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Canon PowerShot SD900 Performance
Timing and Performance
Good to average speed for a consumer camera.
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Startup/Shutdown
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Power on
to first shot |
1.2 seconds
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Time it takes for LCD to turn on and lens to deploy.
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Shutdown
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1.6 seconds
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How long it takes to retract lens and stow in your pocket.
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Buffer clearing time
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1 second
(large/superfine JPEG, Unlimited shots in continuous mode) |
Worst case buffer clearing time.* This is the delay after a set of shots before you can remove the card. Some cameras won't retract their lenses and shut down until the buffer is cleared.
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Mode switching
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Play to Record,
first shot |
1.5 seconds
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Time until first shot is captured
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Record to play
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2.6 seconds
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Time to display a large/superfine file immediately after capture
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Display
recorded image |
1.7 second
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Time to display a large/superfine file already on the memory card.
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Shutter response (Lag Time):
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Full Autofocus Wide
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0.60 second
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Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture, zoom lens at wide angle position.
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Full Autofocus Tele
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0.82 second
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Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture, zoom lens at telephoto position.
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Prefocused
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0.071 second
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Time to capture, after half-pressing and holding shutter button.
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Manual focus
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N/A
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For most cameras, shutter lag is less in manual focus than autofocus, but usually not as fast as when the camera is "prefocused"
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Cycle time (shot to shot)
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Single Shot mode
Large SuperFine JPEG |
1.98 seconds
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Time per shot, averaged over 20 shots
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Single Shot mode
640x480 Normal JPEG |
1.96 seconds
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Time per shot, averaged over 20 shots
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Early shutter
penalty? |
No
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Some cameras refuse to snap another shot if you release and press the shutter too quickly in Single Shot mode, making "No" the preferred answer
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Continuous mode
Large SuperFine JPEG |
1.00 second (1.00 frames per second);
No limit w/fast card*; ~1 second to clear |
Time per shot, averaged over buffer length or 20 shots, whichever came first
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Continuous mode
640 x 480 Normal JPEG |
1.00 second (1.00 frames per second);
No limit w/fast card*; ~1 second to clear |
Time per shot, averaged over buffer length or 20 shots, whichever came first
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Flash recycling
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6 seconds
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Flash at maximum output
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Download speed
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Windows Computer, USB 2.0
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1,164 KBytes/sec
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Typical Values:
Less than 600=USB 1.1; 600-770=USB 2.0 Low; 771-4000=USB 2.0 High |
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*Note: Buffer clearing times measured with a Kingston Ultimate 120x SD memory card. Slower cards will produce correspondingly slower clearing times. Slow cards may also limit length of bursts in continuous mode.
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The SD900's performance is generally above average. Startup and shutdown speeds are above average. Shutter response is a bit faster than average but not dramatically so. Shot-to-shot cycle times and continuous-mode speeds are above average, too. The flash, which can light up an average-sized room, takes six seconds to recharge after a full-power shot, which is average for any digicam and better than average for such a powerful flash. Connected to a computer or printer with USB 2.0, download speeds are very fast, pretty much eliminating the need for an external reader. Bottom line, the SD900 is responsive enough (particularly at wide angle lens settings) to handle most family photo opportunities.
Battery and Storage Capacity
Battery
Surprisingly good battery life.
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| Still-image capture mode LCD on |
230 shots
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| Still-image capture mode LCD off |
700 shots |
The Canon Power-shot SD900 uses a custom rechargeable LiIon battery for power. The table above shows the number of shots the camera is capable of based on CIPA battery-life and/or manufacturer standard test conditions.
We normally always recommend picking up a spare battery and keeping it freshly charged and on-hand for long outings, but the SD900's battery life is good enough that few users are likely to feel the need for a second battery.
(Interested readers can find an English translation of the CIPA DC-002 standards document here. (180K PDF document))
Storage
A 32MB card is included with the Canon PowerShot SD900.
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32MB Internal Memory |
SuperFine | Fine | Normal | |
| 3,648 x 2,736 | Images | 7 | 12 | 25 |
| File Size | 4.4 MB | 2.6 MB | 1.3 MB | |
| 2,816 x 2,112 | Images | 11 | 18 | 37 |
| File Size | 2.9 MB | 1.7 MB | 848 KB | |
| 2,272 x 1,704 | Images | 14 | 26 | 52 |
| File Size | 2.2 MB | 1.2 MB | 610 KB | |
| 1,600 x 1,200 | Images | 29 | 52 | 99 |
| File Size | 1.0 MB | 610 KB | 322 KB | |
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Images | 111 | 171 | 269 |
| File Size | 288 KB | 186 KB | 119 KB | |
The Canon Power-shot SD900 stores its photos on SD memory cards, and a 32MB card is included with the camera. We strongly recommend buying a large capacity SD/MMC memory card at least a 512MB card, preferably a 1GB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings and movies.
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Note: For details, test results, and analysis of the many tests done with this camera, please click on the tabs at the beginning of the review or below.
Also Consider...
Click below for similar cameras from our Dave's Picks section.
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 10.1 megapixels, 4.00x zoom |
$439.99 Check Prices! |
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Unique slim touchscreen with WiFi offers large storage, impressive connectivity
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Canon PowerShot SD990 IS 14.7 megapixels, 3.69x zoom |
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First ELPH with full Manual mode delivers excellent prints
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 megapixels, 12.00x zoom |
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A great companion digital camera with a 25-300mm zoom that fits in a pocket
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Shopping for someone else? Try these other Dave's Picks categories:
All Around | Budget | Consumer SLR | Long Zoom | Macro | Mid-size | Professional SLR | Underwater/Tough
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