EmailBest Reviewed
Digital Cameras
- Best compact digital camera Canon PowerShot SD990 IS *Est. $300
- Compact camera with advanced features Canon PowerShot G10 *Est. $475
- Best for indoor shots and low light Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR *Est. $330
- Best compact camera for fast action Casio Exilim EX-FC100 *Est. $290
- Best compact camera for video Canon PowerShot SD970 IS *Est. $320
- Most stylish digital camera Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 *Est. $320
- Best waterproof digital camera Canon PowerShot D10 *Est. $320
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Best compact camera for video
- HD and VGA video
- Sharp photo and video quality
- Easy uploads to YouTube
- Gorgeous 3-inch, 461,000-pixel LCD
- Versatile
- Bulky size
- No optical zoom in video mode
- No manual settings
- Poorly placed mic
For a compact digital camera that offers HD video in addition to the best all-around performance, reviewers point to the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS. While several models in the Canon PowerShot Elph series offer HD video -- including the feature-packed SD960 IS (*Est. $260) and the pocket-friendly SD780 IS (*Est. $225) -- the 12.1-megapixel PowerShot SD970 IS nabs the highest ratings. As one owner at Amazon.com says, the SD970 IS is the "perfect all-in-one," and it earns PCMag.com's Editors' Choice award as the "most well-rounded compact camera you can buy right now."
This point-and-shoot model comes packed with Canon's advanced DIGIC 4 image processor, plenty of automatic settings, straightforward menu navigation and a gorgeous 3-inch, 461,000-pixel LCD display. Plus, it shoots in three movie modes: 320 pixels by 240 pixels, 640 pixels by 480 pixels, and HD (1,280 pixels by 720 pixels or 720p, the lower resolution of the two HD formats). Files are stored in .MOV QuickTime for easy uploading to YouTube. An HDMI cable connects directly to you HDTV for perusing photo slide shows and videos.
Experts agree that the SD970 IS's HD quality is remarkable. "Handsome color and decent sharpness," sums up Steve Morgenstern of DigitalCameraReview.com, while Mike Perlman of InfoSyncWorld.com says "this is the best video mode available on a consumer compact." Image quality garners even more praise. In tests, the camera delivers great photos in bright and low light, with better resolution than the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR at higher ISO settings.
Expert reviews from photography sites and technology publications such as DigitalCameraInfo.com, Steves-Digicams.com, InfoSyncWorld.com and PCMag.com offer the most in-depth testing and evaluation of the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS. Owner comments from Amazon.com help to show how the camera fares in day-to-day use for a wide range of users.
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After testing the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS, Steve Morgenstern concludes that "there's a lot to like here, with consistently high-quality photos and high-def 720p videos." In tests, the SD970 edges ahead for image quality. Still, the camera has noticeable flaws, such as an easily obstructed mic and no room to rest one's thumb.
Review: Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Digital Camera Review, Steve Morgenstern, June 19, 2009
While editors at Steves-Digicams.com acknowledge that the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS costs a bit more than other cameras in its class, they consider it "worth the money if you are looking for a little extra power in your pocket." HD video excels, with smooth playback and an optional HDMI cable. Image quality and handling are also strong suits, but the camera is a bit on the hefty side.
Review: Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Review, Editors of Steves-Digicams.com, April 29, 2009
For reviewer Mike Perlman, the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS remains top dog in the Elph series, but the PowerShot SD970 IS packs about as much power and "tacks on a few extra features." Most notable is the "solid" HD video, which despite some image noise in low light conditions, "is still the best video mode available on a consumer compact."
Review: Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Review, Mike Perlman, May 16, 2009
With its ability to combine "amazing still images with high-quality HD video capture," the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS nabs PCMag.com's Editors' Choice status. Like other experts, critic PJ Jacobowitz uncovers a few flaws -- including lens barrel distortion and a lack of optical zoom in movie mode. Despite the flaws, he considers the SD970 IS "the most well-rounded compact camera you can buy right now."
Review: Canon PowerShot SD970 IS, PJ Jacobowitz, July 15, 2009
5. Amazon.com
At Amazon.com, more than 35 owners share their experience with the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS. Most are impressed with the great image and HD video quality. As one user says, "it's the perfect all-in-one." Despite the great performance, a few complain about the poor mic placement and lack of an optical viewfinder.
Review: Canon PowerShot SD970 IS, Contributors to Amazon.com
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