Canon Powershot SD970 IS

Review Index – (updated 25 August’09)

DCResource
“Photo quality is good for a compact camera. The PowerShot takes well-exposed photos, with pleasing color and sharpness (except for some corner blurriness). Like most ultra-compacts, the SD970 likes to clip highlights, and it also has more purple fringing than I would’ve liked. While a bit noisier than its predecessors, the SD970 still produces cleaner photos than the majority of its competitors.”

Trusted Reviews
“The Canon IXUS 990 IS is undeniably a very good camera. The build quality is above any reproach, the handling and performance are excellent, and the range of advanced features is as good as anything else on the market. The optical image stabilization is particularly effective. However it is very expensive even when compared to its few direct competitors and it is not without a few minor faults, particularly low-light focusing and unnatural skin tones.”
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Digital Trends
“You’ll get fine snapshots but realize the SD970 IS is not the speediest camera on the block and if you’re into shutter speeds and f/stops this is not the right choice. The vast majority of casual photographers just want to aim-and-forget and the SD970 IS does a fine job for that task. You’ll like the colors and easy operation. You won’t be too thrilled with the videos on a big screen though.”
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CNET UK
“The model number and the price put the Canon Powershot SD970 IS / IXUS 990 IS near the top of the range, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best camera in the line. You can get pretty much the same specs in the smaller and cheaper 110 IS, as well as a more practical 4x wide angle zoom.”
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DPInterface
“In terms of image quality, the Canon PowerShot SD970 does pretty well with bright colors and low noise. The only issue is the camera’s noise reduction kicks in at ISO 400 onwards and starts smudging details in photos. You’re limited to ISO 800 if you want usable images out of the camera, well, preferably you should stick to ISO 400 and save ISO 800 for emergencies. Other aspects of image quality are good – low lens distortion, redeye removal that works and decent edge sharpness.”

DigitalCameraInfo
“Our disappointments were few, but worth considering. We applaud the solid metal construction, but it does result in a slightly hefty camera. More problematic, the SD970 is over an inch deep, making it less pocket-friendly than other, similarly equipped cameras. We welcome the telephoto range (equivalent to about 185mm on a 35mm camera) on a camera this size, but wished for more wide-angle coverage than the 37mm-equivalent lens provides.”

DigitalCameraReview
“There’s not much to dislike with the SD970 IS. The 37mm wide angle isn’t all that wide, so users will have to get further away from large subjects to get them all in the frame. On the other hand, the 5x zoom translates that 37mm into 185mm at the telephoto end, which helps get you a bit closer to distant subjects than most others in the class. And, as Canon is quick to point out in their ad copy, that 12.1 megapixel sensor offers “amazing resolution and editing” possibilities that effectively make that 185mm shoot even longer than it is.”

GoodGearGuide
“The Canon IXUS 990 IS is a great compact camera that combines impressive image quality with an elegant design. However, when it comes to bang for your buck, there are several better deals on the market.”
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CNET
“Photo quality is very good, mostly because of its excellent color reproduction and very good white balance and exposure. Some smudginess from noise reduction starts appearing at ISO 200, but all photos were generally soft. On the other hand, there’s very little to no color noise.”
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Cameras.co.uk
“This is an excellent smaller compact. I like the design, quality of the LCD screen, menu system and picture quality. It may not come cheap, but it scores very highly in all the key categories.”
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Steves Digicams
“This year’s top of the line Digital ELPH, the PowerShot SD970 IS, is easy enough for anyone in the family to use while providing enough power and creative features to keep the novice photographer satisfied. Features like the 5x optical zoom, 12-Megapixel imaging sensor, Optical Image Stabilization and HD movie mode make the MSRP of US$379.99 worth the money if you are looking for a little extra power in your pocket.”

Pocket-lint
“Our only real worry with the Canon is the price. It’s a big chunk of cash for a compact camera. A DSLR isn’t that much more, in some cases, less, and you’ll get better output and more control. If that’s not important to you and you just want a really well specified compact camera then the Canon would be a good choice.”
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PhotographyBlog
“It’s too expensive for the casual snapper, and doesn’t offer enough advanced features for the pros looking for a second pocket camera. It’s undoubtedly a really nice camera to use, and therefore still easy to recommend, but there are better and cheaper alternatives, including from Canon themselves.”
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