The big news in the super
compact Canon camera range is the addition of an optical
stabilizer on the new PowerShot SD700 IS (called IXUS
800 in Europe), the first in that series to offer such
a system.
Just as remarkable is the fact
that the SD700 retains the dimensions of its predecessor,
the SD550, but has the addition of 4X optical zoom, a 6-megapixel
resolution, and a 2.5-inch monitor.
The front and the back cover area that supports the external
controls are made of metal in blue and champagne tones, while
the section framing the monitor is made of black plastic.
The 2-stage shutter release,
ringed by the zoom control, is located on the top right side
of the camera.
As is indicated by blue icons, the zoom control also serves
to review images in an index format
with 9 images per screen when pushed towards the wide angle
side ,
or magnify
a part of an image that is on-screen up to 10X when pulling
the zoom control towards the telephoto side .
All the other external control for
the SD700 IS are on the back of the camera, grouped on the right
of the 2.5-inch, 173,000 pixel monitor. As always
with SD (IXUS) PowerShots, Canon includes a small and simple
optical viewfinder, which can be used either when the monitor
is difficult to seen because the ambient light is too strong
or when there is a need to economize power.
Two LEDs flank the exit pupil
of the viewfinder. The upper one serves to indicate:
That the camera is ready to take photos by glowing green
steadily, or that the camera is saving a photo by blinking
green; or that the flash is ready by glowing steadily orange,
or that there is a risk of camera shake by blinking orange.
While the lower one indicates:
That focus is established by glowing steadily yellow,
and blinking when the camera is unable to focus.
To the left of these two LEDs is
the Power Switch, also equipped with a small green LED
that stays lit when the camera is On.
The Mode Dial is uppermost
on the right side of the back, and is embedded into the back
itself so that only its edge protrudes slightly from the back
on the right side of the body. The Mode Dial has five positions:
Playback mode,
which serves to review images and video clips captured
with the SD700.
Auto mode, which
places the camera in charge of selecting all photographic
parameters, but leaves the user in charge of setting
the image size and quality, the flash mode, and activating
the self-timer.
Manual mode also
leaves the camera in charge of selecting the shutter
speed and aperture, but provides controls over all other
parameters through the Function menu (see
the Characteristics section of the review for a detailed
list of the settings available). In addition, the
Function menu also offers access to two other capture
modes:
Digital Macro
is a mode that combines the macro focus mode with
the use of the 4X digital zoom to increase the apparent
magnification. The mode allows the camera to focus
on a subject that is 2 to 60 cm (0.8 to 24 inches)
from the front element of the lens, then uses the
digital zoom to crop the centre of the image and
then interpolates the cropped section to the image
size currently in use, inducing a noticeable loss
of sharpness.
Stitch Assist
is a panoramic shooting mode that allows capturing
a series of images, from left to right or right
to left, which will be assembled into a panoramic
image later using the software bundled with the
camera.
The SCN position
is the access to the 11 Scene modes of the SD700
IS and, as with the Manual Mode, the selection of the
specific mode is made through the Function menu:
Portrait mode
uses a large aperture so that the subject is in
focus while the background is blurred, an effect
that becomes more pronounced when the telephoto
is used.
Night Snapshot
optimizes sensitivity for the capture of subjects
in front of night scenery so as to limit the need
for a tripod.
Kids and Pets
optimizes shutter speed and sensitivity to capture
fast movement and action.
Indoor sets the
white balance to Tungsten, and uses the flash only
when necessary.
Foliage
accentuates greens to give foliage and plants
richer colours.
Snow takes the
brightness of snow into account during the exposure
to make snow appear white and not grey, as is usually
the case unless exposure compensation is used.
Beach, like Snow,
automatically compensates the exposure to take into
account the reflectivity of water.
Fireworks sets
a 2-second exposure time, the focus to infinity
and forces the flash off to capture fireworks displays.
The use of a tripod is necessary.
Underwater adjusts
the white balance to obtain natural colours when
the camera is used in the optional WP-DC5
waterproof case.
Colour Accent
makes it possible to select a colour on the monitor
and to save the image in the selected colour while
all others are rendered in black and white.
Colour Swap allows
selecting a colour on the monitor and replacing
it by another colour prior to saving the image.
The Movie mode offers five
options for movie recording:
Standard allows
capturing a video clip at either a frame size of
640 x 480 pixels, or 320 x 240 pixels and at either
15 or 30 frames per second, and allows the use of
the 4X digital zoom.
Fast Frame Rate
serves to capture a movie that appears slowed
down when played back. The image size is 320 x
240 pixels, recorded at 60 frames per second for
a maximum recording time of 1 minute.
