Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Review
The Canon PowerShot SD960 IS 12.1 megapixels is the first and only Canon camera with widescreen LCD. This compact offers the possibility to take pictures with the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio or 16:9 ratio in the 2.8-inch LCD. This feature make you easier to frame your shots. We are not surprised to see that the LCD format become the standard in digital cameras, as happened with the laptops, monitors and HDTV. Apart from its screen, the SD960 has very fast videos burn in stunning high definition that you can easily see in an HDTV.
With 311.8 g weight of the SD960 shows fantastic rounded edges and comes in five colors (blue, green, silver, pink and gold). It measures 5.3 inches high by 9.9 cm wide by 2.3 inches deep, making it a little shorter and thicker than a BlackBerry Pearl and slightly larger than the Canon PowerShot SD780 IS ($ 279.99 USD). The new interface is simple and attractive, resembling that used in previous PowerShot models, but its higher resolution text is clearer and adds animation to the menu along with good transitions between images in playback mode. Is a breeze to navigate the menus with the navigation wheel on the camera, easy to manipulate, whose sides are the big Play and Menu buttons. It also controls the zoom and shutter release are nice and big, making it easier to frame and shoot pictures.
The 28 mm lens provide wider view than those present in the SD780 IS (33 mm) and the SD970 IS (37 mm), which results in a shorter focal length and thus accommodate more power in your images. The objective provides a 4X optical zoom with a focal distance of 5 mm to 20 mm (35mm equivalent: 28 mm to 112 mm), with maximum F-number f/2.8 yf/5.8.
The SD960 responds quite well: you can boot and get the first picture in half to just 3.7 seconds. We should not wait too long to take the picture: in my tests, the chamber averaged only 1.8 seconds between shots. In the test of delay shutter-Shooting Digital.com, the SD960 averaged only 0.45 seconds between the push of the shutter and capturing the image, cost of labor to find a compact faster. By way of comparison, the SD 780 IS averaged 0.50 seconds, the Cyber-shot DSC-T500 Sony has risen to the 0.73 seconds, and the Lumix DMC-FX37 Panasonic makes the user wait 0.85 seconds for the shot.
To measure objectively the factors of image quality in the photo lab, use the package Imatest testing, which revealed that the regions located on the edges of the images on the SD960 were noticeably less sharp than in the center. Images averaged the fabulous amount of 2108 lines per picture height, but although the resolution in the center averaged 2447 lines, was nothing more than 1078 in the upper left-worse-only 374 lines in the top right. The corners also showed high levels of chromatic aberration. By framing the shots with this camera, you may want to keep the subject as close as possible to the center or end up with uneven images.
To measure noise, photographed the gray section of the X-Rite Color Checker and then use Imatest to measure the picture for the colors that are not, any color noise is seen in the captured image. Like the SD780, the SD960 showed less noise than the previous generation of PowerShot models, including the SD790 and the SD1100 at a high ISO of 1600. This is why the pictures taken indoors and at night without flash will not show too much granularity. Noise levels were on average between ISO 80 and ISO 200, but were higher than average at ISO 400 compared to other compact cameras.
The shots fired outside the laboratory, both indoors and outdoors, were good. At first glance the colors were well balanced with the flash and without it, but a closer inspection revealed that outer regions of the images were turned off and showed more chromatic aberration to an approach in these areas. The hair, the faces and the flowers of the outer regions of the image also came out blurred, especially when compared with similar photos I took with a SD780. Since both cameras are equipped with the same sensor, I suspect that the fault here is the wide-angle lens on the SD960.
Like the SD780, the SD960 records high definition video at a resolution of 1280 by 720 progressive at 30 frames per second (fps). The videos are huge and spectacular compared to the smaller films and standard definition that produced the previous generation of PowerShot models. The videos are saved as MOV files, for which Apple QuickTime is required in order to view the PC. The SD960 is one of the few compact models with a mini HDMI-out port on the camera, so you can send audio and video directly to the HDTV with an HDMI cable. The Sony DSC-T500 and the Samsung NV24HD, with the ability to take high-definition video, require coupling the camera in a cradle that contains the output. Canon earns extra points for including the port (plus a mini USB) in the SD060, but we would like to bear Consumer Electronic Control, a feature found in cameras, Sony and Samsung that allows two devices with HDMI-equipped to communicate and control between them (you can use the remote control to operate the HDTV camera, for example).
The Canon PowerShot SD960 IS descuella in certain ways. But given the value of the camera and the background of stunning images of Canon in general were somewhat disappointed. If you’re looking for a less expensive Canon camera that can record high-definition video, the SD780 it subtracts $ 50 USD at the price of the SD960 does not suffer from the problems and the picture quality to which the SD960. But has no LCD 16:9. If you’re willing to splurge more, the Cyber-shot DSC-T500 from Sony ($ 400 USD) can capture high-definition video. Comes with an LCD touch screen 3.5 inches, excellent battery life (I spent a week of intense use with a single charge), and its own HDMI port, but its mediocre image remaining credit in global terms.
ABSTRACT
LCD 16:9 present in the Canon SD960 IS can frame shots to match the format of the wide screen laptops and HDTV, and record high definition videos excellent. Unfortunately its price and some problems of image quality that prevents a compact outstanding.
Pros
Fast. Capture high definition video. 16:9 LCD screen. HDMI-out. Great battery life. Produces less noise in the images at ISO 1600 than its predecessor.
Contras
Expensive. Quality problems in the outer edges of the images.
COMPANY
Canon U.S.A. Inc
http://www.usa.canon.com
PRICE
$ 299 – $ 330 USD
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Compact, ultra -
- Megapixels: 12.1
- Maximum resolution: 4000 x 3000 pixels
- Including Memory: Media Card
- Storage Format: Secure Digital High Capacity
- Video recording and playback: yes
- 35 mm equivalent: 28 mm – 112 mm
- Wireless: no
- Bluetooth: no
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