silicon; fairly scratch-resistant (can't vouch if this applies to keys and coins)
  - Optical viewfinder (though only a tiny peephole, it is essential when LCD glare and washout become an issue shooting in bright sunlight or when LCD cannot be used as battery power is nearly depleted)
  - Camera made in Japan (at least those from the 1st shipment; this easily may be subject to change)
  
  Limitations:
  - Lack of manual control over aperture, shutter speed, and focusing (for the obssessive control-freaks)
  - Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400 (ISO 800 still useable but probably for only 4x6 images; ISO 1600 mostly unuseable)
  - Fastest shutter speed is 1/1500 sec (not fast enough to stop action for some sporting activities)
  - Auto-focus speed inadequate to follow fast-moving subjects
  - Shutter-lag accentuated with flash on (precious Canon moments lost while waiting for flash to recharge)
  - Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode (focus is fixed for distance selected at first frame, and digital zoom is permitted instead, resulting in significant image quality deterioration)
  - Battery/memory card cover and hinge made of plastic (no safety latch that needs to be de-activated first before sliding cover out, in order to prevent accidental opening)
  - Minor vignetting and chromatic aberration (albeit, difficult not to expect from compact p&s)
  - Pincushion and barrel distortion at the extremes of the focal lengths
  - No RAW shooting mode
  
  Battery power in camera mode with LCD monitor on is mostly as advertised, allowing for approximately 240 images. If your budget permits, I recommend investing in a few spare batteries as backups and replacing the supplied 32MB memory card with a pair of 4GB SDHC memory cards--vital purchases if you plan to use the movie mode frequently.
  
  Overall Impression:
  Even with some serious limitations inherent to virtually all digital cameras in this class, I am recommending the Canon PowerShot SD1100IS. It does what it's supposed to do. This camera allows one to take beautiful photographs in an ultracompact, reliable, and elegant device that is both easy and fun to use.
  
  
  [UPDATE: Since this review, Canon has recently announced 3 new ELPH models that will be released soon....in time for Grad & Dad's Day: the PowerShot SD770IS, SD790IS, and SD890IS. All are redesigned 10MP digital cameras with Optical Image Stabilizer. The saga of the MP race continues. If the same sensor is found in these units as their predecessors and without improving the noise reduction technology, then adding a few more MP can potentially result in noisier images. We'll have to wait and see. The most intriguing of the bunch appears to be the SD790IS, which replaces the SD750 by adding the very useful Optical IS feature and showcasing flat control buttons. Hopefully, the QC has been remedied on this unit as many consumers experienced the dreaded "lens error" nightmare. The SD890IS replaces the SD850IS and may appeal to vacationers and wildlifers needing more reach at the telephoto end. The SD770IS seems a bit curious as it may be in direct competition with the new SD1100IS (which is the natural successor to the wildly popular SD1000); it has 2 additional MP but the feature set appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the less expensive SD1100IS. I would've preferred to have seen upgrades to the SD870IS and the SD950IS, but those will be rolled out undoubtedly later this year....conveniently before the Holidays.
  
  SD770IS: 10MP, 3X Optical zoom (35-105mm), 2.5" LCD monitor, Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $299.99.
  SD790IS: 10MP, 3X Optical zoom (35-105mm), 3" LCD monitor, no Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $349.99.
  SD890IS: 10MP, 5X Optical zoom (37-185mm), 2.5" LCD monitor, Optical viewfinder, ISO 1600, MSRP $399.99.]
  
  
  
  

• A terrific pocket camera

  
  By A10G4BPT5MGBHY on 2008-03-09
  As a travel writer I spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World, and Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs are the most common cameras I see. Families seem to love them, because they're so easy to carry and operate. About the size of a deck of playing cards, each of these "pocket cameras" really do slip right into a pants pocket, and their rectangular designs make them easy to grip. Best of all, they all take good photos. (How do I know? Because I've actually gotten to use every one of these models. Nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras, which most often are Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs.)
  
  Here's my breakdown of the ten bestselling Digital Elph models. Any of the first six are superb choices:
  
  1ST PLACE: SD1100 IS (The camera on this page)
  An update to the SD1000 (see below), this 2008 8MP beauty adds image stabilization, a slightly longer zoom (38-114 mm), another MP of photo size and a small indent on the right side for a better grip. Plus it comes in colors! My daughter has a blue one and uses it every single day. During school days the image stabilization made a real difference in her on-the-bus shots. With that heavy of use hers has gotten scratched up a bit, but the marks are small and hardly noticeable.
  
  2ND PLACE: SD870 IS
  The ELPH to buy if you want a wide-angle lens. Slightly thicker than the SD1100 IS, this 8MP model doesn't have an optical viewfinder which makes it tough to use in bright sunlight, otherwise there's little not to love. My husband uses one as a comp camera, to compose shots for the travel guide "The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World."
  
