Angelina Purpura
04-27-2011, 04:00 PM
<h6><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1303433063.usr126385.jpg" /></h6><h6></h6><h6><strong>Product C</strong><strong>ategory:</strong> Digital Camera (Point-And-Shoot Variety)</h6><h6><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_sd1300_is" target="_blank">Canon</a></h6><h6><strong>Where to Buy:</strong> <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/digitalhomethoughts-20/detail/B0035FZJKI" target="_blank">Amazon</a> [Affiliate Store]</h6><h6><strong>Price:</strong> $143.96</h6><h6><strong>Specifications:</strong> <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/powershot_sd_series/powershot_sd1300_is#Specifications" target="_blank">Provided by Canon</a></h6><h6><strong>Pros:</strong> <ul><li>Pocked-sized - perfect for on-the-go photo ops;</li><li>Wide array of customizable settings;</li><li>Light without feeling flimsy.</li></ul><strong>Cons:</strong> <ul><li>Poor performance in low-light conditions;</li><li>Slow processing at times.</li></ul></h6><p><strong>Summary:</strong> This is not a technical review of the camera. This model has been out for a while, and has been examined in its full photo-taking glory by many experts. Instead this is a review of what it's like for a total amateur to own and operate this camera. </p><p><MORE /></p><h1>A Brand New Toy</h1><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1303166224.usr126385.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p><em>Figure 1. My camera itself, fresh out of the box.</em></p><p>I'm sure that I'm not the only person out there who fears what they don't understand. I consider myself pretty tech savvy, and yet there's something about the photography world's jargon that confuses and alarms me. I know that with time I could grasp it all, but in addition to being confused I am also very impatient. What I want is a camera that I can pick up and use right out of the box, right <em>now</em>. But when looking for a camera I also knew that the more photos I take the more I'll want to fine-tune the process. But how else do you learn except by doing? I've had a Canon camera before and so I was familiar and comfortable with the general user interface but I still tested out more than a few point-and-shoot models and brands before this one leapt out at me. With the PowerShot SD1300 IS, Canon has continued its efforts to bridge the gap between the professional photog and bewildered camera noob. This is more than a simple point-and-shoot: it's your gateway to the world of Photography.</p><h1>Pointing And Shooting</h1><p>Holding the camera, I was pleased with both its weight and size. It has just enough heft to remind you that it is there, but not so much that carrying it around is cumbersome. The finish is smooth and almost slippery to the touch, and so a wrist strap is a definite and immediate must. The buttons have a good click to them and are very responsive and the zoom slider is quick to react to adjustment. Finally, the LCD screen has a very clean and crisp quality.</p><p>My first wish of the camera was granted immediately: the battery comes partially charged, and the camera set to Auto. I was taking pictures only moments after unpacking it. A basic user-guide was included in the packaging, but I wanted to play first before getting to the details, as I'm sure Canon expected of its customers.</p><p>Auto is exactly what you think: the camera reduced to pure point-and-shoot functionality. The only available settings are zoom, flash, and picture size/quality. At first I questioned the need for such a setting to even come on a digital camera as it almost reduces it to a drug-store disposable. But after having handed my camera over to curious friends only to have them immediately hand it back saying "I don't know what I did to it...", I have come to think of it as the Idiot Proof function. </p><h2><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1302742725.usr126385.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></h2><p><em>Figure 2: Display, settings, and many buttons. Photo courtesy of Canon.</em></p><p>The next mode tab is Camera (or at least the manual only refers to this mode with the icon displayed on the camera itself), and it unlocks all of the camera's settings. The image above shows the camera's most detailed photo review setting, giving you an idea of the information the camera provides, as well as all of the details which can be manipulated. In Camera, the UI gives you control of the ISO, white-balance, shutter speed, etc. It also comes with a variety of pre-determined scene shooting modes, in anticipation of your varied photo-taking opportunities. Camera allows you to further adjust the specific settings for each of these modes, and then saves the settings for future use.<PAGE /><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1303259804.usr126385.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p><em>Figure 3. The SD1300 IS's scene shooting modes.