Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera With 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) Reviews
10 July, 2010 | Alex | 10 Comments
Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
- 9-megapixel image sensor for large photo-quality prints
- 10x optical image-stabilized zoom (35mm film equivalent: 36-360mm)
- DIGIC III Image Processor with Genuine Canon Face Detection
- 3.0-inch LCD screen; Motion Detection technology and Red-eye Correction
- Powered by AA batteries; capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
From a 10x optical zoom lens to advanced Canon technology that automatically gives you the best shot,
the 9.0-megapixel PowerShot SX110 IS packs impressive value. Advanced Face Detection Technology
automatically sets focus, exposure, flash and white
Rating: 
(out of 346 reviews)
List Price: $ 249.99
Price: $ 430.24
Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
- 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
- 5x optical image-stabilized zoom
- Face Detection; Motion Detection Technology automatically reduces blur
- 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen for bright, accurate color and wide viewing angle
- Captures images to SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus memory cards (not included)
Canon 10.0 Megapixel Digital ELPH, 5x Optical Zoom, 2.5" Pure Color LCD II screen , Digic III Image Processor
Rating: (out of 203 reviews)
List Price: $ 249.99
Price: $ 277.94
USB Camera Cable for Canon PowerShot A560 A570 A580 IS | US $1.74 End Date: Thursday Sep-09-2010 2:24:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $1.74 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $1.74 End Date: Thursday Sep-09-2010 2:24:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $1.74 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
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10 July, 2010 at 12:41 am
This camera marries some of the best features of the Canon S series like zoom and manual flash with the convenience of the A series. This camera is an upgrade of the SX100 and feels much more sleeker than the previous model.
Here is my take on the camera:
Strengths:
- 9MP CCD sensor with DigicIII processor, the CCD sensor is 1/2.3 inch which is bigger than the most SD series cameras resulting in better pictures
- Controls are intuitive and a separate replay start button on the back gives you the flexibility to switch on the camera for playback without extending the lens
- Feels good in the hands, battery compartment gives the camera a better grip, DSLR like black color
- Huge 3″ LCD scratch resistant screen makes composing shots easy
- Great 10X optical zoom and 40X digital zoom
- Flash can be flipped up or down as needed, this camera also offers 3 manual flash settings which really helps with portraits
- Sharp pictures – Daylight pictures are excellent and zoom is great for capturing landscapes
- Many modes to shoot – night mode, portrait, landscape, kids and pets, indoors, special scene modes (fireworks, aquarium, foliage, snow, beach etc.) and custom colors too
- 2 extra buttons at the back for changing exposure in 1/3 stops and also adjust for face detection
- Macro mode results in stunning close-ups with outstanding level of detail
- Uses 2 AA batteries, can take 300-400 pics with one set of rechargeable NiMHs and if you run out of battery they are universally available
Limitations:
- Size and bulk makes it inconvenient to carry at all times, this will probably become your vacation/ special occasion camera.
- No optical viewfinder, has not bothered me but can become an issue for some especially in bright sunlight or if you want to conserve battery
- Noise is noticeable beginning at ISO 400, ISO 1600 mostly unuseable
- Cannot adjust focus or optical zoom while shooting in movie mode, you can only zoom in digitally which reduces movie picture quality
- Typical Canon chromatic aberration (common problem with P&S cameras)
- No RAW shooting mode
Overall, this is a great camera for the price if you want a camera with high zoom, especially for shooting outdoors in good light. It also offers some manual functions as well as flash reduction which helps you take the best picture.
Rating:
by Anjana Nigam for Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
10 July, 2010 at 1:01 am
I searched for along time for this kind of camera. (in the $200 range) I was drawn by the 10x zoom and Optical Image Stabilization(IS). (both work great and are very nice to have!) After using it for a few weeks, I have had mixed results. Before you read on, understand that I also shoot with a canon xti, often with a $300 50mm lens on it, so I think my standards might be a little higher than the average user. With that said, here is what I think:
When you shoot in auto mode, the ISO it chooses (ISO 200) will not be as clear as the camera is capable of. Thus I find you have to use a Program (P) mode and set it to ISO 80 to get better reduced-noise pictures. Otherwise pictures can be grainy. The pictures are poor at ISO higher than 200.
