I’ve read negative comments of others about the build quality of the Canon SD890IS. They opine that the quality is not as good as other Canon SD ultra compact digital cameras.

I suppose it’s true.

But it would be a mistake to think that its build quality is altogether bad. It is not.

Every time I pick up my older SD700IS, I am struck by its quality build. Just holding it in my hand is a wonderful tactile experience. To me, its look and feel are the equivalent to a luxury car compared to all other digital cameras I’ve owned.

High impact plastic body

The main body of SD890 is high impact plastic instead of metal. The ergonomics are just fine, but the build quality feels just slightly above average as far as other digital cameras in its class.

At first I was disappointed in the build of the SD890. But the more I thought about it, why should I be?

The SD700 and similar SD cameras only have 3X or 4X zooms. The SD890 has a 5X zoom, sort of a remarkable feat for a tiny camera that only weighs about 6.4 ounces including battery and memory card.

SD 890 focal length

No doubt the camera lens is heavier because of its longer focal length. In order for Canon to keep the SD890 a lightweight ultra compact, they used material that was strong yet lighter in weight than metal.

Personally, I think the compromise is a good one. For my shooting style, I never seem to have a long enough zoom. I want the longer 5X zoom more than I want a metal body.

Besides, image quality and camera features are more important to me than a super-duper build. The SD890 meets these criteria.