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Canon Powershot SD990 IS
Canon Powershot SD990 IS
B+
HQ Grade: B+
A is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of digital cameras.
B means they are good, with some standout features.
C means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth.
D & F mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs.
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Question Answered!
Jay-P (jizaypizee) 4 pts
November 4, 2008 8:29 PM
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Another canon sd880 IS vs. sd 990 IS question

which is better in terms of shooting speeds (typical shot-to-shot time (w/ & w/o flash), time to first shot, typical continuous-shooting speed, etc.)?
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This question is also associated with Canon S2 IS.

Answers This question has been answered!
by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
November 7, 2008 3:52 PM
3 people rated this answer helpful, 12 people rated this answer not helpful
 
I think the 880 will be faster, although the cameras are nearly the same. But the performance will be worse with the 990 due to the chip being stuffed with MP that makes it less sensitive to light, not more.
Best Answer
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
November 14, 2008 5:09 PM
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I've been using the SD880is and the SD990is for about 2 weeks now side by side. I bought both so I could compare in exactly the same lights and same subjects and conditions. Both the 880 and 990 work very close to equal in medium to bright light, or with flash used within 10 feet or less. The 990 startup time and shot to shot are identical to the 880, no difference at all. The 990 wins easily in detail and in sharpness in every situation where light is low or shooting conditions are not ideal. The 990 clearly has a better sensor and deals with the extra pixels with ease. The 990 also offers a manual mode to set aperture and shutter speed, where the 880 does not. Both offer exposure compensation, white balance pre-sets and customizing, color accent and color swapping, scene modes which actual work well for many situations. The 880 wins in wide angle needs at 28mm, but the 990 wins at the telephoto end due to starting closer in to begin with at 36mm. The 880 is also slightly thinner by about .25 inches. The 880 is also about $100 cheaper if money is an issue. Overall both cameras are the best Elphs from Canon to date. The SD880 is very good, and the SD990 is still better overall if you can live with the 1/4 additional depth in camera dimension.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
November 15, 2008 3:23 AM
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An excellent report, Steve. Have you experienced any noise issues at higher ISO settings? Like above 800?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
November 15, 2008 12:22 PM
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Noise is always going to be an issue unless you move up to DSLR given the small size of the sensors. I also use a Nikon D50 DSLR, and it will best the small canon's everytime, even though the Nikor D50 is several models old and only 6.1 megapixels. In my experience with the 880 vs the 990 I have found the 990 is slightly better at handling noise, but not that much so over the 880. I think the fact that both cameras use the newest Digix 4 processing firmware the way they handle noise is very similar. In full 100% crops taken with either camera you will notice increasing noise even from 80 iso to 100 iso to 200 iso, though it is only at 100% and it is slight and not intrusive, more of a very small loss of detail clarity. Even at 400 iso the 990 and 880 produce good detail and very usable pictures, but the noise is increased considerably over either 80 or 100 iso. In night shots, 400 iso can produce great pictures on either camera as the details are there, and the noise disappears into the darker backgrounds and edges. I have not used anything higher than 400 iso and the "auto iso" mode has never kicked it up higher even when shooting at night. It can go to 1600 iso, but I haven't had tested that yet. At 14.7 the 990 produces finer detail and handles complex images better than the 880 with only 10 megapixels. To be honest there are times I cannot tell the pictures apart between the cameras. And then again, when one camera does produce better images, it is 99.5% of the time the 990. Out of 500 pictures only once has the 880 bested the 990 in image, and that was of a brick building in bright light in a wide shot. Why? I have no idea, but I repeated the shot twice and the 880 still came out just slightly crisper and more detailed. I wasn't using a tripod, so it is possible that it was operator error both times. Still overall the 990 pulls ahead slightly based on the amount and clarity of the detail it captures. I have no problem recommending either camera based on my few weeks of test shooting.
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CICI 5 pts
November 16, 2008 12:48 AM
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what do u mean by I think the 880 will be faster?? u can take more pix in a min on 880 in a min than 990?? preformance will be worse with the 990?? 1/4 additional depth in camera dimension is not that much at all right?? that means you can take pictures of farther place for more detal right?
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
November 17, 2008 4:46 PM
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The problem is that the 990 stuffs more MP into the same chip. Sure, you can potentially get more detail, but you'll only really see it in pictures printed in sizes above 11x14. Sorry, but for a point and shoot, I think that 15MP is just too much to work with.
Let me explain. I came across an interesting article today about how more mega pixels is not necessarily a good thing. According to Image Engineering – a company that does testing of digital cameras for photo magazines in Germany – the quality of digital pictures has steadily decreased since the state of the art was six megapixels back in 2004. And because they don’t have a “dog in this hunt,” they put forth a compelling argument for buying new digital cameras with less mega pixels and not more.

The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels causes them to lose light sensivity. Sure, there’s more data on the chip, but the chip can’t absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality. In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since we’re talking portable point and shoots here, those large lenses simply aren’t being made.

Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."

In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
November 17, 2008 11:49 PM
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I totally agree with the problem of stuffing more pixels onto the same size chip, but the kicker here is that the 990 has a larger chip than the 880. The pixels are less dense on the 990 than the density of 880. From Digital Photo Review, here are the specs of each camera. While 34 mp/cm compared to 35 mp/cm is not much better, it certainly is no worse than the 880. Take a look at the numbers and believe me seeing is indeed believing when you actually use them. The bigger sensor in the 990 makes the higher pixels work to it's advantage. You are right about 14.7 megapixels can cause a very slight longer delay in writing the file if your taking images are the full 14.7. You also have the option of taken them at a lower resolution, creating a smaller file, and at the same time matching the write times of the 880, so you have a choice for each type of shooting you want to do. With the 880 you simply do the best with what you have all the time.

Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
(Digital IXUS 980 IS)
14.7 million effective pixels
34 MP/cm² pixel density
36 mm - 133 mm (3.6x) zoom lens

Canon PowerShot SD880 IS
(Digital IXUS 870 IS)
10.0 million effective pixels
35 MP/cm² pixel density
28 mm - 112 mm (4x) zoom lens
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
November 19, 2008 2:26 PM
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Indeed, it does have a larger chip, but not that large. If this was a case of 8 vs. 10 or even 12 MP, I'd say that slightly larger chip does overcome MP stuffing. But at 15 MP (almost) it's nearly 1/3 more as the 880. Is the chip a third larger? no. So while it is an improvement, it's not enough to convince me.

As for reducing the MP resolution. That comes with its own set of problems. Essentially, the image is reduced to the set quality after it has been processed by the CCD. As such, the light still goes through those pixels, only that after some basic processing steps pixels "thrown out" to make the image to the desired setting and size. This process is called "Choking" and that will cause Artifacting and noise. Additionally, you'll also loose details of the recorded image.

Some cameras have written into their firmware a process called "binning," which merges the signals of multiple pixels to make larger pixels. Usually at a 4-1 ratio. This will essentially turn a 12-megapixel camera into a 3-megapixel camera. And that gives you the opposite problem of too many pixels on the chip ... you now have too few and as such, will run into artifacting instead of noise.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
November 19, 2008 4:27 PM
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In theory you are correct and obviously if debating theories the best theoretical logic will win. The reason I bought both (both have generous return policies where I bought them), was to test the theories. I have once again as of this morning ran side by side tests of same light, same subject, same settings, same ISO on both cameras, and I'm now 100% decided to return the 880 as it is not even close to being able to capture the same amount of detail, while keeping both noise and smearing down. I didn't test in a lab or anything, but rather just as I would use them for taking pictures indoors and out. I wanted to see what the do in the real world of walk about photography.

I can't say why the 990 performs so much better, only that pictures taken side by side are so clearly different that it is really not that difficult to see the quality difference even to a casual observer. I have had my wife look at pictures in several blind tests and she has always picked the 990 pictures are nicer, better detail, and more clarity. I have read several online hands-on reviews state how surprised they were with the 990's ability to handle the extra pixels.

Is it DSLR, 14.7 quality pictures? No, not at all. It is not even DSLR 6.1 picture quality. But try putting a Nikon D90, or even the "little" D40x in your shirt pocket the next time you go out for a walk or jog. The SD990 isn't perfect, and at times it is frustrating because the manual controls are limited when it comes to aperture and shutter combos, but it has managed to best the sd880 in image quality almost every time. And that's why I'd carry the sd990 in my pocket over the sd880.

To be honest, I'm very surprised by the actual photo results. But as someone said, "results are not guaranteed, and yours may vary." When I go out intentionally to shoot something, I'll carry my DSLR. But there's something to say for having one in your pocket when the right photo opportunity comes along. I still like the SD880 for it's wide 28mm end and it's controls are a tad easier to manipulate as the wheel and buttons are larger. Even the 3" LCD of the sd880 is nicer. But in the end it came down to the quality of the images when I got back home.

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CICI 5 pts
November 29, 2008 10:15 PM
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thanks guys... u both talk like pros... ( u guys are like talking in your own language...).. so it is about $100 differnents.. i dont think i would use the manual at all... i bring it to special ocassion.. which one would be best?? i like to take alot of snap shoot of poeple.. ( i prefer faster) , and also take alot of darker lighting pictures... which one do you think is best for me.??? thank you for all the time explaining...
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
November 30, 2008 1:04 PM
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CICI,
I think for what you're looking to do with the camera, the sd880 would be more than sufficient. It will capture a wider view in room settings where a lot of snapshots are taken. Also you're not planning on doing lots of large (8x10 or 16x20) enlargements so the 880 is more than enough resolution. Remember that the flash is limited, so try to stay within 6-10 feet of the subject. You can set the camera to "indoors" from the "scene" menu button on top of the camera and it will do the rest. The 880 also has a cool "long exposure" setting where you can easily set it at 1, 2, 3... seconds (up to 15 sec. I believe) to capture dark night photos with a tripod or steadied on a wall or post. Read the manual and you'll find the feature as it is a two-step process (go to shooting menu, highlight exposure compensation tab, push the display button, then an exposure menu/graph displays where you can set the seconds you want.) With the 990 you have a little more control over long exposure, but it through the manual settings only.

Steve
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
November 30, 2008 9:47 PM
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Are the bodys of the 880 and 890 the same? it seems the 880 has a cheaper plastic back... is that not correct?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 1, 2008 10:23 AM
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The 880 and 990 are both housed in plastic cases. The 880 has a silver colored front and black back, but still plastic. The 990 comes in all black, but still plastic. Both have a metal tripod mount directly under the lens for good panoramic multi-photo setup. The 880 is slightly thinner and has a squared off shoulders. The 990 is about 1/4 thicker overall and has a more curved shape, especially on the hand hold side which has a deep groove for your middle/ring finger to fit into. At first I didn't like the 990 shape as well, but after shooting for a while it felt as good as the 880 in shooting. The 880 also has larger control buttons and a larger control dial than the 990. I like the 880 button/wheel size better than the 990, but you get used to the 990 smaller size after a while. The 880 has a 3" LCD screen without a viewfinder, and the 990 has a 2 1/2" screen with a viewfinder. Both are the same resolution and are plenty bright for most situations. I found they both fit in the same smallest camera cases equally well, such as a Lowe's Ridge 10 size if you carry an extra battery, or a Swiss Army Case for just the camera alone. An extra battery has not been needed yet, but when the battery dies, it dies immediately after about 200 shots. Not a lot of warning on low battery.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 2, 2008 1:11 PM
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I agree with Steve that the SD880 would be more than adequate for your needs, Cici. Considering the kinds of photographs you take are snapshots, you won't even see the benefit of having that extra 5MP the SD990 has and you'd be paying for noise at higher ISOs.

So, it'd be like going out and buying a high performance sports car just for driving around town to run errands. Sure, you can do it, but the end result is bad gas mileage and no benefit for driving it other than the cool factor.

The only downside of the SD880 is that it has that large LCD screen which only really serves to drain your battery faster. I'd much rather have the viewfinder. But is that a deal breaker? Not at all.
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CICI 5 pts
December 5, 2008 1:25 AM
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oh!!~~ never thought about bigger LCD screen use more battery!!!! your RIGHT! right now Amazon have 990 for $299!!!! and 880 for $246!!! it's ONLY $53 difference!!!!
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 5, 2008 9:14 AM
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CICI,
You're right about Amazon's prices. They currently have some of the best and if you buy now, they will allow returns up to January 31, 2009 (less return shipping). Both camera's use the same battery, and in my experience each has lasted for well over 250 shots each, and many of those with flash. That was also with brand new batteries, so they may well do a little better once cycled through a couple times. For the difference of $53, the SD990IS is a very serious consideration as it will take more useful shots in lower light, and higher ISO (up t 400) situations. Again, I have taken dozens of exact, side-by-side shots with both cameras, and the 990 is ALWAYS equal to, better than, or much better than the 880. I don't know why, but suspect the different sensor in the 990 is just doing a better job as the Digic 4 processing is the same in both cameras. I do also like the viewfinder, and find the 2 1/2 inch LCD totally adequate. The ability to shut off the LCD and shoot with either "quick shot mode" or with using the viewfinder adds both quickness and battery life to the 990. If you can spare the $53, go for the 990, you won't regret it. And if you check around you'll find most store retailers are selling the 880 near $300, so Amazon.com's price is great for $300 for a 990.
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CICI 5 pts
December 5, 2008 11:28 AM
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thanks steve!!! i couldnt make up my mind.. but because of what you said.. i going to buy it RIGHT NOW! =) THANK YOU SO MUCH!
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 5, 2008 1:19 PM
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Steve makes some good points. But understand though that the you will not really see much difference with the SD990's additional MP until you enlarge pictures above 8x10. But a fine camera nonetheless.
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CICI 5 pts
December 6, 2008 1:29 AM
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very helpful guys.. i think problom is solve!!!! =) the video should be same quility right??
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 7, 2008 12:28 PM
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The video is the same in both cameras. Not the newest HD video that is offered by others, but adequate for basic video, limited by the size of your SD card.
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Al 0 pts
December 7, 2008 11:01 PM
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Excellent information regarding the 880 vs the 990.

The question is: Is the 990 the best compact digital image maker on the the market today?



Al
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Ava 0 pts
December 8, 2008 10:39 AM
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I had a previous Canon Powershot and loved the quality. However, after a trip to the boardwalk, I received a lens error and could no longer use the camera. I had it repaired(they said sand may have gotten into the lens) and 3 months later...another lens error. I have since seen that this is quite common for the Canon Powershots. Is this a common problem for all of these types of cameras? Would a camera where the lens is "flat" be less problematic? I am thinking of purchasing the 880 or 990 but do not want to end up with a lens error and a useless camera in 3 months....thanks so much!
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 8, 2008 11:41 AM
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Ava, the lens error problem can occur on many digital cameras, and yes, many have experienced it with Canon. It is easy to extend the lens when there is not room for the lens to extend when taking it out of a pocket or purse or camera bag unless one is careful not to hit the power button when reaching for the camera. The gear mechanism on the lens is pretty fragile and the result can be a failure of the lens extension mechanism at some time due to stress on the gear mechanism. Also carrying the camera in a pocket or purse without a case can allow dirt and debris to affect the lens mechanism. The 880 and 990 have only been out a couple of months, so little is known on whether there will be the same, more, or less of the lens mechanism failures. As long as the camera has a lens that extends when powered on, there is a chance of it being obstructed unintentionally and causing a mechanical failure. Canon USA offers a 1-year warranty, but after that your on your own for repairs. On any camera a case is a good idea and be careful not to power it on until it's out of the case or pocket or purse. Whether Canon powershots are more prone to the lens extension failure is a question some are asking, but how an individual carries it, or uses it may also be a factor. Because of their small size (a real plus for sure) they get stuffed into a lot of small places without much protection.
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Ava 0 pts
December 8, 2008 11:53 AM
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Steve, thanks so much for that thorough answer. I've been searching for hours and all I had to do was ask Steve! I did read somewhere that you shouldn't store them in a case as that increases the possibility that the lens will jam (debris from the case I think it said? ) Anyhow, I am going to take your advice and get a case...

This is probably a dumb question but why didn't you all consider the 890 when you did this comparision? Is that in an entirely different class?
Thanks again.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 8, 2008 12:04 PM
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Ava, the 880 and 990 both use the newer Digic 4 processing which does best the Digic III in some ways. The 890 offers a longer telephoto, good resolution, and is priced slightly less than either the 880 or 990. Some have complained that the 890 is harder to hold because of the shape of the right side of the camera which they made slimmer and rounded so it be harder to have a good one-handed grip on it for some. For many, the 890 would do great. If you want 28mm wide angle shots the 880 has it where the 990 or 890 begin at about 36mm. If you consider the 890, be sure to try holding and shooting with it first to see if the curved, rounded right side works well for you.
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Ava 0 pts
December 8, 2008 12:17 PM
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Thanks so much!!!
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Bob F. 0 pts
December 9, 2008 7:33 AM
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Steve and James, those are about the best reviews I've ever seen. Would either of you be so kind as to be more specific on what I should order to be my Canon SD 990 CASE. I ordered the camera last night, through Amazon, but don't know what case to order. If you'd get specific enough so that I can assure getting the correct one, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 9, 2008 8:59 AM
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Bob, are you looking for the "smallest and tightest" case for the camera alone, or would small with room for an extra xd card and battery to carry with you be more to your liking? I found a small case by SwissGear called the Sherpa at Bestbuy. They are listed at Bestbuy.com and just search for the keyword SwissGear. They come in a variety of colors. Keep in mind they will only hold the camera alone and will be just big enough to snug the camera into. That's the minimalistic approach. I also bought the Lowepro "Ridge 10" at BestBuy which fits the 990 easily, has room for extra XD cards, and also can carry an extra battery or ID or keys, or money in a separate little front pocket flap. It's a little wider and fatter than the SwissGear, but works very well to carry a few extras. SwissGear is about $13.00 and the Lowepro Ridge 10 is about $10. Both can be placed on your belt, backpack strap. Lowepro has a neck strap, and SwissGear has a wrist strap included with the case. Go to Bestbuy.com and search SwissGear and Lowpro Ridge to see the cases. They are available at many places as well as BestBuy and I have used both with my 990.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 9, 2008 3:03 PM
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Can't offer anything other than what Steve just did except ... the snuggest fit, the better. Bring your camera along to the store and make sure the camera fits and it has plenty of padding.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 9, 2008 4:52 PM
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I currently have an SD 900IS that I'm looking to replace... do both the 880 and 990 use the same rechargable battery system as the 900? it looks like the same, but not sure.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 9, 2008 7:35 PM
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It would, yes. They are from the same line and with the exception of minor differences (like MP and LCD size) they are basically the same inside.

Mike, why are you looking to replace it?
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 9, 2008 8:45 PM
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I bought it for my wife to use... something small for her purse. But... my daughter borrows it all the time, and uses it more than my wife. So... we're going to give the old one to my daughter and buy the new one for my wife. It's been a good camera. took it on vacation in October and took some beautiful pics!!

I'm leaning to replacing it with the SD990... I like the option of a viewfinder, albeit small.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 10, 2008 6:48 PM
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Steve -- Thank you for your thorough and very readable review of the 990. I have been struggling mightily to find the right cameras for my daughter and me (one each), and have been focusing on the 990 as well as the Sony Cybershot W170, which has the 28mm wide angle capacity.

Do you have any comments on the Sony vs. the 990? Things which are important to us both are:

1. Optical viewfinder
2. Picture quality, including enlargements up to 11 x 14, in a wide variety of shooting environments. Concern over noise, color balance, true color, crisp definition, etc.
3. Quality construction (lens as well as fit and finish and overall operating.
4. Ease of use (ergonomics plus convenient/intuitive menu organization.
5. Operator control of such things as aperture and shutter speed (is there any at all?)

I'd certainly appreciate any thoughts you might have. I'm hoping to make these purchases no later than this Saturday (12/13). If you do telephone conversations, drop me an email at jdallas@att.net.

Many thanks -- and an early Merry Christmas.

John
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 10, 2008 7:17 PM
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John,

I've never used the Sony W170, so I can't really compare it to the Canon 990. Someone else in the forum may be able to, and I have heard that it is a very good camera, as well.

Just a short answer on the Canon 990,
1. Has a viewfinder (small, but is useful)
2. Picture Quality is the best I've seen in a compact point and shoot. Noise is not an issue until you go above 400 ISO. There is a slight amount of detail loss at each ISO bump, but nothing that would affect picture quality until you go above 400iso. Color balance is very good, but not "over saturated punchy." I find it very, very pleasing.
3. Construction is very smooth and tight for both the 880 and 990 overall. The black 990 looks very nice, in my opinion.
4. Ergonomics can be a mixed bag on the 990. The buttons and control wheel work well and are easily accessed and the carved out middle of the 990 gives your middle or ring finger a place to park. On the other hand, the curves and it's smooth finish can mean it a bit slippery and the wrist strap is a good idea. Also the 990 has the "mode selection" dial right where normally you put your thumb. Some say it gives them a good grip...I would have preferred something other than the dial to rest my thumb against, but to each his own. Using the camera actually becomes quite fun and simple. In fact, I found myself carrying it all the time just to have fun taking pictures of nearly everything. It fits in a jacket pocket easily. Viewfinder is excellent and has grid lines and also 4x6 curtains so you know how the shot would look if processed as 4x6 snaps. Makes composition very easy.
5. The 990 does have a manual mode to set either aperature or shutter speed. But darned if I could figure out how to set both at the same time. It seemed to work like aperature priority or shutter priority mode which lets you determine one, while the camera determines the other. To be quite honest, it did such a good job on auto, program, and scene modes that the only time I changed to manual was when I wanted to blur movement, or try to adjust the depth of field for effect. The depth of field is pretty deep and doesn't narrow down to small, but there is some. The blurring of motion is easy to do and produces some nice lights or car movement pictures.