Focusing is a bit slow in low light, and unless you can balance the camera on something steady, and your subject is not moving, you will need to use the flash. As I have read it on reviews on its predecessor Canon sx100, the recycle time on the flash is somewhat annoying. You will have to wait a good 5-6 seconds before you can ready up for another shot. This is a drag when you have people who are posing, or for a subject that is passing you by, like at an evening parade. The flash is set “on” or “off” by manually raising the flash with your finger. No automatic pop-up. Not a problem for me as I don’t like using flashes anyways, especially on this camera!!!
I think the video quality out of this camera is great, far better than what I got out of older Sony Cybershot models DSCW-50 and the DSCW-55. Note that you cannot optically zoom while shooting video; it will let you zoom digitally.
The upsides for this camera are many. The 3-inch screen is amazing. It does stick out from the back of the camera, rather than being inset, so it may be prone to scratching. The programmable features are excellent. You can adjust the exposure time to 15 seconds. Playback/review is easy and fast, due to a wheel that lets you scroll through pictures quickly. Viewing it on the big screen with auto-rotation (landscape-portrait) makes it easy to check for focusing and such. Macro shooting is amazing. You can practically touch the subject with the lens and get a clear, very detailed shot!
If you want a quick convenient camera for casual shooting, don’t really care about too much zoom, don’t get this camera. Get something smaller and faster, and something that comes with a rechargeable lithium battery. I would stick to Nikons, Sonys and Canons. This one takes two AA’s, and dealing with those has its pros and cons. I bought this camera for the big 10x zoom for the relatively small size, and the programmable options. I studied studio tests from dpreview.com (great site!) and found this was the best for my needs. The Lumix TZ5 pics looked fuzzy and the design of the Sony H3 is ugly. For other models and side-by-side comparisons, check that site out. Hope this helped you, and good luck on your decision!
Rating:
by Mr. T for Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
10 July, 2010 at 1:48 am
Was searching for a camera with an extended zoom and the resolution in the range of 8-10 MP. Caught hold of Canon SX 100 IS, but it vanished from the market before I could purchase it. Wanted a medium size camera so could not settle for Nikon P80/Canon S5 IS, because of its large size. Ordered Canon SX110 on the launch date itself with apprehensions about its features..but believe me, I am not dissapointed AT ALL.
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Great manual controls for Aperture and Shutter speed make it a camera for Pros, while the Auto mode is wonderful for learning photographers. The zoom is great and the image stabilisation that the camera offers at the maximum zoom level (Even at 10x optical and 4x digital i.e 40x combined zoom) is awesome. The photos in low light during my recent trip to a hill station were good in the Night mode with lots of saturation of natural colours.
Face detection is also a good feature with the camera able to detect faces very very easily (I don’t know how does it work, but it really works
The Digital Zoom, unlike others cameras I have used, does not distort the image to a very large extent, thanks to the high resolution and the safety zoom features. I can upload photos to depict this.(I don’t know how to do this in Amazon
The battery life seemed ok only , as I was able to shoot around 200 shots with my Sony NiMH(2500mAH) bateries with flash. But the batteries are brand new and should gain more strength with a couple of charge-discharge cycles. But a spare set of batteries is always helpful.
I had a Nikon 5600 prior to this so wanted a middle size camera with extended zoom and manual controls, and glad to find SX 110 fit all my needs.
A thing that is missing is a Sports mode, which is a feature to shoot fast moving objects. I had this in my Nikon 5600, but could not yet find it on my SX110. Possibly the Manual controls for Aperture and Shutters could make this up for me. Still in the learning phase
Rating:
by Mayank Agnihotri for Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
10 July, 2010 at 1:54 am
The feature that made me buy this camera was its image stabilization system. Friends who use digital cameras professionally all told me that Canons optical image stabilized zoom system was the best in its price range. Due to a slowly worsening tremor, this has evolved into an important issue.
