The Canon PowerShot SD790 IS is a 10 megapixel point-and-shoot camera with a 3x optical zoom, image stabilization, and a 3-inch LCD. At first glance, not much in the specifications to distinguish it from the pack.
But beyond this straightforward specs sheet, the SD790 does have some features implemented in highly usable ways and feels well-built.
FEATURES OVERVIEW
FORM, FIT, AND FEEL
PERFORMANCE
IMAGE QUALITY
CONCLUSIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
FEATURES OVERVIEW
As mentioned, the Canon SD790 IS is a 10 megapixel camera. It uses a rechargeable battery and accepts SD/SDHC memory cards. There is no internal memory, so shooting may not be done without a memory card. The camera as tested came in a silver finish and felt robust, almost heavy for the size. In fact, at 5.47 ounces it is a bit heavy for its size.
The lens is a 3x optical zoom ranging from 6.2-18.6mm, which is a fairly conservative 35-105mm in 35mm terms. The aperture is better than average, though, ranging from f/2.8 at the wide end to f/4.9 at telephoto. Digital zoom is also available via the menus up to 4x (for a combined 12x range with the optical). Normal shutter speeds range from 1/60 to 1/1500 seconds, although means are provided for time exposures up to 15 seconds. Shutter speeds available depend upon the shooting mode selected.
The Canon SD790 IS provides the versatile shooting modes we have all come to expect. The mode menus are initially selected via a three position slider switch (Movie, Scene, Camera) and then by spinning the control dial. The following options are available in Camera mode:
- Auto: For Point and Shoot purposes
- Manual: Permits changing the Exposure Compensation, White Balance, or My Colors
- Digital Macro: For close-ups
- Color Accent: For interesting effects
- Color Swap: For more interesting effects
- Stitch Assist: Helps in shooting overlapping images to be merged into a panoramic later on a computer
Twelve scene presets are accessible via the Scene mode position:
- Portrait: For a soft effect
- Night Snapshot: For low light with fill flash
- Kids and Pets: For moving subjects
- Indoor: For low light and adjust white balance automatically
- Sunset: For vibrant colors
- Foliage: For vivid colors
- Snow: Reduces the blue cast without making subject dark
- Beach: For keeping subject bright with reflected light
- Fireworks: For long exposures
- Aquarium: Selects ISO, WB, and color balance for indoor aquariums
- Underwater: For use with the optional waterproof case to set an appropriate WB for underwater shooting
- ISO 3200: Forces higher sensitivity for low-light or indoor shots without flash.
Finally, the SD790 provides the following setting options in Movie mode:
- Standard: Movie frame size is user-selectable; digital zoom permitted
- Compact: Records clips with smaller file sizes
- Color Accent: For interesting effects
- Color Swap: For more interesting effects
- Time Lapse: Select an interval (1 second or 2 seconds) to have a single frame taken; no sound recorded
For a detailed listing of specifications and features, please refer to the specifications table found at the bottom of the review.
Styling and Build Quality
The Canon PowerShot SD790 IS is sturdily constructed in plastic with metal accents.
When turned off the lens is flush with the face of the camera. The LCD is also flush with the back and is fixed; it does not rotate or pivot.
Ergonomics and Interface
The control layout is mostly intuitive, although not always the best for handling and usage.
The top has the on/off power button, the shutter release, and a toggle ring surrounding the shutter release that operates the zoom function. On the edge, between the top and the back, is a three position mode slider switch, used to select Movie, Scene, or Camera mode. (Arguably, this should have been a four position switch with the addition of Playback mode.)
The back is primarily covered by the large LCD screen, of course, but the buttons on the back are slightly different than I have seen before on a digital point-and-shoot. There are two buttons at the top and two at the bottom that remind me of the keys on some cell phones.
In between these there is a control dial, familiar to those who have used other Canon cameras, but far more free-wheeling than those. It is too easy to change a setting, or to spin past a setting, without meaning to. A set of raised bumps, presumably intended as a thumb rest, sits between the buttons and the LCD; however, the natural landing spot for the thumb is on top of the two top cell-phone-like buttons. Care must be taken to not inadvertently press them.
Like most new Canon compacts, there is a menu option to change the function of the Print/Share button, and I recommend that you do so.
The bottom two cell-phone-like buttons are used to modify the display and to invoke the menus. These are all fairly normal and straightforward functions.
The control dial in the center has four functions around the perimeter, like a joystick, a center Function Set button, and the outer spinning wheel used for scrolling through options. Used together they make a highly efficient handling system. As noted, I would like to see a bit more resistance on the control dial's spinning, though. The four functions of the joystick/control dial are, clockwise from the top: ISO, Flash, Erase/Continuous/Self Timer, and Macro/Infinity
The menu system on the SD790 is nothing new. It is a standard tabbed interface with text and drop-down selections. Many of the more frequently used functions can also be accessed by pressing the Function Set button in the center of the Control Dial.