I wish I could compare to the Sony, but can't comment on what I don't know. The Sony will be a little more squared off, and a little smaller overall. You're looking at the top of the lines from both companies for the small compact pocket shooters and it really a matter of personal preference. I really, really like the Canon interface and menu. Very intuitive and easy to figure out almost everything without reading the manual. I'll send you a couple hi-resolution shots to your email that might help you see the color and balance.

Steve
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 10, 2008 8:01 PM
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Just a quick correction on above post. It's the LCD with the gridlines and 4x6 curtains, not the viewfinder which is nothing but a clear window to look through and frame the shot.
Steve
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 10, 2008 11:02 PM
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I responded more fully to your private emails, Steve, but I wanted to thank you publically for your generous and timely feedback. You clearly have decided to be a force for good on this blog, and I'm quite confident I'm not alone in appreciating the effort you've invested in a most unselfish way.

Thank you, Steve. A very merry Christmas to you and those close to you.

Warm regards,

John
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 10, 2008 11:09 PM
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A quick follow-up, Steve. I read the discussion about camera cases, and I think getting one makes all kinds of sense, but I'm wondering what upgrades or add-ons you might recommend for Jennifer and me.

I thinking in particular about the type of memory card (2 GB? 4 GB? Type?) as well as an extra battery. Anything else we should consider?

My laptop is only a couple of years old and has a slot for reading memory cards, but I have always downloaded photos from my Kodak through the USB port. Can I assume that will work with the Canon? I know it did when I tried it with my ex's SD1000.

Thanks.

John
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 10, 2008 11:55 PM
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John,

A 2GB card is the smallest I'd recommend, and at today's low prices a 4GB makes sense.

The extra battery is an expense you may not need. The Canon brand is about $50, and a generic runs about $40 at the big stores. Online, such as Ebay the are much cheaper for the generics. They last for an amazing number of shots (between 200-300). An extra battery may never be needed, unless your away from power for an extended trip and cannot plug the charger in to recharge at night. I'd wait and see how it goes before investing a lot more in extra batteries. With the 990 you can still shoot with a low battery (should that occur in the middle of an outing) by turning off the LCD, and just use the viewfinder and trust the camera to get it right (leave the review off).

Get a good case though, one that fits the camera well and has some padding.

Keep it with you, and you'll find yourself taking more and more photos and liking them more and more as well as you get used to finding out what makes a picture worth "a thousand words."

Happy Shooting, Steve
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CICI 5 pts
December 13, 2008 12:17 AM
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=) you guys are so helpful!!!
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D1105 0 pts
December 13, 2008 4:01 AM
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Many thanks to Steve !!!

I ordered my SD990IS today right after dropping my SD500 on my kitchen floor. The SD990 was a blind buy (due to frustration of damaging my camera) after viewing the the Canon website. I almost had buyer's remorse of not picking up the SD880 due to the wide angle lens, however I wanted the manual controls (I miss my Canon XTi DSLR). Not only did Steve give great detailed reviews, he also gave me better case options. I was using the same canon case that I used with my S400 on my SD500 and it offered no protection on a 4ft drop (LCD is blank). I just wished the G10 came in the SD990 body, but I wanted something easy to carry in my pocket.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 13, 2008 3:38 PM
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So the question of the day is... silver? black? or red?

Is there are reason to choose the black over the silver... or vice versa? or is it just personal preference?

I know the red is a limited edition, and I probably wouldn't pay the extra for the color
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D1105 0 pts
December 13, 2008 6:20 PM
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Well in the DSLR world, if the black model is not marked up....the silver is usually marked down. It's all personal preference....but since my last three P&S cameras were silver, I went with the black model.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 13, 2008 8:02 PM
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Personal preference for color. They all work the same. Price point may be a factor as D1105 pointed out. Some sellers are marking the colors with different prices. Marketing I guess. BTW, noticed that prices have come down just a bit lately on the 990. Amazon - $324, J&R through Amazon - $299, and now Adorama through Amazon at $292. And all the above are for either Black or Silver.
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Emily 0 pts
December 14, 2008 5:31 PM
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I've been going back and forth on which of these two cameras to get, but after reading Steve's comments I'm inclined to purchase the 990. However, I'm curious how much of a difference the wider-angle lens on the 880 makes. Would it be possible to show two photos side by side at the widest settings for each camera in order to compare?

Thanks!

Emily
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 14, 2008 6:25 PM
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Emily (and others who are curious),

Here is a link to a photostream on flickr I just set up with side by side shots from the 990 and 880. I have never used the site before and they didn't load the highest resolution possible, so the largest sizes you can see are 1024x768. So it's hard to compare this way for picture quality of enlargements, but for views and colors and zoom vs. wide you can get an idea. I tried to used photos taken from the same place, the same time, and same light, using the same ISO settings and F-stops if possible, but each camera wanted to change F-stops to suit it's own tastes, so there is some variation, all listed in the notes. I'll add more shots soon, too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33346716@N03/

Steve
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 15, 2008 6:19 PM
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I think it really comes down to the pictures you take, Emily. If you like a wider angle lens for shooting landscapes, keep in mind that today's photo editors usually have very effective photo stitching utilities that can create really nice panoramics. Pound for pound, I agree with Steve that the 990 is the way to go.
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Sean 0 pts
December 15, 2008 6:53 PM
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Hi,

I was looking to buy a new camera, I currently have the Sony Cyber-shot W170. It takes very good pictures but I just can't get use to the menus, so I have decided to get either the SD 990 or SD 880. Personally price is not an issue, I wanted to know which camera was a better buy. I don't really use the viewfinder and I don't mind a small screen. Basically I wanted to know which one takes better photos in the same conditions ( Of course both using the same Mega Pixel Count). I want to buy a camera that will last me quite a while, since I am not really a professional. I was reading the other day some reviews on the internet which stated that the picture quality produced by the SD 990 was not consitant shot to shot, I wanted to know if that true.

Thanks,
Sean
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 15, 2008 7:12 PM
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Sean,
If your satisfied with the picture quality of the Sony W170, then the Canon SD880is will give you the same good results with a nice menu/control system. Easy to navigate and the buttons are nicely placed and large. The scroll wheel works great on the 880 for changing settings.

As far as the SD990 it is a little more pricey (about $50 more than the 880 currently), but does give you manual control over the shutter speed and aperture settings if you want to change depth of field or blur the action by slowing the shutter down a bit. I have found it to take very consistent photos in the 300 or so that I've shot with mine. I found it better in low light and higher iso (up to 400), settings than the SD880. Check back a couple posts here in this question and you'll find a link to a photostream that has side by side shots from both cameras and judge for yourself. In good light or under flash, both cameras do excellent jobs.

The 880 is sized closer to the Sony W170, and the 990 is slightly thicker, though by no means large. The other difference is the 880 begins at 28mm wide and has a 4x zoom, and the 990 begins at 37mm and has a 3.7x zoom (opticals on both, digital zoom also available, but quality drops). But if you look at the photos, the zooms and wide angle are not that far apart, unless your taking indoor shots and you can't back up or move forward a few feet for the shot. Both use the newest Digic IV in camera processing which is Canon's latest and best to date. Both models have been very consistent for me (they both do better in good light and flash, and not quite as well when the light levels drop and the ISO goes up or the shutter speed slows down). I've just found the 990 to produce more good shots in marginal settings than the 880.


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Charlotte 0 pts
December 15, 2008 10:44 PM
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Steve,
I'm wondering about the difficulty in learning to use the two cameras. I've read it was and wasn't difficult. I've been using a Pentax Optio 550 for several years, and have pretty much gotten the knack for it, but I'm not extremely skilled at mastering new technology. What do you think/suggest?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 15, 2008 11:00 PM
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Both the Canon sd990 and sd880 have full auto mode available. Does everything for you, you just point and shoot. They also have scene modes like "kids&pets" "sunset" "night landscape" "night portraits" "foliage" "macro" "portrait" and some others where you simply select the Scene mode button and then spin the wheel to bring up scene mode you want. It will set all the exposures and shutter speeds for that type of picture. And then they both have what Canon calls "Program" mode which will set everything and then you can change things like white balance, exposure compensations, flash output, no flash, color saturation or accent if you want to, but you don't have to overide the camera if you just let it do it's thing which is very good most of the time. They have a lot of other features you can use if you want to, but don't have to get good pictures. Most people will use Auto mode or Program mode and change a few setting like White Balance or Exposure compensation or turn the flash on or off or to auto flash.

I found the menu very easy to use and I've never used a Canon before. In fact, for 90% of the functions I didn't even need to look at the manual. Buttons are labeled and self-explanatory (only 4 main buttons, plus a 4-way rocker button and a spinning dial around the rocker button. I've used Casio's in the past and found them more difficult to navigate. The 880 has big buttons and good labels and a spinning wheel that works very slick. I don't think you would have any trouble figuring out the camera. The 990 has a manual mode that can be a little more confusing as you have to the shutter speed and aperture setting, but even then it has a scale that shows you whether the pictures is good or not by your settings, and the LCD reflects your settings as well so you can see if it's too dark or too light.

You can download both manuals for the cameras in PDF format from the Canon USA site, just look under support and downloads. You can read about the menus and see how the buttons operate before you buy.
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Emily 0 pts
December 16, 2008 11:26 AM
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Thank you, Steve, for the link to your photostream -- it's hugely helpful!

Emily
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 16, 2008 12:46 PM
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Just to let everyone know who might want to see full resolution comparison shots from the 990 and 880, I discovered that for a price I could upgrade the account to allow full resolution viewing and downloading. So now it's available to all to view. Feel free to examine the photos at full resolution (if you have fast internet capability that is, or lots of time to download).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33346716@N03/
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 17, 2008 8:21 AM
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FYI -- While I can't find a reference to it on this page, I have read elsewhere on this site that the 990 doesn't offer a zoom feature while shooting in video mode. That's not strictly true. The camera does allow the user to zoom digitally as the camera's rolling. Picture quality suffers a bit but IMHO it's better than nothing.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 18, 2008 1:57 AM
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Digital zoom is no zoom at all. Degraded picture (which is barely above VHS already), pronounced camera shake, artifacts. Hardly viable, especially at the exteme end.
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cb53913 0 pts
December 18, 2008 1:11 PM
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I just purchased the 990 from Circuit City for 269.99 plus adtl 10% off.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 18, 2008 4:09 PM
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W00t!
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 18, 2008 4:19 PM
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Hey there, cb. Can you offer more details on that price? My daughter and I each bought a 990 in the last week for about $300 each, and the vendor (J&R in NYC) will match Circuit City's price. The only problem: they said CC's website shows the price as $369.99 not $269.99.

Is there any way you could offer verification on the price? Jennifer and I would both love to save the 40-some bucks. Thanks.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 18, 2008 4:40 PM
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CB... I too am curious about that $269 price at CC... all I find is $30 off of the $399 price.

J&R seem to be out of the 990 at $299.00.... it's been taken off Amazon and been replaced with one from Beach camera at $319 for the black and $299 for the Silver at Adorama
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 18, 2008 4:50 PM
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By the way, it may be slightly off topic, but I have a strong salesperson recommendation at J&R: Everett at ext. 1038. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. Great attitude. Very customer-centric, which is not always the case in some of those big-volume (aka "boiler room") NYC electronics houses.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 18, 2008 5:03 PM
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I've just check a few other sites for the 990... and this is what I found:

86th Street Video & Camera: $239.00 for black or silver

Prestige Camera: $285 for black, silver or RED!!

NOW... I am a bit suspicious about some of the New York dealers. I have tried to buy from them before, and once they find out you are not buying accessories... the camera is magically, NO longer in stock.

I have $80 in Amazon credits, so I want to purchase through Amazon if possible, but $239... sure is tempting if it's true. Has anyone purchased anything from 86th Street Camera??
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 18, 2008 5:18 PM
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Good sleuthing, mikjr. I just left a VM for the aforementioned Everett redirecting him to the 86th Street website. I'll keep you posted on what transpires. My hope is that J&R will rebate the difference between what I paid ($300) and 86th Street's price. I'm still well within their 30 return policy, but would hate yanking back the sales.

I've never purchased anything at 86th Street, but I can give full marks to J&R. I've been dealing with them for nearly 40 years.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 18, 2008 5:48 PM
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Sorry... looks like my "good sleuthing" was not so good afterall.

I just read some horrible reviews around Prestige and 86th Street... like I feared, both companies try to add on expensive accessories, and when you don't purchase, they backorder your purchase!!

Google the words: Prestige Camera review or 86th Street Camera review... and read for yourself.

Maybe that's why they are not featured on Amazon.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 18, 2008 5:49 PM
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One caveat on the 86th Street deal: if you want the camera before Christmas, you're going to pay $30 for shipping (3 business days). J&R did free shipping, which means the price difference is actually $30.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 18, 2008 5:52 PM
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While my Scots-Irish genes incline me to look for the best deals, sometimes those best deals don't involve the lowest prices.

I did notice some appalling accessory prices at 86th Street. Everett at J&R sold me a top-line 4GB card for my 990 for $5. Hard to beat that.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 18, 2008 6:00 PM
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I'm still waiting for CB to get back with the exact info from the Circuit City price of $269
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 19, 2008 5:52 AM
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Well since Circuit City is having a fire sale of late (bankruptcy) it may be a direct discount taken at the register. Or a demo model that was being sold at a lesser price. And MikJr is dead on about some of those NY brick and mortars. And often they break open the camera and pull out the manual, warranty card, battery charger, etc. and try to push those as accessories.

Worse, they will often sell "gray market" merchandise. If something is gray market, it means that - although you may have gotten a great deal on it - it doesn't come with a warranty that will be honored here in this country. Which means if something goes wrong with the camera, you'll either have to send it to the country of manufacture to repair or pay to have it fixed yourself. (although many camera companies have just taken to offering international warranties or will honor it anyway to combat the gray market issue).

I'm not saying that these guys do that, but do your research to be sure. And remember the old addage ... if it looks too good to be true, often times it is.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 19, 2008 1:31 PM
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Final update from rainy Villanova, PA: I just called J&R and directed them to the 86th Street website offer of $239.99 + $30 shipping (in time for Xmas). Their very pleasant customer service person checked and discovered that 86th Street is not on their list of authorized Canon camera dealers (no surprise there), so their price match guarantee doesn't apply.

To their credit (and ours), they offered to rebate my daughter and me $20 each as a good will gesture. Given that their could have declined any refund, I thought that response was excellent -- and quite in keeping with my experience with them.

Once again, full marks to J&R.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 19, 2008 1:42 PM
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Wow!
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D1105 0 pts
December 19, 2008 6:41 PM
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I picked up some accessories for my SD990 that I would like to suggest. The smallest camera case that can PERFECTLY fits the SD990 is the VIDPRO ACT-10, which I bought from J&R with free shipping under $10. This is a semi hard cover that is perfect or more like custom fit for my 990. I also want to add a LCD protector, which actually protects the LCD since it is a HARD "1/16"scratch resistan acrylic". I've used these with all of my previous Cameras and they have saved my LCD from scratches numerous times.

Here are some pictures I took using my SD500 (LCD no longer functioning after it was dropped on the floor)..

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/derick1105/IMG_7122.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/derick1105/IMG_7120.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/derick1105/IMG_7118.jpg

LCD protector link:
http://www.daproducts.com/
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 19, 2008 8:25 PM
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Appreciate the tips.

I see two cases in those shots. One looks like the soft (semi-padded) leather type my ex-wife got with her SD1000, which they may have for the 990. I actually like that one because of its compactness, nice feel, and classy look.

Do you prefer the VIDPRO because its semi-hard case is more protective? I'm thinking it would be better for packing the camera in a suitcase (for instance), but I'm wondering if it might be more bulky for carrying around -- tempting me not to use it?

The protector looks interesting. I checked out the installation page on that website. Is it as simple as it looks -- and does the protector add glare or reduce the brilliance of the LCD image?

Did J&R throw in free shipping for just the case, or was it part of a larger order? And with little time left, I'm wondering if they'd do expedited?

Sorry about your SD500 LCD. I guess the protector can't be expected to work miracles.
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D1105 0 pts
December 19, 2008 9:08 PM
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John,

The leather case you saw was for my SD500 which fits the SD990 as well. As far as the VIDPRO, it was free shipping when I bought it seperately from the 990 on J&R. The VIDPRO case will be replacing the the Canon leather case for two reasons...it protects and covers the camera all around. Not only is the case small like the Canon leather case but it gives it more shock resistance in my opinion. I'm even thinking about getting the bigger model for my Garmin NUVI gps, since the leather cover on it is useless.

The LCD protector does protect the LCD from scratches or sharp objects (external protection only). My LCD on my SD500 stopped functioning because of possible internal issues not external from being dropped on the floor which was enclosed using the canon leather case. The LCD protector is easy to install and will not give any glares when the LCD is on.

Good luck,
-Derick
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 19, 2008 10:22 PM
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Thanks for the follow-up, Derick.

I couldn't figure out from the daproducts website if they have a LCD protector made specifically for the 990. Did you see a product number for it? I noticed J&R doesn't seem to carry anything like that for our Canons.

The fact that your SD500 LCD stopped functioning even though it was in the leather case is a bit worrisome. I guess these cameras are very fragile. Sounds like the VIDPRO may be a bit better in their protection, although I'm afraid I'm still likely to just stick the camera in my pocket (sans case) so I don't have something hanging around my neck. That's what I've always done with my ancient Kodak, to no discernable ill effect.

By the way, the price I saw for the Act-10 on the J&R site was $10.99. Did you negotiate with them?

John
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dk 0 pts
December 19, 2008 11:51 PM
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Silver SD990 at Adorama (via amazon) for $292
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D1105 0 pts
December 20, 2008 5:03 AM
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John,

The price must have been $10.99/free shipping when I bought it....As far as "da products" website, Just email the the company and include the Camera model you have. Their website is not updated with all the Canon models....I had to request for my sister's SD750 as well.
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Anthony 0 pts
December 21, 2008 4:02 AM
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Hi, so much has been said but nothing on the type of memory card. So, what is the memory card everyone is using on the SD 990. Ultra II or Extreme III? Let us know if you found any big difference between those two, is the extreme alot faster between each snap? Thanks in advance :)
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 21, 2008 8:09 AM
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J&R bundled a 4GB PNY flash memory card with my SD990 for an additional $6, so I grabbed it.

I confess I didn't spend much time digging deep into the technology, but the storage stats on what the packaging described as an "Ultra High-Speed High Capacity" card seemed reassuringly robust: 100 minutes of the higher-res video or 1179 photos at 8MP. That's more than adequate for my anticipated purposes.

I certainly haven't tested the speed limits of this camera, nor have I compared the PNY with any alternative storage devices, but based on my early, modest use, I noticed no appreciable lag in the time it takes to write images to the card.

And if there's something much better out there? Hey, it was six bucks.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 21, 2008 11:04 AM
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Anthony, The Ultra II works well in the 990 and going with a Extreme III didn't make any difference for me in the 990. The major difference between the Ultra and Extreme is when you transfer files via a SD slot on your computer. The files are big out of the 990, and the Extreme will be slightly faster in the transfer if you're going directly into a card slot on your computer. As far as actual shooting, it made no difference.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 21, 2008 12:59 PM
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Hey Steve...Since my computer manufacturer is now in Chapter 11 and not answering their phones, can you tell me if I risk damaging either my laptop or the memory card if it turns out my computer doesn't read the HSHC cards? Will I simply get an error message (or no response), or could it be worse than that?

Trimming the tree in Villanova, I remain...jdb
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 21, 2008 1:00 PM
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...and by "read," I mean when I try it in the little card reader slot in the front of my laptop.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 21, 2008 1:25 PM
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John, it won't hurt the computer at all to try a SDHC card in the slot, it just won't read it if it is limited to 1 or 2GB as some earlier readers were. The speed of the card will not matter, it's the storage size of the card that the reader is programmed for or not. We go dumped on with a blizzard last night in Seattle. We have 6-10 inches on the ground with freezing rain over the top. Some places got up to 2 feet overnight of new snow on top of what we already had. Winter wonderland makes for some great pictures though.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 21, 2008 2:37 PM
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You're right there, Steve. Your words reminded me of the shot which recently won first place (professional division) in the annual photo contest I started a few years back. Take a look:

http://johndallasbowers1.home.att.net/tor08-photowinners.html

And here's a look at the storm which blanketed the region on Washington's Birthday three years ago.

http://johndallasbowers1.home.att.net/snow06.html

Notice the Christmas wreath still on the front door on February 22nd. And yes, the tree was still up in the living room, as well. Amazingly, most of the needles were still in place.