  3RD PLACE: SD770 IS
  Just released in May, this 10 MP model is, in a way, an update of the SD1100 IS (see above). I rate it lower because it has a plastic body and doesn't come in colors. On the other hand, it has a longer battery life than the 1100 and features an improved LCD screen that is very easy to view. As for photo quality, I can't tell the difference.
  
  4TH PLACE: SD950 IS
  There's a lot to like in this 12.1 MP camera. First off, it's gorgeous. The body, though a little thick, is titanium. An upgrade to the SD850 IS (see below), it has a 3.7x zoom lens and adds manual controls as well as the ability to stitch together panoramic images. The only reason I don't rate it higher is the price.
  
  5TH PLACE: SD890 IS
  Want a long zoom lens? Here's your baby, a 10 MP model with a 5x zoom. Also has the new bright LCD screen and all the other 2008 Canon goodies. The most expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH.
  
  6TH PLACE: SD790 IS
  With the same 10 MP image sensor and 3x zoom lens as the SD770 IS, this new model stands out only for its larger 3-inch LCD display and, as a result, lack of optical viewfinder. The rear controls are different, too, with a flatter design that uses fewer buttons.
  
  7TH PLACE: SD1000
  In my opinion there's no reason to buy this 7.1 MP model. Released in 2007, it's been replaced by the SD1100 IS (see above). The SD1000 is a fine camera but it doesn't have image stabilization, a key feature of the 2008 lineup.
  
  8TH PLACE: SD850 IS
  The ancestor to the SD890 IS, this 8 MP Elph combines a 4x zoom and 8 MP photo size with an image stabilizer. Every button, dial and switch has a quality feel. Slighter larger than the other models here, it is a little tougher to pop in and out of your pocket, but if you have larger hands it may be just what you are looking for.
  
  9TH PLACE: SD800 IS
  This 7.1 MP predecessor to the 870 doesn't focus well at its edges when set at its widest angle. Still, it's good training for someone who wants to compose like a pro.
  
  10TH PLACE: SD750
  The 2007 PowerShot flagship offers a light meter that adjusts for facial brightness, 17 shooting modes, some first-rate movie features and red-eye correction -- features that were innovative a year ago but are common in Canon's 2008 models. No image stabilization; no optical viewfinder.
  
  

• Perfect for me.

  
  By A28ZDVY6NV75P on 2008-03-10
  I have been using a Powershot I2 IS for the last 3 years. Very good camera with a fantastic 12X Zoom. However, I wanted a camera to carry in my pocket. So many times I just didn't feel like dragging a large camera with me to various parties or events. This camera fills the bill. I carry it everywhere.
  
  The pictures it produces are stunning. The 8MP 3X zoom produces a picture that you can crop to the point that you get almost the same picture as you would have with the 5MP 12X zoom lense (my opinion). The movie feature is wonderful too, even better than the I2 IS.
  
  The camera feels great in your hand with a solid, quality feeling. If you have used Canon cameras before the menus are very intuitive. I would not have purchased this camera (or any camera for that matter) if it did not have the Image Stabilization feature. This is especially a must as you get older.
  
  By the way there is an advantage to the Brown color: If you have to use the optical view finder outside, the camera itself produces minimum glare for you eye to see more clearly through the small opening. The color also makes the LCD playback pop. And as a bonus, it really gives the camera a luxury look, you have to see it in person to appreciate the color.
  
  I recently took it to a monthly card party and everyone went wild over it. So much so that one person sat right down at the computer and ordered one! If you want a sub-compact, pocketable camera that takes great pictures, I highly recommend the Canon SD1100IS.
  
  
  
  

• The lens error problem is for real....

  
  By A2WJVCE3BQJX6U on 2008-07-12
  I got this camera for my daughter (in pink of course) in mid-April. She loves it (size, pictures, etc.) but after less than three months it will only flash "lense error, restart" when it's turned on. Too late to return to Amazon. :( On the bright side, a trip to Canon's website support section got me through to a Repair Request Confirmation. Hopefully, this will just cost me postage to Elk Grove Village, IL.
  
  Suspiciously, Canon doesn't list this model on their repair request input screen... makes you wonder if they're trying to discourage the onslaught of these that they're getting back for repair.
  
  Here's hoping Canon will stand behind this little jewel. If I had it to do over I'd think twice....
  
  

• Amazon, Amazon, reviewers y'all, tell me which CanonSD is the fairest of all?

  
  By A6VPK7X53QNAQ on 2008-03-24
  First about the SD1100 and later in the review, a comparison between Canon SD series cameras.
  
  The former Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) was the perfect tiny camera that you could slip into your shirt pocket and bring out at a moment's notice and begin clicking away. No wonder it has been Canon's top selling model! It was almost perfect except it did not have image stabilization like some other Canon cameras. And now with the SD1100IS Canon has added it's motion detection technology to this tiny camera which will make your shots less blurry, especially in low light.
  
  Other enhancement over SD1000 is a slightly rounded styling which feels more comfortable in the hand and gives you a better grip. You can also choose from fun colors - Bohemian brown anyone?
  
