Canon Powershot SD780 IS Review, first try
, Posted in
The SD780 utilizes Canon's 12.1 megapixel sensor, shared in common with many of Canon's new PowerShot offerings for this model cycle. The 14.7 megapixel imager used in Canon's flagship PowerShots has been less than popular with critics, and in some ways, the new sensor shares some of the same irritations – most notably, graininess and noise at even the lowest ISOs.
Canon Powershot SD780 is perfectly sized for backpackers and club-goers alike, the SD780 may emphasize compactness, but it doesn't ignore the need for a small camera to take great pictures, either. And to this end, the new camera brings image stabilization and a host of other buzz-worthy features to Canon's slimmest SD model to date. A truly shirt-pocket ready camera with image stabilization, Canon's latest face detection and other processing technologies, and 720p video?
The SD780 has two basic auto focus modes: Face AiAF (which combines face detection and Canon's automatic multi-area AF mode), and a center-point AF mode. There's no user-selectable area mode; serious shooters using the SD780 as a snapshot cam may be frustrated by this omission, but Canon's AiAF system is savvy enough for typical snapshooting just the same.
Improved face detection in the SD780 is capable of tracking a bunch of faces without lag, and incorporates an even more accurate tracking system for following faces in a frame. I played with new technology on several occasions, mostly shooting in the locked-down Smart Auto mode, and was nonetheless impressed with just how fluid the SD780's ability to keep a lock on subjects is
