
Solid color accuracy
Low overall noise
Good sharpness
No optical zoom
Introduction
The Canon PowerShot SD970 IS is a capable 12.1-megapixel point and shoot with a 5x zoom. We found image quality was consistently very good, and movies shot at 720p were impressive.
| This review is organized into 16 pages | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Page 1
Product Tour
Read More...
|
Page 2
Color
It gets high marks for accuracy, particularly skin tones, greens and oranges. Vivid color mode produced the most accurate hues. Read More... |
Page 3
Noise
Image noise was low overall, particularly at higher ISOs, but some cameras tested better at ISOs below 800. Read More... |
|
Page 4
Resolution
Sharpness was good, and image stabilization produced a modest improvement, yet there was significant barrel distortion at wide angle. Read More... |
Page 5
Video
The camera shoots high-def 720p video with handsome color and decent sharpness, but there’s no optical zoom. Read More... |
Page 6
Sample Photos
A gallery of photos taken with the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Read More... |
|
Page 7
Playback
There’s in-camera category tagging, and many PictBridge options, though the Active Display tilt-to-browse isn’t very practical. Read More... |
Page 8
Hardware
It has a good LCD, 5x zoom and HDMI output, but there’s no viewfinder, a dim red-eye/AF assist lamp, and the lens isn’t very wide or fast. Read More... |
Page 9
Controls
A nice array of color enhancement settings, and fast, reliable autofocus, yet burst mode is slow and there’s no manual exposure options. Read More... |
|
Page 10
Design & Handling
The menu system is effective, the manual is well-written, but it’s tough to avoid covering the mic with your index finger. Read More... |
Page 11
Casio EX-FC100 Comparison
![]() We compare the SD970 IS to the EX-FC100. Read More... |
Page 12
Fujifilm F200EXR Comparison
![]() We compare the SD970 IS to the F200EXR. Read More... |
|
Page 13
Sony DSC-T900 Comparison
![]() We compare the SD970 IS to the DSC-T900. Read More... |
Page 14
Conclusion
Read our final conclusion of the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS. Read More... |
Page 15
Photo Gallery
Read More...
|
|
Part 16
Comments
Read what people are saying about the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS. Add your comments... |
||
Shop for the Canon SD970 IS
Latest News
& Reviews
-
02-Feb-2012
Pentax's risky K-01 is like no other mirrorless camera
Pentax has made a brave move with their latest mirrorless system camera: they’ve to ignored all prevailing trends in the space, and announced a new model that strongly favors form over function (gasp!). Read More...
-
31-Jan-2012
Nikon launches Coolpix P510, the world's longest superzoom
The P510’s 42x, 24-1000mm lens leaves others in the dust, while the P310 packs an f/1.8 piece to dominate dark shooting situations. Read More...
Top Rated Point & Shoots
-

$459.991Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review
$459.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$378.992Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review
$378.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$428.003Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review
$428.00TypesUltra-ZoomAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels16.8 MP -

$295.004Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review
$295.00TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$418.005Canon PowerShot S100
Canon's PowerShot S100 improves on the popular S95 and takes its place at the top of the point-and-shoot food chain. Read full 16-part review
$418.00TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels





(add your own)