Canon PowerShot SD110 Digital Camera Review

Model Design / Appearance (7.5)
Like all Canons in the Digital ELPH line, the SD110 looks sleek. The camera is rectangular, without protrusions or grips; this design makes the digital camera more portable and compact. When the SD110 is turned on, the built-in lens cap opens and the lens emerges from its niche in the camera body. The stainless steel frame makes for a strong initial impression and makes the camera resonate with an overall feeling of style.

Size / Portability (8.0)
The Canon PowerShot SD110 is easily carried and transported. The frame measures 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches and weighs 5.82 ounces, not including the battery and the card. This camera can definitely be held with one hand, although I recommend using two when capturing pictures. On the right side of the camera, there is a wrist strap mount to make portability even easier. The SD110 is one of the easier cameras to transport and this portability should be seen as the camera's most valuable asset.

Handling Ability (8.0)
On some compact cameras, there’s a real problem with accidentally sticking one’s fingers into the lens. There’s no worry of that with the Canon PowerShot SD110. The lens protrudes enough to prohibit trespassing fingers. There are no real finger grips, although the imprinted Canon logo on the front interestingly serves that function for the right hand. Despite the lack of grips, I did not find my hands sliding around; the brushed steel surface of the camera is not slippery. Basic controls and functions are intuitive and clearly distinguished. The camera is designed for immediate access and is simplistic enough for even the beginner to use right out of the box.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.0)
All of the buttons on the Canon PowerShot SD110 are clearly labeled and properly spaced. Most essential functions are located on the back. Because of the camera’s compact size, the buttons tend toward the small side. However, they protrude (ever so slightly) and are spaced apart enough to prevent any finger fumbling. The four-way controller is adequately sized and easy to use. That dial and the mode switch are located within easy access of the right-hand thumb, so users can make changes smoothly while shooting. Overall, the buttons are easy to find and easier to use, thanks to good position and size.

Menu (7.5)
The Canon PowerShot SD110 features Canon's new vertical menu setup. There are three subsections within the general menu layout. The menu is accessible through the Menu button, located on the back of the Canon PowerShot SD110. In each mode (Playback, Auto, Manual and Movie), there are three choices available. The Setup and My Camera menus are available in all the modes. The Recording menu is available in all the modes except Playback, where it is replaced by the Play menu.

In Auto mode, the recording menu offers the following options: Quick shot mode, Self-timer, AF-assist beam, Digital zoom, and Review. In Manual mode, all of those options are available, plus AiAF, Long shutter and Stitch assist. In the Movie mode’s recording menu, only the Self-timer and AF-assist beam options can be accessed. In Playback mode, the following options are available from the Play menu: Protect, Rotate, Sound memo, Erase all, Slide show, Print order, and Transfer order.

The Setup menu offers these options: Mute, Volume, LCD brightness, Power save mode, Date/ time, Format, File number reset, Auto rotate, Language, and Video system (NTSC or PAL). In the My Camera menu, users can control the following aspects of their SD110: Theme, Start-up image, Start-up sound, Operation sound, Self-timer sound, and Shutter sound.

Ease of Use (8.0)
The Canon PowerShot SD110 was designed with ease of use as one of its top priorities. The buttons are laid out in an orderly manner and clearly labeled. The menus are clearly labeled and intuitive to navigate through. There are pictures associated with each menu selection, but in case those could be mistaken for something else, Canon included a one or two-word title for each selection that appears at the top of the menu once the selection is highlighted. This is a point-and-shoot digital camera that’s easy to use regardless of the user's proficiency or comfort level with digital cameras.