The digital zoom is amazingly effective. Recently, I caught a game at Fenway Park. My seat was adjacent to the infamous “Green Monster”. From that distance, I was able to take photos of players at bat, that captured detailed facial features. I was even able to get some very respectable images of players in action.
The camera settings are easy to use, and equally easy to access. The Auto setting is fairly idiot proof and does a good job under a wide variety of conditions. I found the SX110 to be solid, well built yet still small enough to fit into a laptop carrying bag.
I never imagined that I would buy anything other than a Nikon, but now I think this was one of the best purchases that I have made in a long time. It delivers on its promises, producing pictures whose quality rivals those of much more expensive digital cameras.
Rating:
by D. Golden for Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
10 July, 2010 at 2:32 am
I’m a fairly serious hobby photographer and have used the previous model Canon SX100 in addition to the latest SX110. Everything about it is slightly better than the older model, so all the past reviews on the SX100 and praises still apply. The SX110 is like the cheaper version of the Canon G10 (minus RAW, wide angle, flash hotshoe, and build quality), but the CHDK mod could close the gap even more with advanced features. Here’s my summary of likes and dislikes:
Likes:
- Superb image quality for a compact camera, lens corner to corner sharpness, minimum color fringing, and detail vs noise tradeoff are all better than other cameras in its class.
- Manual controls (PASM), exposure compensation, contrast/saturation/sharpness adjustments, custom white balance, flash intensity are all adjustable.
- 3″ LCD screen with 230k resolution, average specs for new generation cameras today. Viewable from a wide angle, and visible in bright sunny conditions.
- 9 Megapixels is good for most large prints, more megapixels would’ve meant more noise without much improved detail due to physical light diffraction limits.
- Good 10x zoom all the way to 360mm equiv.
- Macro mode focuses all the way close to 1cm (less than half an inch).
- Fast lens, meaning the aperture doesn’t get too small as you zoom in so a fast shutter speed can still be used to freeze action far away or in dim conditions.
- Optical image stabilization works well giving about 2 stops advantage.
- AA batteries are great, get the pre-charged (aka hybrid) NiMH and you can get consistently 400-500 shots per recharge. Also don’t have to worry about lost charger on a trip. Better for the environment long-term than proprietary batteries that only fit one camera.
Dislikes:
- Wide angle not wide enough (28mm would’ve been better than 36mm)
- Minor barrel distortion at the wide angle, only noticeable when there are straight edges in the frame, they look curved.
- The zoom setting is not displayed, it only pops up briefly when you change the zoom, and it’s not exact. A better solution would’ve been to always display the 35mm equiv value. Also a zoom resume or preset would be nice, so when camera is powered off and on, it resumes the zoom it was in before. This does happen when the camera powers off to save battery, but not all settings are restored in that situation, such as the drive mode or macro focus settings.
- No optical zoom during video recording and HD video, only 640×480 30 fps highest quality.
- The software interface is outdated and unintuitive sometimes. Turning auto ISO shift on should AUTOMATICALLY shift the ISO (like older SX100), not requiring the press of the “print” button after half pressing the shutter. Some of the features require a lot of button presses. Also auto-power off mode only has option of off or 3 mins, and lens retract in playback is either immediate or 1 min, there should be values in between.
- Image noise is noticeable at ISO 800 & higher, not unexpected for a small sensor camera. Maybe if Canon used a slightly bigger sensor like 1/1.6″ instead of 1/2.3″…
- No live histogram. For a serious camera with manual controls, live histogram should be an option instead of only available after the image is taken.
- The command wheel is only good for scrolling through a long list, but I would’ve preferred a less finicky button interface. Sometimes it’s easy to accidentally scroll a value when you meant to press the button or vice versa.
