Canon PowerShot SD750

Auto Mode (7.25)
The Auto mode is listed among all the other modes in the Func./Set menu; this means there is no easy one-touch access like on many digital cameras. Once there, it’ss easy to use, though. It automates everything except the image size and compression, but allows users to choose limited selections of options from the multi-selector and Recording menu. For example, the flash icon accesses only Auto and Off flash modes, and the ISO only Auto ISO and High ISO auto settings. The High ISO auto setting was very tempting to use because it seemed to freeze subjects better than the standard ISO, but there was way too much noise. It wasn’t noticeable on the LCD screen but could be seen on even a 4 x 6-inch print. Generally pictures from the SD750’s Auto mode looked fine. The biggest annoyance – which admittedly isn’t that big – is that the Auto mode is located in a menu and not on a mode dial or with a more easily accessible button.

Movie Mode (7.0)
The Movie mode is easier to find than the Auto mode because it has its own position on the mode switch atop the camera. The Canon PowerShot SD750 has a fairly large palette of resolutions and other options in its Movie mode; it certainly outdoes most compact digital cameras’ Movie modes.

The video resolution is good with a top quality of 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps. Other resolutions can be selected too: 640 x 480 at 15 fps, 320 x 240 at 60, 30, or 15 fps, and 160 x 120 at 15 fps. The smallest video size can only shoot for three minutes, while the smoothest 320 x 240, 60 fps video only records for one minute. This is the same as other PowerShot digital cameras with the exception of the new Canon TX1, which records the fast frame rate movies for up to an hour.

Other than the fast frame rate clips, movies can record up to 4GB or an hour, whichever comes first. Unfortunately, the optical zoom is not functional while recording, which will disappoint many users. The 4x digital zoom can be used, but it makes the image look increasingly grainy. The following Func./Set menu reveals most of the Movie mode’s options.

The Color Accent and Color Swap movie modes are fun to play with but I can’t think of any practical application for them. Digital Elphs don’t necessarily aim to be "practical" though: they are more about the fun. There is also a Time Lapse movie mode that can shoot either one or two frames per second for up to two hours. The frames are then strung together in a Motion JPEG mode and played back at a rate of 15 fps.

In general, movies look great. They look nice and smooth on a television, although the colors aren’t as accurate as they are in still images. The audio is clear, which is more than can be said of most Movie modes. In Playback mode, movies can be reviewed with VCR-like controls. The clips can also be played back in slow motion and manipulated with some editing. Users can cut the beginning, middle, or end of a video clip. After the cut has been made, users must save their work just like on a computer.

Overall, the Canon SD750’s Movie mode is a winner. The resolution is fine, subjects look good, and audio is nearly perfect.

Drive / Burst Mode (6.0)
When the bottom of the multi-selector is pushed, the Burst and Self-Timer modes appear. The Single drive is the default, and the Continuous Burst mode appears only in the Manual shooting mode. When activated, the Burst mode snaps along at an unimpressive rate of 1.7 fps. The Burst mode isn’t very fast, but it does last until the memory is full.

The Self-Timer modes included on the camera delay the shutter for two or 10 seconds. There is also a custom self-timer that can be set to delay 1-30 seconds before snapping a string of 1-10 pictures. The SD750 indicates the self-timer’s activation by flashing a series of orange lights from the front of the camera and a few beeps if set to do so (via the Setup menu’s vast volume selection).

Playback Mode (7.25)
The Canon SD750 has a small playback button on the back of the camera that makes it quick and simple to get to the Playback mode and back to the Recording mode when needed.

The Playback mode displays images one by one or in index screens of nine thumbnails if the "W" side of the zoom control is pushed. Pushing it the other way magnifies the image up to 10x. Individual pictures automatically rotate in the Playback mode, whether the camera is held vertically or horizontally, so the image is always right side up. A histogram can be viewed when the display button is pushed, and the file info can be viewed or hidden.

Sound memos can be added, up to 60 seconds for each image file, and there is a sound recorder function in the Playback menu that has nothing to do with imaging. The placement is curious indeed. Below is the Playback menu.

The red-eye correction feature didn’t seem to work very well on my images. I didn’t get any blatantly awful red-eyed subjects from the Canon SD750, but I had a picture of my son that had a single red eye in it. His head was turned away from me so it was a profile shot of him pushing a fire truck on the floor. The red-eye correction feature prompted me to frame the red eyes with a superimposed box. I did so and then activated the actual red-eye feature. After a few seconds of processing, a message popped up on the camera’s screen: "Cannot modify." Perhaps it needs two eyes to properly function.

Movies can be played back normally with VCR-like control or in slow motion and can be split into two separate files. Images and movies can also be erased one by one with the bottom of the multi-selector or erased by date, category, or folder. They can be erased all at once, too.

These PowerShot digital cameras are designed to sort through large numbers of photos. A jump function eases navigation by providing quick access to every 10th shot, 100th shot, category, folder, date, or movie. When pictures are viewed as an index, users can quickly scroll through them like pages. Pictures can be tagged into different categories like people, events, and scenery so they can be found faster later. All in all, the Playback mode has lots of options to organize, view, and edit pictures.

Custom Image Presets (7.25)

The scene modes have a designated scene position on the mode switch. To actually change the modes, though, users will need to enter the menu. The scene modes are: Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, and Underwater.

Exposure compensation is available in each of these scenes, along with image size and compression. Of note is the optional underwater housing that can be purchased with this camera; don’t think the Underwater mode will last long without one.

The SD750’s little brother, the SD1000, has the exact same exposure modes. It doesn’t have a mode switch though, so scene modes are placed in the same menu with everything else.