Compare Prices : Canon Digital IXUS 990 IS - Expert Reviews

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Review summary: The 12.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD970 IS ($379.99 list) may entail a top-of-the-line price, but this compact camera packs plenty of high-end features. Canon's flagship point and shooter pairs amazing still images with high-quality HD video capture, ...

Pros: Fantastic image quality. Fast operating speeds. Sharp 3-inch LCD. Extraordinary user interface. High-definition (720p30) video capture

Cons: Optical zoom can't be used while shooting video. Wide-angle barrel distortion

Verdict: At close to $400, Canon's PowerShot SD970 IS isn't cheap, but an expansive feature set, a top-notch interface, and amazing images help justify the high price.

Review summary: The Canon PowerShot SD970 IS has powerful features and provides a fun new way to operate the camera. It features a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, and the ability to create...

Pros: Rich, saturated colors ; solid 5x image stabilized zoom ; superior 3-inch LCD screen (461K pixels) ; drop-dead easy to use

Cons: Expensive ; pokey 1 fps capture ; no f/stop, shutter speed adjustments ; only digital zoom with HD video

Review summary: Canon continues its run of impressive compact cameras with the PowerShot SD970 IS, a high-end 12.1-megapixel model with a solidly built metal body, high-resolution 3-inch LCD and 5x zoom lens. Both still image and video quality (at 720p high-def ...

Verdict: The automatic exposure and autofocus systems worked well, producing well balanced photos in a wide range of shooting conditions. We were particularly impressed with the close-up mode, which let us produce a screen-filling image of a dime from just a ...

Review summary: It's hard to tell exactly where in the line the 12.1-megapixel Canon Digital IXUS 990 IS sits, but it bears all the usual IXUS hallmarks: an elegant design and straightforward controls combined with hi-tech automation and decent picture quality. An ...

Pros: Top-quality design and finish ; effective and understated automation ; straightforward operation

Cons: No zooming in high-definition movie mode ; lacks a wideangle zoom ; expensive even compared to its stablemates

Verdict: The Canon Digital IXUS 990 IS offers elegance, straightforward operation and quality -- all the usual IXUS hallmarks. But is it the best IXUS to go for? Probably not -- it costs more than the Digital IXUS 110 IS without having much to show for it

Review summary: 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.

Verdict: when shooting videos. The combination of a fast-scrolling control dial and a traditional four-way controller offers a winning combination of speedy navigation when you want it and precision.movement when you need it