PowerShot SD990 IS Features

14.7 Megapixels

The PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH is all about firsts. It's the very first ELPH to offer you the contemporary cool of pure black - making the boldest camera contours seem even more dramatic. When classic style reflects your fashion sense, indulge in the satiny glow of silver tone. Both are the very image of photography at its best, featuring megapixels that's the highest resolution among Digital ELPH to capture every detail of the world around you. There's never been a better time to think big, knowing that every enlargement will be sharper and more full-of-life than you've ever experienced before.

3.7x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer for blur-free shooting.

The PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH has 3.7x optical zoom. A zoom opens up a world of possibilities in your photography, and thanks to innovative Canon engineering, it's housed in a camera that's sized to go everywhere with you. With many cameras, hand-held shots taken at the long end of the zoom can be marred by blur. The SD990 IS Digital ELPH incorporates Canon's exclusive Optical Image Stabilizer. The technology detects and effectively cancels camera shake, for clear, sharp images every time.

Optical viewfinder plus large high-quality 2.5-inch PureColor LCD.

The PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH gives you large 2.5-inch LCD screen for excellent control when framing your shots. Canon's PureColor LCD II offers spectacular color, resolution and contrast even when viewed at an angle. The screen is highly durable and easy to see in any light with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating. It also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light - a perfect feature for gathering friends and family around to see your images.

New DIGIC 4 Image Processor improves Face Detection

Canon's proprietary DIGIC Image Processors have long set its cameras apart from the competition, and the new DIGIC 4 sets the bar even higher. Faster, more accurate noise reduction delivers better image quality, even at high ISO speeds.

 A new Face Self-Timer automatically detects an increase in the number of faces and makes the appropriate adjustments. For instance, to include photographer's face in a group shot, there's no need to rush in. Just put the camera on a stand or tripod, and specify Face Self-Timer, and the camera will wait for the photographer's face to get on-camera before it takes the shot. Motion Detection now tracks moving subjects in a much larger range, and the new Servo AF retains focus on a moving subject after the shutter button is pressed halfway - allowing you to wait for the perfect shot without refocusing. Also, Face Detection and Motion Detection are markedly improved.

Life doesn't give you second chances to capture special times. That's why the SD990 IS Digital ELPH features ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto settings that reduce the effects of camera shake and sharpen subjects in low-light situations, giving you greater shooting flexibility. ISO can be expanded to 3200 when you select ISO 3200 Special Scene mode.

Intelligent Contrast Correction
DIGIC 4 also makes possible the new i-Contrast (Intelligent Contrast Correction) system, which controls the compensation level in pixel units to brighten dark areas while leaving bright areas unchanged for better images where the main subject is dark, and more natural transition. The PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH can even use i-Contrast in playback mode to adjust images that were shot without the setting activated.

Red-eye Correction provides three options for removing red-eye from subjects in flash pictures.
1) The Red-eye Correction during shooting actually identifies and corrects red-eye in human subjects as pictures are taken.
2) The SD990 IS Digital ELPH can be set to automatically detect and correct red-eye during image playback.
3) You can manually locate any red eyes in a scene during image playback on the LCD screen, and command the camera to remove them.

A Wide Range of Shooting Modes to Capture Anything.

When you don't want to control the shots, the PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH offers the satisfying option of Quick shooting mode. The camera's LCD screen turns off and the viewfinder displays the scene while framing. When the moment you want to shoot the focused moving subject comes along, this feature makes lag time shortest to capture the subject quickest. If the camera focuses on faces, the faces are also detected in the frame. 

Compare prices on the SD 990 IS with Amazon.com

 PowerShot SD990 IS Digital Camera Reviews

www.epinions.com have 4 reviewers, including this write up "I did a lot of research before buying this one.  I needed a camera that can be used both for general purposes but also had high quality pictures for various publicity purposes.
Most of the time I wouldn't need the high resolution pics as they take up a lot of memory- but I would still need the ability to take them.

As I write the review for this one, it's still relatively new and even Cnet.com hasn't reviewed them- so there's not much to work with and I could only go on the limited info I could find and on Canon's previous track record with cameras.

Canon's are the best of the small digital cameras and this is curently their best.
Not only does it have the highest resolution nearly 15mega pixels it also allows a lot of manual functions that don't appear in their other models. They have a 3.7x Optical Zoom (36-133mm) which still leaves much to be desired but they do have their new color processor Digix 4 processing firmware which is supposed to be their current best with the best true color processor in the market.

There's a reason Canon has such a large segment of the small digital market.
In the past I wanted to be a little different and bought an Olympus. The slick Stylus which looked great but the pictures were no match to the Canons.
I just did a test between the two and it's emberassing that I allowed myself to stay so long loyal to my Olympus.

Color wise- Canon just has truer to life colors. I've shot both at day and at night and at low level night and it looks stunning.
Even shooting with candle lights gave stunning shots. It holds the blacks really well and still gives great colors. Also, some cameras image tends to fall apart at low light. This one holds the image well even at low light and the picture is sharp. Very sharp in normal use.

Focus. Olympus never seemed to focus on the right object to make the entire picture in focus. Canon has several options and they all work. The pictures come out crisp and clear. Their face detector is really efficient focusing on the faces in the pictures.

RED EYE: They haven't fully solved it but it's much better than in previous models.