I hope to be heading outside for our first real snow once Santa delivers my 990. Not sure how the really cold temps will affect it, but I guess I can keep it under my coat until needed.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 21, 2008 6:19 PM
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I just posted a review on the Lowepro Rezo 30 cases I purchased yesterday. I have no idea why I'm shown as "anonymous," since I gave my full name when registering the post.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7092932&type=product&tab=7&id=1109233323040

Thanks for the original guidance on these, Steve. I'm glad I took the 990 out to Best Buy so I could actually try it out in the case. Some things are best done in person.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 21, 2008 7:08 PM
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The Rezp 30 by LowePro is a good one for padding, a little extra carry room for extras, and fits the 990 well. You indeed were wise to take the camera and I'm glad you found one you like.

Off topic: I updated my Flickr photostream with some recent Seattle snow shots, but most recent additions are with the Nikon D50 and the 18-200mm VR lens I recently purchased. Love the lens and I'm getting used to how it works best. Not quite as easy as a point and shoot, but a lot more options for creativity.
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LOL 0 pts
December 21, 2008 9:16 PM
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I ordered SD990 from 86th Street Video & Camera: $239.00 for black or silver Few days age for 239 + 15 shipping over Internet. They emailed me to call them to talk about purchase. So, I called Saturday at 8PM (Open on Saturday after 6-10). Customer service informed me that they do not have it, will be available only in February. It is just like the online discussion about this place. If they did not have in stock, they should not take orders.

Now, TechON Digital is also selling for 239. I wonder if it is the same people. I lost jaith with 86th Street Video & Camera.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 21, 2008 9:36 PM
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To Steve -- Those are gorgeous photos. I browsed the thumbnails and will enjoy taking my time on the larger versions when I'm at the library tomorrow. I love the balance you got with the lights on the merry-go-round and the rest of the scene. Really nice pictures.

To LOL -- That's a disappointing experience. I had never heard of 86th Street until I read about it on this site, but very quickly I learned about its less than sterling reputation. No clue about TechON.

Amazon does a pretty decent job of vetting vendors (after all, they don't want hassles with their customers), so when an operation like J&R keeps getting the nod from them, you can be pretty sure they'll treat you ethically. And as you've no doubt read here, my excellent experiences with them go back 35 years.

There's also another place I used to buy from: 47th Street Photo, another big electronics store in NYC. Haven't gotten anything from them in years, but can't recall any bad experiences (no bait and switch, mysterious back orders, pulling stuff from the box, etc.).

These 990s seem to be flying off the shelves everywhere. It looks like they may have hit the same sort of consumer sweet spot Canon's SD1000 did a year or so ago. My ex has one of those, but I really like my 990 better. Don't tell her I said that.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 21, 2008 11:18 PM
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I just ordered the black 990 from J&R through the Amazon site. They just got them back in stock so I jumped on it!

I had $80 Amazon credit, so it worked out perfect.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 22, 2008 12:33 AM
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Well done, mikjr.

FYI -- J&R offers free shipping for 90 days on any products related to your camera purchase (e.g. case, high capacity memory card, extra battery, AC adapter, etc.), plus they'll pay for transportation if you want to ship it back in the first 30 days.

Good luck!

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Ava 0 pts
December 24, 2008 12:23 PM
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I purchased the 880. I am in the minority on this board but I did so because it was $110 cheaper when I was ready to buy (took advantage of 3 years no financing by piggybacking it on the big screen TV we bought.) Hopefully, it will serve me well. I mostly take photos of my son which I upload to the web and send to friends. So for that, I think it's suffiicent. Any recommendations for cases for the 880?
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
December 24, 2008 12:54 PM
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I have read this board for the past couple of weeks now and do have a question. I can tell there are some experienced photographers here, and I'm not one of them...

So, my question has to do with NOISE as it relates to photography. I've seen it mentioned in this post a couple times. When I think of noise, I think of something audible, but I get the impression that noise in photography is different... right??
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Neil 0 pts
December 24, 2008 1:44 PM
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Am torn betwen canon powershot 10 sx and the sd 990. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
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Mike 0 pts
December 24, 2008 2:08 PM
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Hi Steve,

I want to make sure the camera I get can take action shots well.
For instance if I go to a basketball game or any sporting event I don't want the
images to be blurry due to the movement of the players. Or if I go to an auto race I want to
be able to take pictures of moving cars without a problem.
I know the 990 had the Quick mode. Do you think the 880 could handle these situations without
the manual shutter speed?
THanks
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D1105 0 pts
December 24, 2008 2:28 PM
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Mikjr,

The noise in photography relates to the "grainy" look of the picture like a bad reception on over the air TV. This is common for small point and shoot cameras on high iso speeds. However, there are softwares out there such as "noise ninja" to correct or at least lessen the noise in your pictures.

-Derick


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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 24, 2008 2:35 PM
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D1105 is right. Back in the film era, it was referred to as grain. The faster the film, the grainier it was. So, by comparison, the faster the ISO, the noisier the image. This is particularly noticeable with point and shoot cameras that stuff so much MP onto a tiny CCD chip that the chip actually becomes less sensitive to light, not more. When it does, noise creeps in and detail is lost.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 24, 2008 2:41 PM
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Ava,
The SD880 is a very good camera and will serve you well. Online photos, snapshots, and even full-screen use will be very nice and you can print up to 8x10 without much problem if the picture is in good light and good contrast. Kudos. As far as cases, any of the Lowepro 10 series will be plenty large (it's the smallest LowePro makes. Ridge 10, Spectrum 10, Rezo 10 all by Lowepro. They are well padded have a neck strap (detachable), and an extra pocket on front for keys, memory cards, battery, ID, etc. LowePro cases should be available at most places that sell camera bags / supplies.

Mikjr,
The "noise" referred to in digital cameras is of the "visual kind." Grainy pictures, loss of detail, smudges and smearing of low contrast and fine details can all be considered "noise" in some ways (though not technically to some). The higher the sensitivity setting (known as ISO) the more "noise" is introduced to the picture. Most cameras have an "auto ISO" setting, and a manual way of setting the ISO. The downside of lower ISO is that you need good light and steady hands or you'll get blurry pictures. The downside of higher ISO settings is the introduction of "noise" speckles and grainy pictures.

Neil, get the SX10 if you want to zoom in on the action or subject. It will take great shots and the zoom is great. If you want something to put in your pants or shirt pocket you'll want either the SD880 or the SD990. More limited zoom, but fits in your pocket. The 880 is the smaller of the two mentioned, but the 990 fits in a jacket pocket or small case on your belt, etc.

Mike,
Basketball games...low light may be a problem and lack of much zoom may be a problem for either the SD990 or the SD880. You need a fast lens (2.8f) and a fast shutter to stop action of the sort you're talking about. If you're serious about action shooting at races and games, I would serious recommend that you consider a DSLR, and even then you'll need either a fast (2.8f) lens, or bright enough light. Both the 880 and 990 have a "sports" or "kids and pets" scene mode that will attempt to freeze action. They will also both try to bump up the ISO setting to reduce blur. You may be asking both the 990 and the 880 to do more than they were designed to do well. You can pick up a used DSLR that is a few models back (Canon XT, or Nikon D40, or D40x) for not too much more money and they will often be with the "kit lens" which is a starting place for action shooting. Or look for a body only and try to find a 2.8f lens that would have the reach you would desire to pick up the action. That's probably not what you wanted to here, but I think you may be dissapointed with either point and shoot for what you are trying to shoot. At best, find a place where you can return them without penalty (Amazon.com has a 30 days return, and Costco.com (if you or someone you know has a membership) has a 90 day return policy). Best Buy and Circuit City and some other will take returns of opened cameras but charge you at least 15% in restocking fees.

Merry Christmas and may Santa bring you just the right toys!
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Mike 0 pts
December 24, 2008 2:44 PM
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Thanks Steve,

So is the "kids and pets" setting on the 880 the same idea as the Quick setting on the 990?

Thanks
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 24, 2008 2:48 PM
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Mike,

Not quite. The quick setting on the SD990 is where it shuts off the LCD and you use the viewfinder only to shoot. That allows faster followup shots as it doesn't have to refresh the LCD. The kids and pets is on both cameras and is one of the "scene mode" selections and will speed up the shutter, and bump up the ISO as needed to capture moving subjects. Both cameras do have a "continuous shooting mode" and take shots one right after the other and I believe the "active servo" tracking is on which tracks the moving subject. It's not like a DSLR, but it does work.

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Neil 0 pts
December 24, 2008 3:15 PM
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Steve , you are the best. Happy Holidays to all.
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Ava 0 pts
December 25, 2008 11:41 AM
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Thank you so much Steve. Please have a wonderful Christmas as well. You deserve it!
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The camera man 2 pts
December 27, 2008 5:13 PM
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steve, you are hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
December 29, 2008 2:25 PM
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Since the best answer has already been awarded, you can show your appreciation to Steve by clicking on the Thumbs Up link. He won't get points, but it shows which answers have been helpful.
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Jane 1 pts
December 30, 2008 2:49 AM
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Following the recommendations on this page, I purchased the Canon SD990. I used it for the first time at a wedding last weekend. I set it to "auto" for all of the pics. I was not happy with the pictures. All of the church pics and most of the reception pics were very dark. I only zoomed within the optical zoom range, but the pics were very dark and grainy. Some of the pics within 6-10 ft of the flash were good, but overall I was not happy. I assume that I should have set it to a setting other than "auto" for the dark, indoor reception shots that are farther than 6-10 ft from the camera, but I was not sure which setting to use. Since every shot was an indoor shot, what setting should I have used?
I also had alot of trouble timing the shots of people dancing. I tried to get faces, but it seems that I was always too late and shot their side or their back instead of their face as they danced. Should I have used another setting for moving, dancing shots or does that just come with practice?
I was hoping to buy a good camera with as many auto settings as possible. Should I have bought a different, simpler point and shoot camera? Since I thought that I had bought the best ultra-compact camera available, what was I doing wrong?
As I am expecting my first grandson soon, I bought this camera for it's size and quality so that I would always have it handy for spur of the moment shots of him. Alot of the shots will be moving and indoor shots, although I don't think that the rooms will be as dark as a wedding reception. What settings are best for routine shots of a moving baby? I guess I should look into a digital camera class?
Thanks
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 30, 2008 9:12 AM
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Jane, the small camera flash of point and shoots will be unable to light up subject much more than 6-10 feet away resulting in dark pictures, and with "auto ISO" on it will become grainy very quickly. A larger camera with a larger pop-up flash, or with a flash hot shoe to attach a more powerful flash would be needed to take pictures inside a larger room.

Missing the shot may be caused by not "pre-focussing" by half-pressing the shutter, getting a lock focus and then wait until the right moment to fully press the shutter release. The 990 does have a "servo mode" auto-focus that will track the moving subject and keep them in focus while you have the shutter half-pressed. The little lighted square will move around with the subject while the servo mode tracks.

Another trick in difficult light is to manually set the ISO (take it off Auto ISO) and try shooting at 200. That means you'll need a steady hand and tripod / monopod / brace will help get clearer pictures.

Are you using "Auto" or "Program" mode? If left in full Auto, you cannot adjust anything. Spin the control dial until "P" comes up and puts it in Program mode. The hit the middle "menu/function" button on the controller and you should be able to change exposure compensation. For dark pictures adjust it higher. For bright over exposed adjust it lower. You probably would also set the white balance to either florescent or incandescent depending on what lighting was inside the hall.

The type of shooting you are trying to do with the large room, moving people, low light all are challenges to such a small camera of the point and shoot variety.

Finally, did you print and of the pictures to see how they came out? If you're looking at them full sized on the computer they may not look as good as 4x6 prints would print. It is also possible to lighten exposures and add contrast and even sharpen them if you have some post-processing software on your computer.

You picked a huge task for a first-time shoot with a new camera and it may take some practice to understand how to get the best out of it.
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dm43 0 pts
December 30, 2008 10:45 AM
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Steve, I have owned a 700 sdis for the past three years and it has been an excellent camera. I'm now looking to upgrade to the 880 or the 990. I can tell you that i am in no way a professional, i only take pictures of my kids and usually take pictures at family gatherings. Which one would you recommend?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 30, 2008 11:58 AM
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dm43, why are you looking for in an upgrade from the sd700is? What do you want to see improved or featured in an upgrade? The SD700 at 6 MP and IS, 2.5" screen and small viewfinder, and zoom range (not wide, but about the same as the SD990 now) produced some excellent pictures. DIGIC IV will help with processing speed and write times, and even higher ISO performance over the DIGIC II in the SD700. Adding more photosensors onto the sensor doesn't necessarily translate to better quality photos, especially in small pocket cameras. So let us know what are you hoping to improve and add in an upgrade and we can better give advice as to whether the SD880 or the SD990 fits the bill.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 30, 2008 12:12 PM
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I might even go out on a limb here and say that upgrading from the SD700IS to either the SD880IS or SD990IS won't really get you any better images if the samples in the dpreview.com site are an example of the photo shots possible with the SD700.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonSD700IS/

The files from the 880 will be larger, and the files from the 990 will be huge in comparison, but when it comes to the image quality and details in printing up to 11x14, I personally don't think you will be able to see better results. The SD700 seems to handle up to ISO 400 well, which is where I found the newer Canons to begin to falter as well.

OK, feel free to saw off the limb I'm standing on. The megapixel race is more about marketing than quality in way too many cases. If your SD700IS isn't broke, lost, or stolen and produces good images for you...you may not need to upgrade.

Steve
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Neil 0 pts
December 30, 2008 12:37 PM
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Any opinions as to dedicated photo printers particularly if u would want to print a little larger than 4 by 6

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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
December 30, 2008 4:39 PM
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A year ago, I replaced my ancient and ailing Epson photo printer with an HP Photosmart D7360. I don't do a whole lot of color printing, and for most enlargements I'll go to Costco, but there are times when making a high quality 8x10 here at home can be very convenient. This HP delivers all the technology I need in its bells and modest whistles, but its main claim on my affection comes from great color reproduction.

Minor asterisk items: doesn't have a straight-through paper feed, which eliminates using card stock; seems to go through cartridges pretty quickly, but I wait for deals at Staples or Office Max, which usually means a net price of about $8/cartridge; a bit larger footprint than some, but it actually has a pretty sleek looking chassis.

I bought the unit in 11/07 at Costco for $75, a very satisfying price, and have been quite happy with it.

Good luck.

jdb
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dm43 0 pts
December 30, 2008 8:44 PM
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steve, im looking to "upgrade" b/c the 770 broke down on me(fell in a pool). I was happy with it but like everything else i thought the technology on the 880 or the 990 was better. But from what you're telling me i should just buy another 770? Is there any other similar camera of another brand that you might recommend? i'm willing to pay up to $350 but i definitely need it to be compact like the 770!
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Amir 0 pts
December 30, 2008 9:21 PM
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Thanks all guys and specially Steve for his nice, informative points.

Like the other people, I can't make decision between 880 and 890. I know the features of them very well and I have been convinced that 890 is better in terms of higher quality and less noise. Plus, 890 has 5X optical zoom whereas , 880 has 4X. And More important, their difference is just 10 bucks (Bestbuy.ca).
But the last comparing question is the battery usage. Steve, you have just mentioned that the battery of both models will die after almost 200 shots. But how much does the 3" LCD of 880 cause to consume more battery and consequently less captures than 890? is there a big different btw them? Is that worth enough that I ignore 880's nice style and easy menu and switch on 890?

And secondly, Does anyone can help me why I shouldn't buy Sony W170?

Cheers,
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 30, 2008 9:25 PM
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OK, here's my best advice. The 990 is actually the most feature packed camera like the 770 was in its day. 2.5" screen, small viewfinder, manual control over shutter and aperture if you want to (or just use the Program/Auto mode), all the same type scene modes, compact enough for a large pocket (like a jacket, but not quite as slim as the 770). It will take very good pictures in most situations, and do better than the 880 in low light (indoor settings). The only drawback is that it will produce files 7-9MB in size. I don't think there is another pocket camera, except maybe the Lumix LX3, that will take better pictures in low light. The SD990IS runs about $300 through Amazon sellers like J&R Photo (very good dealer and customer service) and Adorama. You would find it very similar to the SD770 that went for a swim, but with a faster startup, shot to shot, and higher ISO possibilities. Be aware though that good lighting makes for the best photos. In dim light, ISO goes up, causing some noise to creep in and shutter speeds go down making blur or shake more prominent. It should do as well, or better than the older SD770IS, but not leaps and bounds as it is still a smallish sensor. But all of the small point and shoot are in the same boat. The SD770 was a great leap forward for the Elph series, and the SD990IS attempts to carry it further along by adding some manual controls and more megapixel to capture detail and allow you to crop generously and still have plenty to work with. The SD880 is smaller, doesn't capture quite a clear in lower light, and costs around $250.00. It has a wider lens (28mm) than the 990 (36mm).
You can take a look at (and download if you wish) lots of sample pictures taken with the SD990 and SD880 to give you an idea of what to expect. http://www.flickr.com/photos/33346716@N03/ Just look for the SD990 and SD880 photo sets near the top of the right side of the Flickr page.

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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 30, 2008 9:40 PM
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Amir,
Two things about the 890 to consider.
1. It uses the older DIGIC III processing in the camera, where the 880 uses the latest DIGIC IV. That's a big plus for the 880.
2. Many have said the 890 is harder to hold onto and shoot with one-handed as it has the rounded off side where usually you grip it.

That said, I really can't say the 3" or the 2.5" screen made a lot of battery drain difference. I'm sure there is some. Couple of tricks you can use to save power with both LCD sizes. Set the LCD to shut off after 10 or 20 seconds. This allows you to simply push the shutter half way and it comes back on instantly. That way if you walking around taking random shots, the LCD will shut off and save power. On the 990 you can also just push the "display" button and it shuts off the LCD immediately. Again, a half-press brings it to life. You can also shut off the cameras, but it take a couple seconds to be ready to shoot from a total shut off. I actually shot about 250+ shots with each one before they needed recharging. I've also had the batteries in the camera for several weeks and found they still have plenty of juice after sitting for some time without use. I've thought of getting a second battery, but as of yet it hasn't been an issue at all.

I would definitely consider the DIGIC IV in the 880, over any of the DIGIC III cameras. I think we'll see Canon changing all of their cameras over in the coming months as new models replace older ones.
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Jane 1 pts
December 30, 2008 10:42 PM
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Steve,
Thank you so much for all of your information. Your expertise is greatly appreciated. I need to practice and play with my 990 to fully understand all that it can do. The pre-focusing, half-pressing the shutter is something that my previous cameras did not do. It sounds like a great feature- I just need to get the hang of it. From what I understand, half-pressing the shutter will lock the focus on my subject and when I am ready to take the shot, I just press the shutter fully and I should be able to "catch" the moment better and quicker. If I have a moving subject, which is what I expect most of my shots of my grandson will be, the "servo AF mode" would be the preferred auto-focus mode? What would your recommendations be for the best settings to take indoor pictures of my grandson? I would like the settings to be as "auto" as possible. I am thinking to set the SCN to "kids and pets", the flash to "auto", face detection on, the servo AF on and red-eye correction on. Do you agree and are there additional settings that you would recommend?
Thank you so much.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
December 30, 2008 11:55 PM
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Jane, the settings you mentioned are the setting I would try first. There is a "indoor/party" scene mode that helps with dim light and I've used it for "slow kids" who are not moving around too much. Kids and Pets would be to catch moving subjects better and faster shutters. Red-eye is a problem with small cameras because the flash and lens are so close together (that's what causes the red eye), so try red-eye reduction, but you may need to be prepared to corrected it with software before processing if it keeps on being a problem. You should get better with practice, as we all do. Take some outdoor shots just to see how much easier it is and you'll be amazed at how well it does, too. That will encourage you to practice with the different settings and learn more about the camera.
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kentucky wildcat fan 0 pts
January 1, 2009 4:14 PM
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GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!!!
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Amir 0 pts
January 1, 2009 4:57 PM
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Hi guys,
finally, I bought SD880Is. I like it. it is gorgeous. When I went to store I found it much more beautiful than SD890IS plus I preferred to have newer technology (DIGIC 4) instead of having 5X optical zoom. and I so happy with my selection. Thanks all of you and informative points.