Compact creates
small files that can be attached to e-mail. The
frame size is 160 x 120 at 15 frames per second
for a maximum recording time of 3 minutes.
Colour Accent
operates on the same principle as with the still
image mode explained above, and has the same frame
size and rate options as the Standard movie mode.
Colour Swap operates
on the same principle as with the still image mode
explained above, and has the same frame size and
rate options as the Standard movie mode.
During movie recording the sound is recorded monaurally
(with the exception of the Fast Frame Rate mode which
is silent), the optical zoom is locked at the first
frame while the exposure and white balance are adjusted
as needed.
An oval button, positioned
directly below the Mode Dial only functions when the camera
is connected via USB, at which time a blue LED at its centre
lights up:
When the SD700 IS is
connected to a computer equipped with the software Canon
supplies with the camera, it can be used to transfer
automatically all images that have previously been
selected for transfer
When the SD700 IS is connected
to a PictBridge compatible printer, or to a Pixma,
or Selphy DS printer, the button serves to print
photos.
Directly below this button,
the 4-direction control rings the FUNC. SET
button which displays the Function menu (see the Characteristics
section of the review for more information about the Function
menu); and serves to confirm selections made in the various
menus.
Moreover, as it does with some other recent PowerShot cameras,
when the FUNC. SET button is held pressed for more than a
second; it displays a clock on the monitor, which changes
as the orientation of the camera changes.
Furthermore, each of the directional arrows
that serve to navigate the menus of the camera supports one
or more additional functions, as indicated by black (capture
mode) or blue (playback mode) icons:
ISO
With the Auto and
Manual capture modes, the up arrow serves
to adjust sensitivity: Auto or High (the only
options offered in the Auto shooting mode); or 80, 100,
200, 400, or 800 ISO.
While with the Movie mode, it serves to adjust
the exposure compensation using a scale that
appears at the bottom of the monitor.
Moreover, when the camera is set to the Manual
mode, the up arrow can be used to lock the exposure
(AE-L), or when the flash is active, the flash
exposure (FE-L) by pre-firing the flash.
And, when the SD700 IS
is set to the Playback mode, the up arrow serves to
jump groups of images, making it possible to
search through a large number of images:
Jump 10 Images: jumps 10 images at a time.
Jump 100 Images: jumps 100 images at a time.
Jump Shot Date: jumps to the first image
of each shooting date.
Jump to Movie: jumps to a movie.
Jump to Folder: displays the first image
in each folder.
The right arrow serves
to choose the Flash mode: Auto, Auto with Red-eye
Reduction, Forced On with Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off,
or Slow Synch.
The down arrow serves
to select the Continuous mode (2.1 frames per
second at the highest resolution and best image quality),
or to start the Self-timer(the type of self
timer can be modified in the capture menu. See the Characteristics
section of the review for more information.)
While with the SD700 IS set
to the Playback mode, the down arrow serves to delete
unwanted images.
The left arrow serves
to select either Macro mode, or Infinity
mode. The Macro mode allows the camera to focus on a
subject that is between 2 and 60 cm (0.8 to 24 inches)
from the front element of the lens, and between 40 and
60 cm (15.6 to 24 inches) when the zoom is at the maximum
telephoto setting. And Infinity mode is used to capture
landscapes.
Moreover, when the camera is set to the Manual
mode, the left arrow serves to lock the focus
(AF-L) once it is set.
The last two buttons on the
back of the PowerShot SD700 IS are below the 4-direction control.
The MENU button on the right displays the menu appropriate
to the current camera mode (menus are covered in the Characteristics
and Interface and Software sections of the review).
While the DISP. button controls the way information
is displayed on the monitor either in capture or playback
mode.
In the capture modes the image coming from the sensor
is presented with the AF point superimposed and the image
stabilization indicator if active.
Pressing the DISP.
button once adds the following parameters: capture mode, metering
mode, flash mode, orientation sensor, ISO, resolution and
image quality, and the remaining number of shots that can
be stored on the memory card. Pressing the button a second
time turns off the monitor.
In the playback mode, the image is presented with
its file name at the top, and at the bottom, its position
within the images in the folder, its size and quality settings,
and the date and time at which it was captured.
Pressing the DISP. button once
adds a histogram superimposed on the right side of the image,
showing the distribution of brightness in the frame, the capture
mode used, and the settings for sensitivity, exposure compensation,
flash, metering, white balance, image file size, and image resolution.
Pressing the button a second time clears the image of all superimposed
information.
Compare Prices for Canon PowerShot SD700 6 MP Digital Camera
Ergonomics
with 9 images per screen when pushed towards the wide angle
side 
,
or magnify 
a part of an image that is on-screen up to 10X when pulling
the zoom control towards the telephoto side 
.