Display/Viewfinder
The LCD measures 3.0 inches diagonally. There is no optical viewfinder, so composition is done via the LCD only; however, unlike many other LCD-only cameras, the SD790 IS screen is quite visible in almost any light.
In another pleasant surprise, the SD790's LCD color reproduction is superb, although perhaps with a bit more punch than the actual image.
It is possible to zoom in and out on images and move about the images when reviewing in Playback mode.
Timings and Shutter Lag
As would be expected there is some minor delay between the AF acquisition and the shutter release; however, the SD790 IS performs better than most compact digital cameras in this regard. Measured lag is approximately 0.04 seconds with prefocus, and 0.42 seconds without prefocus.
There is a continuous drive setting for taking pictures of moving subject or in other situations where back-to-back shooting is required. Images are taken sequentially at approximately 1.5 frames per second, or 10 full-res frames in 6.64 seconds. Shooting can continue at this rate until your memory card fills up or the battery looses charge.
Start-up to first shot times with the SD790 are good, coming in around 1.7 seconds.
Lens and Zoom
The lens is a 3x optical zoom ranging from 6.2-18.6mm – a fairly conservative 35-105mm in 35mm terms. Coupled with the 4x digital zoom, up to a 12x zoom range is possible. The lens is a good optical design and produces sharp images with good contrast.
Auto Focus
The auto focus in this camera was adequate if not superb, but even in macro mode it worked acceptably. In macro mode, using a tripod would help more. The SD790 did seem to hunt a bit more than I am used to and did not always settle on the subject I had in mind.
As with most cameras, AF (and exposure) can be locked by a half-pres of the shutter button.
Flash
The SD790's flash seems a bit slower than most as a maximum power discharge takes 9.2 seconds. The average was below 4 seconds, however.
There is no setting for flash compensation.
Image Stabilization
The Canon PowerShot SD790 IS has image stabilization to compensate for shake to minimize blur. This can add a couple of stops to the hand holding abilities of a camera. There are four settings for the optical stabilizer: Off, Continuous, Shoot Only (that is, single shot), and a Panning mode for capturing sharp shots of subjects moving across a frame.
Battery Life
My opinion has not changed: spare batteries simply make good sense. I did have to charge the battery and the recharge cycle took about 2 hours to complete. Still, the battery takes and holds a charge for quite awhile – for over 330 images or for 7 hours of playback time according to Canon's literature.
But beyond this straightforward specs sheet, the SD790 does have some features implemented in highly usable ways and feels well-built.
FEATURES OVERVIEW
FORM, FIT, AND FEEL
PERFORMANCE
IMAGE QUALITY
CONCLUSIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
As mentioned, the Canon SD790 IS is a 10 megapixel camera. It uses a rechargeable battery and accepts SD/SDHC memory cards. There is no internal memory, so shooting may not be done without a memory card. The camera as tested came in a silver finish and felt robust, almost heavy for the size. In fact, at 5.47 ounces it is a bit heavy for its size.
The Canon PowerShot SD790 IS is sturdily constructed in plastic with metal accents.
The control layout is mostly intuitive, although not always the best for handling and usage.
The LCD measures 3.0 inches diagonally. There is no optical viewfinder, so composition is done via the LCD only; however, unlike many other LCD-only cameras, the SD790 IS screen is quite visible in almost any light.
As would be expected there is some minor delay between the AF acquisition and the shutter release; however, the SD790 IS performs better than most compact digital cameras in this regard. Measured lag is approximately 0.04 seconds with prefocus, and 0.42 seconds without prefocus.
The lens is a 3x optical zoom ranging from 6.2-18.6mm – a fairly conservative 35-105mm in 35mm terms. Coupled with the 4x digital zoom, up to a 12x zoom range is possible. The lens is a good optical design and produces sharp images with good contrast.
The auto focus in this camera was adequate if not superb, but even in macro mode it worked acceptably. In macro mode, using a tripod would help more. The SD790 did seem to hunt a bit more than I am used to and did not always settle on the subject I had in mind.
The SD790's flash seems a bit slower than most as a maximum power discharge takes 9.2 seconds. The average was below 4 seconds, however.
The Canon PowerShot SD790 IS has image stabilization to compensate for shake to minimize blur. This can add a couple of stops to the hand holding abilities of a camera. There are four settings for the optical stabilizer: Off, Continuous, Shoot Only (that is, single shot), and a Panning mode for capturing sharp shots of subjects moving across a frame.
My opinion has not changed: spare batteries simply make good sense. I did have to charge the battery and the recharge cycle took about 2 hours to complete. Still, the battery takes and holds a charge for quite awhile – for over 330 images or for 7 hours of playback time according to Canon's literature.
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