I have problem you might find it irrelative to this page. I bought SDHC 8GB Sandisk Ultra II (100 X) memory which is not detected with my laptop SD card reader. I am a little bit disappointed since I read somewhere it is a hardware problem; whereas some other say you need to upgrade the windows. Do you have any solution? It is inconvenient to use USB cable. By the way my reader manufacturer is : SDA Standard Compliant SD Host Controller , driver version:6.0.4069.1

TNX and happy new year.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 1, 2009 5:12 PM
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Amir, one way to work around the laptop built in reader is to buy a USB adapter into which the SD card fits. You can also by a PCMCIA adapter for SD cards, but it will be slower than USB inputs. There are two kinds of USB adapters in use: 1) with a cord and 2) one that plugs directly into the USB slot on the computer. I prefer less cords and so a small adapter that holds the SD card and plugs directly into the USB is the way I prefer. The problem is with SDHC cards that hold more than 2GB. Another solution is to use either 1GB or possibly 2GB SD cards as most laptops built in readers handle those cards just fine. With the 880, a 1 GB card will still hold lots of pictures and a 2GB is plenty large for lots and lots (300-400 pictures) at full resolution. Here's a link to one type of direct plugin adapter:

http://www.amazon.com/SDHC-Memory-Reader-Adapter-Smoke/dp/B000Z9R2QQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230847702&sr=1-3

And here's a link to the PCMCIA card adapter for laptops:

http://www.amazon.com/PremierTek-PCMCIA-Card-Adapter-Reader/dp/B000NI0Y82/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230847846&sr=1-29

Just a couple suggestions, but personally I'd just switch to using 1GB or 2GB cards and save the hassle of the adapter if you have a reader built in.

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Amir 0 pts
January 1, 2009 6:21 PM
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Tnx Steve,

You always surprise me by answering quickly.

Before spending any more money, I would rather to focus on finding any available drivers for my laptop's reader to make it compatible with memory. So far, I found windows xp hotfix Patch but since my windows is not registered I couldn't DL it. :( I am using Windows XP SP2. I would happy if sb can send it to me.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934428

By the way, I would appreciate if I get any other solutions.

Happy new years,
TNX
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lindam 0 pts
January 4, 2009 12:50 PM
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Is the canon 880 best for wide angle shots? have also been looking at the panasonic models. I want a compact camera to take to Disneyworld, and get shots of the grandkids in front of the Disney Castle, etc. and get more of the buildings without the having to move so far back the kids look like insects. Otherwise I think for most purposes I would be thinking of the Canon 770 or 1100. Any advice appreciated. I want a camera that would be good for any situation. Thanks.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 4, 2009 1:57 PM
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If you are looking for the smallest pocket camera from Canon with a wider 28mm lens, then the SD880IS is a good choice.

If you were willing to carry a larger camera, the Canon SX10IS provides the same wide angle (28mm), plus a zoom equiv to 560mm telephoto using DIGIC IV, image stabilization, plus manual controls if needed. For special trips like Disney land, the high zoom plus wide angle would capture some fantastic shots. It also has a larger sensor size over the SD880IS and should produce some finer detail for enlargements. But it would not be a pocket size camera and if you wanted to use all of the SX10IS capacity and features you would want to read the manual and some practice shooting before heading out for Disneyland.

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lindam 0 pts
January 4, 2009 2:35 PM
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Thanks Steve for the quick reply:) I become more confused with the more reviews I read! We purchased a Rebel XTI? about a year ago, before of course, they had the LCD screen. So we have the capabilities of a better camera at other times. Unfortunately, it has never been off the auto setting:( I am disabled and in a wheelchair, 8 and 5 year old grandkids will be with, so want to have a smaller camera(doesn't have to be the ultra compact) I was thinking of the 770, 790, and 1100 except don't think they have any wide angle capability. Any opinions on those would be appreciated as well. I can't buy it just for the wide angle, as we would rarely travel anymore. I was just thinking it would be nice to have photos that could capture some of the Disney architecture without being so far away from the people in the shot. I need to order one very soon, and if you know of any others that might give somewhat more wide angle I would like to hear about it. Panasonic TZ5? TZ28? Thanks again!
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 4, 2009 3:24 PM
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I believe in the small pocket cameras, Canon will give you some of the best results (not necessarily because of the lens, but because of the in camera processing). Of the smallest Canon's only the SD880 will give you the wide angle lens. The 790, 1100, and 770 all begin between 35-38mm. So yes, the 880 is the best wide angle and is a good one for trying to include more in the photo when close up. The SD880 also is the only one of your selections that uses the newest DIGIC IV in the camera, which is an improvement over the previous DIGIC III. 28mm is the widest for any of the common point and shoots. I would recommend the SD880 over the others.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
January 4, 2009 4:02 PM
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I just received my SD 990 from J&R and have been playing with it a bit. I noticed a "wide angle" option on the 990. I am assuming the lens is not providing the wide angle photo option... So, how does that compare with the 880's wide angle photos?
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lindam 0 pts
January 4, 2009 4:14 PM
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Thanks again, Steve. I have been seeing reviews saying that the Canon 880 has grainy or blurry photos, and that it is not being given as many stars as the 790, etc on this and other sites. Granted, there are more good reviews than bad, but I would be very disappointed in it if it had blurry photos. I would rather give up the wide angle option and have the photos at Disneyworld come out clear. Also, do you have to set the camera to the wide angle setting? or does it just zoom to the wide angle. My apologies, to you and those of you who understand the whole digital camera thing:) I am afraid I don't know much about them at all..... I see the panasonic wide angle cameras are rated better than the canon 880? does anyone know why? Thanks very much!
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Fenton 0 pts
January 4, 2009 4:42 PM
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I've read the very interesting article on the 6MegaPixel.org (http://6mpixel.org/en/?page_id=32). Thank you for this link. However, I’ve used Canon’s SD8890 (10 MP) and SD990 (14.7 MP). Although it has more MP, SD990 has less noise at ISO 400 than SD880. Does it have larger pixels?

I've never used a DSLR due to the size factor. Is it true that a Nikon D40 (6.1 MP) would produce better image quality than a SD990 (14.7 MP).
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 4, 2009 8:40 PM
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The SD990 has a larger sensor in it over the SD880, but I don't know if that is the reason for less noise at higher ISO. It may be that Canon somehow tweaked the noise reduction in the SD990, but it does take more detail and have less noise than the SD880 in all of my comparative shooting.

You're correct that a Nikon D40 will produce nicer quality images than any of the smaller sensor point and shoots, including the G10 and the SD990. The smaller sensors just can't pick up the details as well or keep the noise as low as the larger sensors in the DX format DSLR cameras. The DSLR will handle higher ISO without losing detail and without an abundance of noise over the smaller sensor point and shoots. But again, many will go with "smaller, pocketable" over photo quality if it means going even as large as the D40 or D60 smaller Nikon Bodies. Price is also an issue as the body and kit lens (18-55mm) is still about $500.00 for the D40 and about $600 for the D40x or D60 with a kit lens.

If you only taking snapshots, and rarely enlarging above 5x7, the point and shoots do a nice job when given plenty of light or held extremely steady keeping the ISO lower.

As far as the "blurry" or "grainy" photos from the SD880 more than a SD790, I'm pretty skeptical about that. It is possible with all of the cameras to get blurry and grainy results. Anti-shake/image stabilizaton doesn't solve 1) subject movement in low light/slow shutter speeds or 2) camera shake at low light / slow shutter speeds. It helps, but it doesn't completely do away with it. Steady hands, a little monopod, or even using a surface to hold the camera against will all help low light / slow shutter speed shots. I have a VR lens on my Nikon DSLR, but I can still get blurry pictures if I'm not careful in holding steady. I improve with practice, and shoot as much as I can to keep improving in technique and composition, as well as, learning what the camera can and cannot do in a given situation.

The good part about digital cameras is that the "film" is cheap and processing is a non-issue, so you can literally take thousands of pictures to learn about the camera and what it can do. I usually take 2-3 pictures of every scene I shoot. Why not? If one comes out poorly, there's a good chance one of the others will be better and it cost me absolutely nothing but a few seconds of my time to shoot multiple times and pick the best shots later when I get home.

One last observation for those looking to buy a Canon point and shoot for the first time. When set on Auto ISO, the camera will automatically bump up the ISO if you move or shake at the moment you take the picture. So it may read ISO 80 when you frame your shot, but if you shake, flinch, or move the picture may be taken at ISO250 or even ISO400 to compensate for YOUR movements. The results will be grainier and less detailed pictures. The camera attempt to correct the operator shake, but the result are not the best all of the time. If you want a constant ISO setting, you must set it for that ISO level through the menu/control wheel. Keeping your ISO at the lowest possible level will make for the clearest and sharpest pictures.

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Fenton 0 pts
January 5, 2009 4:26 PM
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Thanks, Steve. Very helpful. D40 Kit and the SD990 are both going at $399 in Canada - so I might give this DSLR a try.

SD880 does have more noise - I tried both out on a tripod with identical settings. Canon specs confirm that the SD990 sensor is larger (slightly). Both have DIGIC IV.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
January 5, 2009 4:45 PM
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Wow, that's a great deal. For that price it's a good move to go DSLR if you think you'll make a hobby of it beyond the kodak moments. Just remember though that we're not just talking body here but also lenses and the kit lens may probably just be a basic 50mm (not much to do there, limited) but if it's an 18-55mm, say, you can have some fun with it. Do yourself a favor though and get a 1A skylight filter for the lens. Reason being? Insurance. They will take any impact damage and spare your lens. I can't tell you many times I have thrashed a 1A filter and saved my camera lens. It's well worth the $20 or so, believe me.

As for a slighly larger CCD on the SD990, no matter how slight, it'll give more room for those MPs and make the sensor a little more sensitive to light and that's what cuts back on noise in low light.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 5, 2009 7:45 PM
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The D40 with the kit lens 18-55mm for $399 is a good price. They're going for about $450.00 for the kit here in Seattle now. If you're thinking of moving beyond small point and shoots, the D40 is a good place to look as it is the smallest DSLR and yet takes fantastic pictures and is just plain fun to use. If you ever read Ken Rockwell's webpage reports you'll know he is a great fan of the D40 even though he has an arsenal of nearly every DSLR there is. I would agree with adding a skylight filter from day one to the lens. It'll keep the lens from scratches and bumps and bruises that can occur.
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Stacey 0 pts
January 5, 2009 10:15 PM
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Steve, (Or anyone that can help!)

I am in college and so MOST of the pictures I take are of groups of friends, in the dorms, out at parties, etc. I am in a sorority so I take a lot of pictures of events and things. so I mostly take indoor shots. With my current camera (Powershot SD450) I find that I always have to have the EV control on -1/3. The colors on faces are slightly orange and get washed out if the camera is too close to the face. Therefore, my question is which camera out of the 880 or 990 would be better for THIS type of shooting-- that is, mainly indoor group shots. I want something that will produce good color and not have blurry pictures when there is a lot of action going on. Also, noise has never been a problem in my shots before, and I certainly do not want that showing up now.

Along with that, I am an avid photographing hobbyist and I love taking artsy-type pictures. The fully manual settings on the 990 sparked my interest with that. However, I have survived--not thrived, but survived-- with the limited settings on the 450, and have produced several professional looking pictures. What does the 990 offer in terms of the manual settings, and are they necessary, or will they not be missed if i purchase the 880? I love taking macro pictures as well as landscapes and sunsets.

The build of the 880 looks more appealing to me-- simpler and more concise-- as well as the larger screen. Since the quality of the pictures in the 880 and 990 is so similar (from what I have read), What should I look for to sway me one way or the other, based on the things I am looking in for my camera?

Thank you so much,
Feel free to reply on here, or even more helpful, put a comment on my flickr photostream-- i'll definitely see it there
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygreene/

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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 5, 2009 11:28 PM
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Stacey,
After viewing you photostream I'm impressed with your photos from the SD450. Some great compositions and good "artsy" shots that I like a lot. Here's my opinion, I think you'd be hard pressed to do better than the SD990IS for color, clarity, and creative work. The reason I like the 990 more and more is the ability to crop aggressively if needed and still have plenty of pixels and size to make great pictures and even enlargements. It has more detail than the 880, and it also is much clearer and cleaner in its photo processing. For Macros it is great as you can take an average closeup and then crop it so that it is a really close macro shot and still have great pixel clarity and definition. If you do that with the 880, you'll be left with lots of smeared detail...not cool for macros.

You obviously have mastered tweaking the SD450 to get the most out of it and the 990 will give you just that much more to expand. The manual settings are far from "full-manual" in that basically the manual mode simply adds the ability to set the shutter speed and then choose one of two aperture settings for that shutter speed. It is more control than the 880 in that it allows smaller increases and decreases in the shutter speed and the choice of the two aperture settings (presumable for depth of field or other affects). So it does allow for some creativity say for blurring action (moving cars, people, lights, etc) with control over how much blur you desire.

Indoor shooting with most cameras usually will require you to take it off Auto white balance if shooting without a flash. The yellow cast is usually caused by improper white balance which most cameras do poorly at indoors (even DSLR have trouble with that). The washout of things occurs with point and shoot flashes because they basically just fire put out as much light as they can, no matter how much is really needed. A fill-in type flash, or a metered flash output is what really solves that problem, but point and shoots don't usually have that ability. I found the 880 and 990 flashes to be about equal in output. One solution is to make a bounce flash set up using a small white card taped under the flash and bent upwards making the flash "bounce" upward. This allows a softer light and while it looks somewhat silly, actually can improve your flash shots by keeping them from washing out. Basically you just want to deflect the light away from directly at the subject. Of course if your farther away, or trying to light up a large group you'll need more direct flash.

I wanted to like the SD880 more because of its build, size, and screen too. But after shooting them both I couldn't help but be drawn to the better images and more detail captured by the 990. I gave my 990 away as a Xmas gift to a family member and have now ordered another one for myself (again). I've been shooting with the SD880 for the last month now, but it doesn't do as nice of job for me so I'm going back to the 990 as soon as it arrives this week.

Given your level of photography, I would be willing to venture that a Digital SLR will be in your future. Maybe not yet, but when you do you'll enter a whole new world of fun when you do as it will open up a lot of creative paths for your photo journey. The 990 is the only small point and shoot that I've found that comes close to the same kind of fun and quality I get when I shoot with a Nikon DSLR. I like the D50, D40, D40X as great entry DSLR because they are the least expensive, have great kit lens (18-55mm), take great photos, and are the smallest bodies. Prices for the D40 with a 18-55mm lens are running around 400-450.00 which makes them more than the SD990, but still more affordable than other DSLRs. It's even possible to buy a factory refurbished Nikon if you shop online or EBay for even less. Just be sure to look for reputable, authorized Nikon dealers with impeccable feedback.

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lindam 0 pts
January 7, 2009 10:09 PM
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Think I have it narrowed down to the Canon 880 IS or the Panasonic Lumix fz 28. Both have have wide angle lens that I want. I have read reviews saying great things about the Panasonic, but that the colors are not as vivid as other cameras. The Canon does not have the great reviews the Panasonic does. I really have to get a camera soon for a vacation. Anybody have any recommenations between the two? THanks.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 7, 2009 11:17 PM
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Wow, the two are very different cameras for sure. The SD880 is a small, fit in your pocket, take anywhere camera with limited zoom and limited flash, and no manual controls. The FZ28 is an 18x superzoom with electronic viewfinder, plus the LCD, popup flash, and full manual controls. You mentioned you already had a Canon XTi, but wanted something smaller and I'm guessing with a LCD to frame the pictures with, rather than the viewfinder. The FZ28 is smaller than an XTi, and it will use the LCD to frame the shot if desired (or you can use the Electronic Viewfinder). But is very large compared to the small pocket cameras. It will also give you a very long reach, manual controls over aperture and shutter and offer 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9 formats. It will be a little slower starting up from off because of the lens extension, but still very respectable shot to shot times.

Do you want a small pocket camera that is simple and easy and with wide angle: go with the SD880
Do you want a larger camera with lots of zoom and more controls and little better flash for indoor shots: go with the FZ28

Just for the record, the Canon XTi will still take much better pictures over either of these two cameras, even when set on full auto. I would learn to use the XTi more, and possibly supplement it with a small pocket camera such as the SD880 for times when I couldn't carry the larger Canon XTi.
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lindam 0 pts
January 7, 2009 11:45 PM
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Thanks again Steve:) I appreciate your good info. As you can see, I just am not sure what to buy. If not for the wide angle lens, I would not even consider these two. I would maybe just get a Canon 790 or 1100, for the lesser cost and hopefully ease of use. I really don't want to bring the xti on our vacation, just too big. I am thinking mostly of photos at Disney World with the castle, large buildings, great themed pools at the Disney hotels and thought a wide angle would capture more of the "Disney Magic" and still show our grandchildren more close up. I have read several reviews that praisthe Panasonic overall, but don't want the colors to seem "dull" as I have read. I wish there were more more options for wide angle point and shoots. I cannot afford a wide angle lens for the xti even if the size were not an issue. It sounds like the canons controls may be simpler to master than the panasonic. I am just wanting to get a good all around that is smaller. The larger size of the Panasonic does not bother me. As you said, it is still small compared to the xti. My husband doesn't want the camera to be too tiny anyway:) I would consider selling my xti, if one of these seems to take pretty good photos. Problem is, ALL these cameras are smarter than I am, lol Thanks again for you input!
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 7, 2009 11:53 PM
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I would check out these sample pictures from the Pani FZ28.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/panasonic_fz28_samples.html

I don't see them as that muted. I've shot with Panisonics before and found the color to be good as long as lighting was adequate. Outdoors and at events like Disneyland, the FZ28 should do great.
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Amir 0 pts
January 8, 2009 12:16 AM
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Hi Steve,

I dunt know it is due to my high expectation from 880 or its due to the camera weakness. As long as know, higher pixels give u more capability of zoom on the PC. But the quality of every single photo I shot, after 3 times zooming by ACDSee software deteriorates. Whereas, with my W800 Phone camera (2MP) I have the same zoom strength in ACDSee!!!
Secondly, all photos (in deferent modes) have lots of noises which could be removed by "Auto Exposure" in ACDSee. When I use this option, it is like a sprayed dust on the photo is removed and resolution increases dramatically. Why?
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lindam 0 pts
January 8, 2009 12:29 AM
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Steve, do you think that the controls are much more complicated on the Panasonic? I can't forget that this camera is rated number one in several categories..............I just need to know basically how to take photos with it by Feb. 3,haha. Sounds like you may think this is the better choice. I notice the canon 880 has choice to have sepia, vivid, black and white, etc unlike the panasonic. Does anyone use thos options anyway? Am searching for the holy grail of cameras for 300 or less! maybe not possible.............
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 9:02 AM
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Amir,

Zooming in on the computer will not result in better or clearer pixels. At least not in today's digital world. The detail recorded by the camera sensors is what it is as it is recorded to the JPG file. Zooming in will only expose the lesser qualities of the recorded image.

When you come to full resolution with your W800 2mp pictures it would be at 20% of the size of the SD880 10mp pictures at full resolution. If you take your 2MB camera shots and expand them to 500% larger than the full-sized original than you could compare the shots side by side for Image Quality. When you look at the SD880 files at full resolution you are looking at what a printed shot would look like in a poster sized enlargement--something few, if anyone, would do.

When you view your photos on the computer full screen size your actually looking at what they would appear like printed as 8x10 enlargements. Take some similar photos with both the phone camera and the SD880 and then have them printed in say 4x6, 5x7, and if you're really interested 8x10 and then you'll be able to compare the IQ from each camera easily. Let the prints speak for themselves.

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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 9:12 AM
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lindam, yes the controls on the FZ28 will be much more complicated than either the SD880 or the SD990. It is meant to satisfy those who are looking for more DSLR type shooting, and less "point and shoot" type shooting. But it will have a fully automatic mode and scene modes that will make shooting easy in those modes. Whichever camera you get, be sure to spend some time using it and learning its features before your trip. You'll be glad you invested a little time now.

The Canon cameras will have modes that allow for some more artsy type shooting including B/W, Sephia, Color Accent, and even Color Swap. And yes, those who buy the Canons will use those features as they are often interested in making more interesting photos than just snapshot memories. All that can also be done in post processing on the the computer after the shot is taken, but Canon makes it easy to do with the camera. The Panasonic may also have similar capabilities (except for color accent/swap...a Canon exclusive).
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Amir 0 pts
January 8, 2009 2:30 PM
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ok. TNX
So is that true the higher resolution is totally useless unless you want to print a very large size poster? we just record a very large file (in terms of size and memory) with the same density of pixels as in 2 mp, isn't it?

And How about the exposure? at the full screen size and without zooming, Auto exposure option can remove a layer of noises from the photo? My concern is how come the camera can not remove this much noise during taking photo? is it the same with SLR cameras?
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lindam 0 pts
January 8, 2009 2:44 PM
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Ok, THanks Steve for all the help. You will be happy(probably relieved:) to know that I ordered a Canon 880 today, for its wide angle and easier controls. Figure in the future maybe can learn more about the xti we already have for more in depth photography...Now for 20 more questions. Best memory card to use(for this camera with the big LCD screen, movie mode, etc) any brand better? Best deals? I tried to ask a ? on a new thread but couldn't make it work, didnt see a lost password option. oh, and a decent camera case, not too much$$. thanks.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 2:49 PM
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Yes and no. The higher resolution would result in clearer more detailed pictures of all sizes if it were to be recorded on sensors that were not already saturated with photocells. Today most sensors in the point and shoot cameras are already crammed with so many photocells that adding more just makes them smaller, less sensitive to light, and the result is loss of detail and noise. As an example a Digital SLR like the Nikon D40 or D50 with just 6.1mp will be sharper, clearer, more detailed than anything today from any camera in the small sensor class (that's all of the point and shoots and superzooms, etc). That's because the senors are so much larger and the photocells are fewer and larger.

