Digital Camera News

August 19, 2007

Canon Adds SD870 IS and SD950 IS with Third Generation Face Detection

Take a look at the new PowerShot SD870 IS Take a look at the new PowerShot SD950 IS

August 20, 2007 – Along with other cameras introduced today, Canon announced additions to its SD Digital ELPH series - the SD870 IS and SD950 IS. The 3.8x optical zoom SD870 IS and 3.7x SD970 IS sport optical image stabilization. The 12.1-megapixel SD950 IS and 8-megapixel SD870 IS tout Canon's latest generation of face detection, which recognizes up to 35 faces. The SD950 will retail for $449.99, and the SD870 IS at $399.99 when the Canon cameras are available next month.

Geared towards the fashion-conscious, the recent SD cameras maintain the perpetual curve style, Canon’s signature box-and-circle design for the Digital ELPH, but add resolution and face detection upgrades.

The titanium PowerShot SD950 IS is the follow-up to the SD900 IS introduced nearly a year ago but at $50 less than the original camera. Canon replaced the 10-megapixel SD900 IS sensor with a 12.1-megapixel image sensor on the SD950 IS, increasing its resolution. More significantly, Canon added optical image stabilization to the point-and-shoot, responding to the demand for the de-blurring feature, according to Chuck Westfall, Canon Director of Media and Customer Relationship, Consumer Imaging Group, in an interview with DigitalCameraInfo.com.

Likewise, the PowerShot SD870 IS follows the SD850 IS, introduced just a few short months ago in May. The 8-megapixel camera is fitted with a 3.7x optical zoom. While the lens is longer than the 3x optical zoom industry standard for point-and-shoots, the new zoom range is shorter than the 4x optical zoom of the previous SD850 IS camera, introduced at the same price. 

The Canon SD870 IS includes a bigger 3-inch, 230,000 pixel monitor, up from the 2.5-inch, 230,000 pixel LCD. The SD870 IS is the combination of popular features, according to Westfall. Matched with the large 3-inch monitor, the PowerShot SD870 IS also includes wide-angle lens capabilities with an equivalent range of 28-105mm in 35mm format. The added wide function allows users to shoot large groups of people or landscapes while on vacation.

In addition to the mechanical image stabilization, the cameras include digital stabilization. Equipped with the Auto ISO Shift function, the cameras boost sensitivity automatically so that users can shoot in low light conditions without flash.

Both SD cameras utilize a renovated face detection system called Canon’s Genuine Face Detection. The new system reportedly can detect up to 35 faces in a given scene, well beyond the roughly 10 faces of competing cameras. The facial recognition technology operates in conjunction with the Red-eye Correction feature that detects and automatically removes red-eye during playback.

The Canon PowerShot SD870 IS will be available in chrome and black, and the SD950 IS will be available in silver. The cameras accept SD, SDHC, and MMC media.

Camera Model	SD900	SD850 IS	SD870 IS	SD950 IS
Announcement Date	September 2006	May 2007	August 2007	August 2007
Introductory Price	$499	$399.99	$399.99	$449.99
Sensor	10 MP	8 MP	8 MP	12.1 MP
Lens	3x optical zoom, 37-111mm	4x optical zoom IS, 35-140mm	3.8x optical zoom IS, 28-105mm	3.7x optical zoom IS, 35-135mm
Monitor	2.5-inch, 230,000 pixel	2.5-inch, 230,000 pixel	3-inch, 230,000 pixel	2.5-inch, 230,000 pixel
Key Features	-Digic III (with Face Detection)	- Digic III (with Face Detection)  - Optical IS	-Digic III (with Genuine Face Detection) -Optical IS -Auto ISO Shift	-Digic III (with Genuine Face Detection) -Optical IS -Auto ISO Shift
News Link	Canon Adds Three New SD Models	Canon Introduces SD850 IS with Digic III

Spec Sheet

- Canon PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH - Canon PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH