Canon Powershot SD990 IS Review
Posted on 01/05/2009
Canon's latest ultracompact Elph digital camera, the SD990 IS, is an impressive creation that provides quick, speedy performance and satisfying image quality to users of all skill levels. By Brenda Paro
Canon Powershot SD990 IS Pros:
- 14.7 megapixel sensor
- Compact and comfortable
- Quick performance with little lag
- Good manual controls
Canon Powershot SD990 IS Cons:
- Slightly thicker than average Elph camera
In Pictures
The Canon Powershot SD990 IS is in a higher price bracket than many of the other recently-released Elph models… and there's a reason for that. Beautifully designed and easy to use, this camera is not only capable of producing great images – it's also packed with a boatload of manual features that give the photographer nearly as much control as a DSLR (with some concessions made to pocket-sizing, of course). In short, this camera is designed to fill a market hole: it's meant for those of us who love hands-on control, even in our snapshots, but don't always want or need to lug around a huge camera kit. And it does the job admirably.
The SD990 IS touts a 14.7 megapixel sensor with a 1/1.7" size… the same sensor used in the larger model Canon G10. In fact, those who are interested in the G10 for its performance may do well to take a look at the SD990 IS. It doesn't have all the same features (the hot shoe and the wide angle lens are missing), but it offers a lot of the same modes, including Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, AF Servo (tracking focus on moving objects), and even a Manual mode (including manual focus, which is more of a manual fine focus-adjustment, but still a bonus). This is the first digital Elph to feature such a full set of controls… yet the sleek body could still fit in your coat pocket.
Design: Impressively Slick
The camera itself is impressive right out of the box. It's thicker than the other Elphs, but also feels more solid; the body is contoured and easy to grip, and is available in both silver and black. There was a limited edition red body as well, made to commemorate the 100 millionth Powershot camera, but something tells me that one will be a bit harder to get your hands on. Whatever color you choose, you should love the looks; it's compact and comfortable, with a huge, bright LCD and common-sense button layout.
Speaking of the buttons, operation of the SD990 IS is slick and easy; this camera offers largely the same set-up as other recent Elph models, with a rotating selector wheel and a four-way controller. An excellent addition to the back side is the optical viewfinder, which is coupled with the camera's Quick Mode: cameras operate faster and have less lag time when the LCD is off, so setting the camera to Quick Mode turns off the LCD. You then use the viewfinder to take quicker shots than were possible otherwise… ideal for fast-moving situations. Face Detection focus continues to operate while in this mode.
The SD990 IS features Canon's DIGIC IV processor, with an impressive lack of image noise and ultra-fast operation. ISO 3200 is offered as one of the scene modes, and manages to pull usable shots even in very dark conditions. In addition, this camera has most of the typical scene modes we've come to know and love in other Canons, from Snow to Color Swap to Indoors.
Performance: Quick and High Quality
Performance in any mode is responsive, with quick snapping and amazingly low lag time, even with the LCD on. The LCD itself has barely a lag, and auto focus hones in on the subject every time. The AF Servo is something that camera manufacturers should have thought to add to pocket cameras years ago: the ability to press the focus button halfway and track a subject as it moves across your screen is something everyone can appreciate, not just users of DSLRs, and its addition to this camera adds a huge amount of versatility.
I could go on and on about the features, but the final point is this: the SD990 IS stands out among other pocket cameras, including the other Elph models, thanks to the large amount of control it gives the photographer. I didn't know anything about this camera when I took it out of the package, and every button push revealed more features I wasn't expecting to have. This camera literally rivals much larger prosumer-style models that are meant to be a bridge between DSLRs and pocket cameras, and as such it's the perfect solution for those of us who love hands-on control… but love portability just as much.
Cons? I suppose there could be more of a zoom – the 3.7x optical that's offered isn't much, although at least the focus is clear and bright and there's no lag to speak of, even when focusing at full zoom. But honestly, finding cons in this camera was the most difficult part of reviewing it. Shooting is an absolute pleasure; capture time is fast, photos are bright and detailed, and image quality is off the charts.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: if you're not too interested in Manual mode, Aperture/ Shutter Priority, or any of the other hands-on features offered by this camera, then you can save a bit of cash by purchasing one of the other recently-released Elph models. I've handled a few of them, and in terms of image quality and performance, they're all brilliant performers, and they cost less than the SD990 IS, for obvious reasons. But if you love the idea of full creative control, even in your pocket-sized shooter, buy this camera. You won't be able to put it down.
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As for larger sensor ... if it's stuffed with even more MP, then the advantage is negated. 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
sensitivity. 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.
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.
And I'm not even talking about issues pertaining to not having a large enough lens to handle the increased MP either.
As for me - I bought the 990 IS and am very pleased. This after two Sony point and shoots - neither of which lasted beyond a little over a year before dying. If you want a camera buy it from a company that knows cameras - Nikon and Canon, etc. Look at the 990 and 880 and see what features may be more important to you. Are you making 4x6's and 8x10's or do you want to make 16x20's? Honestly, there are 6 megapixel cameras out there that would blow the doors off many 8 and 10 megapixel cameras you could find.
Thanks!
Then, there's the fact that you won't even SEE that extra mp in 99.9% of your pictures because they're just snapshots. IN fact, you won't see the diff until you reach sizes above 11x14. How often will that happen? So, in the end, you end up paying for something you can't use or appreciate.
880 focal length = 28-112mm
The 880 is slightly wider at the wide end, though they're close, the 990 has a slight edge at the long end.
As for was it worth the money or a good buy. I think so. I'm at about 200 pictures with it and it takes beautiful pictures. I couldn't be happier.
forums.dpreview.com/forums/...
I do like the Canon Elph series, always very good products.
Would it be worth the upgrade to the 990? I am a bit apprehensive about so many MP on such a small CCD, but I do see the 990's CCD is larger than the 880s (and my current 630). For those that own the 990...how is picture noise in lower light conditions?
I also like the 880, but I have to say the tiny flash on it concerns me a bit. Less MO, but a smaller CCD so I expect the MP/size issue would pretty much be wash b/w the 880/990.
OK, so in short:
1) Upgrade from SD630 to SD 990IS - worth it?
2) Image noise - 990 - How is it? I've heard very good things about the digic 4 processor in dealing with noise
Thanks to anyone who helps me out here, much appreciated.
PS - The 950 isn't even an option as it really can't be found anywhere...it's an older model.
And yes, the newer models with the Digic 4 processors are better
I'd recommend to take a look at the G9. It has a much larger chip. But I'm not sure there's a housing for it.
YOU CAN GET THE WP-DC21 UNDERWATER HOUSING/CASE FOR THE CANON G9 DIGITAL CAMERA.
Where did you purchase the camera with a 90 day return policy?
SD880 SD990
2 - 50 cm 5 - 50 cm
0.8 - 20.4 in 2.0 - 20.4 in
I think that's what did it for me, now I plan to get the SD880, because I don't think its worth it to spend $100 more for the 990 just for "image quality", especially when the 880 has all these things on its side (wide-angle lens, about .5X more zoom, better macro range, 1/4 of an inch less thicker, and a bigger screen, though that could probably drain the battery).
Costco.com has both cameras and they offer a 90 day return period on all cameras. They have the best return policy out there currently, and also have the best price other than some discount online sellers.
C Shah,
In my opinion the difference in 28mm vs. 36mm depends on what type of photo subjects you are working with. The 28mm is great for wide, more panoramic and indoor (close quarters rooms) when you need to get a wider view. On the other hand the difference in many shots is not great, and the beginning at 36mm, the 990 will zoom in a little more closely than the 880. But again, that only matters if you can't walk 15' closer or farther away for the shot on either camera. I found the difference between 4X and 3.7X zoom to be insignificant. And I was pleasantly shocked to find that digital zoom was actually useful at times (I have never been satisfied with digital zoom before) on both cameras. That was a pleasant shock.