  I have several Canon cameras and I use them regularly, but once again the SD1100 gets a lot of use as it's easy to carry in your tighter jean pocket/shirt pocket.
  
  What else is nice about the SD1100 IS?
  Basic picture taking:
  It takes excellent outdoor shots and has a satisfactory low light performance for its size. The face detection and auto white balance in the frame help expose faces correctly. It has a viewfinder in case the sun is too bright and an anti-reflective 2.5" screen. You can also use your high capacity SD cards in this baby.
  
  Creative features:
  With this camera you can get creative with "My Colors" features. The Color Accent mode where you keep any one color in the picture while the rest is black and white helped frame a blue sky, blue sea and blue jeans in a b/w group shot. Cool! There are options to swap colors and also take b/w or sepia pics. Read the manual and you'll discover even more fun features.
  
  The Scene modes are tried and tested and help you take the best picture. I love "foliage" which brings out the greens or autumn colors. "Fireworks" freezes the bursts of firecrackers in the sky in perfect spheres. "Aquarium" helped me take wonderful shots of fish, before this mode all I got was my flash reflecting on the glass of the tank. The others modes - indoor, beach, snow, kids/pets have been useful too.
  
  Making videos:
  The video mode takes movies in 3 different sizes and it has a time lapse video function. You can set the camera to record at intervals. I used it to capture sun's ascent from sunrise to mid morning and the video looks fabulous. You can even use the creative colors modes while taking video. The image stabilization helps in the video mode eliminating jerky shots.
  
  The bottom line? This is a great camera - it's take-along-everywhere tiny, it's got a ton of creative features and takes great pictures, it also comes in fun colors. It's the one to get!
  
  EXTRA READING FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL NOT SURE...
  If you want the perfect balance between image quality, features, size, layout and last but not the least the price, here is my 2 cents worth. (I own 4 SD cameras and have done some research using all of these for the same picture at the same location.)
  
  Image Quality: Top slot goes to the cameras in the 800/900 series. The image quality of SD1100 is a notch below.
  
  Layout and controls: The controls are better on the 800/900/700 series compared to SD1100 as you have a separate instant replay button which is very useful to switch between shoot and replay mode. I LOVE this feature as it saves me a lot of time while shooting. It's so much better than the rubber slider on this 1100 model.
  
  Screen size: This camera has a 2.5" screen with a viewfinder while some other models offer 3 inch screen but are missing the viewfinder. I prefer the larger screen as the extra .5" makes composing shots much easier. I have NEVER missed the viewfinder yet, even in bright sunlight.
  
  Camera Size: SD1100 is the winner here as it's the tiniest. The SD750/770/790 are almost as compact but 800s/900s are bigger.
  
  If picture quality is important for you go for the 800/900 series. If smaller size, with nice picture taking capability is important look at the 700 series. If you want the tiniest, convenient camera which takes pretty good shots at a bargain price go for this SD1100.
  
  Note: For some additional thoughts click on the comments.
  
  
• SD1100 vs. SD8500: Best sidekick for the average shooter?
  By A6FIAB28IS79 on 2008-05-01
  I started with the SD1000 in mind but soon discovered the newly introduced SD1100 before noticing that the identically-priced SD8500 was out-selling it on Amazon by a decisive margin. Even though almost a year older than the 1100, the 8500 offers a few attractive features: 1. a 4X optical zoom lens, with an impressive range of 35mm-140mm (the 1100's is 38mm-114mm); 2. marginally faster shutter operation and less lag time between shots; 3. the ISO settings are reassuringly located in a familiar place (under func menu rather than controller) for users who prefer to make the setting manually.
  
  The experts' reviews admittedly favor the 8500, though I'm convinced present consumers are overlooking two things: first, the raves were written early last year and cannot be compared to reviews for a newly-made camera with merely "incremental" improvements (as the model number suggests, the SD1100 is the successor to the SD1000, which was the direct and immediate successor to the extremely popular SD600); 2nd, the marginally slower shutter time of the 1100 (lag between depressing the trigger and getting a response) is the trade-off for the addition of a new feature, Motion Detection technology, which acts in harmony with automatic image stabilization to recalibrate camera settings when extra motion in front of the lens is sensed. Finally, the apparent unpopularity of this camera is misleading since it comes in five colors and Amazon is treating each separately in its sales rankings (go with pink and save a couple of bucks).
  
  I went with the 1100 (in silver) for several reasons: 1. It's closer in size, weight and appearance to the ultra-compact, classic SD1000 than the rounder and slightly heavier 8500 (for the record, the 1100 reintroduces the "softer" edges of the 1000's predecessor, the SD600); 2. the new Motion Detection system compensates for any additional lag time, providing sharp shots of kids and pets; 3. it offers an improved screen-- PureColor II (a noticeable improvement over PureColor under both extremely dim and bright conditions); 4. the focal length is ideal for the "people shooting"; 5. at 4.41oz it's an ounce lighter than the other new Canon releases, the SD790 and SD890 (each 5.47oz).
  
