Canon PowerShot SD850 IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

I brought this camera 4 my first trip 2 London this past October. I am not a picture taking person, but I wanted 2 document my first trip 2 the United Kingdom. Trust me, I barely knew what I was doing as I didn't do more than skim through the owners manual (a mistake). However, all of my pictures came out wonderfully. I mean they are lead crystal clear. Even blown up on my laptop, they retain their sharpness. I took many shots of London's famous double deck buses while moving 2 see which ones would be keepers. All shots of the buses are as if they are frozen sharply in place.

I had it set on auto 4 most of my trip. All of my pictures are out door shots, from early morning 2 mid evening. My night time shots on Bayswater Street are just as crisp as my daytime shots in Paddington Station & Kensington Park. Well, Paddington Station is inside technically.

All shots came out beyond my minimum satisfaction expectations. I don't get some reviewers complaining about blurry still shots. Maybe reading the manual more deeply would have prevented this issue. Or despite the highest manufacturing standards, some stinkers get through the process. Except 4 Paddington Station, I didn't take any in door close up people shots. So I really can't comment much on its performance shooting people indoors regarding issues of red eye, poor lighting shots & such.

I saw QVC presenting a Kodak 14 mega pixel digital camera today. They showed how sharp pictures taken with it are against lower mega pixel shots. The Kodak shots at 14 mega pixels didn't appear 2 be any more sharp than my shots at 8 mega pixels are! Granted, I was looking at the Kodak shots through my non HD TV & some things may have been lost in how sharp the pictures really were. After blowing the pictures up 2 say poster size, I can imagine my camera's shots losing ground against shots with 6 more mega pixels 2 spread around.

The only glitch I ran into is 4 the life of me, I couldn't figure out how 2 get a 4X zoom shot. All I could find on the menu is 3X zoom maximum. One of my main decision points in picking this camera over the Cannon Power Shot 750 (with only 3X zoom) is its 4X zoom feature.

Oh yes. One other aspect of this camera is an issue. It has none, zero, nada internal memory. As I recall, the 750 has 32meg of internal memory. I knew this when I brought it & thought it wasn't much of an issue. When you run out of room on your card & there are sweet shots you can't take unless you sacrifice some existing shots...its an issue! Lesson learned. I just ordered a 4gb professional level memory card.

On the lighter side of what's important, this camera feels substantial, without being heavy. It feels like you have something of quality in your hands instead of a camera brought at a flea market. The rechargeable battery with the James Bond gadget like charger is appreciated over having 2 buy batteries repeatedly.

Before the Christmas holiday, I'll study the manual more 2 make better use of everything thats under this fine camera's hood.

The output is not very good.
I have problems in dark situation. the colors are really bad

I have owned this camera 4 over a year now, & I have used it in many conditions: underwater with its underwater case, under low light conditions (interior & exterior), 4 moving subjects etc... This camera takes GREAT pictures. A professional photographer told me this summer it was his favorite compact camera.

The macro function is really nice but there is one problem with it. I take quite a lot of macrosoof flowers, forgs etc... in which cases I need the flash or the pictures will be blurry. Macro & flash on this camera don't work very well together especially if you are very close 2 the subject: the lens & the flash in the front of the camera are too close & you will have a black shadow in the lower right corner of the picture (which can be cropped in most cases). I talked 2 a Canon engineer & he told me that this is a problem with this camera. Again it will only happen in macro mode with flash, when very close 2 the subject.

Otherwise, as others have mentioned it, the body of the camera is very small & "slippery" so be careful when you use it... I recommend 2 always use the wrist strap :)

you cannot take indoor photos without flash with this camera. the flash makes everything look stupid. pretty frustrating. i sent it into canon & they said it is working fine.

I have been using this camera since July & have taken many great pictures. To get full use of the capabilities reading the manual is extremely helpful. The biggest problem I seem 2 have is eliminating red eye when taking indoor pictures. Other than that I am very satisfied. The size is perfect.

The PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH is a digital camera that will really get your creative juices flowing. It starts with a high resolution 8.0 Megapixel CCD, a 4x Optical Zoom with Canon's exclusive UA Lens & an Optical Image Stabilizer 4 steady zooming. There's also a DIGIC III Image Processor with Face Detection & Red-eye correction, an ISO 1600 setting 4 sharper images in low light, 5 Movie Modes & a 2.5-inch PureColor LCD with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating 4 easy viewing.Count on the PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH 4 images that will make you say "wow" every time you shoot! Equipped with a high resolution 8.0 Megapixel CCD, this Digital ELPH is just what you need 2 capture life's greatest inspirations as you've always wanted them. You'll get every exquisite detail in dazzling, eye-popping color. And you can print big. Plus, the SD850 IS Digital ELPH is equipped with a 4x Optical Zoom that features Canon's exclusive UA lens with ultra-high refractive index glass 2 enhance your pictures while significantly reducing total lens size. Just imagine the possibilities!