Canon Powershot SD1100 IS

Value
The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS was announced in late January 2008 and arrives on store shelves in March with a retail price of $249. This is relatively inexpensive for a Canon. Just for reference, the SD1000 was $299 – and it didn’t have optical image stabilization. The price is tempting with the trendy and compact body, but the image quality is a concern.

Comparisons
Canon PowerShot SD1000 – This Digital Elph is the more prudent older sister with sharper, straighter edges and offerings in only silver and black casings. The SD1000 has less resolution at 7.1 megapixels, and it does not have optical image stabilization like the newer model. The SD1000 has a slightly wider 3x optical zoom lens but the same flash and 2.5-inch LCD components. The two digital cameras have the same exposure modes and controls and even the same face detection and Digic III image processor. The only advantage the SD1000 has over the new camera is its faster 1.7 fps burst mode. It originally retailed for $299 but can now be found online for about $170.


Casio Exilim EX-S880 – This 8.1-megapixel digital camera has a skinnier body that measures 3.72 x 2.38 x 0.68 inches and only 0.54 inches at its thinnest point. It weighs a little more at 4.51 ounces. It has a similar 38-114mm, 3x optical zoom lens but does not have optical image stabilization. It does have dozens of Scene modes, including a YouTube video mode that shoots MPEG-4, H.264 clips optimized for uploading to the online video sharing website. The Casio S880 has a 2.8-inch wide-formatted LCD screen and comes in black and red colors. It has minimal manual controls and comes at the same $249 price.



Fujifilm FinePix Z100fd – This 8-megapixel camera uses an internal lens and protects it with an interesting diagonally-sliding lens cover. The Z100fd is being marketed toward Generation Y youngsters with its loud colors and online-friendly features. It comes in Shell Pink, Satin Silver, Cappuccino Brown, and Tuxedo Black. It also has IrSimple wireless transfer technology and a "Blog mode" that automatically crops pictures to optimize them for quick uploading and sharing on social networking sites. The Z100fd has 16 Scene modes and a few manual controls, including an ISO range up to 1600 and a face detection system that recognizes up to 10 faces and automatically removes red eyes. This Fuji has a 5x optical zoom lens with dual image stabilization. There is also a larger 2.7-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD screen on the camera. The Fujifilm Z100fd has a whopping 54MB of internal memory and can accept SD, SDHC, and xD-Picture cards. It retails for $249.

Nikon Coolpix S51 – For $299, the Nikon S51 offers the same 8.1-megapixel resolution and a swankier Pictmotion slide show that plays music along with cool transitions between pictures. The S51 has a slim metal body that comes only in black. It has a 3x optical zoom lens and an optical vibration reduction image stabilization system. On the back is a large 3-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. The Nikon Coolpix S51 has mainly automated modes – there is even a one-touch portrait button that enables the face priority feature - but a few manual controls like the 100 to 1600 manual ISO range. The S51 has 13MB of internal memory and SD/SDHC compatibility. The Nikon S51 is less expensive at $229, and there is also a S51c version that includes Wi-Fi capabilities.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 – This slim digital camera comes in white, black, pink, and silver bodies. This 8.1-megapixel digital camera’s most prominent feature is its 3-inch touch screen. The T70 has a 3x optical zoom lens with a Super SteadyShot image stabilization system. There are 10 Scene modes, a face detection system that can recognize up to eight faces, and a Smile Shutter mode that automatically takes the picture when the subject is smiling. In-camera editing effects, including painting on images with the touch screen, are included. The Sony T70 has a 9-point autofocus system and a 2 fps Burst mode, along with an impressive 80 to 3200 ISO range. Like other Sony cameras, the T70 has HD output and slide shows with music. This digital camera retails for $299.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – The Canon SD1100 IS is made for point-and-shooters with its automated modes and convenient and compact package.

Budget Consumers – At $249, the SD1100 is priced fairly. The competition is hot in the market though, so there are less expensive options that are still trendy and feature-laden.

Gadget Freaks – These folks will appreciate the optical image stabilization and face detection, but will miss true gadgetry.

Manual Control Freaks – With its automated modes and limited control, the SD1100 is not for these consumers.

Pros/Serious Hobbyists – This camera is not an option.