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Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS (PowerShot SD870 IS)

: Monday, August 20th, 2007 (Last Updated: March 18th, 2008)
: freetime

Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS (PowerShot SD870 IS) the latest evolution of the IXUS range of digital cameras for style-conscious photographers: the Digital IXUS 860 IS. Equipped with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) 3.8x wide-angle zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer, the 8.0 Megapixel Digital IXUS 860 IS is the successor to the hugely popular Digital IXUS 850 IS. The Digital IXUS 860 IS offers a range of enhancements over its acclaimed predecessor. These include a 3.0" PureColor LCD and improved Face Detection Technology. The camera’s high ISO capabilities work in tandem with an optical Image Stabilizer lens to significantly reduce the risk of image blur.

“A winning combination of style, compactness and wide-angle capabilities made the Digital IXUS 850 IS one of our most popular models of the last two years,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “With extensive improvements introduced in this upgrade, we are confident that the Digital IXUS 860 IS will follow on from its predecessor as the designer compact of choice for photographers everywhere.”

Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS (PowerShot SD870 IS ) Features:

3.8x (28mm) wide-angle lens with optical Image Stabilizer
8.0 Megapixels
High ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
DIGIC III with Noise Reduction technology and Face Detection AF/AE/FE
Improved Red-Eye Correction in playback
3.0" PureColor LCD
Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom for extra telephoto reach
17 shooting modes and My Colors photo effects
Extensive movie options including VGA 30fps, Long Play and Time Lapse movie modes

Wider views, better results

Helping the photographer capture more from group shots, landmarks and landscapes, the 3.8x wide-angle lens of the Digital IXUS 860 IS has a focal length of 28-105mm (35mm equivalent). The lens system incorporates Canon’s lens-shift type optical Image Stabilizer (IS) – first developed in EF lenses for Canon’s market leading EOS system of professional D-SLR cameras and lenses – to counteract camera shake. The lens also incorporates Canon’s aspherical lens technology (UA) for maximum sharpness and clarity.

The Digital IXUS 860 IS features a range of ISO features that work in combination with optical IS to virtually eliminate the risk of image blur. A second line of defense against camera shake is Auto ISO Shift, which can be selected by the user to boost the ISO setting just enough to reduce blur. Two further ISO features – manually selected high ISO settings up to ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto – combat the blur caused by typical subject movement, as well as camera shake when poor light would normally require a longer exposure.

Classic curves

The Digital IXUS 860 IS combines enhanced photographic capabilities with luxurious style. The classically curved Digital IXUS 860 IS has a two-tone body that contrasts simple silver lines with bold black elements. The inward curve of the top surface allows a comfortable grip and easy access to the new square button controls. A newly developed 3.0" PureColor LCD screen provides a crisp 230,000 pixel display, with enhanced color reproduction and a new coating for protection against knocks and scrapes. Offering an increased viewing angle, the
PureColor LCD enables easy group viewing and retains visibility when taking shots from unusual angles.

Enhanced Face Detection Technology with DIGIC III

The DIGIC III image processor powers Face Detection AF/AE/FE for significantly better results when photographing people. Using data from the iSAPS image database and advanced face detection algorithms, Face Detection AF/AE/FE detects up to 9 faces in the frame and optimizes focus, exposure and flash settings to achieve in focus, well-exposed faces. Face Detection Technology is also key to the accuracy of Canon’s improved Red-Eye Correction in playback, which automatically identifies and corrects red-eye in captured images. Unlike other red-eye removal systems which can sometimes alter non-facial areas of the picture, Canon’s system uses Face Detection Technology to ensure that only red-eye is corrected. Users also have the option of manually adding or removing Red-Eye Correction frames.

Creative options

Adaptable to almost any situation, the camera’s 17 shooting modes include a manual mode for selection of exposure settings such as White Balance and ISO. Along with a dedicated ISO button, the camera’s customizable Shortcut button can be configured for one-touch access to settings such white balance and exposure compensation. The Digital IXUS 860 IS also offers a range of movie options with sound at VGA (30 fps) and QVGA (30 fps). The new VGA LP (Long Play) mode allows users to record movies at half the file size but with the same resolution and frame rate, using less memory and enabling quicker downloads. The camera also features Time Lapse Movie mode, for capturing changing scenes – such as drifting clouds, a blooming flower or a bustling city street – for accelerated playback. The mode takes 1 frame of footage per 1 or 2 seconds for up to 2 hours, and replays them as a smooth VGA movie at 15 fps.

Ease of use enhancements

The Digital IXUS 860 IS introduces a range of enhancements designed to improve the user experience. A new three level battery indicator gives users improved awareness of how long they can shoot. For greater flexibility, two different auto focus frame sizes can now be selected: ‘normal’ and ‘small.’ The small size AF frame makes it possible to identify particularly small details as the focal point of the image – particularly useful for close-up shots. The convenient Image Resize function gives users the option to save a smaller version of the file, ready for uploading to a personal blog, auction site or online photo gallery.

Additional Information

Printing

The Digital IXUS 860 IS features a dedicated Print menu for quick access to direct print options. Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC. A Print/Share button allows one-touch printing and easy uploads to Windows or Mac systems.

Memory card support

In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC memory cards, the camera supports the new MMCplus and HC MMCplus formats for storage of up to 32GB. The Digital IXUS 860 IS comes supplied with a 32MB memory card.

Software: The Digital IXUS 860 IS comes bundled with the following Canon Software:

ZoomBrowser EX 6.0 (Windows), ImageBrowser 6.0 (Mac): For organizing and editing images, movies and slide shows, or creating and printing digital photo albums.
PhotoStitch 3.1 (Windows), PhotoStitch 3.2 (Mac): For creating panoramic photos from multiple images.

The bundled software supports Windows 2000 (SP4), XP (SP2), Vista and Macintosh OS X v10.3-10.4. Purchasers of the camera are eligible for membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, 100MB of online ‘personal gallery’ space for sharing stills and video with family and friends.

Accessories: A range of optional accessories includes:

Waterproof Case (40m) (WP-DC17)
High Power Flash (HF-DC1)
Soft Leather Case (DCC-70)
AC Adapter Kit (ACK-DC30)
Digital IXUS Metal and Leather Straps