- Flash recycle can take 7-10 seconds after a full power discharge, but not a big deal since I don’t use the on-camera flash much (I use natural lighting with higher ISO sensitivities, or an external slave flash triggered by the camera’s flash). It’s one of the tradeoffs of using AA batteries.
I admit the dislikes are very nit-picky, overall this is a great camera, but I’m writing them here so that either Canon or one if its competitors can pick up on these issues and improve on them in future models.
Rating:
by RLSd for Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
10 July, 2010 at 3:30 am
Pros: image quality, shutter speed, amazing zoom, fast power on, lots of advanced features, etc. etc. The technical specs, and performance of this camera far exceeded any expectations that I could have expected from a pocket-sized camera.
Cons (All minor):
1) Charging requires the removal of the battery from the camera, and it being inserted into a separate battery charger. I’m accustomed to my old sony camera, where it charges in it’s own cradle.
2) The power button itself requires some precision to activate. It’s not difficult, or annoying to use, but again, I’m comparing it to my older sony camera, where it was a quick, simple flip.
3) The menuing system can be somewhat daunting to a new or novice user. Depending what mode your camera is in will change what menu options you’re presented with. Using the camera && reading the manual will help with the familiarity process.
4) The spin dial (or whatever it’s called). I have yet to see what benefit this dial has over the conventional directional pad. It’s almost like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s quite helpful when you want to quickly flip through photos you’ve taken on the camera. On the other hand, it becomes challenging when trying to change scenes in scene mode, or when changing functions in the manual mode.
Overall, I love this camera. I bought it just before going on vacation, and was continually amazed by the quality of the photos and shutter speed performance throughout the trip. While traveling on a tour bus, I was able to take crystal clear photos of the countryside landscape, while the bus was traveling at about 60mph.
Rating:
by R. Dege for Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
10 July, 2010 at 4:06 am
I’m a Big fan of Canon products-(own a Canon Powershot Pro S5 and 20D), so you can understand why I was a bit shy about this purchase-wanting convenience without risking quality. I elected to try the Canon SD890IS because of the 10M with 5X Optical. Some talk about the surface getting “dinged” up but what’s happening to mark their equipment so badly? This small but wonderful camera has all the quality and capability of my Canon Powershot Pro S5, with the exception of shooting as well in low light, but even that is not bad. And remember the reasons you purchased an elph. Others brands may have higher mega pixels, but comparing this camera with it’s one slight short fall that I noticed, it out shines the other brands in low light shooting capability, does better with noise problems, and macro capability! The size is great, again, fitting the need I required-something smaller. If you are looking for quality, ease of use, than consider the Canon SD890IS.
Rating:
by BED for Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
10 July, 2010 at 5:04 am
As a travel writer I spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World, and Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs are the most common cameras I see. Families seem to love them, because they’re so easy to carry and operate. About the size of a deck of playing cards, each of these “pocket cameras” really do slip right into a pants pocket, and their rectangular designs make them easy to grip. Best of all, they all take good photos. (How do I know? Because I’ve actually gotten to use every one of these models. Nearly every day guests ask me to take photos of them with their own cameras, which most often are Canon PowerShot Digital Elphs.)
Here’s my breakdown of the ten bestselling Digital Elph models. Any of the first six are superb choices:
1ST PLACE: SD1100 IS
An update to the SD1000 (see below), this 2008 8MP beauty adds image stabilization, a slightly longer zoom (38-114 mm), another MP of photo size and a small indent on the right side for a better grip. Plus it comes in colors! My daughter has a blue one and uses it every single day. During school days the image stabilization made a real difference in her on-the-bus shots. With that heavy of use hers has gotten scratched up a bit, but the marks are small and hardly noticeable.
2ND PLACE: SD870 IS
The ELPH to buy if you want a wide-angle lens. Slightly thicker than the SD1100 IS, this 8MP model doesn’t have an optical viewfinder which makes it tough to use in bright sunlight, otherwise there’s little not to love. My husband uses one as a comp camera, to compose shots for the travel guide “The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.”
