PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver) (OLD MODEL)

Let me start by saying that I am not a big picture taker. In fact, this is my first real camera outside of the ones I have had on my cell phones over the years so this review is coming from a very casual picture taker. That being said, I think this camera is absolutely fantastic. It takes great pictures and the camcorder feature is pretty decent too. It is very easy to use and when in auto mode the camera sets up everything perfectly everytime. I have had no issues with a picture not coming out like I expected. The LCD screen is very good and the pictures look real sharp in them plus when you are taking pictures you can either use the LCD or the viewfinder which I like a lot. I have seen some cameras in this price range that do not include a viewfinder. The camera is very compact and light weight and slides easiler in your front pants pocket. I really cannot find anyting that I do not like about this camera and at this price it is just an amazing value.

I had purchased a Canon Rebel XT DSLR as my "main" camera, but wanted something really small and simple that my wife could stick in her purse. The SD1000 was just the right size and that was the main reason I bought it. To my great surprise I quickly fell in love with this little camera and my wife doesn't get that much chance to use it. It's not a substitute for my DSLR, but it takes great pictures for its size and sure is handy to pack along. I bought the matching Canon camera case and hang it on my belt whenever I think I might want to have a camera along -- it is small and unobtrusive and the magnetic catch on the cover makes it easy to pull out the camera and snap a one-handed shot at a moments notice (makes me feel like an old-West gunslinger!) Another nice surprise is the video capability, which I wasn't even thinking about when I bought this. I setup the programmable button to enable video recording and I find that I use that a lot. It takes surprisingly good videos, and it's so simple and inconspicuous that I don't have to make a big production of it. (You can capture a lot of video on a 2GB card!) Actually, even when I get out my DSLR and assorted lenses for "serious" photograpy, I almost always take the little guy along too. It allows me to mix still pictures and videos, and when I've got a long lens on the DSLR, I can pop out the 1000 for a quick reasonably-wide-angle shot without worrying about changing lenses. There are probably "better" general-purpose cameras, but I've had this little gem for over a year now and am still delighted with its tiny size and big capability. A postscript -- I'm currently in Vail and have been packing this camera along to take pictures while snowshoeing and skiing. Not only is it really convenient, but the rest of my party has been amazed at the quality of the photos. The detail, contrast, and color is great and rarely is there any reason for subsequent photoshop enhancement -- even in snow scenes. The pictures I've been getting actually hold their own with the very expensive (and very heavy) professional style Canon DSLR used by one of the other folks on this trip, but I have mine with me all the time, whereas his mostly sits back at the lodge. I wouldn't claim this little point-and-shoot takes pictures at a par with a good DLSR with large-aperture lenses, but it sure won't embarass you either!

Not only is this camera a great bargain, it's a darn fine bit of kit. You know the specs; now add in pretty speedy shot-to-shot and darn fast setting change/OS response time and yes indeedy, even some key manual controls for when you actually do need/want to get into that. I've used several Canon cameras and enjoyed the ease of use and good service when I needed it (just once.) Know that Canon compact camera shots do have a certain slight softness to them, but the reality is you just cannot have it all. I much prefer the portability. Carrying around an elephant trunk is not for me. On the SD1000, the controls are large and simple to use, the screen is ridiculously large and clear, and it plays lovely, zooming slideshows and the whole thing barely makes a visible bulge in your pocket. (Thing is *tiny,* truly.) I love natural and low-light shots and this cam does not disappoint in either of those departments. (The flash works fine too; I just don't much care for the flash pic look.) If you are the type who likes to chuck the manual in the corner of your closet and brag about how you never, ever read instructions, you probably won't get the most this camera has to offer. It has a *lot* of settings and options, in addition to the goof-proof, just-dial-it-up modes. So read up. It's worth your time. Oh sure, you can certainly take fine pix/videos without ever doing that. But you can really go to town and maybe get that truly magic shot of life that brings joy forever if you do. There's really no downside to this camera if what you want is a simple, inexpensive, quality camera that shoots video with sound and uses cheaper-by-the-minute SD memory cards. (And if you want pin-sharp, professional, RAW-capable equipment, why would you be reading this?!) Nuff said ... buy it and try it before it is gone.

Missing parts