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Canon SX110 IS

$231.59

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Test Images (click to enlarge) Still Life Multi Target

Test Summary (Mouse over items for explanations)
Power-on Time	2.8 sec
Shutter Lag, Full Autofocus	0.633 - 0.564 sec
Shutter Lag, Prefocused	0.075 sec
Shot to Shot time	2.09 sec
Continuous Speed	1.12 fps (No limit)
Best Macro	1.10x0.83 in 28x21mm
Viewfinder accuracy (Optical)	n/a
Viewfinder accuracy (LCD)	101%
Distortion (Wide Angle)	0.9%
Distortion (Telephoto)	-0.1%
Battery Life (CIPA standard)	400 shots (NiMH AA)

	9.00 Megapixels
	10.00x zoom
	3.0 inch LCD

Canon PowerShot SX110 IS Intro

Packing a 10x zoom lens into a surprisingly compact body, the Canon SX100IS was a very popular model in last year's long-zoom sweepstakes. This year, Canon has updated the design with a 9 megapixel sensor (up from 8 megapixels) and larger 3 inch LCD (up from 2.5 inches). The result is the new Canon SX110IS, selling for the same MSRP of $299, despite the upgrades. A lot will obviously depend on how the new model performs in the lab, but if it can live up to its heritage, the Canon SX110IS promises to be another Dave's Pick. Stay tuned for our full review once we get a production sample of the camera, but meanwhile, read on below for more details about the Canon SX110IS.

Canon SX110IS Features

As was the case with its predecessor, with dimensions of 4.4 x 2.8 x 1.8 inches (111 x 71 x 45mm) and weighing in at 8.6 ounces (245g) the Canon SX110IS won't fit in your pocket, but if you can live with a camera you have to carry in a pants pocket or purse rather than a shirt pocket, the SX110IS gives you a load of features and capability in a surprisingly compact package.

In an age when camera makers are chasing ever-higher megapixel counts, we applaud Canon's restraint with the SX110IS, in going to "only" 9 megapixels on its 1/2.3" sensor. This is more than enough resolution for 99% of consumers, and should produce less noise than would a higher-resolution sensor of similar size. Combining its 9-megapixel sensor with a 10x optical zoom lens, the Canon SX110 IS gives you the power to reach out and turn distant subjects into frame-filling images. Long zoom lenses mean it's all the harder to hold the camera steady enough to capture sharp images though. Fortunately, the "IS" in the SX110's name means it incorporates Canon's excellent Image Stabilization technology, letting you snap sharp photos at shutter speeds two to four times slower than you'd be able to hand-hold otherwise.

As digital cameras have become less expensive and more mass-market, there's been an unfortunate dumbing down of camera controls. As one result, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find compact (non-SLR) cameras that give you options for shutter-priority, aperture-priority and full manual exposure control. The Canon SX110IS offers all that and more, yet remains entirely accessible for novice users with its full auto and multiple scene modes. In fact, a new "Easy Mode" makes the camera even simpler to use: Literally a "you push the button, the camera does the rest" experience suited for complete beginners. An enhanced iSAPS (intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) exposure system compares scenes the camera sees through its lens with an enormous database of reference scenes stored in its memory, to determine the best exposure for a wide range of conditions.

The Canon PowerShot SX110 IS stores images on Secure Digital or MultiMediaCard media, including the newer (and higher capacity) SDHC types. Images are framed and reviewed on a 3-inch color LCD display with 230,000 pixels.

The Canon SX110IS's 10x optical zoom lens covers a broad range equivalent to 36-360mm on a 35mm camera -- a moderate wide angle to a pretty substantial telephoto. The lens is also faster than many, with a maximum aperture ranging from f/2.8 at the wide angle end to f/4.3 at the telephoto end of its range.

With a lens offering this kind of telephoto power, camera shake can become a real problem, so Canon added a true optical image stabilizer, which works to correct camera shake by moving lens elements to counteract the motion. Three modes are available: one that operates continually while framing images, another that saves a little battery by only operating during exposure, and a final mode that optimizes the anti-shake algorithms to cope with stabilizing panning shots. Canon claims up to three stops of stabilization, meaning that you can shoot at shutter speeds 8 times slower than what you would otherwise be able to hand-hold, and still get sharp results.

Canon's implementation of face detection is included, and capable of detecting up to nine faces in a scene. The camera can automatically prioritize which face to focus on, and the face detection functionality is also linked to the ambient exposure, flash exposure and white balance systems to ensure correct metering of portraits as well; if you prefer, face detection can be turned off altogether and center AF used instead. When focusing in dim light, a very bright orange LED provides for AF-assist. For the more experienced photographer, there's a wide range of adjustments and customizations on hand, including a range of ISO sensitivities (from 80 to 1,600 equivalent), metering modes, autoexposure and flash exposure locks, flash output control, white balance options, and adjustable image sharpness, contrast, and color options.

The Canon SX110IS offers eleven preset shooting modes, of which five have their own positions on the Mode dial, while the remainder are accessed through a special Scene position. These scene modes make it easier for beginners to tailor the camera's settings to their intent without really needing to understand them, and the modes on offer include Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, Kids&Pets, Night Scene, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, and Aquarium.