If you have a camera that takes 5-8MP you should have no problem with getting good, detailed pictures as long as 1) the lens is a good one, 2) the camera processing is good and 3) you do your part in shooting by holding steady, framing correctly, and knowing how to catch over/under exposures before you leave the scene.

The higher the megapixels go on small sensors, the more likely that little difference in picture quality will be seen, unless the manufacturers start using larger sensors to allow for the extra photocells. We really have reached the point of over-saturated sensors and picture quality is not showing great improvements, just larger files to store.

I'm not sure about the last part of your question. I'm not familiar with "exposure" correction removing "noise." Are you using a "noise reduction" filter or process? The Canon approach is to use less noise reduction in the camera as it tends to smear or delete fine detail at the same time. Panasonic on the other hand tends to be very aggressive in noise reduction and they've earned a reputation for loss of detail and smearing of low contrast areas even at base ISO. I prefer more detail to be captured, and then if noise is a problem, remove some of it in post processing on the computer.

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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 3:02 PM
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Lindam, I would suggest a "class 6" speed card in 2GB size. In fact, get 2 at least. You can use larger SDHC cards, but your computer will need to be able to read the SDHC (anything above 2GB). 2GB will give you room for about 300-400 pictures. If you plan on shooting video with it a 4GB would be a good investment as it takes a lot of recording space for video. I prefer several smaller (2GB) cards over one or two larger ones, but that's my preference.

Brands are not that crucial, but look for ones which state "class 6" speed. It will be faster in file transfers and writing to the card. You can get by with class 4 cards, but usually you can find class 6 cards on Amazon.com pretty inexpensively.

For a case, I like the LowePro 10 series available almost everywhere camera supplies are sold (drug stores, camera stores, Best Buy, Circuit City). They run about $10 for a Ridge 10, or a Spectrum 10. They are the smallest that LowePro makes and the are plenty big and well padded for keeping the 880 safe, even if dropped.

I think you'll find the 880 a very practical camera and very easy to use. Be sure to read the manual to find some of the special things it can do (slow shutter speed setting, color accent and color swap, etc). You can also program the very top button to perform a menu selection of your choosing, like white balance, or exposure compensation, or whatever you want under your finger. And be sure and practice a bit with it before your trip.
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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
January 8, 2009 3:06 PM
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I had asked this question earlier, but I think it got lost in the midst...

what is the difference between the 880's wide angle lens capability and the 990's wide angle setting??
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 3:16 PM
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sd880 28mm-112mm
sd990 36-133mm

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mikjr (mikjr) 0 pts
January 8, 2009 3:26 PM
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thanks steve... so I guess those numbers mean the 880 can deliver a wider shot at a closer proximity?

thanks
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 3:32 PM
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Absolutely. Helps especially indoors or for wide-view landscapes.
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lindam 0 pts
January 8, 2009 5:24 PM
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THanks again, Steve, for all of the very detailed help. Some of it is over my head, so will probably be looking for the auto button for our trip. Unless you can recommend a basic dig photo manual? I know nothing about setting iso, etc for different light, etc. Would love to be able to take photos without flash, etc. and have enough light. Even with the xti, so many seem overflashed,light faces. or photos too dark. You would never know that it's a good camera. I realize it is the people operating it tho. Occasionally, I suppose with accidentally having the perfect lighting, you can see a great quality photo. I will try to experiment a bit. Always read about poor shots in low light with these cameras. anyway to counteract that?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 5:40 PM
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You can leave the SD880 on either Auto (A) or spin the dial to Program (P) and you'll do fine. Read the section on Scene modes and use the scene mode that matches what your shooting and it will do all the settings for you automatically. Bright sun - use beach or snow scene mode. Fast movements - use the pets and kids mode. Night shooting - use either night landscape or night portrait depending on if you want the flash to light up close objects. Landscape and flowers - use the foliage mode. Sunset or sunrises -- use the sunset mode! That'll get you 80% good shots if you use the right scene mode with what you're trying to shoot. It will even give you little icon pictures on the screen so you can choose what scene mode you want. Very slick, and I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. Just leave the ISO on AUTO and don't worry about. You can also leave the White balance on AUTO and it should do fine. As far as low light...use the flash and be within 8 feet of your subject.

Happy Shutters
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
January 8, 2009 7:47 PM
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Steve, there's also the issue of MP as it impacts writing time. Due to their huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."

In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since we’re talking compact point and shoots here, those large lenses simply aren’t being made.

And when you consider at 99%+ of pictures are usually snapshots, you don't even see the benefits of that much MP unless you're enlarging to 11x14 or above. So what's the point? I mean, it's like driving a Ferrari through town. Sure, you can do it and it's cool and all, but you don't get to experience any of that horsepower you've paid for.

In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
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Amir 0 pts
January 8, 2009 7:52 PM
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ok. TNX
So is that true the higher resolution is totally useless unless you want to print a very large size poster? we just record a very large file (in terms of size and memory) with the same density of pixels as in 2 mp, isn't it?

And How about the exposure? at the full screen size and without zooming, Auto exposure option can remove a layer of noises from the photo? My concern is how come the camera can not remove this much noise during taking photo? is it the same with SLR cameras?
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
January 8, 2009 7:54 PM
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not useless, just overkill. you won't even see the MP you're paying for until you enlarge it and you'll do that how often, maybe a handful over the life of the camera? So, in essence you're paying for something you aren't using.
As I said, it's like driving a Ferrari through town.
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lindam 0 pts
January 8, 2009 9:00 PM
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do you have to set the camera to wide angle? thinking of photos of the ocean, pools at disney resorts, buildings at disney. Again, thanks SOOOOOOOO much for all the info. How about "little kids standing outside in front of the disney castle mode" ? :) just auto setting, let it do whatever? suppose most photos will be outdoors but in midst of lots of people, some on rides inside structures. also if outdoors and cloudy, gray skies? thank you, thank you, thank you!!
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 8, 2009 9:13 PM
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Lindam, When zoomed out it will be at 28mm (wide angle) and using the zoom lever you'll zoom in to 4x closer (112mm). Kids standing around and posed shots, yeah, just leave on auto and it will do the rest. Just look at the LCD screen after every shot to see if it looks about right for exposure. Since you're on a special trip, review the shots before you move on so you come home with some good photos. Take LOTS of shots, it doesn't cost you a dime more and you'll have better chances of more good photos. Buy a couple or three 2GB SD cards and fill 'em up!
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lindam 0 pts
January 8, 2009 11:50 PM
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having a hard time finding ones that say they are class six. also about some brands that say they have lost photos, frozen up, etc. i am thinking of sandisk, but wondering about if i need the ultra 3 type, or not? can my camera do the sdhc or sd
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lindam 0 pts
January 9, 2009 12:46 PM
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I am trying to order memory cards online. I am having difficulty finding the "class 6" type in the 2 GB size. The class 6 type I can only find 6 or 8 GB and am not sure if compatible with my computer, etc. Did find one 2GB class 6, a panasonic but no reviews on the product. Just really want to have high quality card, and good reputation for not losing pictures, etc. Any help with brands, etc. greatly appreciated. How do I tell if my computer can use sdhc cards?
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aquiles 0 pts
January 13, 2009 11:44 PM
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Hello everybody. Great jot Steve with the reviews. Since you are the leader of the discussion, please give me leave to give my humble opinion to this already heavily detailed discussion:

- I would be very careful to use those flickr pictures to compare the image quality of both cameras. Some pictures are taken with different apertures that may affect the quality, even slightly. You can see that clearly in the picture with the bench. The pic appeared overexposed on the SD880 with the shrubbery green washed out by the intensity of the light. This may be explained by the wider aperture set on the 880, thus allowing more light to come into the lens. Don't know if "wider" is the word here, but you get me.

- In my opinion, the 28mm benefit on the SD880 is being overlooked and discounted here. The difference between the 28mm and the 36mm is significant in landscape and crucial in indoor pics. You all may want to take a look at this page to see the difference:
Take a look at the first couple of pics. Left:28mm Right:36mm

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/PanasonicTZ3/page3.shtml

(Nevermind that the shots are taken by different cameras. The point here is to show the difference in angle coverage)


This alone would make me incline on the SD880. Take a look at your pic files and you will notice how most of the time, most people, take pics with their focus zoomed out at full, that is, as wide as possible. Just check some random pics and right click on it, check properties, and focal lenght. Zoom is largely overvalued. Plus on a Point & Shoot, photos with max Zoom just don't look good.

And for the lady going on vacation to Disneyland. You should most certainly get the SD880 for some great wide angle shots!!!


Greetings and So Long!!






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Jack 0 pts
January 18, 2009 3:06 PM
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The Canon G9 and G10 have skewed optical viewfinders which do not show exactly what's on the LCD. How about the SD990?

Jack
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lindam 0 pts
January 18, 2009 3:49 PM
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thanks for the info on the canon 880. I am the "disney world" lady:) I ordered and recieved the camera and am trying to read the book and learn. Biggest thing I am trying to learn is how to put it BACK to auto after I try a setting! I am finding just by using a little, that I have to use the zoom to get closeups of my pets, etc. but then it sounds like they will not be as clear? If I keep it on the wide angle and just move closer, then it seems like it washes everything out with the flash... I know this is basics of photography 101 but if anyone can tell me how best to deal with this issue with this 880 camera, I would greatly appreciate. I can see it will be great for taking in more of the scenery and pools at Disney though. Guess that was the point when choosing this camera. Still want to know how to get good closer photos though. thanks!
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Nels 0 pts
January 19, 2009 1:28 AM
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Hi Steve,

I was wondering if you could compare the pros and cons between the Canon SD 990 and the Canon Powershot S5. Which one takes better pictures in light dark scenarios, which one is faster, etc?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 19, 2009 9:11 AM
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Nels, it would depend on how you intended to use the camera as to which would be best as they are really different cameras in many aspects. The S5is with its 12x zoom would really get you into the action, where the sd990 has a 3.7x zoom. Both start at an average 35-36mm wide lens, so neither has a wide-angle lens.

The 990is will take better pictures for larger prints. It has a slightly larger sensor and 14.7MP, where the S5is has a smaller sensor and 8MP .

The S5is also begins to suffer in picture quality above base ISO (full daylight shooting), where the 990is can easily handle ISO up to 400 without much complaint and can go up to 800ISO and still be useful.

The S5is is using DIGIC III processing in the camera as opposed to the newer and better DIGIC IV processing.

In the flash dept. the S5is has a hot shoe for mounting an external flash which would easily beat anything the 990is could do as it doesn't have a hot shoe mount. So in that case you could shoot larger venues with a high power zoom and a good flash and get some good shots. That would not be possible with the 990.

The S5is has a great tilt and twist fold out display (which is great for difficult angled shots) and the 990is is a fixed screen (same size for both).

The S5is won't fit in your pocket like the SD990is will, so you may not carry it as often with you. It also will be "less discrete" if you're trying not to be noticed taking the pictures.

So if flash and high zoom are what you need, the S5is makes more sense. If small, larger prints, and better "natural light" pictures" are what you are looking for then I would go with the sd990is. There are several "super-zooms" to choose from, so you may want to compare superzooms side by side if you decide that is what you want. My personal opinion is that the S5is is a good camera, but is on the verge of needing a major upgrade (sensor, zoom, ISO performance, camera processing, etc) in the near future by Canon to stay competitive. The SD990is represents Canon's latest performance enhancements and upgrades, though in a smaller body.
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Jeremy 0 pts
January 19, 2009 12:11 PM
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I just purchased the Canon SD 880 IS a couple days ago. I am not pleased with the exposure on on shots with the flash. Faces are overexposed. I have used Canons for years -- I have an SLR, a DSLR, and a few different point and shoots (The last being the the S 50). Is there a chance that the camera has a defect? It seems ridiculous to me that faces in snap shots would be over exposed shooting indoors, with medium to low light, with subject between 5-10 feet away. Histogram display shows overexposure warnings on my subjects' faces.

Maybe there is a problem. Maybe I'm not using the right settings. I tried a few different scene modes (Portrait, indoor, etc). When I dropped the exposure -1 1/3 I was able to get more detail in the faces. The problem is that the exposure compensation settings seem to revert to default settings when you turn the camera off and on -- adding a ridiculous extra step to get decent snaps of people at parties, restaurants, bowling alleys, or in living room at night.

Any advise would be very welcome. Great thread here! Thanks.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 19, 2009 1:02 PM
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I would have to agree the flash on the SD880 on indoor people shots is not the most flattering. Mine tends to overexpose when within 5-6 feet. Moving to 6-12 feet and zooming in to frame has produced better, more natural lighting for me with the flash. And yes, the SD880 cycles back to default metering settings when turned off and back on. That's a pain as if you are shooting with lots of lag time between shots, you have to reset the exposure. One thing you can do is set the camera to go into standby in say 1 minute and when you hit the shutter button halfway it brings it back to life all the settings remain as set in that session. Red-eye is also pretty pronounced on indoor flash people shots, though it can be corrected either in Post Processing or in camera. Tiny flash, full throttle brightness, and close alignment with the lens all contribute to the weakness of it's indoor flash shooting.
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lindam 0 pts
January 19, 2009 3:21 PM
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If I back up to 6-12 feet with the flash and use zoom, won't the photos come out more blurry? Is there a way to at least correct the flashed out faces when you get your photos made? I usually do it online, as I am disabled. They don't have the option to correct lightness, etc. If my husband took the sd card to a photo machine, can they be made to look less "ghostly"? am already regretting the camera.........maybe should have lived without wide angle...
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Aglaia2003 0 pts
January 20, 2009 10:59 AM
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Thank you Steve and James for information on SD 880IS and SD 990IS camera. I am going to buy the SD-990IS. Has anyone heard of the Broadwayphoto internet store? What is the different between buying a camera imported vs. domestic? I would like to get the SD990IS in red.


http://www.broadwayphoto.com/viewproduct.aspx?ID=10102340&l=Everyprice
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
January 20, 2009 11:16 AM
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At the risk of sounding like their publicist, Aglaia, I encourage you to consider J&R Computer World in NYC: 800-221-8180.

At the time my daughter and I purchased our 990s (to give to each other for Christmas), they had the lowest price, biggest inventory, and truly excellent customer service. My rep was Everett (ext. 1038), but I'm guessing you'll be treated well by anyone you speak with.

Good luck!

jdb
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 20, 2009 11:53 AM
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Here is one review of Broadway Photo NY

"Broadway Photo is a New York area camera cabal infamous for ripping customers off. First they lure in people with camera kits below market value. Then they try to upsell customers on all sorts of accessories and try to make them believe their gear won't work without it. People have experienced unauthorized charges and report being verbally abused when they try to dispute the charges."

You'll find numerous complaints about them and their business practices. I've purchased from Amazon.com (directly) and also J&R Music/Computer World and they have an excellent reputation, sell Canon USA authorized products and don't try to up sell. They also have very good prices.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 20, 2009 11:59 AM
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BTW, in case you are interested in saving a little more money, you can sign up for Microsoft's live search at www.search.live.com and after signing up you can go THROUGH LIVE SEARCH to the J&R site and receive a rebate amount. It does take 60 days for it it be redeemed, but when I purchased it was 7% or just under $21.00. Just be sure that you sign-up for an account with Live Search and then ONLY go through their web page to get to J&R (there are instructions on the site) in order to be eligible for the rebate. While shopping at J&R all the items you buy during that session will qualify for the rebate.
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Aglaia2003 0 pts
January 20, 2009 12:41 PM
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Thank you all for your reviews. After reading all your inputs; I will place my order with J&R. I appreciate the reviews from everyone.Thank you...Good day!
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Entrada 0 pts
January 22, 2009 4:57 PM
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I just received my SD 880 from Amazon. It is replacing a SD 700. My question is that the image on the viewfinder is always very grainy looking. After the shutter button is tapped slightly, it focuses and the image becomes sharp. But I really don't like the grainy quality of the initial image. It is the same outdoors in good light or indoors. Is it possible that this camera is defective? Or is that the way the SD 880 works? On my SD 700 the image is always in focus and sharp.
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lindam 0 pts
January 22, 2009 5:17 PM
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entrada,
i recently purchased the 880 too. Mine is grainy too, but maybe more in the lower evening indoor light. let me know how it works for you. I am disabled, and can't really do much experimenting with mine, pretty much in one room(same lighting mostly, etc.) my husband will be using it for a trip soon, but hasn't had time to go outside with it,etc.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
January 23, 2009 12:34 AM
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That's probably the quality of grind of the sand used in the lens. Being just a viewfinder, it's not as crucial as the lens when it comes to clarity.
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Mel 0 pts
January 25, 2009 3:12 PM
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Thank you Steve, I have read all the reviews and you are most helpful and convincing. i will buy my 990 today at Amazon. They give an additional discount of $30.00 if you apply for an Amazon Visa credit card.
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Aglaia2003 0 pts
January 25, 2009 6:20 PM
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John and Steve,

I purchased my camera from J&R Computer store. They are a Super seller. I will buy from them again. The Canon SD990IS took great pictures. I love my SD990IS. Thank you Steve for the many advices. Your throughly reviews on the SD990Is was it for me. Thank you!
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Jason 0 pts
January 29, 2009 8:04 PM
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Steve/James/and anyone else with 2 cents...

I am moving to South America in a couple of weeks and want a good camera for quick simple shots and for basic movie recording. I have always owned PowerShots, always loved them, and am ready to upgrade for my adventure. I have read this thread over several times and even went to the store and have held both cameras in my hands, yet I am still struggling with my decision. 880 or 990? Let me state it as simply as possible...

Cost is not an issue.
Size is not an issue.
Manual controls do not matter (I know myself and I won't use them).

Here is my struggle...I love the wide angle lens on the 880. I turned both of the camera's on, held them side by side, and was blown away at how much more fit into the the shot of the 880. From my travel experience, I know I will find this very useful in the day-to-day shots I take (people, points of interest, travel stuff, etc.). I also like the controls and look of the 880 a bit more, so in that respect, I lean towards buying it, but...

...I can't shake the fact that the 990 takes better pics. From reading Steve's reviews and user reviews on Amazon, the pictures of the 990 definitely seem like they come out better...period.

So, here is my question. For someone like me, interested in snapshots, posting pics on the web, and random everyday pictures that I will probably never blow up bigger than a 5x7...will I notice the inferior picture quality of the 880? Is the picture quality between the 880 and 990 great enough to outweigh the benefit of wide-angle lens of the 880?

Thank you in advance for your response, this thread is compelling and you guys are amazing...
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
January 29, 2009 11:46 PM
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Here's the thing, Jason. Wide angles aren't really that big a deal anymore since most good photo editors have stitching utilties which can stitch multiple images together into one master image. Then again, since you're just taking snapshots, you won't ever see the additional MP that the SD990 offers. So, snapshot wise, I doubt you'll really see a difference one to another - maybe better color saturation.

So, I think it's a toss-up. And since you're not worried about sticker shock, I'd suggest you go with the SD990 since that larger chip will help on the video side.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 30, 2009 9:04 AM
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Jason, I know exactly how you feel about the SD880. I loved the size, the control, the feel, AND the 28mm wide. I really, really, wanted to like it the best of the two latest elphs. And in many situations it performs very nearly was well as the SD990. But after shooting both for a few months each I couldn't help but always wanting to have the SD990 with me when I wanted to take a shot. The pictures were just a tad better and richer with better contrast and color in the 990. James is correct in that in regular snapshots, you won't see the pixel difference. And as far as the manual controls in the SD990, they really aren't all that great as you can change shutter speeds, but are left with only 2 aperture choices for each shutter speed chosen. The 880 does have a great layout of buttons and the little larger LCD which is very nice and has all the tricks of it's bigger brother like color swap, slow shutter, exposure compensation adj, white balance, movie mode, etc. Like I said, I really, really wanted to like the SD880 better, but for me after shooting the two, the choice was definitely the SD990 due to the quality of the pictures it produced.