  In short, this is the ideal lazy person's companion, one that makes a nice complement to the good life.
  
  
• Decent
  By A1XY22IQ4N4QLC on 2008-04-27
  The image stabilization and the face detection work well, and most images come out wonderfully. There is a noticeable issue with noise and fast moving subjects are still an issue for me. One is common in ultra compacts and one may simply require another round with the manual so take that for what it's worth.
  
  I found the menu and settings to be usable, but the settings I want are sometimes buried on a third level. Sometimes menu response has lagged a bit, which can be frustrating when your subject is moving faster than you are.
  
  I moved from a Canon SD20 so having an optical zoom is wonderful. Plus, this camera is not that much larger than the SD20 so I still feel like I will take it out with me without worrying about bulk.
  
  Battery life seems fine so far...much better than the SD which only holds a few minutes charge these days, despite having replaced the battery.
  
  The SD1100 seems to do a decent job overall and overcomes the photographic failures of it's operator (what do I know). If you want a simple point and shoot, you could do much worse. If you want more manual control over your pics, really good low light performance or something to document your next roller derby match, this may not be ideal.
  
  
• perfect ultra compact model
  By A3VONCBTBM2CZR on 2008-04-02
  Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Brown)
  
  
  I own and am a huge fan of the Canon Digital Rebel SLR and think that it takes great pictures. Unfortunately, there are times when a larger camera with all of it's accessories and lenses can be prohibitive. In preparation for an upcomming event where I would be a participant as well as spectator, I realized that I would be unable to carry around my Rebel.
  
  So, I spent several days reading different reviews before deciding on the Canon PowerShot SD 1100. I must stress that the fact that I already owned a Canon played no part in my decision. I did not settle on the SD 1100 out of brand loyalty. I must have read more than 30 or 40 different "professional" reviews of various cameras before picking this one.
  
  I have only had this camera for a couple of days, and haven't yet used it at the event for which it was purchased, but I must say that I am extremely pleased with this camera. The most common negative comment in reviews of this camera is that it does not offer a wide variety of manual settings. I have to agree that if you are looking for a camera to launch your career as a professional photographer, this may not be the best choice for you.
  
  The camera is ultra compact without feeling cheap. It is well designed, well made, full featured, takes great photos under a variety of conditions and exceeds all of my expectations for a more "portable" alternative to my full sized SLR. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this camera and I cannot imagine why somebody wouldn't be extremely happy with this purchase.
  
  I also recommend buying the case advertised as an accessory for this model as it has a belt loop that allows you to carry it safely and securely on your belt instead of in your pocket.
  
  
• Lens mechanism broke after 16 pictures
  By A3KSIEVCWXPDLA on 2008-04-26
  Got camera yesterday. Took 5 pictures yesterday and 11 today. When I switched modes to transfer the trial pictures to my computer, the lens mechanism broke permanently. I was able to get the pictures off the camera, and they look ok, but they lack sharpness. I'm not sure if this is related to the lens mechanism problem, but I kinda doubt it. Amazon is sending a replacement, unfortunately not in time for my Europe trip. I'll be evaluating the replacement and post a new or updated review.
  
  JK
  
  
• Fun little camera!
  By A3MYBSW3Y8C6VK on 2008-03-12
  I am definitely an amateur, not as savvy a user as it sounds like a lot of the other reviewers are. But, from the other extreme of "photographer-smartness", this is a great little camera to use. It's easy, yet has a lot of functionality, which the user guide manages to clearly explain. I needed something very small, which it is, that takes awesome pictures, which it does. Battery life seems very good, so far. My husband likes the manly brown color, too.
  
  
• Over-rated Canon SD1100IS
  By A398WQSAA4XPAL on 2008-05-15
  Just bought the SD1100IS to replace a 1-1/2 year old Casio Exilim EX-Z850 that I broke. I checked out all of the reviews for this new Canon model and was impressed with the comments. But after receiving the camera and using it for a few weeks I am beginning to have my doubts. In fact, right now I would happily give it back to have my Casio Exilim back!
  
  1. Slow, slow, slow - the setup time for every shot, particularly indoor shots, is really annoying. My Casio was ready in about half the time.
  
  2. Grainy images on screen for any nightime indoor shots.
  
  3. Severely under-powered flash - I thought I read some reviews that gave it an OK rating at 10 feet...try about 8 feet and you might be more accurate. Many flash shots were severely darkened by lack of light...and often the flash only covered a portion of the image leaving faces dark and everything else in the photo bright.
  
  4. Used it last weekend for a wedding - roughly half of the shots had to be thrown away...you don't get a lot of opportunities at a wedding. Things move along at their own pace. So walking down the aisle, every other shot was blurry, or out of focus.
  
  5. Face Recognition software worked sometimes, and other times drove me crazy as it would not lock in anywhere near the faces....I eventually shut it off.
  
