Canon SD970 IS
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
- 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
- Released February 2009
- Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
94 Imaging
34 Features
24 Overall
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Canon SD970 IS summary
Canon SD970 IS is Canon's Small Sensor Compact camera originally revealed on February of 2009. The camera features a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4000 x 3000. It is also known as "Digital IXUS 990 IS" in other countries.
The SD970 IS is positioned #184 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and over-all #1119 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should check our Advanced camera filter to find camera results based on your custom criteria.
Here is a diagram of various factors used in the rating system.
Canon SD970 IS family
The Canon SD970 IS comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can discover all previous and brand new models alongside main specs.
F3.2-5.712MP1/2.3"2009
Canon SD970 IS Gallery
You can view the SD970 IS from several angles in the gallery here.
Canon SD970 IS Pros and Cons
Here is a shortlist of upsides and downsides of the Canon SD970 IS based on features that are normally considered useful in a camera.
Canon SD970 IS Sensor features
The measurement of the sensor on the Canon SD970 IS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter may lead to cropping.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe CCD sensor boasts 12MP and includes a native ISO range of 80 to 1600. Sadly, RAW files are not supported therefore the user has less margin for error.
The graphic below shows the SD970 IS's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The SD970 IS sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is displayed in green.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
Canon SD970 IS dimensions
Canon SD970 IS weighs around 0.35 lb (160 gr or 5.64 oz) and the overall size of the camera is 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr and the Canon SD970 IS is very much the same in comparison with other competitors.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneListed below is a pic of the Canon SD970 IS besides a soft drink so you're able to have a sense of its size.
The top view here will highlight the button layout on the SD970 IS.
Canon SD970 IS Lens features
The SD970 IS features a built in lens with a focal range of 37-185mm making it a 5.0 x zoom which is not exceptional nevertheless it could be helpful in a few conditions.
At it's widest 37mm, it will have an aperture of f3.2 making it kind of sluggish and not great in low light circumstances and you may find it hard to capture a shallow depth of field. You will probably also need to boost your ISO giving you noisy files. On the long end, 185mm comes with f5.7 which is pretty slow and you will have to go with slow shutter speeds.
Canon SD970 IS Connectivity
The SD970 IS has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that consist of NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to copy pictures and oftentimes change camera settings with no need to connect directly with the camera.
Many apps also allow a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it could be hooked up to an external screen. A good number of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack with the USB socket.
Canon SD970 IS Video features
The max video quality on the Canon SD970 IS is 1280 x 720 and it can save in Motion JPEG format. 720p is terrible by today's standards. You should really shoot for a minimum FUll HD quality for good video. The body does not have a mic and headphone port which means that you have got zero control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to look at a different camera if you need better sound in your video clips.
Canon SD970 IS Weather Sealing
There is no environment sealing for the Canon SD970 IS so you have to be careful in rainy and dusty conditions.
Canon SD970 IS Display and Viewfinder
The Canon SD970 IS features a 3" fixed screen with a resolution of 461k dots.
Please be aware that the screen offers no touch support.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe ViewFinder specs regarding Canon SD970 IS are the following:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders are quite handy during bright outdoor conditions which might make the camera display washed out and hard to view.
Canon SD970 IS Shutter features
Canon SD970 IS continuous shooting speed is 1.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.
Canon SD970 IS Flash and Hot shoe features
Canon SD970 IS boasts just built-in flash lacking external flash support.
Canon SD970 IS Autofocusing features
Canon SD970 IS boasts only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more faster and exact than Contrast Based focusing. The camera features Face detect which is handy for portrait photography.
It features 9 focus points to choose from. Canon SD970 IS does not have manual focusing. Manual focusing mode can be good during low light occasions or you want more precise control on focusing.
Canon SD970 IS Battery life
The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has the maximum (470) battery life within this category of cameras.
Following is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras that have the strongest battery life:
Canon SD970 IS for various styles of photography
The following bar chart shows a summary of the Canon SD970 IS for various styles of photography. To see more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.
Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography info
The Canon SD970 IS has a points tally of 26 which is subpar, meaning that it is not suitable for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW photos & flexibility to use external flash.
Canon SD970 IS Street photography highlights
Having a modest score of 56, the Canon SD970 IS is reasonably suitable to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of image quality and portability.
Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
A subpar sports photography points total of 25 suggests the Canon SD970 IS is not suitable for shooting sports. A camera needs to have good tracking and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.
Canon SD970 IS Travel photography factors
Weight is pretty important in buying a travel camera. All round, the Canon SD970 IS gets a reasonable 51 for a travel camera which makes it reasonably suitable to take with you on your journeys.
Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography information
For those who are planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photography, the most essential factor is going to be image quality. The Canon SD970 IS at it's subpar rating of 32 as a landscape camera is not suitable in the current marketplace.
Canon SD970 IS Vlogging advice
A camera for vlogging really should offer a articulating screen, mic input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Canon SD970 IS is not suitable for vlogging as it gets a subpar score of 27.
Canon SD970 IS Alternatives
If you are shopping for alternatives to the SD970 IS, below is a range of the top rated cameras which fall in to the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The line graph here gives you a summary of the SD970 IS vs it's highest rated rivals shown previously.
These are some more cameras you might consider as alternative options. To review a thorough comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.