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Expert Recommendation
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Overview
A fairly basic budget camera, the Canon SD1100 IS is a great value for its price, as one of the few cameras in its price range that provide both above-average high-ISO performance and an image stabilization system to prevent blur.
My Best In Class Pick
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
The Canon SD1100 is a budget ultracompact at the low end of Canon’s SD series. Covering an ordinary 38-114mm (3x) zoom range, the SD1100 is a fairly basic camera, although it does offer a lens-based IS system to help reduce blur from camera shake.
Performance-wise, the SD1100 has above-average high-ISO performance - although low-light images tend to be grainy, they’re detailed and are mostly usable. The aperture for the SD1100 is f2.8-4.9, which is typical for an ultracompact camera
The flash for the SD1100 is embedded into the camera body, making it susceptible to red-eye effects.
Comparison with Nikon Coolpix P60
Though the P60 is a more versatile camera with its 5x zoom range and manual controls, it doesn’t perform quite as well as the SD1100 in the low-light performance areas - high-ISO quality is about the same, but the SD1100’s slightly larger wide-angle aperture and slightly more effective lens-based image stabilization system help it to produce better images in low-light.
Comparison with Canon PowerShot A590 IS
Though the SD1100 is a simpler point and shoot camera, the ultracompact beats the larger A590 in the high-ISO department, producing somewhat less noisy images. The A590 does have a few features the SD1100 doesn’t, however, including a 4x zoom lens (35-140mm) and full manual controls.
Pros
- +Above-average high-ISO
- +Image-stabilized lens
Cons
- -Embedded flash susceptible to red eye
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
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Best Price:
$249
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- $249 - $329 Compare Prices »
Specifications
- Zoom: 3.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 8.0MP
- Max ISO: 1600
- Easy to Use: Yes
- Recommended at DPReview.com
- Dave's Pick at Imaging-Resource.com
- Rated Very Good by CNET.com
Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices
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| Customer Rating |
 
(from 919 reviews)
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(from 52 reviews)
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(from 895 reviews)
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| Price | $249 - $329 | $172 - $498 | $277 - $1500 | |
| Size (W x H x D) | 3.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 in. | 3.8 x 2.5 x 1.4 in. | 3.7 x 2.5 x 1.6 in. | |
| Weight (without batteries) | 4.4 oz | 5.6 oz | 6.2 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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38 mm | 36 mm | 35 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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114 mm | 180 mm | 140 mm | |
| Optical Zoom | 3.0x | 5.0x | 4.0x | |
| Important low-light features | ||||
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Max Aperture (wide-angle)
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (wide-angle) is the largest possible size at the wide-angle limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor.
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f/2.8 | f/3.6 | f/2.6 | |
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Max Aperture (tele-photo)
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (tele-photo) is the largest possible size at the tele-photo limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor.
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f/4.9 | f/4.5 | f/5.5 | |
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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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Image Stabilization Type | Optical (lens shift) | Sensor Shift | Optical (lens shift) | |
| Flash type | Embedded | Embedded | Embedded | |
| Battery Life | 240 shots | 190 shots | 450 shots | |
| High ISO quality | Good | Good | Average | |
| Low-light rating | Good | Average | Average | |
Nikon Coolpix P60
The Nikon P60 is a compact all-around camera that features a moderate 5x zoom, covering the 36-180mm range. With an f3.6-4.5 aperture lens, the P60 needs a bit more light than most other cameras, requiring it to bump up to a noisier high-ISO or use longer shutter speeds.
High-ISO performance is a bit above average - images tend to be fairly clean, although they don’t have quite the same detail as other Canon cameras in the range.
The flash for the P60 is embedded into the camera, making it susceptible to red-eye effects.
Comparison with Canon PowerShot A590 IS
The P60 and A590 are similar cameras, both taking up a somewhat chunky 1.5” thick footprint and offering full manual controls. The P60 offers a somewhat longer 6x zoom range. In terms of low-light performance, the P60 produces cleaner high-ISO images that make it the better camera, despite a smaller aperture and sensor-shift IS system that aren’t quite as effective as the A590.
Pros
- +Image-stabilized sensor
- +Generally clean high-ISO
Cons
- -Embedded flash susceptible to red eye
Where to buy
Nikon Coolpix P60
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Best Price:
$172
See It »
- $172 - $498 Compare Prices »
Specifications
- Zoom: 5.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 8.1MP
- Max ISO: 2000
- Easy to Use: Yes
Canon PowerShot A590 IS
The Canon A590 IS is the basic budget camera in Canon’s A-series, although it also offers a few manual controls beyond the basic point and shoot camera. With a 4x 35-140mm zoom lens, the A590 has a little more range than most 3x zoom budget compacts.
The high ISO ability of the A590 is about average, but typical of Canon cameras leaves in a lot of noise in order to retain detail. This results in images that are easier to edit later, but extremely grainy pictures straight out of the camera. Then lens aperture of f2.6-5.5 is typical for a low-end compact camera.
The A590 IS uses an embedded flash, making flash images susceptible to high-ISO images.
Comparison with Sony Cybershot DSC-W120
With its more detailed and less blotchy high-ISO images, the A590 is a better overall low-light performer than the W120. Both cameras, however, have a few distinct features - the A590 offers full manual controls, while the W120 offers a more versatile 32mm wide-angle.
Pros
- +Above-average high-ISO
- +Image-stabilized lens
Cons
- -Extremely grainy high-ISO images, unless edited with noise reduction software
- -Embedded flash susceptible to red eye
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot A590 IS
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Best Price:
$277
See It »
- $277 - $1500 Compare Prices »
Specifications
- Zoom: 4.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 8.0MP
- Max ISO: 1600
- Easy to Use: Yes
Sony Cybershot DSC-W120
The W120 is a run-of-the-mill ultracompact from Sony. While it doesn’t offer much beyond basic point and shoot functionality, it is one of the few budget cameras which feature an image stabilization system, helping it to reduce camera shake blur significantly over most other non-IS cameras in the budget range.
The W120’s high-ISO performance is a bit below average - it can still freeze action and avoid camera shake in low-light situations, but the results will often be noisy and blotchy.
The W120’s 32-128mm (4x) lens offers a somewhat versatile zoom range. The lens aperture is an ordinary f2.8-5.8, the usual range for most compacts, especially a budget camera.
The flash on the W120 is embedded, making it susceptible to red-eye effects
Pros
- +Image stabilized lens
Cons
- -Below-average high-ISO
- -Embedded flash susceptible to red eye
Where to buy
Sony Cybershot DSC-W120
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Best Price:
$159
See It »
- $159 - $199 Compare Prices »
Specifications
- Zoom: 4.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 7.2MP
- Max ISO: 3200
- Easy to Use: Yes
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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