In dim interior light, hand hand, neither camera will get fantastic results. Use the flash, brighten the room, use a monopod or tripod, or at least steady it on something and you'll get good shots. Avoid going above ISO 400 if possible on all shots if you want good, usable larger photos.
As far as the macro, the 880 is slightly better in close distance from the object, but remember with the 880 you are starting wider to begin with , where the 990 you start closer in focal length, so you need to be closer with the 880 than with the 990 to get the same magnification. It is simply the focal length of the lens, nothing better or worse with either camera.
As for as the 990 advantage, one that is overlooked is the small (but usable) viewfinder on the 990. You can use "quickshot mode" and take faster continuous shots because the LCD is turned off and you use the viewfinder. Also you can turn the LCD off on the 990 at anytime and continue to take shots with the viewfinder and in bright light, or when saving battery power, that makes a huge difference. In trade off you get a 2.5" LCD on the 990 instead of the 3.0" on the 880. In my opinion the smaller screen with the viewfinder works better, though some will like the larger screen on the 880.
Again, both cameras are the best Elphs to date and few have been dissatisfied with image quality or features on either one. BTW, Costco.com has lowered the price of the 990is by $20.00 making it only $70.00 different in cost over the 880is. Again, good choice for either one, especially if you like the Canon interface and controls.
Outdoors, either is great. Indoors, the 990 appears to best the 880 much of the time in image quality. At times, you won't tell the difference between the two images, or so slight as to be meaningless.
Need Wide-angle shots...go with the 880
Wide not as important...go with the 990
Want a little more control over shutter speed...go with the 990
Want great colorful, contrasty photos...either one will do it most of the time.
Want the smallest...go with the 880.
Want to shoot with a viewfinder in bright light or save battery power...go with the 990.
So it does really boil down to what type of shooting you want to be able to do. It would be fantastic if Canon could put all the good features of both cameras into one, but so far you have to choose based on what you value most.
SD990 Sample Image ( usa.canon.com/app/images/Po... )
SD880 Sample Image ( usa.canon.com/app/images/Po... )
The viewfinder on the 990 is indeed small, but it has two primary functions. 1) when you are trying to capture fast shots back to back you on the 990 you can switch to "Quick Shot" mode on the dial and the LCD is shut off and you use the viewfinder to take the shots, making little or no lag time between shots. 2) In the brightest light (has to be really bright) you may need to use the viewfinder as the LCD may not be able to be seen. The only other time you would consider using the viewfinder is to save power when shooting by shutting of the LCD (press the display button) and use the viewfinder without draining much juice so you can shoot a lot longer. Other than those times, you will use the LCD as it has grid lines available for composition and leveling, and also 2x3 curtains available to use if you want to frame shots for 4x6 snapshots and not have to lose anything of value in cropping to that print size. BTW, having used both the 880 with 3" LCD and the 990 with the 2.5" LCD, there is really not enough difference in size to matter in real life picture taking. Another plus is the the 2.5" LCD will draw less power than the 3" LCD. I also found the ability to "at will" shut off the LCD on the 990 between shooting by simply pressing the display button was very useful. Otherwise it will stay on even when walking around between shots sucking up power.
I've recently added a Flickr photostream of SD880 VS SD990 photos for comparison for those interested. Unfortunately they are not full resolution on the Flickr site. Viewing largest sizes is only 1024x768, but you can still see that outdoors the 880 and 990 are almost equal for good light and shooting situations. Indoors you'll notice a marked difference between the two cameras as the 990 handles lower light and higher ISO better than the 880. Here's the link to my photostream comparison shots:
www.flickr.com/photos/33346716@N03/
Steve
www.flickr.com/photos/33346716@N03/
part one is a spec comparison: naraku.net/2008/12/22/canon...
part two has a bunch of sample shots: naraku.net/2008/12/26/canon...
I still haven't made a final decision... even though the quality with the 990 has been distinctly better, the 880 wide angle is really neat. I plan on posting a third part with my decision and conclusions.