I know you haven't mentioned the Canon G10 in your list, but you could go with the larger G10 and have a 28mm wide lens, plus the higher resolution and sensor size of the SD990, plus the ability to put on an external flash if desired. It's pricey and bigger, but has just about every feature you could want shot of going up to a digital SLR. Even without using all the manual controls of the G10, you would be able to shot in Auto mode, or in Program mode without any problem. I think it even has scene modes. It also has the larger 3" LCD, plus a viewfinder on top of all that.
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Jane 1 pts
January 30, 2009 9:05 AM
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I recently bought the 990 and I have a question about zooming vs. cropping. Since the 990 has such a large mega-pixel capacity, would it be better to zoom to the maximum optical zoom and take the picture or to take the picture without zooming and then crop the picture to the comparable zoom? Which would be the least grainy?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 30, 2009 9:51 AM
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Zooming with the optical will not lose any detail or produce any graininess. Just be sure NOT to use the digital zoom end of the telephoto zoom (3.7x max optical). Then you can crop if needed for "extra zoom" results. When I expect to crop for "zoom effect" I always make sure I take it on the largest resolution (14.7mp). If not cropping, I've found the the 9MP setting comes very, very close to the same detail but with much smaller sized files.
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jody 0 pts
January 31, 2009 1:58 PM
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Hi just a question for all the people in the know.

I went to circuit city this morning to check out the sd790 and the guy behind the counter suggested the sd990. To be honest i like how the sd990 feels in my hands better (the other is too flat) but am having a real problem convincing myself that the better feel is worth the extra $. So if anyone can give me a better reason for spending the extra $ I would appreciate it.

Seriously, I am not one that needs the to have the newest and brightest. I will own what every I get until it goes kerplunk so what is the best value for the money and a long haul?

Basically I am looking for a good all around camera (stills, action, wide angle and close ups) that I can slip in my pocketbook or pocket easily. Right now I have an older nikon coolpix which I am happy with except for the size (too big). It seems like canon powershot is the way to go but I am having a hard time narrowing it down. What would "you" suggest (if you have another recommendation besides the canon hit me with that)? I do prefer a view finder but will forgo if its in my best interests. I also want something that is fairly easy to operate.

Any suggestions on where to buy on line would be appreciated?

Thanks
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
January 31, 2009 5:29 PM
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Speaking with far fewer qualifications than Steve or James, our blog graybeards, I can nevertheless offer two opinions with some confidence:

1. I would never (ever) get a camera without an optical viewfinder. I could detail my reasons, but that's the bottom line.

2. As a general policy, I tend to push the envelope when purchasing items I intend to own for their full life (which is how you described yourself in this instance). As an example, I buy BMWs -- not because my income puts me in that category, but because the actual cost of ownership over 15 years (which is how long I kept my previous one) makes them a real value -- and a blast to drive every day during those 15 years. Ditto on my laptop, my SubZero refrigerator -- and ditto on my cameras.

That's one reason I chose the SD990 and never looked back.

As to where to purchase, I have one recommendation -- and it's a strong one: J&R Computer World in NYC. My daughter and I bought each other 990s there at Christmas, and I just purchased several Canon accessories on Friday (the AC adapter and an 8GB memory card). Tel: 800-221-8180. Everett is my rep of choice and can be reached at ext. 1038. Tell him I sent you. <G>

Good luck!

John Dallas Bowers
Villanova, PA
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 31, 2009 6:06 PM
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Jody, here's a few reasons to go for the 990 over the 790:

1. It uses the latest Canon DIGIC IV processing in camera which surpasses the previous DIGIC III. Better color, better speed, better low light, better all the way around.

2. The 990 simply takes the best photos of ANY point and shoot that I have tried out from Canon, Sony, Nikon and Panasonic.

3. It is the top of the line Canon Elph and it is the latest edition, meaning it won't become obsolete next year...you should be able to shoot with it for several years and be perfectly happy.

4. It will take photos that can be enlarged all the way up to poster size and come out with outstanding photo detail because of the 14.7 MP.

5. Because of the higher MP and detail, cropping can be very aggressive, making the 3.7x zoom a very powerful zoom. Shoot at full 3.7 zoom and then crop the middle out for printing and you can equal any zoom on the market today and still retain detail.

REASONS Not to Buy: higher price, not HD video capacity, not fully manual (some, but not a lot), and it's slightly fatter than say the SD880 or 790 and finally, it starts at 36mm and not the wider 28mm.

So if the reasons to NOT BUY are high on your list, than look beyond the 990. Otherwise with the 990 you will have a great camera that will last you for a long while.

As far as buying online: I would stick to the major sellers, like J&R Music and Computer World, Amazon.com, and Adorama or B&H Photo. I have had great experiences with both J&R Music and Amazon.com in buying cameras from them. I think the 990 is still going for around $300 from those dealers for a USA model. Stay away from non-USA models, or dealers who are not Authorized Canon dealers as there will be no warranty from Canon on those cameras.
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Jason 0 pts
January 31, 2009 6:33 PM
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Steve and James...

Thanks for your input. I like the suggestion of the G10, but I think the size is going to deter me. I definitely want something I can stick in my pocket...

James mentioned that the bigger chip in the 990 will make a difference in the video. Is that true? I never thought about that. Video is important to me with this camera, so that may push me over the edge. Still can't get that damn 28mm out of my head...lol.

Jason.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 31, 2009 7:01 PM
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To be honest, I did not compare the sd880 video to the sd990 video. Would have been a good idea though! My thought would be that since the video is being recorded from the sensor, having the larger sensor in the SD990 will be slightly better quality than the SD880. But I'm guessing that it wouldn't be much different.

There has been one glitch in the video which has shown up in the SD990 at least that you might want to be aware of. John Dallas Bowers, contributing commenter here has found that in dim situations that the presence of a bright light can cause a streaking in the video to occur. It appears that Canon has confirmed this weakness, but says it is normal for the sensor. I haven't had time to try my SD990 to reproduce the problem yet, but John clearly has shown that it can and does exist. He has some Christmas tree lights video that you can see for yourself. I don't mean to discourage you from the SD990, but if video is a high priority, you may want to check out the weakness further to be sure that it will do the job. In regular light, I haven't had any problems with the video. And I hope to be able to do some shooting in a darker setting with candle light, or small lamp lights to see if the problem is universal to all SD990 or just certain ones. So stay tuned on the video part...
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jody 0 pts
January 31, 2009 7:04 PM
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John and Steve thank you for your imput and giving me valid reasons for buying the model I want.

One more question- I have 3 picture memory thingys (as you can tell from my nifty vocabulary I am a complete techy) already for my coolpix. Can I use these in the sd990? They are all made by SanDisk - 1 is 32mb, 1 is a 128 mb and the other is an ultra 128mb. They all say CompactFlash on them.

Thanks again!
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 31, 2009 7:06 PM
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John, I don't know if you're comfortable posting a link here to your Christmas video with the streaking, but it might be helpful for others to see it here that may not have picked up on the video glitch in other threads about the SD990. I'm still trying to shoot something in similar light, but haven't done it yet.

Steve
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
January 31, 2009 7:16 PM
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Sorry Jody, the SD990 and SD880 both take SD or SDHC cards instead of the older Compact Flash cards. You'll need to purchase a 1 or 2GB card for the SD990. I'd go with a Sandisk Ultra II card in 2GB. The files are large on the 990, but you can take them with the resolution stepped down to 9MP and get great results with MUCH smaller files. You'll also want some kind of card reader for your computer that can handle the SD card size. You can sometimes find an SD card and a reader which plugs into a USB slot on your computer in the same package. It is faster and easier than using a cable to transfer the files, though a cable is provided with the camera and certainly works fine.
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jody 0 pts
January 31, 2009 7:20 PM
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Thanks again!
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
January 31, 2009 8:33 PM
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Of course, Steve, I'm happy to post the video. Here 'tis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S11eTvAQMAs&feature=channel_page

I have NOT found streaking a problem in other than low-light situations.

One other thing I noticed about the 990's video: the audio pick-up seems "bright." I just shot a clip of me playing my beloved Mason & Hamlin grand, and it seems a bit intense. I also noticed that when I spoke on camera, the s's had a slight hiss to them. I'm attributing that to a sensitive microphone, but it may be something else entirely.

I'm still in the early stages of evaluating this camera, and don't hold myself out as the definitive reviewer, but with all the "if only's," I am still very glad I chose the 990. Sure, the "auto" setting delivers over-bright results in flash conditions (in my experience), but I am very pleased with the workarounds I figured out in both the Program and Manual modes (jiggering the exposure and flash intensity). And I'm now playing with "Audicity" software to see if I can soften the sharpness of the audio in my videos. It's definitely a work in progress.

All that said, I continue to believe the 990 offers solid value for users willing to plumb its depths. After months of pre-selection comparisons, I determined that no camera in this subcompact niche was "perfect," but I also concluded that the 990 represented the best value for serious (or semi-serious) photographers looking for a take-along camera with good optics and modest manual controls.

Nothing I've encountered after a month's use has led me to question my decision.

Hope that helps.

jdb
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jody 0 pts
February 1, 2009 7:10 AM
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Hey, me again. I have a few possibly "duh" questions about the Sandisk Ultra II card. Am I looking for a Secure Digital Memory Card (I am assuming that is what the sd stands for - what does the sdhc stand for)? Would a card that has a higher GB be better or did you specify a lower one for a reason? Are there any other name brands that you would recommend? Also can you explain the class rating on the cards. Is there one I should stay above or below or on target. Sorry if this is confusing but I am not well versed in digital camera accessory speak and am not really sure what I am asking about.

Someone, either in this q&a or another, suggested a snug fitting camera case. Can anyone elaborate on why?

Thanks
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 1, 2009 12:05 PM
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SD=secure digital
SDHC=secure digital high capacity

The SD990/SD880 use all SD and SDHC cards so you can go as large as you want. The only reason for sticking to 2GB or under is that some built in computer card reader will only handle up to 2GB size (SD max) while others can read up to 16 GB(current SDHC max). If you're buying a new card reader or using the cable, it should handle larger cards just fine. But a 2 GB card will give you about 500 pictures in the highest resolution -- that's a lot of shooting. Buying 2 2GB card leaves you a back up, or a spare, in case something goes wrong with the card in the field.

Any major brand will work fine. Sandisk Ultra II, Sandisk Extreme III are two well-respected cards with good reliability and speeds. But Kingston, ATX Pro, and even PQI, all work fine.

As far as speed, stay at a minimum of class 4, and if you want the fastest transfers of files, go with a class 6 card. I use Sandisk Ultra II with my SD990 and my Nikon D50 and have been pleased with the speeds and the card reliability, so I tend to recommend what I've used and have experience with. But I also have use PQI, and ATX Pro and have never had a problem either.

Just stay away from the original speed SD cards. If they don't say what speed they are, they are generally the slower cards.

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John Dallas Bowers 0 pts
February 1, 2009 8:52 PM
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Now that Steve has offered his always on-point guidance on memory cards, Jody, let me weigh in on the case issue you mentioned.

Yes, compact is great for a case, since it will increase the likelihood you'll use it. On the other hand, I think a bit of padding and a little extra air inside can help cushion the camera from the jars and jolts of life. As an example, Canon makes a beautiful slim leather case for their SD1100, but I can't imagine it offering any real protection except from scratches.

I tend to use my case (which I'll describe shortly) when traveling, either packed in my suitcase or hung around my neck. When out for a walk or at party, I'll slip my 990 into a shirt or sportcoat pocket. It's quite slim and light, and fits nicely in either place. I just make sure I don't keep any sharp objects in the same pocket, lest they scratch the case or LED.

After a bit of comparison shopping at Best Buy (first online and then in the store), I bought the Lowepro Rezo 30 in black ($15 + PA sales tax). I was very glad I took my camera when making my final selection. There's no substitute for trying it out.

I wrote a comprehensive review on the Best Buy site back in December, and nothing's changed in my opinion of this excellent case:

_____________________________________________________________

What's great about it: Solid construction; good fit for my SD990; collapsible pocket holds battery charger
What's not so great: No negatives observed to date

"I read the negative reviews after I purchased two of these Lowepro cases (my daughter and I are giving each other Canon SD990 compact digitals for Christmas), and wondered whether I had made a mistake. While my use has been quite limited so far, here's my take to date:

1. The case fits the 990 really well. Not too tight, not too loose. It zippers easily, and the main compartment leaves just enough "breathing room" around the camera to serve as an additional shock absorber. While the sides are flexible, there is good padding all around. I wouldn't recommend slinging the case at a brick wall, but I suspect it would protect the camera quite adequately were one to drop it from a height of three or four feet onto a hard surface.

2. There is a handy Velcro tab on the back for clipping the case onto a belt or purse strap. I will probably use the adjustable neck strap, which seems quite sturdy. I tried very aggressively to make the strap clips come undone (trying to recreate the scenario described by MomKC), but was totally unsuccessful in doing so. I can only assume the spring clips on her straps were defective, because the design looks excellent to me.

3. I was pleased to find that the battery charger fit snugly in the outside collapsible pocket. My daughter and I decided to use our cameras for awhile before buying a spare battery, and being able to keep the charger with the camera while traveling will make it easy to top off the battery at the end of each day's shooting.

4. The outside pocket flap uses Velcro as a fastener, and it works well. It is not as weather resistant as the zippered main compartment, but then I don't intend to leave it out in the driving rain. Short of direct and sustained exposure to bad conditions (downpour, dust storm), I think the Rezo 30 will do nicely.

If I can remember to do so, I will report back to this space after I've used the case for a few months."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes
________________________________________________________

So that's it, Jody. Good luck with your selection.

Here's the link to the Best Buy page describing the Lowepro:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7092932&type=product&id=1109233323040#tabbed-customerreviews
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jody 0 pts
February 2, 2009 9:25 AM
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I am Very Happy I found this sight and y'all. Lots of help with a little humor thrown in- wonderful.

Thanks all,

Jody
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Carol 0 pts
February 3, 2009 3:16 PM
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I purchased a Canon EOS 30D a few years ago. I would love to be able to use all of it features but just never seem to find the time to do it. Additionally I find that due to its size and weight I avoid taking it along. I am now looking for a good point and shot. What would you recommend? Here's how I see my usage:
1. Want something that will fit in a pocket to take to Disney or other outing so I can take pictures of my grandchildren and family.
2. Picture quality is very important.
3. Although I do no usually print pictures above 8 x 10, I do find that I crop frequently to frame the picture I really want. Extremes would be taking a full body picture and cropping to waist high or even head shot. Crop to zoon in on one of my granddaughters in a scene of others and her running around.
4. I like to take Xmas portrait photos of the grandchildren around the Christmas tree. These also typically result in cropping the get the best composition.
5. I like to play around and try to get interesting scenic photos.
6. Photos are both outside and inside and lighting can vary. It seems like 6-10 ft might be difficult in some low light situations. How or can this be compensated for?
7. How big a difference is there in a photo between the starting and telephoto ranges of the photos?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 3, 2009 5:23 PM
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Carol, good list of criteria. Of course, you won't find a point and shoot that will best the picture quality of a Canon DSLR. So you need to accept that what you're looking for is something "as good as it gets" in the point and shoot department. I own a Nikon D50 and have shot lots and lots of pictures with it and love it to death. But, I was missing some great opportunities because I was somewhere while my Camera was resting comfortably at home in it's bag. DSLRs tend to love staying in the closet so they can save their energy for the really "big shoots." So I went shopping for something to supplement my DSLR rather than replace it.

I personally found the Canon SD990IS the best of the bunch in the Point and Shoot, pocket sized cameras. It has what I considered the closest appearance to my DSLR pictures overall in quality from a point and shoot. I started a Flikr site primarily for letting people see the actual photos from the SD880 and SD990 models that came out in October of last year. It also has camera shots from Panasonic Lumix TZ5, and lots of Nikon D50 shots to. If you want to compare side by side and see for yourself just check out some of the sets (on the right hand side of the page) for the various cameras and comparisons. Flikr also will list in the small detail side of a picture what camera took the pictures, and even the settings, or flash on or off, etc if you want to know more about the pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33346716@N03/

I found the cropping ability of pictures taken with the SD990 amazing and there are a few examples of cropping for "macro" effect on the Flikr page mentioned above. Because the SD990 has 14.7 MP resolution you can really crop aggressively and still have very detailed and good pictures.

For portraits and low light indoors? Well, unless you sell your Canon 30D so some needy college student or trade it for food, I'd keep it around to shoot low light and indoors with it...you won't be lugging it around if it stays at home. All point and shoots come with a very minimum flash...bare minimum. Sure you can use it and have "OK" shots, but I'd use the DSLR any day with an external bounce flash for indoor shots, portrait or not.

Creative scenery? Well, the Canon SD990 has my Nikon D50 beat in that category. Want a perfectly blazing orange sunset? Set the 990 to sunset mode, point it toward the horizon with a sinking sun and BAM! beautiful sunset recorded. Or how about a Black and White artsy type shot? Again, set the Canon 990 to Black and white (or Sephia for that matter) and BAM! B&W photo. But the neat, nifty, no one else has it feature for Canon's is the "color accent and color swap" modes. Say someone is wearing a lime green tie at your next picnic. Set the Canon to color accent and choose the lime green tie color by pointing the camera at the color, now when you take a picture everything is Black and White EXCEPT for Uncle Fussby's lime green tie shining brightly. Well you can use it for more intelligent things, like Fall leaves or Red balloons, or something, but it is very cool and only Canon has it.

You can check the zoom capacities of the Canon SD880 and SD990 on the Flikr link as well. Same shots taken at wide angle and at full telephoto.

I found that I now carry the SD990is all the time, and the Nikon D50 less of the time. And the fact is that I have gotten a lot of great pictures from the SD990is that are "almost" as good as I would have gotten with the D50...if I was lugging it at the time.

Hope the helps in finding the camera that might come close to your Canon D30 in quality, but would be mere ounces in the pocket or purse and always ready for the moment.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 3, 2009 11:57 PM
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Steve has pretty much nailed it on the head. I would add this, however. Many professional photograhers who are looking for a pocket backup camera choose the Canon G9 (and now, it's followup, the G10). This is largely due to it's distinct set of manual features. While the G9 is a really good deal now, the G10, though a tad more costly, has the new DIGIC IV processor, like the SD990.

I think we both agree that Canon is a really solid choice. But even though both the SD990 and G10 are good point and shoot options, you need to be mindful that the point and shoot flash capabilty peters out after about 10 feet. And this is where you have an advantage with the G9/10. It carries an exeternal flash hot shoe mount to add a stronger external flash.

Hope it helps.
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Marianne 0 pts
February 4, 2009 3:16 PM
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Steve and James, your knowledge of cameras is amazing and your ability to convey the information to those of us less knowledgeable is as well. However, the more I read, the more confused I became. I, too, have been trying to decide between the 880 and the 990 and like features on both of them. I like the wide angle of the 880 as many of my pictures will be of people in indoor settings. However, it always seems the "other guy's" pictures are sharper and more impressive than mine so sharpness and clarity are important to me as well. Also, I will tend to use the auto feature more than the manual controls so I am wondering if I can get those sharp pictures without using the manual controls. You've answered the same questions here (in some cases more than once) but I wondered what you thought of my situation?

PS - with Circuit City going out of business the prices are great but there is no return policy so I don't have the luxury of trying both and returning one like I usually would.

Thanks!
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
February 4, 2009 4:32 PM
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I'm always a bit reluctant to weigh in when more knowledgeable opinions will be forthcoming, but my limited experience with my 990 has shown me that while the default settings inside the "scenes" mode are pretty darn good, the full "auto" mode has its weak points, particularly when the flash is needed.

As I think I noted above somewhere, depending on such variables as distance, zoom, and ambient lighting, the shots can turn out very "hot." As a result, I have now begun to use either Program or Manual in those situations, both of which allow adjustment in flash intensity and other key settings. I find I still need to fine-tune sometimes, depending on those variables I mentioned, but at least I don't waste my time being frustrated by trying "auto" first.

One of the things I really appreciate about Program/Manual is the ability to lock in the ISO. Too often I found the camera choosing 200+ levels when I really didn't think the situation required it. Now, for reasonably close shots, I stick with 100 and make other adjustments as necessary.

On the Circuit City thing, I agree it can be comforting to have a return option. In fact, with a camera at this price point, I would definitely "give away" a few bucks for that privilege -- if, in fact, CC is even selling the 990 at a deeper discount than J&R. Once you're past the 30 days, though, you're under Canon's wing, and so far my experience with their tech folks has been good.

Yes, I wish I had the wide-angle option, Marianne, but I remain convinced by Steve's words and his uploaded comparative photos that I made the right choice.

Good luck!

John Dallas Bowers
Villanova, PA
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 4, 2009 5:19 PM
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I have to agree with John here. The full auto approach is pretty limited and that's where the SD990 comes through for those willing to learn a few tricks. The SD880 offers no way to regulate the flash, so it's either on or off. You can adjust the exposure on the 880, but it will still "white out" people that are too close and give some heavy red eyes to most shots. Of course correcting red-eye these days is pretty easy either in camera or with computer software afterwards. But washed out faces and too bright of a flash are pretty hard to fix.

Don't get nervous, the SD990 is nothing like a digital SLR or full manual camera. In fact, it can pretty much do everything for you if you want it to and do a good job most of the time figuring out just what you were looking for in the picture. But one trick the 990 has that the 880 doesn't is the Flash Compensation menu item. Just like you can adjust exposure (up or down + or - 2 steps) you can do the same thing for the output of the flash. Now instead of being "full on" it can be toned down for much more natural lighting and fill-in light. It helps get rid of the "deer in the headlights" look on people's faces.