  6. The pictures - well yes it does take nice pictures...if you're willing to put up with a very annoying camera. Maybe I'll get more used to it over time. I just can't afford to have so many bad shots among the good ones.
  
  
  
• Lens Error within 3 Weeks
  By A3BGAEASA4N4ZR on 2008-07-13
  This was a great camera--until it stopped working completely within 3 weeks. There was no 'incident' or warning... but half an hour after making some movies, I went to turn the camera on and I got the message "Lens Error, Restart Camera." I've tried everything, and I can't even retrieve the photos onto my computer.
  
  So even though I expect Canon to replace this camera, since I bought it for a trip and can't take any photos, I am really bummed that it stopped working. I think they must have been using a cheaper manufacturing process, and we are all paying for it. I've used Canon products for years, and I support the company... but I strongly recommend getting a more reliable camera than this one.
  
  
• So good, my head exploded
  By A2SZRY5TFW27TR on 2008-03-28
  (NOTE: I've had the camera for two days.)
  
  This camera is nothing short of amazing. First, the size. It literally fits in your hand! The size means the camera can slip into a shirt pocket and go ANYWHERE. I wear an orange safety vest at work and this camera fits neatly into a pocket. In the two days I've had this camera, I've taken almost 150 pictures! Entirely due to the size of the camera. It goes everywhere with me now.
  
  Features? How did Canon pack so much into such a tiny package? The controls are intuitive and easy to use. Most people won't crack the manual until they start taking more advanced shots. For the rookie (read: me), this camera is a true point-and-shoot. The optical image stabilization is wonderful and works like a champ. The 8MP pictures look HUGE. There are two different zoom modes on this camera. A 3x regular zoom plus another 6-7x optical.
  
  The battery for this camera charged in less than 90mins. Camera came with a 32MB SD card which goes very fast at 8MP. Still, the fact that Canon included one at all speaks volumes about the company. Lots of accessories are available too.
  
  There are a bunch of more advanced features that I can't speak about. Different shooting modes, ISO settings, and other neat things. There is even a movie mode!
  
  Images look great to this untrained eye. Your mileage will vary.
  
  Highly recommend for people who just want to take lots and lots of pictures!
  
  
• I love this camera!
  By A2MUK1LZNHF7PN on 2008-05-26
  Some people might say (or complain) that this is not a simple point and shoot camera, but if you leave the camera in the auto setting--this camera is as good as they get. Those complainers might want to consider a disposable camera instead. This is not as complicated as using those $1k+ cameras. The manual setting allows you to different things like stitching multiple pictures if you're trying to take a wide scenic pictures, auto focus, video, etc. I really didn't know what to expect from this camera. I also own the Canon 30D but wanted something a little more portable. I had owned others but always had problems with my images (or my hands) moving too much. The image stability feature on this camera works perfect. When you point this camera at a person/object--one or more boxes come up on the screen to show you what the camera will focus on. This is very useful if you want to focus on objects that are either close to you or farther away. The boxes actually move if the object is moving so you can get a clear picture of them. I which I $1400 camera had this feature. I read the manual while on my flight to Rome and couldn't believe the feature this thing has. I made sure I had a couple of high capacity memory cards for this trip. Don't bother trying to take pictures in dark places using the flash. The pictures will come out dark. This is a common problem a lot of cameras unless you have enough flash power. When I used the video features of this camera, I was able to take some spectacular video inside several churches (dark inside)in Rome. The videos are stored on the memory card in .avi format. I actually downloaded these videos on my computer and pulled out individual frames. I bought an extra battery for the trip but never used it. This thing doesn't use a lot of battery power. I went a min of 2 days (350+ pictures) without charging it. Even then--I really didn't have to charge it. The menus are easy to understand and the camera allows you to adjust the video/audio quality so you can take additional pictures/video. I used Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 to put all my pictures on a DVD with music and narration and played it on a 32-inch TV. The results were better than I expected. I'm going to try and upload a couple of pictures from my Rome, Naples and Capri trip on Amazon. I uploaded the pictures on amazon and can tell you that the results don't do this camera any justice. You can email me--I'll send a couple of video samples that I took when I was in Rome. Please take the time to read the manual and take some sample pictures. I would not manually change the auto settings unless you are familiar with digital photography and how those changes affect your pictures. The auto mode worked very well for me.
  
  
• READ THIS REVIEW...
  By A1TGYUGPM60M3G on 2008-08-20
  I can't say anything about the Canon Powershot SD1100 IS that hasn't already been said... but that's never stopped me before, and it won't now.
  
  First a tip; When shooting videos, there is a 4GB maximum file size. For this reason, I use several 4GB SDHC cards, rather than one larger one. That way, in the rare event that a card craps out, you're not sitting on the shoulder, you have a spare tire. And two 4GB cards are often cheaper than one 8GB.
  
