This camera has the now classic compact digital camera form factor. On the top there’s a polished metal shutter release with concentric zoom control. On the back, there’s a large LCD is on the left, and the multi-selector with supporting buttons on the right. SD card and battery slide in from the bottom. It’s not flashy, just a simple, elegant design with rounded corners and edges, the height and width of a credit card. It’s a photographer’s camera.
The flush controls take a little getting used to, but are easy to operate once you do. They’re flush for a reason; so you don’t unintentionally push them as you hold the camera. In a camera of this size, the area where the buttons are located doubles as a gripping surface, which is aided by the camera’s textured, all-metal body.
The most prominent button is the three-position mode selector. By sliding it up and down with your thumb, you select between auto, program, and movie modes. At the top is the auto mode which relinquishes all control to the camera, except for self-timer, flash on or off, and image resolution. You can shoot in full auto mode with the LCD off, which is a plus.
The next position is the program mode which gives you complete control over the camera. It operates as a kind of aperture priority mode where the widest aperture for a given zoom length is chosen, and the camera determines the appropriate shutter speed. If the shutter speed is not to your liking, you can change it by adjusting the ISO from 80 to 1600. The program mode also has 18 scene presets where the camera takes over, although the long shutter, digital macro and stitch assist modes give some control back to the user. The camera is capable of ISO 3200 through one of these scene presets, although it’s resolution is limited to 2MP.
At the bottom is the movie mode, which again relinquishes most of the control to the camera. You can however set the white balance, color, and resolution. You must use the LCD as a viewfinder.
The camera seems to have two true apertures, the others being variable apertures which are a function of the zoom angle. At the wide end (33mm) the aperture is f/3.2, and at the long end, f/5.8. However, under bright conditions a smaller aperture is activated which changes the range from f/9.0 to f/16. So, it’s possible to force the camera to use this smaller aperture by selecting a higher ISO.
The obligatory digital zoom is implemented in several creative ways. In addition to the standard mode, you can also apply it as a 1.5x or 2.0x teleconverter before the optical zoom, or as a 1.0-4.0x close up lens in the digital macro mode. This digital macro mode is handy, as it locks in the optical zoom to it’s widest setting which maximizes magnification.
When the built-in flash is used, its white balance temporarily overrides the manual setting, which I find to be an advantage in a camera of this type. Some other nice features include image review with focus check, and a digital focus magnifier. With the LCD off, the image review kicks in to display the image just captured just like an SLR. The length of time the image is displays is variable between 2 and 10 seconds.
Shooting with the SD780
You can shoot with the SD780 just like any SLR or Rangefinder by using the optical zoom viewfinder, and look like a pro. Or, you can use the LCD display for parallax-corrected, through-the-lens close-ups and macro shots. Or, you can take on the endearing look of a tourist by holding the camera at arms’ length with only your index fingers and thumbs, while extending the remaining fingers. The choice is yours. The point is, it’s a very versatile camera for all types of photographers.
This is as small as I’d ever want a camera to be. I can tolerate it, because it’s the perfect size to fit in a shirt pocket, or in a jacket pocket inside a case. The lanyard/wrist strap is most appropriate in this size; You slip it over your wrist first, then pull the camera out of your pocket, and it’s ready to go.
The SD780 is very responsive, much faster that I would expect of a camera in this class. It starts up quickly, focuses quickly, and the shutter lag is tolerable. As with any camera, once you get used to the controls, switching between modes is fast and easy. Without reading the manual, I was up and running in no time, However, there are extensive features that address specific issues which require a little more learning.
The most prominent button is the three-position mode selector. By sliding it up and down with your thumb, you select between auto, program, and movie modes. At the top is the auto mode which relinquishes all control to the camera, except for self-timer, flash on or off, and image resolution. You can shoot in full auto mode with the LCD off, which is a plus.
The next position is the program mode which gives you complete control over the camera. It operates as a kind of aperture priority mode where the widest aperture for a given zoom length is chosen, and the camera determines the appropriate shutter speed. If the shutter speed is not to your liking, you can change it by adjusting the ISO from 80 to 1600. The program mode also has 18 scene presets where the camera takes over, although the long shutter, digital macro and stitch assist modes give some control back to the user. The camera is capable of ISO 3200 through one of these scene presets, although it’s resolution is limited to 2MP.
At the bottom is the movie mode, which again relinquishes most of the control to the camera. You can however set the white balance, color, and resolution. You must use the LCD as a viewfinder.
The camera seems to have two true apertures, the others being variable apertures which are a function of the zoom angle. At the wide end (33mm) the aperture is f/3.2, and at the long end, f/5.8. However, under bright conditions a smaller aperture is activated which changes the range from f/9.0 to f/16. So, it’s possible to force the camera to use this smaller aperture by selecting a higher ISO.