The other neat trick for the 990 is that it handles low light better and at lower ISO settings so you don't always have to use a flash. Steady the camera, and let it take a longer exposure with natural light and you'll be amazed at how well you can do.

You're right about missing the wide 28mm starting point. The 990 would be THE PERFECT camera if it began at 28mm or even 24mm instead of 36mm. But Canon put that into it's G10 instead along with a whole slew of manual settings, and a bigger box and a higher price tag. For me the 990 had everything but the 28mm wide angle lens. But the benefits of larger sensor, flash adjustments, shutter speed adjustment, better low light handling, viewfinder, larger more detailed pictures, all combined to make it the choice over the SD880 in the end.

If Circuit City's Canon was new in the box, unopened and absolutely perfect looking, AND under 300.00 with tax (for the SD990is) then I might consider it seeing how Canon will stand behind the camera for the first year. Yeah I'd rather find a store/dealer that was going to be around, but I don't mind saving money if it is a good product. Depending on your state sales tax, it is sometimes a savings to buy from online dealers where you are free from sales tax, too. If you are unsure about what camera you want, buy only from a place that takes returns without penalty. If you KNOW for SURE what you want, look for a good deal that at least as good, or better than J&R Music and Computer World. They have a great reputation and are authorized by Canon, and ship quickly, and take returns too. And they have had the best price on either the SD880 or SD990 lately. And if you're willing to let Microsoft sign you up for "live search" you can actually save more at J&R Music by going through www.search.live.com though they hold your rebate for 60 days after your purchase. You have read the rules and follow their steps to qualify for the rebates, but when I did I got a rebate of 7% of my purchase at J&R. Prices should be coming down slightly, too now that we're past the holidays. Just be sure you buy from an authorized Canon dealer and a USA model so that Canon USA will stand behind the warranty. Grey market sellers offer you imports (same cameras basically) at cheaper prices, but they won't be covered by Canon's warranty.

Hope that helps in your decision making process.
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Maz 0 pts
February 7, 2009 2:06 PM
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HI everyone My name is Maz and iam from NY.
I would like to share my experience in buying the sd 990 with you guys and i also have a question that i would love to see answered by Steve , James Deruvo and Stacey so people like my self can learn more and see 3 different answer to compare and relate to.
after reading alot of reviews i decided to go ahead and purchase the sd 990 is , it was a tough call since there are many cameras out there . Its true some cameras are better than others but to be honest at the end of the day it comes down to your needs and what you are planing to shoot and capture . Sd 990 is a great camera but its not for everyone someone might be happier with an older sd model with lower pixels . it all depends on your need.

Many digital camera buyers often turn to the internet to find the best deal. But if in your search the price of a camera is too good to be true, watch out. Many people who fall for the scam end up with nothing but a hole in their pocket: no camera, lost money. I need to warn people here to be very careful when purchasing cameras or any electronics from the web , you can easily trust amazon or even ebay or any of the famous websites. But lately i been seeing many websites offering cameras for much cheaper prices. These companies are called the switch and bait. They attract people by their lower prices then force them to upgrade and buy other accessories. for example if you type canon sd 990 right now in google search and check the shopping criteria you will see some amazingly low prices , as low as $229 or $256 then with tax and shipping comes all to $270 or so. here is the thing , they will send you an email once you place an order to confirm your order. when you call you will notice one : they are rude , two : they are unprofessional . They will probably tell you something along the line : this is a Japanese model and the battery it comes with will only last for 15 minutes , and you will have to upgrade to a better battery which will cost an additional $80 . and many other tricks .i tried to test one of those companies , so after he said i should get a better battery , i told him its okay iam going to stick with the original 15 minute battery , he called me STUPID and said that i dont know anything about cameras , i told him thank you but i still want to stick with the original battery , he then said it will be shipped from japan and is going to take 2-3 MONTHS to get here and i should upgrade shipping and handling which will cost an extra $90 . so i told him its okay i will wait 2-3 months , he then got frustrated since i wouldn't fall for his trap and said iam going to cancel your order because your an idiot and this company doesnt want your money .

that was a true story and experience. These companies are located mainly in Brooklyn NY and are being sued by the state. You can login to BBB.org (Better Business Bureaus) and search whatever company or website you are trying to buy from before you do so. so you wont watse money or time. here are few companies that i called on the phoned and made sure they are scam. TECHONDIGITAL.com FOTOCONNECTION.com butterflyphoto topchoice digital and many others for a full list check this web page http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/merchant-discussion-shopping-advice/121241-online-scam-stores-list-guide.html please please please please please be careful when buying be a smart buyer.

I personal bought my camera from circuit city for $290 total but i was lucky with that deal since they are are going out of business and might catch a good discount, not always but sometimes.

That been said now for my other part of this post. Which is directed to Steve James and Stacey . Can you guys give us a lesson or information in depth about how to use the manual set in cameras in general and sd 990 specifically. I mean its nice to just put the camera on auto and let it do all the work but i want to learn a bit more about the manual set and how to use these numbers F 2.8 or the fraction parts 1/125 which i think is the shutter speed or something like that. And how these things help taking a better picture some examples would help as well. I want to have more control of the camera. and the pictures stacey took are just amazing and iam sure these are not auto cruise if i must say. also steve's pictures were stunning and iam trying to go from a beginner level to some what higher and maybe one day close to a much advance level . i enjoy taking out door pictures of nature and other things and the auto set is not always the best.
at the end i would like to be excused for my poor writing since English is not my first language but i felt i would share something in this amazing post .
at the end
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 7, 2009 5:01 PM
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Maz,
Very wise words on buying on the internet indeed. I can only agree that one must be careful at looking for "the best price" as it is often a scam, or an attempt to get you to bite on the offer only to try to up sell you once you made contact.

Here's my quick advice on Auto and learning some manual techniques. With most digital cameras, including the SD990 you can set it to auto and then watch how it handles different settings and light. Pay attention to three things that will display when in Auto: The shutter speed (usually shown as a fraction like 1/50, 1/125, etc) and 2) the Aperture setting (F-stop, like 2.8f or f2.8), and finally the ISO setting 100, 200, etc.) Those three things will determine how much light enters the camera. They all three work together, so changing one means that either one or two of the others things will need to change in order to keep the same exposure in the final picture. That is what AUTO is trying to do, make a good, average, mostly correct exposure given the circumstances you are shooting. Notice (even jot it down) what the camera readings are when you focus indoors in low light, then what it does when you focus outdoors in bright light. Use the zoom and see how it changes the three settings in different settings. That's the first thing to do when learning how to improve the camera's performance. Find out how it is handling everything on AUTO.

Now, on the SD990 you can place the camera in "Program" mode (P), where the camera will take every picture on AUTO, UNLESS you use the function menu and change 1) exposure compensation, 2) ISO settings 3) Flash Compensation 4) Saturation and Hue--My colors, Vivid, etc. That's where you can let the camera make the decision first, look at the shot in the review mode and then change the settings listed above to improve on what the camera did on AUTO mode. This will help you understand how to take better exposures depending on how you want the picture to look (softer light, brighter light, candle light, more or less color saturation coming through. After a while, you'll be able to know ahead of time what to change because you know how the camera handled similar situations before. So you'll crank up the exposure, or crank it down, before the shot because you know in advance what you need to do.

Finally, on the SD990 you can switch it to "Manual Mode" which in addition to all of the above settings, you can now tell the camera what shutter speed you want, and it will give you 2 choices of aperture settings to go with that shutter speed. With shutter speed you can now determine how the camera records moving objects. Slower shutter speeds will allow the moving objects to blur (like running water) or streak (like car lights, etc) while the rest of the scene is clear and focused (if you keep the camera steady or use a tripod). With the 990 there is a limited amount you can play with because as you adjust the shutter speed, it will automatically adjust the aperture, trying again to give you the proper amount of light to expose the picture.

The point, as far as my experience goes, with the 990's giving you 2 choices for aperture setting for the shutter speed you select, has to do more with "Depth of Field" or DOF. That is depth of the plane that will be in acceptable focus. For some things you want a smaller DOF so the object is in focus, but the background, or foreground is out of focus so that the eye is drawn to the focused subject and not distracted by the background or foreground. Portraits and Close-up macro photos look good that way. On the other hand in long distance, or in sweeping landscapes or architectural scenes, you want all of the frame to be in focus and so want as large of a DOF as possible. Here's what I try to remember. The smaller the Aperture the greater the Depth of Focus (smaller apertures are the LARGER f-stop numbers). The larger the aperture (smaller f-stop number, say 2.8f) the smaller the depth of focus. That's only part of the story as it is also affected by 1) how close you are to the subject and 2) what the focal length is of the lens.

With the 990, small lens, small zoom, and only a 2.8f lens maximum the Depth of Focus is always going to be limited. I have found in my shooting that the best small depth of focus (blurring the background, while only the subject is in focus, is obtained by 1)zooming in fully with the optical zoom 3.7x, getting as close to the subject as I can so that the camera will focus and the subject fits inside the frame, and try to give as much light as possible so the camera can use a 2.8f aperture setting. Not always do I get it to do what I want, but that's what I strive for if I want a small or narrow Depth of Field.

Again the 990 doesn't give you fully manual control, so you are at the mercy of the camera for some things and you have to try to work around those givens that the camera wants to do.

Keeping the ISO as low as possible will result in clearer pictures (providing there is enough light or a steady hand or tripod).
Adjusting the flash output through the Flash compensation menu will allow you to give more natural lighting to subjects when the flash is used.
Finally adjusting the Exposure Compensation can help you either underexpose, or overexpose from what the camera might want to do on Automatic exposure.
Those 3 things will go a long way in helping you get better shots with the SD990. When you've become comfortable with those adjustments, then try changing the shutter speed under manual when shooting moving subjects and see how it affects the outcomes. That will help you get "moving subjects blurred" or "moving subjects stopped in mid action."

Of course, the scene modes will do a lot make adjustments to shutter speed, aperture setting, and even color saturation and accent automatically. They actually do quite well in most situations. You can make many (or is it any?) manual adjustments though in scene mode for the most part, so if it's not quite right, you have to go to Program or Manual Mode so you can make the decisions instead of the camera.

That a long lesson! There are lots of good books out there and also internet articles on photography that would help you learn more about shutter / aperture / depth of focus / exposure tricks. The more you shoot and try different things with the camera the more you'll learn about what it can and cannot do well. Who knows. You may want to move up to a Digital SLR with full manual after you've got the basic down on the SD990. The things you learn will apply to all photography whether digital or even film.

For fun and illumination, here's a link to a great Depth of Field calculator online: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
You can enter the focal length of the lens (hard to tell on the 990), the distance from the subject, and the selected aperture and it will tell you the exact measurement for what will be in focus in the shot. Use it to see how changing the different settings makes a difference.

Here's the Tamron lenses learning center page: http://www.tamron.com/lenses/learning_center/default-new.asp
It has great lessons on how to take better photos. Of course, you don't have a DSLR or Tamron lens, but the concepts can apply to any camera.

You can find lots of other great help and articles online as well. Good luck and best of shooting with your SD990.

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Carol (CSaponaro) 11 pts
February 7, 2009 8:53 PM
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James and Steve, Thanks of all the great input on my previous post. I have been doing a lot of research and now have a few more questions.

1. Have either of you used the Canon High-Power Flash HF-DC1 on either the sd990 or sd880. Seem like that might be a good alternative in addressing the limitations of the built in flash on these cameras. It connects using a mounting bracket that screws into the bottom of the camera normally used for the tripod. The falsh sits on the the left side of the camera and is only slightly thicker thet the cameras at 1.8w x 2.6h x 1.2d". It's range is 30 ft. Not something that you would want to have attached to the camera all the time but when you know you would at a function (such as a wedding, or other indoor low light function, this would seem to allow some decent pictures. cost at B&H is $95. What do you think??

2. Regarding the best Memory cards for the SD880, Sd990 and G10.
A. Are the data transfer read and write rates (which I could not find) different between for each of these camera's and if you know: what are they?

B. Based on the above would the Sandisk Ultra II or the Extreem III be better. I was told to get the Extreem III when I purchased my 30D as a lower speed card could slow the speed with which I take rapid pictures. My gut feeling is maybe Ultra II for the 880 and 990 and Extreem III for the G10???? BYW Costco has a great deal on a 4 pack of 2G Ultra II's at $29.99.

C. I almost always shoot capturing the largest image size (pixiels). I have a 4G card in my 30D and have never run out of space. What are your thoughts now that I would moving to 14.7 megapixels.

3. What do you think of the Sunpak PZ40X II AF TTL Flash vs the Canon 220EX TTL Flash for the G10. I own the 430EX II but think it is too large for the G10.
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CV 0 pts
February 8, 2009 2:22 AM
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Hi Everyone,

I bought the 990 not too long ago and I love it! I was able to take a couple movie clips of my friends snowboarding when I first got it. Since then, I did have an issue where I my computer would not detect my camera when I plugged it in using the USB cable. It did the first time, but not afterwards. So I got it replaced and got a new 990.

I took a couple more snowboarding movie clips today with the new 990 and we noticed that the quality was not as good. I'm not sure if it's because the weather was great the first time (sunny, blue skies, bright) and today the weather was more on the cloudy side so there wasn't as much sunlight bouncing off. The videos from today just don't seem as clear. My friends have me worried that I might have a defective camera now... but I'm wondering if you could help me check any settings that might make a difference? I'm not a camera pro at all and I'm not sure if any settings were changed when I used the first camera because I'm pretty sure I didn't change anything when I used the camera today (from default).

FYI - I did see the streaking light when I used the movie mode today... from when the sun did come out from behind the clouds.

Sorry if all that was confusing.... but thanks in advance for any help you could provide. I'm nervous this camera isn't as good as my first one.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
February 8, 2009 7:08 AM
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It's hard to say without hearing more specifics what settings you might have changed with your original 990 to produce more pleasing results. If you press the function button while in the video mode, you'll see there are only a few things you can adjust: lighting correction, color adjustment, and resolution. Perhaps you had selected "vivid" colors in your first camera, for example. If you say a bit more, I'm guessing Steve or James will have more to say.

Weather differences can have a big impact on the look and sparkle of a given scene, so it may be nothing more complicated than that. Try fooling around a bit with the lighting choices and colors. And just make sure you've chosen the bigger/ better of the two video resolutions (640 x 480).

The tools tab in your menu, by the way, has a reset option if you want to return your settings to the factory defaults.

Sun glint can happen with SLR film cameras, but the 990 does seem to have a weakness for streaking. C'est la vie, I guess.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 8, 2009 11:43 AM
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Carol,
I haven't used the external flash with the sd990, but it may be helpful for some. Portability is the thing you would start to lose.

Sandisk Ultra II have been fine as they are faster than the camera can spit out processing in either the 880 or 990. You will see little advantage to the Extreme. My guess is the the SD880, SD990, and G10 will also have similar transfer times, but with the G10 able to shoot raw, I would possibly go with the Extreme Sandisk just because it might make some difference.

CV
Shooting conditions will always affect the quality of the outcome. Try to shoot in similar condition in order to compare earlier video with your current video capabilities before judging whether the camera is defective.
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Carol (CSaponaro) 11 pts
February 8, 2009 1:52 PM
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Steve,

I agree that you would lose portability but seems like a great gain ( assuming it works) when you know you will be shooting in low light situations. It only adds 1.8" to the width taking the 880 and 990 from around 3.7 and 3.8 inches to 5.5 and 5.6 inches. Trade off is being able to capture pictures or not for a little inconvince in size. Don't think I'd carry in around for the just incase situation but probably when I knew it would be needed. Disney - definately not. Weddings or Christmas pictures inside probably yes. See it a planned use when you either don't want to carry around the larger DSLR or haven't got one. Any chance you might be trying one out so we could see how well it works??

Regarding the size of the memory card for the 880, 990 and g10. Your thoughts on 2G vs 4G on each?? Or does the G10 really need more since it can also save raw? I have to admit that even with my sd30 I typically do not use the RAW feature.

Also thanks for the 2 links in your response to Maz above. I have only take a quick look but it seems like there is some very helpful information there.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 8, 2009 2:03 PM
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Carol,
The add-on flash does sound like an interesting option if the small pocket camera is your only camera. I also have a Nikon D50 with the SB600 flash that I would use anytime I was interested in indoor shooting primarily because the Nikon controls so much more of the flash characteristics than a point and shoot so I wouldn't go for the add on, but for others it could be an option. The SD990 is really a supplement, not a replacement, for my DSLR.

As far as size of SD, I use a 2GB in my 990 and it hold 520+ pictures at full resolution. That's less than what I would typically shoot in a day of all day shooting, and the price is usually better for 2gb cards on sale, but shop around. Even with the G10 you should get about the same number of shots, though if it records both RAW and JPG at the same time, your number of pictures would be less.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
February 8, 2009 3:14 PM
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Carol,

An additional perspective on memory cards: I just purchased (well, back-ordered, actually) two accessories related to my prospectively greater use of my 990's video function -- Canon's AC adapter and an 8 GB card. I plan to be shooting a video diary of a friend of mine who's in hospice, and didn't want to find myself having to interrupt or end a session because of a full card. Given that it was only $15, it seemed like inexpensive insurance.

I don't know if my laptop card reader will recognize the 8GB, but since I generally use the USB connection for file transfer, it's not a huge issue. I will probably continue to use my 4 GB card ($6 at J&R) for my primary still photo storage and reserve the 8 GB for my movie use.
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Carol (CSaponaro) 11 pts
February 8, 2009 5:52 PM
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John,

How did you get that pricing at J&R?? I just checked and the 8G Ultra II was 29.99 and that price already included a $10 instant rebate. Did you mean $15 more that the 4G? The price I get for the 4G Ultra II is 14.99.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
February 8, 2009 6:02 PM
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I'm chalking it up to charm. <G>

No, we may be talking apples and oranges, Carol. Here is the description of what I have back-ordered at J&R:

PNY P-SDHC8G4-RF3 8GB Class 4 Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Memory Card

I have no idea if that's the same class of card you're considering, but it is the same as the 4 GB one I got for $6 -- which works beautifully (no lag in file transfer that I can detect, even for the videos).

I've dealt with Everett and Oscar at J&R; both are great guys.
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Mike 0 pts
February 8, 2009 11:36 PM
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Speed of the SD880 and SD990 should be about the same since they both use the same Canon DIGIC 4 processor. Although with "Quick Pic" setting on the SD990, I found the picture taking a little quicker than the SD880 while using the viewfinder, the "little peep hole", on the SD990.

Just to let everyone know the G10 and SD990IS share the same 1/1.7" sensor. Essentially the SD990 has the G10 image sensor with the same SD880 lens in a compact Elph body with lots of features including full manual mode. The reason the SD990 does not have the wide angel lens as the SD880 is because the SD880 has a smaller sensor of 1/2.33" size (you have to factor in the sensor to lens conversion). Yes, there is a lots of megapixels in the SD990 and some noise that appear in the dark areas of pictures at higher ISO mostly above ISO200. However, I haven't notice that this is any distraction from the picture quality at all. Actually, I found pictures to be crisp and detailed.
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Carol (CSaponaro) 11 pts
February 9, 2009 1:50 PM
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Steve,

I was checking out the discount (Visa card cash rebate)you mentioned regarding purchase made linking thru msn live search. Have also been checing prices between J&R and B&H. In some cases B&H pricing is cheaper than receiving the 7% rebate from J&R. B&H is also listed with a 2-3% rebate.

When you link to either through MSN live search, it indicates that you will received the rebate on qualified items.

My question is how do you know if the item qualifies?

And how do you know, in the case of B&H what % will be applied to which items?

Do you see this information before you complete checkout???
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 9, 2009 10:26 PM
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Carol, the Microsoft Live search can be a bit confusing and convoluted unfortunately. The way I understand it as long as you go through live search to reach the store from the link embedded in the Live Search page, you will receive the rebate on ALL purchases made at that store during that particular session. No it doesn't show up on the merchant site or give you any indication of the rebate, it's all through Microsoft Live Search. You may get better answers through the live search help line than here as it is a pretty convoluted system in my opinion. I've only used it once, and I had to contact Live Search after the purchase because they failed to credit the rebate to my account. I sent them the J&R invoice and a note, and they "looked into it" and then gave me the rebate. So I can't say much more than it is "OK." Still look for your best price for the camera you want and consider any rebate a "bonus." Both J&R and B&H are good reputable dealers and should have very competitive pricing.
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Carol (CSaponaro) 11 pts
February 10, 2009 10:22 AM
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Steve,

Thanks.

I have already sent the question in to MSN Live Search and am waiting for a response. Hopefully I will receive it today.

BTW would you rather have people submit questions as NEW so you could get points for the best answer? Seems like most of us just keep adding to this one. Your responses are always very helpful.