  But understand that a 4GB card will hold well over a thousand photos at even the highest quality, so if you don't care about videos, just use your old, smaller SD cards. (but not the tiny 32MB one that comes with the camera... it's useless, and not heavy enough to use as a paperweight or big enough for a coaster).
  
  This is a decent little camera, compared to the competition at it's price level. It's popularity, and overwhelmingly positive customer ratings, attest to that.
  
  But nothing is problem free, and this complex product is no exception.
  
  It's inevitable that there will be a certain number of product failures and customer service problems... sort of like the ones I had with Amazon during the ordering of this product... multiple calls with promises but no resolution, made me want to smack my head against the wall. Giant waste of time, but that's how it goes sometimes.
  
  In their defense, they have done well on other occasions. I will continue to buy from them if they save me money, but my advice is to know exactly what you want before ordering, and don't even think about making changes to your order... it's like opening Pandora's Box, pandemonium will ensue.(slap forehead, denoting irony, and wring hands in frustration).
  
  I see complaints about the camera, and some are valid. But some are not, like, (paraphrase) "It's too difficult to turn off the flash".
  
  I don't see how it could be easier, unless someone invents a camera that you can change the settings by "thinking" or "willing" it to change. You press the flash symbol with your thumb to view modes (auto,on,off), press again to set preference... it literally takes one second, and is about as complicated as lifting a toilet seat... and much cleaner.
  
  However... I did not perform hands-on tests of multiple competitors of this camera to compare complexity and intuitiveness of controls, so all I know that this camera is not as simple as my old 3.3 megapixel Sony DSC-S75.
  
  It takes some time to learn dozens of features, modes, and controls. I am a computer guy, some (me) say a good one. I have MCSE, MCP+Internet, and A+ ratings. That means that I am both a software and a hardware genius, LOL.
  
  However, I can tell you that both you and I will have to show more than a little bit of dedication to learn all the tricks and abilities of this camera, and the more you learn the more fun it is. But the manual is 225 pages, so turn off Jerry Springer and start reading. It's worth the effort.
  
  Alternatively, just reset to full auto defaults and go to town immediately.
  
  This camera won't perform like a digital SLR, but SLR's don't cost $200 bucks and they weigh a lot more than 4.41 oz. I bought this camera to be able to carry it around in my pocket 24/7, and in my opinion you can't reasonably do that with anything even slightly larger or thicker... even the chunkier Powershot SD's are too big. Again, only my opinion.
  
  If not for that, I would have gone for the thicker Canon Powershot SD890 IS with the 5X ZOOM, which is also half again more expensive, of course.
  
  I read a lot of reviews on the internet before choosing this unit. I have had the camera for a couple of weeks. After learning the features, I spent a whole day burning it in... as I said above, I have two 4GB SDHC cards plus a 2GB SD card, and two spare Lenmar batteries in addition to the Canon battery that came with the camera. I smoked that sucker, continuous mode with flash. I took hundreds of pics and lots of videos, including the time-lapse variety, cool. I like it. Homey says five stars.
  
  ADDENDUM, after spending more time using the camera, possibly belaboring some earlier points;
  
  At this writing, about 93% of buyers give this camera a 4 or 5 star rating. Now, some of the complaints from the other 7% are valid, like the one that states that the color swap feature doesn't work very well (but who cares, really?)...
  
  But others are not, like the one that states that the time-date stamp doesn't appear until you print out... clearly, the time-date stamp appears very nicely when you review the photo in-camera.
  
  The PDF user's guide for any camera is readily available from the manufacturer's website for any camera, and you should read it before buying to make sure that the camera has the capabilities you're looking for.
  
  Also, it's a good idea to at least read the same information in the user's guide booklet that comes with the camera after purchase... something that some buyer's clearly don't do. And with the number of features programmed into this and any other comparable camera, you are bound to have difficulty if you try to wing it.
  
  If this review was of any use to you in making your buying decision, click YES below.
  
  
• Fantastic camera at a great price
  By A23DKMX12DIEVN on 2008-03-12
  I just bought this camera last night and I had a few hours to play with it. The picture quality is fantastic indoors and outside. The macro setting is really nice.
  
  I was looking for a small camera under $300 that has great picture quality and movie quality. I found it! The SD100IS is the best choice, and it looks very cool. I bought mine in brown.
  
  
• Still New
  By A27FEPQSZNBL8J on 2008-04-02
  I've only had it 3 days but the menu is much more advanced than the 2 year old nikon coolpix and fuji I just got rid of. So much so I'll have to read the manual, and I hate that. But it still wont take night shots on the night setting, which after going on 2 ghost tours with the other 2 and my 12 year old canon 35 mm nothing shows up. I always had problems with night shots, batteries, and shutter speed.
  
  The reputation and charging ability was the main reason I picked this. The choice of colors were nice, I wanted blue or gold but only Best buy and Wolf carried old boring silver or pink so I ordered from J & R online. Dont look for it at Walmart, Sears, Target, they don't have it yet.
  
