Review on 📷 Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera - 3x Optical Zoom, Image Stabilization, 2.5-inch LCD - Gold by Mike Johnston

I bought this camera in Revain based on the quantity and positive reviews so I buy a lot of things here. I was not disappointed. This is a great compact camera that is excellent value for money. I work on a ship and started taking pictures of other ships to put on the internet, so I really needed a camera with a big optical zoom, but I wasn't willing to spend money on an expensive SLR. Other cartridges like the COOLPIX had more optical zoom, but reviews weren't great. Although the Canon Powershot SD780IS only has a 3x optical zoom, I bought it based on the reviews. I ordered it by ship, Amazon delivered it to the agent in the next port and a few days later. The camera is VERY small and comes with a USB connector, wrist strap, manual, software, battery and charger, but you will need to buy a memory card (I also have a spare battery). You have to charge the battery before use, but it was pretty quick. With my 6 year old OLYMPUS 3.2 megapixel camera, I was amazed at the difference in image quality. With image stabilisation, digital zoom up to 8x, Canon Powershot's shots are excellent, after that they get a little grainier up to a maximum of 12x, but still pretty good. The screen on the back of the camera is a good size and you can adjust the brightness, but like most cameras of this ilk it can still be difficult to see in bright sunlight. It also has an optical viewfinder, but it's tiny and quite difficult to use. The camera manual is pretty good and not difficult to understand, and as with most of these cameras, you have fully automatic or manual settings in addition to the ability to record video. I haven't tried most of the features yet, but I like the ability to manually adjust the ISO setting, turn off the flash, and get pretty good ambient light images. This comes in handy at concerts or other places where you don't want to disturb others. I wasn't interested in the imaging software that came with the camera and instead use Photoscape (free online) and Photoshop Essentials that come with my Canoscan 8800F scanner. The photography software is very easy to use. As mentioned, the camera is small so it can easily fit in a purse, pocket, or inside jacket pocket, but be careful as keys, loose change, or other hard objects can easily scratch the screen. The camera looks good, but I would suggest getting a case if you plan on using it on camping trips or other long trips. I gave the camera 5 stars because I was very happy with it and the overall buying experience. I'm certainly not a photography expert, but I think most people like me who want a decent little camera at a good price will love the Canon Powershot SD780 IS.3/9/13 UPDATE: Am three years after buying this camera I still enjoy it immensely and have taken over a thousand photos with it. It's so small and easy to use. I love it!