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Expert Recommendation
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Overview
There are few ultracompacts offering the zoom range needed for portraits in the sub-$300 range, but the Canon SD890 IS fits the bill perfectly, performing well in all the important portrait categories for photos of children and pets.
My Best In Class Pick
Canon PowerShot SD890 IS
The Canon SD890 IS is one of the higher-end models in Canon’s SD series of ultracompacts, and the only one to offer a versatile 5x zoom lens. Covering a 37-185mm range, the SD890 IS doesn’t quite cover the typical 50-200mm portrait range, but there’s virtually no ultracompact camera on the market that does. The lack of a real wide-angle limits the creative close-up possibilities, however.
The SD890 has about average shutter lag, so it may be a little difficult to react quickly or precisely time your photos. The SD890’s high ISO ability is very good, allowing you to freeze the motion of your kids and pets in low-light without introducing too much noise.
The one drawback of the SD890 is size - at 1.1” thick, it’s a little bulky for an ultracompact camera, although it should still fit fine into most jackets and pants pockets.
Comparison with Fujifilm FinePix J50
Given that it’s more than double the price, it should be no surprise that the Canon SD890 IS completely outclasses the Fujifilm J50. Though they cover the same 5x range, the SD890 IS beats the J50 in every performance category, offering much more responsive shutter lag and high-ISO ability.
Comparison with Nikon Coolpix S550
The SD890 IS beats out the Nikon S550 in every category, from shutter lag to high ISO. The S550’s one advantage is that it’s slightly smaller than the SD890, being a little thinner and significantly lighter.
Pros
- +Covers most of the 50-200mm portrait range
- +Good high ISO performance
Cons
- -Slightly bulky (1.1" thick) for an ultracompact
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot SD890 IS
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Best Price:
$319
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- $319 - $499 Compare Prices »
Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices
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| Customer Rating |
 
(from 193 reviews)
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(from 8 reviews)
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(from 214 reviews)
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| Price | $319 - $499 | $114 - $150 | $399.95 | |
| Size (W x H x D) | 3.8 x 2.3 x 1.1 in | 3.8 x 2.2 x 0.9 in | 3.6 x 2.1 x 0.9 in | |
| Weight (without batteries) | 5.5 oz | 4.9 oz | 4.2 oz | |
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Min Focal Length (35 mm equivalent)
The 35 mm equivalent focal length is a measure that indicates the angle of view of a particular combination of a camera lens and the sensor size. The term originates from the time when the vast majority of photography was done with 35 mm film. On any 35 mm film camera, a 30 mm or less lens is considered a wide-angle lens.
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37 mm | 37 mm | 36 mm | |
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Max Focal Length (35 mm equivalent)
The 35 mm equivalent focal length is a measure that indicates the angle of view of a particular combination of a camera lens and the sensor size. The term originates from the time when the vast majority of photography was done with 35 mm film. Larger max focal lengths make distant objects appear more magnified.
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185 mm | 185 mm | 180 mm | |
| Optical Zoom | 5.0x | 5.0x | 5.0x | |
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Image Stabilization Available
Image stabilization features are designed to reduce the blur that results from normal, minute shaking of a lens due to hand-held shooting. However, image stabilization does not prevent motion blur caused by the movement of the subject or by extreme movements of the camera.
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Yes | No | No | |
| Battery Life | 320 shots | 150 shots | 200 shots | |
| Important Portrait Features | ||||
| Shutter lag | Average | Poor | Poor | |
| High ISO quality | Good | Poor | Poor | |
| People/Pet Portrait Rating | Good | Average | Average | |
Fujifilm FinePix J50
The Fujifilm J50 is an entry-level ultracompact camera (0.9” thick) that packs a big (for its size) 5x zoom lens. Covering the 37-185mm range, the J50 falls just short of the typical 50-200mm range but covers it better than most cameras in this class.
Shutter lag on the J50 is a little slow, making it difficult to react quickly or time your photos precisely. The J50’s high-ISO performance is also slightly below average - while you’ll still be able to freeze motion in low-light situations, the images will tend to be noisy and blotchy.
Comparison with Nikon Coolpix S550
The Fuji J50 is a very similar camera to the Nikon S550 - both sport 5x zoom lenses that cover much of the traditional portrait range, but also deliver underwhelming shutter lag and high-ISO performances. The J50 is a slightly better camera, on account of producing slightly less noisy high-ISO images, and being a bit cheaper than the S550.
Pros
- +Covers most of the 50-200mm portrait range
- +Inexpensive
Cons
- -Slow shutter lag
- -Doesn't quite cover the 50-200mm portrait range
- -Slightly below average high ISO
Where to buy
Fujifilm FinePix J50
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Best Price:
$114
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- $114 - $150 Compare Prices »
Nikon Coolpix S550
The Nikon S550 is a small budget camera - at 4.2 oz and 3.6 inches long, it’s smaller than the average ultracompact. Despite its compactness, the S550 manages to pack in a 36-180mm 5x zoom lens, covering most of the typical 50-200mm portrait range.
Performance-wise, the S550 falls short in the most important categories for children and pet photos. Shutter lag is below average, making it difficult to take photos that require precise timing or immediate reaction. The S550’s high-ISO ability is also below average, producing fairly noisy images in low-light situations when you’re trying to freeze your kids’ and pets’ motion.
Comparison with Olympus Stylus 1010
Compared to the Olympus 1010, the S550 is a slightly less versatile camera, covering less range at the long end of the zoom. The 1010 also has a slightly faster shutter lag than the S550. However, the S550’s biggest advantage is its high ISO performance - while not great, it can still produce usable images in low-light, where the Olympus 1010 simply creates unusably noisy messes.
Pros
- +Covers most of the 50-200mm portrait range
- +Slightly smaller than the average ultracompact
Cons
- -Slow shutter lag
- -Noisy high-ISO
Where to buy
Nikon Coolpix S550
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Best Price:
$399
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Olympus Stylus 1010
Packing a huge 7x zoom, the Olympus 1010 is one of the most versatile ultracompacts on the market. Its 37-260mm zoom covers the traditional 50-200mm portrait range and more, an impressive feat considering the 1010 is just 1 inch thick. Performance-wise, the Olympus 1010 is a mixed bag - shutter lag on the Olympus 1010 is about average, but its high-ISO performance is abysmal, making it uncapable of freezing the motion of kids and pets in low-light without ruining the picture with noise.
Pros
- +Covers the 50-200mm portrait range, and beyond
Cons
- -Abysmal high-ISO ability
Where to buy
Olympus Stylus 1010
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Best Price:
$219
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- $219 - $299 Compare Prices »
How It Works
You tell us your budget, intended uses, and desired features. We show you personalized recommendations from unbiased experts to quickly identify the best digital camera for you.
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How to Pick Digital Cameras
- For Travel Photos
- For Photos of Children or Pets
- For Action or Sports Photos
- For Photos in Low Light
