Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Camera Review - Canon Point and Shoot and Non-DSLR

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Color (10.64)

The Canon PowerShot SD700 IS is equipped with Canon’s Digic II image processor, which generally does pretty well at reproducing colors accurately. To test and see how this Digital Elph performed, we took a sequence of pictures of the industry standard GretagMacbeth color chart, using the manual white balance setting and optimal lighting conditions. Below is the resultant color chart, modified by Imatest Imaging Software to show the differences between the SD700’s colors and the ideal colors from the original chart. The outer square of each of the 24 tiles shows the color produced by the Canon SD700. The inner vertical rectangle shows the ideal color, while the inner square is the ideal color, corrected for luminance.

The SD700 IS reproduces color well, as most of the SD700’s rendered tones look just like the ideal versions. To help us see just how close each color is to the original GretagMacbeth colors, Imatest output the following chart. It shows the original colors as squares and the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS’s colors as circles. The line connecting the two colors shows the degree of error, if any.

As seen in the chart, most of the colors are tightly tethered, with quite a few of them spot-on. Indeed, the mean color error was only 4.61. The overall color score came out to be 10.64, which is one of the best scores we’ve seen in awhile and far better than the SD500’s 8.12 color score. Color saturation was average, with the picture over-saturated by 14.2 percent. Overall, the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS performed very well and produced accurate colors worthy of the Digic II’s heavy marketing hype.

Still Life Scene

Below is a shot of our classic still life scene taken with the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS.

Click on the image above to view a full resolution version.

Resolution (4.85)

We tested the SD700’s 6 megapixel sensor by snapping several shots of an industry standard resolution chart. We tried several focal lengths and apertures to ensure the absolute sharpest results. The best image came from a shot taken at f/5 with a focal length of 18.6 mm. That image is pictured below.

Click on the image above to view the full resolution file

Imatest Imaging Software analyzed the file and output the results in terms of line widths per picture height (lw/ph). That unit describes how many alternating black and white lines of the same width could theoretically fit across a frame horizontally and vertically. Horizontally, Imatest determined that the Canon SD700 can resolve 1907 lw/ph. Vertically, the camera resolved 1844 lw/ph. This performance is better than some of Canon’s other PowerShots from different lines. The Canon S80, which advertises 8 megapixels, garnered 1633 lw/ph horizontally and 1809 lw/ph vertically. The Canon A620 read 1708 lw/ph horizontally and 1787 lw/ph vertically; this camera has a 7.1-megapixel image sensor.

In-camera sharpening on the SD700 was quite finicky however. The degree of in-camera sharpening fluctuated greatly from picture to picture, even when modes, settings, or subjects did not. The best image from the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS, pictured above, over-sharpened 18.3 percent in the horizontal direction and 0.148 percent in the vertical direction. While this produced the sharpest image, this image was also given the most in-camera sharpening.

In general, the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS performed well in the resolution tests. It received a 4.85 overall score, which is very respectable – especially for a compact model.

Noise – Auto ISO (2.10)

This Digital Elph has an automatic ISO option to accompany its manual 80-800 range. In optimal lighting conditions, the SD700 produced the same amount of noise found around the ISO 200 manual setting. This is unfortunate, as the 80 or 100 settings would have been better choices with less noise. Because the lower settings on the SD700 have relatively ample amounts of noise, this Digital Elph received a poor 2.10 automatic ISO noise score.

Noise - Manual ISO (4.92)

We tested the noise levels at each of the camera’s manual ISO settings, which extend from 80-800. Below is a chart showing the results, with the ISO setting on the horizontal axis and the noise level on the vertical.

The Canon PowerShot SD700 IS does add a new ISO 800 setting to its manual offerings, which is a nice touch. Digital cameras had few higher sensitivity settings until this year, when many manufacturers released cameras with higher ISOs to attract consumers who shoot in less than perfect lighting. Unfortunately, the ISO 800 setting is extremely noisy. It makes pictures almost unusable.

The Canon SD700 didn’t perform fantastically at this test. The lower end of its ISO range has more noise than most other comparable models and its higher ISO settings are practically worthless. The camera received a 4.92 overall manual ISO noise score.