  It is the smallest digital camera I've had or seen in a long time, about the same size as my Razor cell phone.
  
  
• A great compact P&S camera!
  By ACDK792P1XBLU on 2008-04-09
  Got the PS SD1100IS to replace an older Canon digital. This is a big improvement since the other was about 3 years old, and tho it took great shots it was bulky and sometimes had a maddening delay when trying to shoot portraits. This new camera is much more compact, takes great pictures that download faster and is a joy to use. DIS was important to me and I am still testing this; but so far it seems to be an improvement over the older stabilization technology. I got about 200 shots before needing to recharge, and charging time is quick. It will still delay a little when shooting under low light conditions, but that is the nature of digital photography. And it has less flexible capabilities for manually making your own settings; but overall I am very pleased to have this sophisticated little camera that can go anywhere. It is smaller so you have to pay attention where you leave it! You will need to get a decent bag for it that straps to your belt or goes over your neck. Also will need a larger memory card. The ordering process went very smoothly and there were no surprises.
  
  
• The Best Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera
  By A3BXDHBAKLA5Y6 on 2008-04-16
  As publisher of BoomerCafe.com, the online magazine for baby boomers with active lifestyles, I evaluated point-and-shoot digital cameras under $300, carefully examined photos using Aperture on Apple Mac and came to the conclusion that the Canon SD1100 is tops ... the best. It's better that Canon's more expensive SD870. [...]
  
  
• "Lens Error"
  By A1I60V3N1SGG28 on 2008-08-02
  Got the dreaded "lens error" message, and camera no longer works. Before you buy a Canon Elph, google "Canon Powershot lens error" and see what comes up.
  
  
• Great camera
  By A1ISNV5MVTW8GL on 2008-04-01
  For a digital camera novice who has used the same one for the last 5 years, this is a great design in terms of portability and lightweight. I wish the buttons were easier to interpret and that there were a simple mode to take basic pictures. I have found that the face detection aspect of it does slow down the picture taking. This is especially hard to overcome when trying to take pictures of small chilren who do not hold poses. The quality is excellent though.
  
  
• Delivered results, easy to use
  By A2318CLWM436LI on 2008-04-20
  I bought the camera just 3 days before leaving for Spain. The directions were adequate and the camera is really easy to use. I not only shot photos on automatic but used the night and color options, as well as did a few movies. The software was essential because I prefer more contrast to my photos and the software allowed me to customize the images as I liked.
  
  It was not clear to me on Amazon that the camera came with a recharger (it did) so I purchased a recharger. Turned out that was smart because it came with a European electrical outlet adapter that I used in Spain. I also purchased a 4G memory card. I took 535 photos and 5 movies, and there seems to be more room.
  
  For it's size (I carried the camera in my front pants pocket) it takes amazing pictures. I definitely recommend the camera.
  
  
• just ok
  By A2ONS2QBUGT261 on 2008-04-27
  With all of the glowing reviews for this camera, I expected more from it. It is a great looking camera, and the menu's are easily accessible. What surprised me was how bad the picture looks in the view finder. In indoor conditions, the viewfinder shows a fuzzy, grainy picture. I thought the camera must be defective and got a second one, but it is the same. The actual pictures look clear, but I am very annoyed with the viewfinder. I haven't used the camera for that long, but it seems that I have to do a lot of red-eye editing later (even with the red eye reduction turned on). My last camera, the Canon S30, did a much better job in eliminating red-eye from all but the lightest eyed people. There is a continuous shooting mode, which allows you to set a 1 or 2 second delay before the camera takes another picture. I found that even with the shortest delay (1 second) that the camera took too long to take another shot (again, indoor conditions with flash). It's fine for a compact and cute camera, but I really expected more.
  
  
• Canon SD1100IS 8MP
  By A2UE8915JFORRT on 2008-08-05
  I did a lot of research before purchasing this Canon camera. Yes, the quality of the photo is excellent and it has many features, however, I did not read one single review which commented on the problem that the date and time is not imprinted on the photo when reviewing the photo but can be imprinted when printing out the photo if selected.
  
  What good is a photo when the date and time is not on the photo. Nikon and Casio camera imprint the date and time on the photos taken. The user has the option of turning off the imprint should it be necessary.
  
  I work as a residential property manager and frequently photograph rental units after the tenants have moved out in order to prepare the refunds of deposits. I have a nice Nikon 5.1 MP but the shutter time is extremely slow. I end up having to wait 5 seconds before being able to shoot the next photo. You can imagine how frustrating it is to spend time waiting in between shots.
  
  The problem of not having the date and time imprint when I download the photos on my notebook makes my work very difficult. I only print out photos when necessary, therefore, if I move the original photo from the memory card to my notebook computer, I can not print the photo with the date imprinted. The date can be imprinted by connecting the camera to the printer and selecting this feature.
  
  Do not purchase this camera if you need the date and time imprinted on the photo without having to print. Get a Casio Exilim because the quality is just as good and the menu is user friendly unlike Canon's.
  