</em></p><h2></h2><h1>Shooting Modes</h1><p>There are 12 scene shooting modes. The first is Program, which is a sort of advanced version of Auto, a more controlled default if you will. The other modes are: Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids&Pets, Indoor, FaceSelf-Timer, Low Light, Beach, Underwater, Foliage, Snow, Fireworks, and Long Shutter. For the most part the categories are self explanatory, but a few are particularly interesting.</p><ul><li><strong>Face Self-Timer</strong>: An amazingly ingenious function which allows you to get around the panic and hassle of a regular self-timer. Face-recognition software is used here, so that once you've pressed the shutter button the camera will actually wait until a new face (presumably yours) enters the frame before taking the shot. I haven't had the opportunity to test this out properly, but I can imagine that it will make life easier in the future.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Low Light</strong>: My last Canon camera was aggravatingly terrible at taking pictures in even mildly low-light conditions. Photos would be terribly blurry, or dark enough to make the subjects indistinguishable. When I began testing out the SD1300 IS I was disappointed to find that in its default mode this camera suffers the same weakness. But here is Low Light mode to the rescue. In its default the camera's reaction time in low-light is painfully slow, but Low Light increases the shutter speed. It appears to adjust the ISO as well because the pictures, while clearer, do display some graininess. But trust me when I say that, while mild, it is an improvement. I wish that I didn't have to change the camera's settings to take low-light photos, but at least Canon has recognized the need for such an option.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Underwater</strong>: This is an option that, unfortunately, I'll likely never be able to test out. I was excited to find it included in my list of options, but was heart broken to discover that the underwater case necessary to use Underwater mode costs <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/digitalhomethoughts-20/detail/B0035FZJLW" target="_blank">more than the camera</a>! </li></ul><p>Video is the final shooting option available, and it's pretty straightforward. It films in 640x480 (30 frames/second) AVI, and sadly no HD. Basic editing options (such as cropping) are provided, and while the quality is not the best I've seen, it is certainly more than adequate for on-the-fly video capture. You'd never use it to make a movie, but it will let you make YouTube videos. The user-manual warns you that the sound of the lens extending/retracting may be detected in the audio of any videos you take, but I have yet to experience that. Video is not the camera's greatest strength, but it isn't expected to be and it's certainly not its weakness. </p><h1><strong>Conclusion</strong></h1><p>When it was time to choose a replacement camera I knew that I was going to get a Canon. The store demo PowerShot SD1300 IS seemed to most closely match my needs, and after having used my own for several weeks I feel that I made the right choice. The in-depth user-manual provided on the Canon website does an excellent job of breaking down the features of the camera so it doesn't take long to get used to using it. I still don't feel like I'm capable of using the camera to its full potential, but that's more my failing than the camera's.</p><p>The issues I have with the camera are ones I expected, so on the balance I'm happy with it. It didn't delight me with any surprises, but it also didn't surprise me with any let-downs. And someday when I do graduate to a DSLR for more serious photo-taking, I will still be happy to have my SD1300 IS in my pocket for my day to day picture-taking needs.</p><p><em>Angelina Purpura is a gadgets enthusiast, </em><em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daedrius/" target="_blank">amateur photographer</a></em><em>, obsessive consumer of web media, and likes to pretend that she is a runner. She has a lot to say about movies and food, which you can read about on her Twitter </em><em><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/anzi" target="_blank">@Anzi</a></em><em>.</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//ppct/auto/1240336793.usr1.gif" /></p><p><strong>Do you enjoy using new hardware, software and accessories, then sharing your experience with others? Then join us on the <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/reviewteam.php" target="_blank">Thoughts Media Review Team</a>! We're looking for individuals who find it fun to test new gear and give their honest opinions about the experience. It's a volunteer role with some great perks. Interested? <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/reviewteam.php" target="_blank">Then click here for more information.</a></strong></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//ppct/auto/1240336793.usr1.gif" /></p>