Canon PowerShot SD890IS 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

This is one of the best cameras that I have ever laid my hands on. It is very simple to use and has a LOT of features that you can play with to create great creative images.

I like the fact that it has an optical viewfinder. The optical viewfinder is very useful when you are outdoor and the sun is bright. It will be very hard to view ANY LCD screen in this condition. Because it has the optical viewfinder, the LCD screen is slightly smaller than most of its competitors; it only has 2.5" compared to 3" on some other cameras.

The slight UI issue that I have is the LAG that the wheel has. If you turn it too slow, it does not change the option or change the option VERY slowly. But, if you turn the wheel too fast, there is a LAG before the option changes. So, sometimes, you need to go back and forth a few times to get to the option that you want.

Oh yeah... The multiple frames shot is only available WITHOUT flash. This is true for most point-and-shoot cameras.

In conclusion, this is an excellent compact camera. I carry this camera wherever I go. And, the battery life on this camera is not too shabby at all. The longest that I have ever experienced with any compact point-and-shoot cameras.

This is the 5th Canon I've owned. I generally love their overall quality and function. I agree with most of the rave reviews about this camera, but I have TWO IMPORTANT CAVEATS that don't seem to appear.

1st: The orientation of the LCD polarization on the screen is such that when using the camera with polarized sunglasses, you can't see an image on the LCD (in the standard, horizontal position). For every other LCD camera I've used the screen is 100% viewable with polarized sunglasses. The blanking out of the screen only occurs when you rotate the camera 90 degrees (to the vertical orientation).

2nd: There is CONSIDERABLE "Barrel distortion" when using this long 5x optical zoom lens in the standard mode.

Please note: I've contacted Canon Customer Service and they say both issues are not fixable and expected given the design of the camera (UGH!)

beware if you are purchasing this camera because of all of the special features, such as the zoom or digital macro. I took this camera on vacation & discovered that there are some pretty strict limitations on the functionality of these features. Such as, in digital macro you must practically place the lens on what you are photographing to have it in focus...but then the item does not fit the frame properly, and is partly cut off in the final image. The zoom function RADICALLY loses focus the farther you zoom. The manual does address both these issues, but doesn't solve them, just states they are there. My basic photos of family turned out very nicely, but my close up foliage shots, zoomed shots, sunsets, etc were not as good as would be expected, especially since I was using a tripod for many of these shots. That being said, I found the camera & functions very easy to use & understand, and it's very compact & lightweight.

I did a lot of research before I picked this camera; every site recommended cannon. Sony, casio all had picture problems. I picked this camera because it has a 5x optical zoom, low light feature, compactness, and the buttons are not close to one another so easy to use if you have big fingers.

Camera is loaded with features but not all are easy to get to if you have big hands that is my one downside of this camera. Changing to some manual setting can be a challenge and finding where to review pictures as well. Did not think I would like the face detection feature but I was pleasntly surprized, it does a great job find the face except if you have sunglasses on. The faces come out great in the picture; 10 MP may be an overkill but I like sometimes like to crop and enlarge certain parts of the picture and hanve 10 MP makes sure the picture is not grainy. Lastly night pictures without the flash come out good not excellent but very good;although it does take a min to change all of the settings for low light mode. The software it comes with is okay, if you are really into photography I sugguest buy another package.

This camera is TOTALLY AWESOME!!! :-) :-) :-) I am in LOVE!!! :-) :-) ;-) I had been using the Canon SD300, which I bought 3 years ago new (for more $), and this one BLOWS it away!!! (And fits in the same SMALL soft case, as this camera is just a bit thicker :-) ) The SD890IS is VERY easy to use and takes GREAT pictures!!! :-) :-) :-) The physical zoom range is AMAZING too!!! :-) :-) :-) The camera is nice and light to hold, and one can just point and shoot, or play with the settings; whatever you want to do :-) :-) ONE caveat; when using the "Indoor" setting, the picture can come out a bit dark if you're a bit far away from the subject of the photo, so careful with that one. (However, that is fixable in the software on one's computer.) Buy a FAST, LARGE SD card to go with, as you will be playing with this camera TONS, and the included SD card will fill up WAY too fast. (SD cards that come with cameras are ALWAYS too small.) You can buy one on Amazon here for NICE and cheap :-) I bought the Kingston Class 4, 4 GB Card and L-O-V-E it :-) )4GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Card