Thanks again for all the great assistance.
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Jason 0 pts
February 13, 2009 2:25 PM
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Just a quick follow-up. Based on all the amazingly detailed information on this post, I bought the SD990...and IT SUCKS!!!! Just kidding...lol. Sorry, just had to throw a little levity in. Honestly, I have have only been using it a couple days, but so far....it's great. I got it the same day I left on my trip to Brazil. I am here now and have been carrying it around and taking some nice pics with it. Mostly on auto, with a couple of manual shots thrown it. I took Steve's advice and brought the manual down with me. I've been reading through it a bit to get the most out of it. Anyways, that's all for now...beautiful beaches await. Thank you all for your help and advice.

Adeus...

Jason.
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lindam 0 pts
February 13, 2009 6:32 PM
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Used my new 880 at disney world, and have not printed any photos. I put them on my computer, and notice it really seems to get the glowing demonic eyes. I tried to use the program that came with the camera(downloaded on computer) to get rid of the red eyes, but on some it would just do all the eyes in the photo, except ONE of one persons eyes! I don't know if it will be correctable at at photo machine then either. Anyone know? also, is there any extra flash contraption that can be added to this camera that would not cause so much red eye?thanks
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 14, 2009 1:04 AM
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These days, most photo editors are sophisticated enough to have red eye removal utilities. One, which is free, is Picasa by Google.
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 14, 2009 11:35 AM
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Carol, any good photo editor should take care of the red eyes easily. Also be sure the camera is set on "red-eye reduction" before taking the shots. There is also an "in camera" option for manually removing red eyes after the shot when you review them on screen, it seems to work fairly well. On the "in camera" software for red eye fixing, it allows you to select the eyes to correct, and you can go back and "re-correct" any that got missed the first time. At least that is the way it works in the 990 and I'm assuming the 880 would be the same.
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jody 0 pts
February 14, 2009 4:12 PM
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Hey all that answered my questions and gave such great advice. Just wanted to let you know I took the plunge for the sd990 this past week and am extremely pleased with my purchase. Great camera!

Thanks all : )
Jody
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lindam 0 pts
February 14, 2009 5:37 PM
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hi,
This is Linda, I asked about the red eye problem on the 880? Are the answers re redeye to a Carol from a previous ? or in response to me? I used the software I downloaded that came with the camera. Maybe I am missing something. I did an "auto adjust" setting on the red eye option on my computer. I tried a manual option, but didn't get it to do anything. I am sure its me, but wanted to send some by email, but can only correct 3 out of 4 eyes in the photo. That translates into Disneys "Cinderella"-two good eyes, "my 5 year old granddaughter"-one good eye,and one demonic glowing red eye" lol, well, you get the picture............I am not planning to print them out, but email them, etc. So I can also try to remove the red eye if I review those photos on the camera? even if you don't do it immediately when you first review the shot? yes, i know, i am camera illiterate.............
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 14, 2009 6:47 PM
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Lindam, maybe there's something demonic in the subjects! Ok, seriously you should be able to get rid of any red eye with software. Try James suggestion of Picasa for free. Or another option is try a copy of the trial version of thumbs Plus from cerious software. You can use it for 30 days and it has a good redeye fixer, too. I haven't used the Canon software, so I'm not sure how to advise on using it. Check the manual again for instructions. You should also find Red Eye correction when in play back mode on the camera. Put it in playback, and select the photo, then hit the function button and find the red eye tab.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 14, 2009 7:23 PM
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Another really good and affordable option is Adobe Photoshop Elements. It costs about $80 at Amazon and it can do far more than red eye removal.
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lindam 0 pts
February 15, 2009 1:47 PM
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are these programs only to fix on your computer to email, etc? and to print on a home computer printer? or could you make a cd and take them somewhere to print with the already done corrections? I am disabled and could never go out to a photo machine in a store by myself. Even if taken there, could only sit up for short time/ Are there any online photo places I could order prints online, but edit the red eye, crop. adjust color etc.? I use one from a local grocery, but it doesnt allow changes(well, just a crop maybe) so I am always disappointed when I get them. They seem so light and bright on the computer screen, then are so dingy and blah when my husband picks up the prints I order.Going to Disney one day, was a physical sacrifice as a one and only trip with my grandkids. I am really looking to be able to order nice photos from my computer. Any other thoughts appreciated. Thanks for replies, all of you.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 16, 2009 9:44 PM
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Lindam, the reason you're disappoint has more to do with your computer monitor not being calibrated. This can also happen when you try to print from your home printer. Without calibrating your computer monitor, how the image looks on the screen and how it looks when printed will never be the same.

Online photo places? Sure, there are dozens or more. From Kodak.Com to Target to Shutterfly.com. Even WalMart has online photo printing which can be either picked up at a local store or delivered via mail.
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lindam 0 pts
February 17, 2009 1:50 PM
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thanks james,could you suggest a good online one? I was thinking of switching from my instate grocery chain photo place online, to walmart since they said that they have the adustments you can make online for red eye, saturation, colors, bright, etc. We did our first disney pics at a walmart machine yesterday(grueling with my health) but the attendant there said that our camera having the wide angle was causing some changes in the photos. Kinda like we didn't change the photo, but when we continued on to how it would print, it cut off part of it automatically(like Snow Whites red hair bow, for example) I realize this doesn't sound like a big deal, but we want to cut off what we choose to cut off. Am starting to regret getting this wide angle little camera. Though I will say it had no problem getting that whole Disney castle in its frame..........I don't know how to calibrate, etc. I just want to get the best photos possible, of course but not realistic to think I could spend that much time sitting up at a stores photo machine. Thx again.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 17, 2009 8:02 PM
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Just about every place has an online service. Target, Shutterfly, Walgren's. And it's hard to argue with Kodak. C'Net did a comparison of the most popular online services. It pays to take a good look at what each one offers. I'd then fire off an email and ask them if wide angle shots are a problem.

There is an effective area which most printers rely on. And some are over relying on this effective area. So, there's not much you can do if Walmart has a limited wide angle capability. I mean, you should take it into something like Adobe Photoshop Elements and shrink it down to account the difference, that way you don't lose anything. But that's a hassle to do all the time.

As for your monitor, I wasn't suggesting you should calibrate your monitor. If you can and you take photo editing seriously, you should. But as long as you're aware of the difference between how it looks on the screen and how it looks in print, you can keep that in mind and either use exposure compensation settings or presets which can compensate for the difference. That's all I was suggesting.
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lindam 0 pts
February 17, 2009 11:10 PM
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thanks james, I don't think I am up to buying and learning photo shop but will check the various onlines.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 18, 2009 11:33 PM
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Agreed. Like I said, it would be a hassle all the time anyway. When just a quick email or phone call to a photo printer will clear up the cropping issue.
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Carol (CSaponaro) 11 pts
February 19, 2009 10:43 AM
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Steve

Got the answer regarding MSN Live Search Cashback. If you search for the product you are interested in on MSN Live Search Cashback
http://search.live.com/cashback when you select a product to compare it will display the seller, the store proce the % cashback and the Bottom line price. As you said, you must link to the store by selecting the store on MSN Live Search Cashback. If you do not do the search through MSN Live Search Cashback but just select the store on their seller list and then do a search on the sellers web page you will not see the %cashback and the bottom line price for the item. Either way you will receive the %cashback.

I purchased items from 2 stores and got the Cashback notice for one immediately after making the purchase. Haven;t for the other - guess I may be having the same problem you did and am contacting MSN Livesearch cashback regarding the issue.

Hope this helps anyone else. It really is the place to go. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Jane 1 pts
February 21, 2009 11:24 AM
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A question about getting the photos from my 990IS to my computer: My daughter and I both bought the same 990IS (hers is black, mine is silver) and we both love them! We are using the ZoombrowserEX program that came with the camera. One problem however: Is there any way to change the default individual photo file names before they download into our computers? Right now, they say "IMG _0001" and so on. The problem is we are sharing our photos on our computers so my "IMG_001" is not the same photo as her "IMG_001". I would like to put all of her photos and all of my photos of my grandson into the same My Photos file on my computer. Since I cannot put 2 different photos with the same file name into the same file on my computer, I need to change one of the file names. ZoombrowserEX easily lets me do a batch rename AFTER the files have downloaded into a temp file on my computer but, right now, I must download HER camera's "IMG_001, etc." files into a temporary windows file on my computer, batch rename them, then move the newly named photos to my My Photos grandson's file that already holds a different "IMG_001" photo that was downloaded previously from MY camera. Can I save myself those extra steps by getting one of our 990IS cameras to download it's photos with a totally different default file name other than "IMG"? Then I can download the photos of my grandson from both camera's directly into his My Photo file that already holds all of his photos. I am so afraid that I will mistakenly download her camera files to my computer, forget to do a batch rename and I will replace my "IMG_001" file with her "IMG_001" file thereby losing the first "IMG_001" file. I guess my long winded question is: How do I change the default file names of the photos on my 990IS from "IMG_" to another name and make the new file name the default file name?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 21, 2009 11:54 AM
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Unfortunately it doesn't appear possible for the camera to use anything except the default IMG_XXX. The only options you can choose are continuous number or reset numbering back to IMG_001 when a new or empty card is inserted. You have found the work around by batch renaming, but it can be a a few extra steps. I don't see anyway around it though. You could set up separate folders in your MY Pictures folder for each camera and then just be sure to download each camera's files into it's own folder. It a common default of almost every camera I've used.
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Jane 1 pts
February 21, 2009 12:22 PM
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Thanks again Steve. The separate folders for each camera is a good idea. By the way, what do you think of the ZoombrowserEX program the comes with the 990IS? It seems OK so far but I am debating whether or not to get Photoshop Elements instead. For now, I will probably use only the bare basic editing such as emailing photos, resizing, red-eye fix, rotating, cropping, auto-fixes for contrast and color, things like that. What program do you use for editing and organizing photos?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 21, 2009 5:14 PM
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Jane,
I've not actually used the ZoombrowserEX. I guess I'm lazy in that since as I've been using a little program called Thumbsplus from Cerious Software that has done much of what I was looking for. Others have highly spoken of Phtoshop Elements and it most likely would be a very good program, but again, I haven't personally used it. ThumbsPlus 7.0 does the basic like resizing, red-eye fix, rotate, crop, special effects, and contrast, lighting, and saturation control. It's been simple enough to use without much fuss and has been constantly updated for the latest formats for RAW from Nikon and Canon. What got me using it was a free 30-day trial with a full-working download. After using it for a few weeks I was pleased enough to purchase it and keep it around. I have a shelf load of other photo software that was "buy and THEN try" that didn't do what I wanted well enough. So I went with the try THEN buy idea and it worked well. If not needing to work with RAW file formats, you can use just the regular version that sells for $50. The PRO version adds photoshop plugins, RAW file handling, and a few other specific things. But in any case it's absolution free to download and try for 30 days and see if it does what you want done. Here's the link, just look under the products or download tab for the ThumbsPlus Photo software:
http://www.cerious.com/


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Jane 1 pts
February 22, 2009 1:31 PM
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Thanks Steve.
Another question: Do you recommend using the memory card reader or the USB cable to download the photos from the camera to store on my computer? Do you see any difference in the quality of the photos stored after using either method? I was told once that to get the best quality printed photo I should print the photos directly from the memory card instead of from my computer saved file or a backup DVD. Do you find that to be true?
And, last question, what is the best place to backup my photos- a DVD, a backup drive, the memory card or anyplace else?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 22, 2009 1:54 PM
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The card reader or USB cable should be equal. You are just transferring the digital file from one to the other and the conduit to do so is simply a matter of preference (and sometimes speed). Should be absolutely no difference in the quality of the file. A digital file is a digital file whether on a card, a hard drive, a DVD, or a CD. It only matters if the printer can read/transfer the file from the media it is stored on. A few shops can only print from certain types of storage, so check with the printer to make sure they can read the files from the media you have them on.

As far as backup, conventional wisdom for all backups say, store a back up separately from the computer hard drive, and keep it in a safe storage place. Just keep in mind that CD and DVD can become scratched and heat and sunlight can make them unusable, so keep them safely tucked away. Small USB external hard drives are also becoming very affordable ways to store backup of data. I have seen 320GB drives for as low as $80 here in Seattle. Again, all backup systems can fail, but having two storage places for your data allows you to restore one or the other should it become corrupted. The likelihood that both storage places become corrupted at the same time (if you keep them separate) is low. You can even make the backups even more bomb proof by alternating where the backups are placed (i.e. have two external hardrives and label them BU1 and BU2 and rotate them when you make backups) That way only the latest backup is open to a possible virus or failure and the previous backup remains safe. So use what is convenient now, and then maybe look into a longer time backup system as time and money allow. I've stored thousands of files and CD and DVD's for a long while, but the external Hard Drive is looking pretty attractive at going rates these days.





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tgpalmer 0 pts
February 23, 2009 3:37 PM
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1- I have the SD990 IS and love it. Hands down this is a very awesome camera especially for a new person or for one with some experience. I have not even needed to open the manual to be able to navigate around and take pictures. That to me is an awesome feature.

2- We have just received 3 of this same camera at work, but I can not get the thing to install. It does detect a new device but is unable to install. Anyone know if there is a driver that will work on a Win-2000 machine 5.00.2195 SP4. I have looked on the Canon site but it states there are no drivers. I know that quite often older drivers will work on newer hardware.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 23, 2009 10:55 PM
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TG, your best bet is to head over to Canon's website and download the drivers for Windows 2K. But why bother? Invest in a USB memory card reader. Then, you can simply take your card out and plug it in. The PC will read it as a drive and it's a simple drag and drop to get your pictures onto the PC for editing and printing. Much better than trying to trouble shoot driver issues.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 24, 2009 12:06 AM
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I also agree with Steve regarding the card reader issue. How your transfer the pictures has no impact on the quality of them. However, many have driver issues or simply hate dealing with the bloatware which comes with the camera (like me). It's hard to argue with simply being able to plug your card into the card reader where the PC reads it as a drive - then it's a simple drag and drop.

As for Backups ... a wise man once said without two copies, you really don't have one. So backup early and often. And keep one off site. Burn pics to CD and mail copies to your mom and dad. That way, should calamity strike, you still have copies of those pictures.
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Galen 0 pts
February 25, 2009 4:44 AM
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Thanks James, Steve for answering all of these questions. I do have one more that I don't believe has been specifically answered, although you have touched on it a bit, and that regards cases.

So, here's my background and the issues I am essentially coming up against: First off, I'm set on buying the 990. Second, I will be backpacking around Europe for 4 months (potentially staying longer). Since I will be there for so long I am going to want to have the charger with me as well as a way to transfer all of the photos to a computer. I'm planning on getting an 8GB card as I think that is a decent size and it will encourage me to actually take my photos off the camera.

My issue is basically trying to find a case. I like the vidpro act-10 hard case that someone suggested, but I'm concerned about carrying all of the other items that I will need: charger, either transfer cable or usb SD card reader. I think I would be set on the hard case if I knew it could fit those items in there, but I'm not sure it can. As such I'm kind of curious if you have any further insight regarding trying to carry around all of these accessories as well as if I'm forgetting any accessories that I might need.

And I almost forgot, but will I need a current converter or simply a plug adapter for dealing with 220v?




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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
February 25, 2009 9:10 AM
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You'll need a plug adapter. And I would definitely recommending trying the case with everything you want to carry. From the case specs: (Inner Dimensions: Height 4" x Width 2-1/2" x Depth 1-1/2" in the medium size) it is not more larger than the camera itself. The other item I would suggest for your trip would be a backup battery as you don't want to be somewhere where your battery dies and you can't get it recharged until evening. It is possible all the extra (charger, plug adapter, card reader (small one), and a battery will fit in with the camera, but I'm guessing it would be a tight fit. I would also have a backup SD card or two as well on a trip. The Rezo 30 (2.8 x 1.4 x 4.7" interior dim) would be worth trying as well as it gives you a bit more room inside, plus a small outside pocket, and is available in many places (by Lowepro). It also has a neck strap and belt/backpack loops and is nicely padded. Again, take your camera to the store and try it out first.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
February 26, 2009 10:32 PM
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I can't add much more to that.
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John Dallas Bowers (jdb) 12 pts
February 27, 2009 8:47 AM
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As it happens, I just got the Sandisk SDDR-104-A11M USB MobileMate SD Plus Reader yesterday from J&R ($9.99), so I can confirm that all the items Steve mentioned (except the plug adapter, which I don't own) fit into my Rezo 30.

The charger (with extra battery in the compartment) sits in the outside pocket, secured by the Velcro flap, and the camera and reader are quite comfy but not overly cramped in the zipped compartment.

Steve's right, though: you should try it for yourself.

On a related accessory note, I'm shooting some lengthy "legacy" videos with my 39-year-old hospice patient using my 990, so I also got a tiny backup 16GB flash drive in the same J&R shipment for $29. It measures just .75" x 1.25" x .375" and weighs nothing. The USB connector sits protected inside (no cap), operated by a slide button on the side. Very neat. I continue to be amazed at the amount of memory I'm needing these days (no cracks, please) and how cheap it is.

Backpacking for four months in Europe. That's freedom. Have a great time.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
March 5, 2009 10:49 PM
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Jane, another photo editing option is Also, try Picasa. And it's free!
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Don 0 pts
March 14, 2009 4:43 PM
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To anyone - I couldn't find any mention of fringing in this blog - can I assume fringing isn't a problem for either the SD880is or the SD990is?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
March 14, 2009 5:40 PM
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There is some purple fringing with both the 990 and 880 under certain circumstances. Shooting bridges or architecture against bright sky or sunlight will produce the fringe. It will also show up in similar situations where tree branches are against the bright sky. Both the SD880 and SD990 have a little trouble handling high contrast areas and tend to blow out the highlights. Generally changing the exposure compensation to -1 takes care of most of it. The Canon "i-contrast" is useful for bringing out detail in darker contrast areas, but the bright contrast areas still produce the most trouble. At least that has been my experience shooting the 880 and 990.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
March 16, 2009 11:44 PM
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Well, it's only a slight issue - Canon seems to be on top of it. PC Mag talks about a small amount of fringing with the SD990IS as still an issue:

The SD990 IS also showed low amounts of chromatic aberration, which accounts for color fringing. [/url]

And, Digital Camera Review states:

Thankfully, the SD990 resists the serious purple/blue fringing concern in contrast boundary areas presented by many point-and-shoots. There's a slight bit of chromatic aberration at wide angle when shooting at f/2.8, but as with the barrel distortion above, it's really doesn't intrude based on our experience with the camera.

I'd check out this resource for sample images to see if it's a real issue for you.
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Michael Zapf 0 pts
March 19, 2009 12:34 AM
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You reviews are great, thanks. I have a need to take close-ups of small body parts. In my quick store check I thought I could take much better macros with the 880. Do you agree with this assessment?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
March 19, 2009 8:00 AM
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I personally like the macro abilities of the SD990 over the SD880. Having flash compensation on the 990 and more pixels for detail coupled with the ability to crop the picture more aggressively if needed allow for some great close-ups. If you haven't browsed through the SD990 and SD880 photo groups on Flikr, you might get an idea of what each camera can do by seeing what people have been shooting with each. Using digital macro on either camera allows closer focusing and good results. Here are the links to the two photo pools on flikr:

SD880 photo pool on flikr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/powershot_sd880is/pool/
SD990 photo pool on flikr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/884791@N25/pool/
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Michael Z 0 pts
March 20, 2009 2:24 AM
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Thanks and what is the difference between optical macro and digital macro and can you use them together?
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Cruiznbye (Cruiznbye) 1086 pts
March 20, 2009 10:01 AM
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Optical macro is using the cameras lens' own mechanical abilities to focus as close as possible to the subject. The digital macro (accessible through the SCENE mode) works with the software in camera to digitally enlarge the subject and focus closely to the subject (you will still need to be in close to the subject). There can be slight blurring in digital macro around the outer edges of the frame. That's not a bad thing if you are looking to emphasize the primary subject. They work separately and not together and both do a good job depending on the type of subject and your objectives for the photo final look. If you've used Canon pocket cameras before, it's a feature that's been around for a while. With the latest Canon's the feature's clarity and focus ability have improved with the latest DIGIC IV processing of the cameras, just as the digital zoom quality has improved.
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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58443 pts
March 20, 2009 9:45 PM
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I have to disagree, Steve. Any digital manipulation explodes the pixels, rendering them more pixelated and making the image very fuzzy. It's a marketing ploy designed to give the user the impression that they're getting more for their money, but in reality, anything done with digital macro and digital zoom can be done to greater effect in software, and without the pronounced camera shake.
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Blue Grass Barb 0 pts
March 26, 2009 10:32 PM
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Thank you very much, Steve, James, John and others for your very informed postings! I have a Nikon D-40 and am looking for a small camera for every-day use. I've spent the entire evening reading your comments on everything from the difference in features between the two cameras to the pros and cons of buying from certain vendors. I feel like I've had a personal tutorial on everything I want to know about these two camers. For me, the choice is the 990. Haven't bought it yet; but I intend to. Again, thank you so much for all the information!
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