Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital Camera Review

Canon PowerShot SD1000

Digital Camera Review

Mar 20, 2007 - By Emily Raymond
In February 2007, Canon announced the PowerShot SD750 and SD1000 digital cameras to replace the older SD630 and SD600 models. Don’t let the numbers fool you: the SD750 is the fancier camera with its 3-inch LCD screen compared to the SD1000’s 2.5-inch LCD. The Digital Elphs both have 7.1 megapixels and Digic III image processors with face detection technology.
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Canon Powershot SD1000 Digi...
 
Auto Mode
From here on out in this review, the two cameras are virtually the same. Their appearances are different as explained in the previous sections, but the exposure modes and settings are all the exact same.
 
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 is easy to use though. It automates everything except the image size and compression. The recording menu is still available along with the functions on the multi-selector. 
 
Movie Mode
On both cameras, the mode switch includes a setting for the movie mode. The movie mode on these cameras isn’t going to replace a camcorder any time soon, but it’s still decent. The video resolution is good with a top quality of 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps. Other resolutions and capture speeds 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 3 minutes, while the smoothest 320 x 240, 60 fps video only records for 1 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 and can also capture 720p HD video at 30fps.
 
Other video on the SD750 and SD1000 can capture up to 4GB or an hour of footage, whichever comes first. Unfortunately, the optical zoom is not functional during video capture, which will disappoint many users. The 4x digital zoom can be used, but it makes the image look grainy. The white balance and My Colors modes are accessible in the movie mode, and there are even Color Swap and Accent movie modes. These don’t have much practical application, but could be fun for kids to play with.
 
There is also a time lapse movie mode that can shoot either 1 or 2 frames per second for up to 2 hours. The frames are then strung together in a Motion JPEG mode and played back at a rate of 15 fps.
 
Drive / Burst Mode
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” mode. When activated, the burst mode snaps along at a rate of 1.7 fps. Once again, this isn’t impressively fast and isn’t a standout feature. The self-timer modes included on the camera delay the shutter for 2 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.
 
Playback Mode
The playback mode is accessed in different ways on the two cameras. The Canon SD750 has a small playback button on the back of the camera that makes it quick and simple to get in and out of playback mode. The SD1000, on the other hand, places the playback mode on the mode switch so it isn’t as easy to go from viewing to shooting.
 
The playback mode displays images one by one or in index screens of 9 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, and will actively rotate whether the camera is held vertically or horizontally so it’s 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. Below is the playback menu. 
 
Slide Show
Start, Set up (play time 3-30 sec, Repeat on and off), Slide Show Images (all images, date, my category, folder, movies, stills, custom 1 DPOF), Effect (cross, horizontal wipe, fade, off)
My Category
People, Scenery, Events, Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, To Do
Erase
Select, Select by Date, Select by Category, Select by Folder, All Images
Protect
Yes, No
Red-eye Correction
Yes, No
My Colors
Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red
Sound Memo
Cancel, Record, Play, Stop, Delete
Sound Recorder
Stop, Start, Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind, Sample Rate (44.100 kHz, 22.050 kHz, 11.025 kHz)
Rotate
Yes, No
Transfer Order
Order, Mark All, Reset
Set Play Button
Standard, Slide Show, Sound Recorder
Transition
None, Zoom, Fades
 
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. 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
The scene modes are located in different places on the two digital cameras. On the PowerShot SD750, the scene modes have a designated scene position on the mode switch. On the SD1000, they are found among all the other exposure modes in the menu. The options are the same on both though: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets, and Night Snapshot. The exposure compensation is available in each of these scenes, along with the 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.
 
Design / Layout Page 5 of 11 Control Options
Canon PowerShot SD750 and SD1000 First Impressions Review Navigation
 
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