Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital Camera Review

by Emily Raymond
Published on August 31, 2007

Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance
Components	Design / Layout
Modes	Control Options
Image Parameters	Connectivity / Extras
Overall Impressions	Conclusion
Photo Gallery	Specs / Ratings

The 8-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD850 IS combines several classic features of the Digital Elph line with new perks garnered mainly from a new image processor. The Digic III image processor brings with it face detection technology that can recognize up to nine faces at once, as well as technology that reportedly keeps pictures cleaner. The SD850 IS had an initial price of $399, but can now be found online for about $50 less.

Physical Tour

Front (8.0)
The front of the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS is branded on the left side with a textured metal Canon logo and a printed model name. There is a Digital Elph logo beside the model name. The right side of the camera’s front is a little busier. The optical zoom lens takes up most of this side. The lens sits flat with the rest of the camera body until it is turned on: it then extends in three segments. Each segment has a shiny chrome ring around its edge. Around the glass itself are specs printed on the rim: “Canon Zoom Lens 4x IS, 5.8-23.2mm 1:2.8-5.5.” On the right side of the lens around the outer barrel is the “8.0 Megapixels” label. In the upper right corner of the front is the built-in flash unit. Directly above the lens is an auto focus assist lamp, and to its left is a slightly larger optical viewfinder. There is a tiny dot to the upper left of the lens that serves as the built-in microphone. Overall, the front looks compact and neat.

Back (8.0)
The left side of the back features a 2.5-inch LCD screen surrounded by a darker silver-colored panel. The panel unifies the LCD screen with another viewing tool, the optical viewfinder, directly above it. To the right of the optical viewfinder are two small LED indicator lamps. Just right of these is a small power button with its own LED. A small Canon logo sits in the upper left corner of the back. To the right of the darker panel is a lighter silver panel that unifies most of the controls. This panel is only about an inch wide, so the buttons are tightly packed. In the upper right corner are nine bumps that are supposed to work as a thumb grip. Directly to its right is the small notched mode dial with five positions showing on a cutout portion of the back. The mode dial’s edge protrudes outward from the camera’s right side. In the lower right corner of the camera is a cluster of buttons and icons. The multi-selector sits in the middle of three other buttons: an LED-adorned print button on top, and display and menu buttons on bottom. The multi-selector has a central Func./Set button surrounded by a cluttered and slightly bowl-shaped ring. It is hard to distinguish which side of the multi-selector accesses a specific function because the icons are crammed so closely together. . This cluster of buttons looks particularly cluttered next to the vast expanse of the LCD screen.

Left Side (8.0)
The left side of the SD850 doesn’t have any features. There are dark, medium, and light silver panels and two tiny screws.

Right Side (8.0)
The right side has a chrome wrist strap eyelet in the center that curves up ever so slightly. A niche beneath it makes stringing the strap a little less of a chore. Near the top is a plastic door held on by a thin rubber strip. It covers the A/V out port on top and the USB port on bottom. Behind it is a tiny space big enough for the tip of a fingernail to pry the door open.

Top (8.0)
The shutter button is on the top of the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS. It is mildly domed, outfitted in chrome, and surrounded by a zoom ring that hardly moves at all. On the left side of the top is an “Image Stabilizer” label. Beneath the label are five holes that make up the speaker grill.

Bottom (8.0)
From the bottom, users can see the slight wedge shape of the SD850. The wedge is interrupted by the fat panel for the LCD screen. Near the right side is a quarter-inch metal tripod socket surrounded by little bumps to keep the camera from scratching on a tripod mounting plate. The left side of the bottom is occupied by the battery compartment, which slides to the right to open. There is also a rubber flap that can be pried open so the battery-shaped power adapter’s cord can be strung through it.