3RD PLACE: SD770 IS
Just released in May, this 10 MP model is, in a way, an update of the SD1100 IS (see above). I rate it lower because it costs about $50 more and doesn’t come in colors. On the other hand, it has a longer battery life than the 1100 and features an improved LCD screen that is very easy to view. As for photo quality, I can’t tell the difference.
4TH PLACE: SD950 IS
There’s a lot to like in this 12.1 MP camera. First off, it’s gorgeous. The body, though a little thick, is titanium. An upgrade to the SD850 IS (see below), it has a 3.7x zoom lens and adds manual controls as well as the ability to stitch together panoramic images. The only reason I don’t rate it higher is the price.
5TH PLACE: SD890 IS (The camera on this page)
Want a long zoom lens? Here’s your baby, a 2008 10 MP model with a 5x zoom. Also has the new bright LCD screen and all the other 2008 Canon goodies. The most expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH.
6TH PLACE: SD790 IS
With the same 10 MP image sensor and 3x zoom lens as the SD770 IS, this 2008 model stands out only for its larger 3-inch LCD display and, as a result, lack of optical viewfinder. The rear controls are different, too, with a flatter design that uses fewer buttons.
7TH PLACE: SD1000
In my opinion there’s no reason to buy this 7.1 MP model. Released in 2007, it’s been replaced by the SD1100 IS (see above). The SD1000 is a fine camera but it doesn’t have image stabilization, a key feature of the 2008 lineup.
8TH PLACE: SD850 IS
The ancestor to the SD890 IS, this 8 MP Elph combines a 4x zoom and 8 MP photo size with an image stabilizer. Every button, dial and switch has a quality feel. Slighter larger than the other models here, it is a little tougher to pop in and out of your pocket, but if you have larger hands it may be just what you are looking for.
9TH PLACE: SD800 IS
This 7.1 MP predecessor to the 870 doesn’t focus well at its edges when set at its widest angle. Unless it’s priced really cheap, get the 870 instead.
10TH PLACE: SD750
The 2007 PowerShot flagship offers a light meter that adjusts for facial brightness, 17 shooting modes, some first-rate movie features and red-eye correction — features that were innovative a year ago but are common in Canon’s latest models. No image stabilization; no optical viewfinder. Choose a 2008 model instead.
Rating:
by Julie Neal for Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
10 July, 2010 at 6:01 am
This is the 5th Canon I’ve owned. I generally love their overall quality and function. I agree with most of the rave reviews about this camera, but I have TWO IMPORTANT CAVEATS that don’t seem to appear.
1st: The orientation of the LCD polarization on the screen is such that when using the camera with polarized sunglasses, you can’t see an image on the LCD (in the standard, horizontal position). For every other LCD camera I’ve used the screen is 100% viewable with polarized sunglasses. The blanking out of the screen only occurs when you rotate the camera 90 degrees (to the vertical orientation).
2nd: There is CONSIDERABLE “Barrel distortion” when using this long 5x optical zoom lens in the standard mode.
Please note: I’ve contacted Canon Customer Service and they say both issues are not fixable and expected given the design of the camera (UGH!)
Rating:
by D. Medford for Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
10 July, 2010 at 6:14 am
Another great Canon Camera
Pros-
*5x Zoom gives you a closer shot than a typical point and shoot
*Control dial is similar to iPod touch wheel
*Selection modes arranged better (Auto, Manual, SCN, Video). The Playback is separate and easier to access
*Start up time immediate
*Little lag between shots
*Optical viewfinder
Cons-
*Shape of camera can make it hard to hold one handed
*Metal finish has a few scuffs already from only a weeks use
*Somewhat Pricey
I personally think it’s a great camera for a basic traveler/camera buff who wants just a little more than a basic point and shoot. I needed it now, but it probably would have been wise to wait a few months for the price to come down.
Rating:
by B. J. Siasoco for Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom