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Introduction
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01.Physical Tour
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02.Color and Resolution
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03.Noise and Video
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04.Speed and Timing
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05.Components
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06.Design / Layout
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07.Modes
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08.Control Options
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09.Image Parameters
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10.Connectivity / Extras
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11.Overall Impressions
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12.Conclusion
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13.Sample Photos
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14.Specs / Ratings
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15.Comments
Canon PowerShot SX110 IS
Previous: Page 4
Speed and TimingNext: Page 6
Design / LayoutViewfinder (0.00)
As with many point-and-shoots, the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS lacks a viewfinder.
The Canon's LCD packs a modest 230,000 pixels into its three-inches of real estate. It's bright, clear and suffers under only minimal solarization. The screen can be set to five levels of brightness, but there's no function to automatically adjust the level according to ambient light, as is found in some other cameras. Hitting the Disp. button while shooting can show or hide all the information scattered around the edges of the screen, like ISO, white balance, metering and other such useful bits of info. A histogram would have been useful, but most buyers of this type of camera probaby won't miss it. The live view kept up with motion and repositioning the camera well most of the time, except under very low light, where there was a noticeable lag.
The LCD is run-of-the-mill
The effect of pressing Display while shooting
The effect of pressing Display while in playback
Flash (7.50)
The flash is a bit of throwback hardware, as it has to be manually raised and lowered. This is a little awkward, but it does prevent the flash from firing automatically when you don't want it to. Canon rates the flash output 1.6 feet (50cm) to 9.8 feet (3m) zoomed all the way out, and 3.3 feet (1m) to 6.6 feet (2m) at full telephoto. We noticed there was some significant light dropoff towards the edges of the frame while using the flash.
The controls offered on the flash are quite inclusive. While it's deployed, you can set it to automatic or manual. In automatic, you can adjust the flash exposure compensation ±2 levels in 1/3 steps, or if you flick it on manual, you can chose one of three levels of brightness. There are two methods for reducing red-eye, either by firing the flash twice, or else by using the auto focus assist lamp first. The slow synchro option is a setting designed for use with slightly longer shutter speeds that helps light both the foreground and background, and finally there's Safety FE, which adjusts aperture and shutter settings to prevent over-exposure while using the flash.
Having a manually raised flash stops it from firing when you don't want it.
Lens (8.50)
The SX110 is part compact point-and-shoot, and part ultra-zoom. It doesn't quite have the mammoth zoom of some of the latter models, but is slightly smaller. For its size, 10x zoom is quite impressive, allowing you to get tightly framed shots while still quite a distance from the action. The actual zoom lens measurement is 6mm to 60mm, the 35mm equivalent of 36mm to 360mm. There is, of course, a digital zoom option, for up to an additional 4x, though we routinely counsel against resorting to this image-quality-destroying function. The aperture range afforded by the lens is f/2.8 to f/8 fully zoomed out, which shrinks to f/4.3 to f/9 at max zoom. F/2.8 is quite fast, and will let in plenty of light, so you can user faster shutter speeds and lower ISOs. The Canon has an optical image stabilization system that can be set to be on continuously, only while half pressing the shutter button, for panning (only cancels vertical shake), or off completely.
The fully extended lens.
1x, 5x and 10x zoom
Shop for the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS
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