CLOSED EYES: Maybe the most important element for pictures. In Olympus, Nikon and even some Sony models I noticed about a 1/3 of the peopel had closed eyes in the shots. I think it has to do something with the correlation between the flash and the shutter.
Canon managed to solve this problem as in the images I've taken everyone's eyes are open.

MANUAL CONTROLS:  For enthusiasts this little camera has manual  aperture and shutter speed. It is not fully manual like in the DSLR's - but it still gives the prosumer a lot of juggle room.

Ease of use. It's easy. They have a lot of functions and some of them are a little more challenging- but in terms of AUTO everything- that's just one button and you're off.

Eye piece. They even have the real eye piece that you can see what you're shooting not just watch it on the LCD screen which is great for sunny days.

MENUS: It looks very similar to the other Canon's. It's not the most user friendly - but it's also not a nightmare.

Now for the flaws:
It's a little thicker than other models. Also a little larger.
It's overpriced and hopefully the price will go down.
Video only has standard def and not high def.

Since I buy a camera every three years, I decided to pay a little extra cause I felt this one is worth it.

MORE INFO FROM CANON'S OWN PRESS RELEASE

Some more info taken from DPREVIEW.COM, a professional/enthusiasts website about the new Digic 4 proccessor and a few new functions found in this camera. (It call this camera IXUS 980 which is it's European name. There's also an additional new camera mentioned in the press release which is similar but with less pixels and a lower price)

 The comments are taken from Canon's own press release so take the superlatives with a grain of salt but it will give some insight into the new features in this camera. The direct link to the full Canon press release is:  
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091701canon_ixus980is_ixus_870is.asp#press

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
" DIGIC 4: intelligent processing for better photos
The Digital IXUS 980 IS and Digital IXUS 870 IS both feature Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor. As well as ensuring ultra-fast operation and superb, low-noise images, DIGIC 4 drives several intelligent technologies that make great photos easier than ever.
People shots benefit from improved Face Detection Technology, which even detects faces positioned at an angle to the camera, or in profile. Face Select & Track tracks a specific subject even more accurately, while a new FaceSelf-timer function – which automatically triggers the shutter shortly after a new face enters the frame – makes group shots and self-portraits easy.
Canon’s improved Motion Detection Technology delivers fantastic, sharp results by registering camera and subject movement, then automatically adjusting ISO to prevent image blur. Blur is further guarded against by new Servo AF, which continuously adjusts focus on subjects moving towards or away from the camera.

DIGIC 4 also powers Canon’s new i-Contrast feature, which brings out great, natural-looking detail in dark areas of pictures – without blowing out lighter areas.

Features at a glance: 14.7 Megapixels (Digital IXUS 980 IS), 10.0 Megapixels (Digital IXUS 870 IS)Colour variations Black or Silver (Digital IXUS 980 IS)Gold or Silver (Digital IXUS 870 IS) 3.7x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer (Digital IXUS 980 IS)4x wide-angle (28mm) optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer
(Digital IXUS 870 IS)Manual control (Digital IXUS 980 IS only)DIGIC 4 for outstanding images and fast response timesGreat people shots with Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB, FaceSelf-Timer and Face Select & TrackTargets all the main causes of blur with High ISO Auto, optical Image Stabilizer, Motion Detection Technology and Servo AFAuto Red-Eye Correction in shooting and playbacki-Contrast boosts brightness and retains detail in dark areas2.5” PureColor LCD II with wide viewing angle plus optical viewfinder
(Digital IXUS 980 IS)3.0” PureColor LCD II with wide viewing angle (Digital IXUS 870 IS)Multi Control Dial and customizable My MenuSmooth, 30fps VGA movies
Printing
The Digital IXUS 980 IS and Digital IXUS 870 IS feature a dedicated Print menu for quick access to direct print options. Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC. A Print/Share button allows one-touch printing and easy uploads to Windows or Mac systems.

Language
The Digital IXUS 980 IS and Digital IXUS 870 IS feature a user interface that supports 26 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian and – new for Autumn 2008 - Farsi.

Memory Card Support
In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC memory cards, the Digital IXUS 980 IS and Digital IXUS 870 IS support MMCplus and HC MMCplus card formats.  Both cameras are supplied with a 32MB memory card.
Recommended:Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 309
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts" 

A reviewer on www.ciao.com wrote "when i was about to buy a digital camera...i happened to see a review on canon power shot SD 990 IS..! It seems to be an extraordinary thing..! this camera is sized 4"x2.5"x1.12" fitting easily in a pocket or purse..! This cam comes with 2.5 color LCD with wide screen capability and real image optical viewfinder..! One of the main good features in this camera is Canon's optical image stabilizer that keeps images in focus, even at fully extended focal lengths..! print share, image auto rotate, 20 image play back modes, 5 movie play back modes are some other features..! the canon box includes 32 mb sd memory card, wrist strap, USB, A/V interface cables, charger, lithium battery..! navigation around the settings can be made simply by pressing the function/set button/ring and setting the cursor to our desired function just like an ipod..! canon's i-contrast for contrast correction is its another rocking feature..! i like the capability of adding voice tags with images..! as a whole i can say this is a great camera with great features..! "

www.reviewboard.com concluded " The Canon PowerShot SD 990 IS is an exciting little camera that offers a lot of control in a sleek and comfortable package.  While the image-quality is excellent for a point and shoot camera, because of the higher price, we were expecting a little bit more from the image quality at higher ISO settings, and certainly the ability to record HD video.  Overall, we give this 4 out of 5 stars.

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