  Canon needs to go back the drawing board and add this important feature.
  
  
• Excellent compact camera
  By A3C3KUXI4N5QOQ on 2008-03-25
  This camera is an upgrade over my trusty SD300, which still works apart from the mode switch getting stuck once in a while. I took literally thousands of pictures with it, and I expect the same functionality and durability with the SD1100IS. This upgrade feels solid and carries over most of the features I enjoyed with the old one, adding image stabilization and--hallelujah--a battery life indicator. And 8 megapixels is enough for a hi-res 300ppi print at 8"x10". Best of all, it uses the same battery and SD cards as the old one, with the added capability of the SD HC cards. I have also owned a couple of Olympus (good) and a Panasonic (awful), and I can honestly say I'm a Canon man. The SD1100IS is a tremendous value, looks much nicer than the SD1000, and the blue casing is much prettier in person. Excellent quality photos. Highly recommended.
  
  
• I was EXTREMELY disappointed at best
  By A2V0KK1P6M3OQO on 2008-07-02
  I was torn between buying this Canon powershot SD1100IS or a Nikon Coolpix S550. After looking at reviews on several sites I went with the Canon because it had really good reviews and the Nikon did not.
  
  I got home with the Canon and knew the first 5 minutes that I HATED it! I couldn't get a decent picture. Everything looked grainy or blurry and my children's skin tone kept coming up extremely orange and unnatural. I was pretty upset. But I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, I read the owners manual and played around with the setting for about an hour and a half. After all that 99% of the pictures I took were still awful! And the other 1% were just so so.
  
  I was EXTREMELY disappointed by this camera. You shouldn't have to try so hard to get even one somewhat decent picture. I took the camera back after 2 hours and got a refund and bought the Nikon I had wanted. The Nikon takes 1000x's better pictures and I wish I'd just gone with it in the first place!
  
  
• I gave this camera a shot and it failed me
  By A24ZAFC6UI1IUG on 2008-10-11
  I bought this camera to be used for an convention and during the convention it has gotten the fatal lens error problem. I have only had this camera for about 5 weeks and hopefully amazon will replace it or Canon will cover it in warranty. I really thought this fatal lens problem wasn't a problem but it is. I hope I get a new one and sadly enough I cannot take pictures for this convention I am at. I suggest stay away from this product. I will change my review if things are fixed.
  
  edit: Called up Canon and they were very helpful. They took a look at it and repaired it free of charge so it ended up only costing me the shipping cost which was about 12bucks with insurance/confirmation. Would rate 3 stars now due to good support and decent camera but known faulty issue should be considered in buying this camera.
  
  
• overexposes, a bit slow, and background audio too loud, otherwise nice
  By A2WQ10OVKKGMRC on 2008-05-07
  There are three annoying problems that I can see so far, otherwise the camera seems nice. The first problem is that in auto, the camera tends to overexpose so that whites are badly lacking detail. The second is that the background audio in movie mode is loud, so that if you're taking a silent movie, even a very mild wind sounds like your movie was taken during a hurricane. The third is that the recovery time is a bit slow so that the time lag before you can zoom the lens or take the next picture is noticeable. There may be a way to compensate for these faults, but I haven't found them yet. On the other hand, the size is nice, build quality seems nice, pictures are generally excellent in both sharpness and color.
  
  
• good camera with short battery life
  By A15X20MBA2TU7Z on 2008-07-15
  The camera is great, the small size makes it easy to carry it around. Pictures are of good quality. The indoor shooting is too good to compare with my old Sony. My only problem is the battery life is too short. Hope it's just mine. It barely worked for me for a 2-day trip, and we didn't use the flash light a lot. I consider that unacceptable.
  
  
• wait a year for quality to come back
  By A1Z2NFTB3UISBR on 2008-08-12
  This is the third camera i've purchased over the past few months, guess what? they are all the same camera....each one has died with the lens error message which is quickly determined to be voided by canon 'customer service'. in less than two weeks of very casual and careful use it has barfed again and i'm once again having to pay service shipping for a product that doesn't perform and i know what the cookie cutter response is going to be. These used to be great cameras but obviously parts lately coming from 'who knows where' need a serious boost in QA to fix this lens error problem, but thats for the next sap, i'm done with canon
  
  

• Kingston 4 GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB
• aVinci Media SMG-51-0013 Personal DVD Movie Kit
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade
• Adobe Photoshop CS4
• Transcend 4 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS4GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

• Canon PSC-1000 Deluxe Grey Leather Case for the Canon SD1000 Digital Camera
• Lenmar DLC4L Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivelent to the Canon NB-4L Battery
• Sandisk SDSDB-4096-A11 4 GB Secure Digital High Capacity Flash Card
• Sandisk Ultra II SDHC 4GB SD Memory Card (SDSDH-4096, BULK Static Pack, No Reader)
• Transcend TS4GSDHC6 4GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)