The obligatory digital zoom is implemented in several creative ways. In addition to the standard mode, you can also apply it as a 1.5x or 2.0x teleconverter before the optical zoom, or as a 1.0-4.0x close up lens in the digital macro mode. This digital macro mode is handy, as it locks in the optical zoom to it’s widest setting which maximizes magnification.
When the built-in flash is used, its white balance temporarily overrides the manual setting, which I find to be an advantage in a camera of this type. Some other nice features include image review with focus check, and a digital focus magnifier. With the LCD off, the image review kicks in to display the image just captured just like an SLR. The length of time the image is displays is variable between 2 and 10 seconds.
Shooting with the SD780
You can shoot with the SD780 just like any SLR or Rangefinder by using the optical zoom viewfinder, and look like a pro. Or, you can use the LCD display for parallax-corrected, through-the-lens close-ups and macro shots. Or, you can take on the endearing look of a tourist by holding the camera at arms’ length with only your index fingers and thumbs, while extending the remaining fingers. The choice is yours. The point is, it’s a very versatile camera for all types of photographers.
This is as small as I’d ever want a camera to be. I can tolerate it, because it’s the perfect size to fit in a shirt pocket, or in a jacket pocket inside a case. The lanyard/wrist strap is most appropriate in this size; You slip it over your wrist first, then pull the camera out of your pocket, and it’s ready to go.
The SD780 is very responsive, much faster that I would expect of a camera in this class. It starts up quickly, focuses quickly, and the shutter lag is tolerable. As with any camera, once you get used to the controls, switching between modes is fast and easy. Without reading the manual, I was up and running in no time, However, there are extensive features that address specific issues which require a little more learning.
To be honest, I didn’t want to like this camera as much as I do. I’m quite taken with it, even though I’m a Nikon loyalist. I would say that at the time this camera was released, it was far more advanced than its Nikon counterpart, most notably because Nikon never made a camera in this class with an optical viewfinder. Such is not the case today however, as Canon only offers a real image optical zoom viewfinder on their G12, which is technically not a compact-class camera. It remains to be seen whether consumer demand will coax manufacturers into designing viewfinders into new models. It stands to reason that compact digital cameras are designed for consumers who don’t know the difference. It’s just nice to have one that addresses the needs of the professional.
Its Place in History
If the SD780 had a film counterpart, it might be the Minox B. Invented in 1936 by Walter Zapp, the Minox was designed to be “A camera that would be with you always”. By those standards, the SD780 compares with the Minox quite nicely. However, even though the image area of the SD780’s 1/2.3" sensor is about a quarter (half the width and height) of the Minox’s 11mm x 8mm frame size, you’d be hard pressed to find an image from the Minox that could improve on the quality of the SD780.
Here’s how the technical specifications compare:
| Minox B | Canon PowerShot SD780 IS | |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | prime, 3 element, 15mm f/3.5 | zoom, 5.9-17.9mm, f/3.3 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 20cm (8 in.) | 3cm (1.2 in.) |
| Shutter Speed | 1/2 - 1/1000 sec. | 15 - 1/1500 sec. |
| Available Apertures | f/3.5 | f/3.3, f/9.0 |
| ISO Range | 25-400 | 80-1600 (ISO 3200 @ 2MP) |
| Frame size | 11mm x 8mm | 6.16mm x 4.62mm (1/2.3 in. CCD) |
| Measurements | 97mm x 27mm x 15mm 39.29 cu. cm weight: 130 g | 87mm x 54.5mm x 18.4mm 87.24 cu. cm weight: 115 g |
Variable Apertures
Like most current cameras, the SD780 IS has an aperture which varies depending on the focal length of the zoom.
| Canon Powershot SD780 IS | 35mm equivalent | f-stop |
|---|---|---|
| 5.9mm | 33mm | f/3.2 |
| 7.2mm | 40mm | f/3.5 |
| 8.7mm | 49mm | f/4.0 |
| 10.6mm | 60mm | f/4.5 |
| 12.5mm | 70mm | f/4.5 |
| 14.8mm | 83mm | f/4.8 |
| 17.9mm | 100mm | f/5.8 |
Historically, the SD 780 IS might be most notable as being the last compact digital camera to feature an optical zoom viewfinder, while the Minox was used by John A. Walker Jr., a U.S. Navy officer turned Soviet Spy. Still, I think it stands out amongst the crowd of digital cameras.
Sample Images
Here are some sample images from the SD780 IS.
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| Eleven Times Square at Night. Low light shooting meters well. |
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| Lobby, New York Times Building. Existing light. |
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| South Orange. Auto white balance works well with unpredictable light sources. |
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| Autumn Sunset. Metering was perfect for capturing the mood. |
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| Birds. The zoom optical viewfinder works well for far shots. |
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| Nor’easter. Flash produces some interesting results in a snowstorm. |
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| Christmas Lights. Taken with Digital Macro Mode. |
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| Winter Sunrise. AF correctly focused on the subject, not the screen in front of it. |
1 comment:
Cool article. i've had this camera for a couple of years and still managed to learn a couple of things! have a great day, thanks!
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