Like its predecessor the SX100, the Canon SX110IS runs on a pair of AA batteries, either alkaline, lithium, or NiMH rechargeables. Depending on your perspective, this could be considered either a plus or a minus. On the one hand, you won't get the kind of battery life you could from a custom LiIon battery pack, but on the other hand, you're much less likely to run out of juice in some remote location: AA batteries can be found most anywhere, and the Energizer Lithium AA cells can be tucked in your camera back as an insurance policy, because they have almost zero self-discharge and so will remain fresh for years. And for low battery cost, nothing compares to a couple of sets of high-capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries and a good-quality charter.

Retail list pricing for the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS was set at US$299, but as of November, 2008, reputable retailers were offering it at prices as low as $205. One testimony to the popularity of this camera line is that the previous SX100IS was almost entirely sold out from the marketplace by the time the SX110IS was announced: So, if you're interested in buying a Canon SX110IS, you'd better not wait, this looks like another big winner for Canon.

Canon SX110IS Lab Test Results

Canon's fall 2008 series of cameras have generally performed well in our lab tests, and the SX110IS was no exception. It cedes a little ground in image quality to some models using the newer Digic IV processor chip (the SX110IS uses a Digic III), but the SX110IS was a very worthy performer. Here's a summary of our test findings:

Lens Quality

• Sharpness - Better than average for a long zoom, particularly one in such a compact package. As is usually the case, sharpness is better at the wide angle end of the zoom range than the tele end, but both are very good, and sharpness in the corners of the frame is much better than average.
  
  
• Distortion - Average for a long zoom. Significant barrel distortion at the wide angle end (although not unusual for a long-ratio zoom), almost zero pincushion at telephoto.
  
  
• Chromatic Aberration - Average for a long zoom. Significant CA at both wide angle and telephoto focal lengths
  
  
• Macro - Excellent macro capability, super-close focus. Lots of barrel distortion at closest focus though.

Image Quality

• Color - Very Good. Standard "consumer color:" Nice and bright, without being too overdone. Reds and some blues are noticeably bright, but the effect isn't unrealistic. Most consumers should be very happy with it.
  
  
• Noise & Subject Detail - Good. Good subject detail at low ISO, few signs of noise suppression artifacts. Higher-ISO not as good as other recent Canon cameras; ISO 800 prints are noticeably grainy at 8x10 inches, whereas similar prints from the full-size (and more expensive) Canon SX10IS are noticeably cleaner. Still, good performance from a relatively compact model.
  
  
• Indoor Shooting - Very Good. Auto White Balance does an excellent job handling difficult household incandescent lighting. Flash also balances well with typical room lighting. ISO and noise are the main limitations for indoor shooting, as ISO 400 is about the limit for enlargement-worthy indoor shots.
  
  
• Flash Coverage & Range - Good. Flash coverage is a bit uneven, corners are dark at wide angle, gets better as you zoom longer. Canon specifies flash range as 6.6 feet at telephoto or 9.8 feet at wide angle with Auto ISO, and the camera matched this in our tests, using an ISO value of 200. Our lab tests actually matched these specs at ISO 100, with a range of 7/9 feet respectively. Slow (10.8 seconds) flash recycle after a full-power flash, but note that most indoor closeups use lower flash power.
  
  
• Print Sizes - Excellent at low ISO, Good at high ISO. Loads of detail, low-ISO shots make nice-looking 16x20 inch prints, suitable for wall or table display, and at 11x14 inch sizes, they'll stand up to close inspection very well. The limitations are felt more at higher ISO settings: ISO 400 is about the limit for good-looking 8x10 inch prints, ISO 800 for 5x7 inch ones. ISO 1,600 is grainy but usable at 4x6 inches.

Performance

• Shutter Lag - Average, 0.63 second at wide angle, 0.56 second at telephoto. Prefocused is only 0.07 second.
  
  
• Cycle Time - Good On the fast side of average for single shots (2 seconds), a bit below average in continuous mode (1.1 frames/second).
  
  
• Flash Cycle Time - Slow (10.8 seconds)
  
  

Canon SX110 IS Summary

The Canon SX110 IS manages to pack an optically stabilized 10x zoom lens into a relatively compact body, but its image quality still competes very well with that of full-sized long-zoom cameras. In high ISO shooting, it gives up a little ground to Canon's own SX10 IS, which uses a more powerful version of Canon's Digic processor, but the SX110 IS's more compact body is much easier to pack along on outings and trips. Its 9-megapixel sensor may sound modest at a time when some consumer models are sporting 14- and 15-megapixel chips, but trust us: The Canon SX110 IS captures more than enough detail for any size print you're likely to want to make. Auto white balance is excellent, making this a good camera for indoor shooting, as it's able to handle difficult household incandescent lighting. Highly versatile; offering anything from fully automatic to fully manual exposure, the Canon SX110IS would make a great family camera, as it can easily accommodate the interests of everyone from first-time beginners to experienced enthusiasts. A great, all-around digicam. The Canon SX110IS was an easy Dave's Pick.