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Canon SD780 IS

 
Canon PowerShot SD780 IS front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-100mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 155g - 87 x 56 x 18mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Also referred to as Digital IXUS 100 IS
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Canon SD780 IS overview

Canon SD780 IS is Canon's Ultracompact camera initially announced on February of 2009. The camera includes a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is referred to as "Digital IXUS 100 IS" in some markets.

The SD780 IS is ranked #116 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras and all-around #1171 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to test our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your custom requirements.

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Below is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Canon SD780 IS family

The Canon SD780 IS comes with a history of related cameras. Down below, you can look at all earlier and most recent models alongside main features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-SD1400-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1400 IS
SD780 IS vs SD1400 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD940-IS front thumbnailCanon SD940 IS
SD780 IS vs SD940 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
Canon-PowerShot-SD780-IS front thumbnailCanon SD780 IS33-100mm
F3.2-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009

Canon SD780 IS Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of positives and negatives of the Canon SD780 IS based on things which are oftentimes viewed as crucial in a camera.

built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with HDMI port
flash built-in
good zoom range (33-100mm 3.0 x zoom)
supports face detect autofocus
very good min ISO (80)
can't use external flash
display isn't selfie friendly
fixed screen
heavier than competition (155 grams)
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of headphone port
lack of mic port
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of Time Lapse mode
lacks phase detect autofocus
lacks RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.8)
no manual control
no manual focus
pixelated screen (230 k dot)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
wide angle not good (33mm)
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Canon SD780 IS Sensor specs

The sensor specification in the Canon SD780 IS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 12MP and features a native ISO range of 80 - 1600. Sadly, RAW files are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The graphic underneath shows the SD780 IS's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The SD780 IS sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is outlined in green.

Canon PowerShot SD780 IS sensor size Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon SD780 IS dimensions

Canon SD780 IS is 0.34 lb (155 grams or 5.47 oz) and the physical size of the camera is 87mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.7"). The weight of normal Ultracompact camera is 121 grams so the Canon SD780 IS is weightier as compared with other competitors.

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Underneath is a picture of the Canon SD780 IS alongside a soda to help you to have a feel for its size.

Canon PowerShot SD780 IS dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button layout on the SD780 IS.

Canon PowerShot SD780 IS topview buttons dials

Canon SD780 IS Lens details

The SD780 IS offers an inbuilt lens having a focal range of 33-100mm making it a 3.0 x zoom which is not significant nevertheless it will be helpful in some conditions.

At it's widest 33mm, the lens offers an aperture of f3.2 which will be somewhat sluggish and not good in low light conditions and you will likely find it difficult to capture a shallow depth of field. You might also have to up your ISO setting leading to noisy pictures. With the long end, 100mm comes with f5.8 making it quite sluggish and you may have to use slow shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Canon SD780 IS Connectivity

The SD780 IS has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to transfer pictures and sometimes change settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

Certain apps also give a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external monitor. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery with the USB socket.

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Canon SD780 IS Video details

The maximum video quality in the Canon SD780 IS is 1280 x 720 and it can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 720p is low by today's standards. You should really go for at least 1080p quality for video recording. The body doesn't feature a mic and headphone port so you get absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to get a different model in case you need better audio in your video clips.

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Canon SD780 IS Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing for the Canon SD780 IS so you have to be cautious in wet or dusty conditions.

Canon SD780 IS Display and Viewfinder

The Canon SD780 IS includes a 2.5" fixed screen having a resolution of 230k dots.

Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.

Canon PowerShot SD780 IS screen and viewfinder Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The ViewFinder details regarding Canon SD780 IS are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Optical (tunnel)

Viewfinders are really handy in sunny outdoor conditions which might make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Canon SD780 IS Shutter details

Canon SD780 IS continuous shooting rate is 1.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1500 seconds.

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Canon SD780 IS Flash and Hot shoe details

Canon SD780 IS includes just inbuilt flash with no external flash ability.

Canon SD780 IS Autofocus details

Canon SD780 IS includes only Contrast Detect AF and is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more quicker and exact as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera includes Face detect which can be helpful for people photography.

The AF system includes 9 focus points to pick from. Canon SD780 IS doesn't have manual focus. Manual focus is good in low light scenarios or you need to have more accurate control on focusing.

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Canon SD780 IS Battery life

The general Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 has got the highest possible (320) battery life in this class of cameras.

Following is a list of Ultracompact cameras with the highest battery life:

Canon SD780 IS for specific types of photography

The following graph presents a overview of the Canon SD780 IS for specific types of photography. To view more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Canon SD780 IS Portrait photography information

The Canon SD780 IS receives a points tally of 26 which is low, and means the camera is not really acceptable for portrait photos. Shooting portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, support for RAW photos and potential to utilize external lighting.

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offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support

Canon SD780 IS Street photography advice

Getting a reasonable score of 55, the Canon SD780 IS is fairly suitable for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of image quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others (155 grams)

Canon SD780 IS Sports photography features

A low sports photography points total of 25 suggests the Canon SD780 IS is not really acceptable for photographing sports. A camera needs good tracking and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF

Travel photography with Canon SD780 IS

Portability is pretty critical in selecting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Canon SD780 IS gets a reasonable 50 for a travel camera which makes it relatively acceptable to take with you on your journeys.

Photography Glossary
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (155 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)

Canon SD780 IS Landscape photography details

If you are looking to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most critical aspect will be image quality. The Canon SD780 IS with it's low rating of 27 as a landscape camera is not really acceptable compared to it's rivals.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function

Vlogging with Canon SD780 IS

A vlogging camera should posses a articulating display, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything in to account, the Canon SD780 IS is not really acceptable for vlogging as it delivers a low score of 27.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
heavier than competition (155g)

Canon SD780 IS Alternatives

If you need alternatives to the SD780 IS, below is a number of the highest ranked cameras that fall within the family of Ultracompact.

The graph below offers you a bird's eye view of the SD780 IS compared to it's top ranked rivals listed above.

Following are several cameras you may see as alternate options. To read a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot SD780 IS
Also called as
Digital IXUS 100 IS
Type
Ultracompact
Released
2009-02-18
Body design
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW photos
Maximum native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
33-100mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture
f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of display
Fixed Type
Display size
2.5 inches
Resolution of display
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Optical (tunnel)
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
3.50 m
Flash modes
Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
155 gr (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions
87 x 56 x 18mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.7")
Other
Battery model
NB-4L
Self timer
Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus
Storage slots
1
Retail cost
$0