The SD890 is a 10 megapixel camera with a 5X image stabilized zoom. It has the best high ISO performance of the many compact digital camera I’ve owned to date (other than the Fujifilm F20).

Build quality

In almost every area, I’m favorably impressed with this little gem. The build quality is not as good as the SD700, but then the retail price of the SD890 is $150.00 less than when I bought the SD700! This is not to say the build is poor; it’s actually pretty good.

Image quality

I’ve owned several Canon digital cameras and the quality of the images they produce have never disappointed, particularly when taking photos in good light. The SD890 is no exception.

Colors are beautiful and images are sharp. If colors are too vivid to my liking, or images are not sharp enough, those settings can be tweaked via menus.

Improved high ISO/low light performance

The SD890 has a number of improvements over the SD700. Most notable is its high ISO/low light performance. While certainly not on par with a digital single reflex camera, the quality of photos taken up to ISO 400 has improved: less noise, less unsightly blotches, more preservation of detail.

ISO 800 and 1600, while also improved, should be used with caution.

The SD890 is the first compact camera that I’ll use Auto ISO as the default ISO setting. Auto ISO goes between ISO 80 and 400. My experience is that the camera always selects the lowest possible ISO, depending on the light. It also has an auto High ISO scene mode (ISO 3200). Avoid using it unless getting a snapshot is better than getting none at all.

A great little camera

Though the SD890IS does not have manual or semi automatic controls, it offers features that give a photographer creative control. For those looking for an ultra compact that produces outstanding images, has a 5x zoom and lots of other useful features, the SD890 is an excellent choice. Like all digital cameras, it’s not perfect.

Features Overview

• 10 megapixels
• Image stabilized 5X optical zoom (37mm - 185mm equivalent)
• 2.5″ LCD with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating
• Small optical viewfinder; there when you need it
• ISO 100 - 1600
• Auto-ISO and High-ISO modes
• Face Detection automatically sets focus, exposure, flash and white balance
• Motion Detection evaluates how fast a subject is moving and automatically selects and sets the optimal exposure and ISO settings
• 11 factory optimized scene modes, including ISO 3200 (at a reduced resolution)
• Exposure Control: Program AE & AE Lock
• Exposure Compensation
• Contrast, Saturation and Sharpness adjustments
• White Balance modes including Custom White Balance
• Red-Eye correction during playback
• Video recording with sound; up to 640×480, 30 fps
• Weighs only about 6.4 ounces with battery and memory card