Low Light Performance (4.0)

For photographers who venture out of optimal lighting conditions, we tested the SD700’s low light performance. We took pictures at decreasing light levels of 60, 30, 15, and 5 lux, using the custom white balance and the optical image stabilization in the so-called “manual” mode. For those new to our low light testing system, 60 lux is about the light from two soft lamps after dusk. 30 lux is what comes from a single 40-watt bulb and 15 lux is roughly equivalent to a night light. 5 lux is uncommonly dark, but usually shows any image sensor limitations.



60 Lux	30 Lux

15 Lux	5 Lux

The “manual” mode doesn’t actually allow users to choose shutter speeds and apertures, so the exposure time was left to the whim of the camera. At 60 lux, a 0.125-second exposure time was used. At 30 lux, a 0.2-second shutter speed was used. At 15 lux, the shutter flipped for a half second. At the darkest 5 lux test, the SD700 opened the shutter for a full second. The pictures above show how well the camera reacted. Images retain luminance well despite the dim lighting. The colors even remain relatively true. The mean color error started at 4.5 in 60 lux conditions and fell to 4.84 in 5 lux. Even at the darkest setting, the SD700 produces colors that are more accurate than other models in optimal conditions.

Below is a chart showing the exposure times on the horizontal axis and the noise levels on the vertical axis. As usual, the noise increases the longer the shutter remains open.

While the Canon SD700’s pictures are quite noisy, it is still impressive that the colors are so accurate and images retain illumination. This Digital Elph is a good candidate for shooting in low light. Its optical image stabilization system allows users to get away with a few more hand-held shots, which is good because many Digital Elph users won’t carry tripods around in their pockets. The custom white balance setting keeps colors true, and the camera does a good job of keeping images bright. The SD700 has some noise in the pictures, but they should be all right at small sizes.

Dynamic Range (5.5)

A camera with good dynamic range records details in both very bright and very dark parts of a single scene. A picture of a black cat walking across a sunlit patch of snow would have very wide dynamic range; it would be hard for most cameras to show detail in the cat's fur and in the snow in the same picture.

We test dynamic range by shooting a Stouffer test chart that shows a series of rectangles that range from very bright to very dark. We use Imatest software to measure the range of brightness recorded in the images. Dynamic range varies by ISO rating, or light sensitivity, so we test each camera at each ISO setting. Imatest delivers several measures of dynamic range, but we look particularly at the High and Low Quality ranges. Low Quality is wider: useful for maintaining texture in dark shadows and bright highlights. High Quality is a narrower range, but describes how the camera will do in the parts of the image that viewers will be interested in.

As many compact cameras do, the SD700 IS performs respectably at ISO 80, its lowest setting, but deteriorates quickly. It maintains good low-quality range at ISO 100 and 200, but drops significantly at 400 and is very limited at 800 and High ISO. The SD700’s High Quality range is good only at ISO 80, dropping below 6.0 at 100 and below 4.0 at 400. Its 1.65 rating at High ISO is a very poor rating, suggesting that low-light images will have a grimy, noisy look.

Speed / Timing

Start-up to First Shot (8.31)

The SD700 IS starts up fairly quickly for a small compact camera. It took a shot within 1.7 seconds of being turned on. That's not fast enough to catch sudden action, so it's wise to keep the SD700 IS turned on when on the prowl.

Shot to Shot (9.53)

Canon tends to deliver impressive burst modes. The SD700 IS shoots 11 images in 5.5 seconds for a 2 frames-per-second rate. The rate isn't outstanding, but the length of the burst is good, and, after 11 shots, the SD700 IS keeps plugging away at about 1 frame per second, apparently indefinitely.

Shutter to Shot (8.46)

The chief annoyance for many snapshooters is the delay between pressing the shutter button and getting the shot. The SD700 IS takes about 0.27 seconds to focus and get off a shot. That's not nearly good enough for serious sports photography, but it is better than a lot of compact cameras.

Intro Page 2 of 13 Physical Tour
Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Camera Review Navigation

Intro

Testing / Performance

Physical Tour

Components

Design / Layout

Modes

Control Options

Image Parameters

Connectivity / Extras

Overall Impressions

Conclusion

Specs / Ratings

Photo Gallery

Intro	Page 2 of 13		Physical Tour
Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Camera Review Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance	Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes	Control Options	Image Parameters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions	Conclusion	Specs / Ratings
Photo Gallery