Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

    52
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    Highlights

    • 12.1 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 1,600 Native ISO
    • 9 Focus Points
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 461k dot Fixed Screen
    • 1.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS was announced in 2009 and is a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) Standard Compact camera with 12.1 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 1,600. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 461k dot resolution. It has an image stabilization.

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS can capture video up to 1280 x 720 resolution.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Screen
    4. Sensor
    5. Photography Features
    6. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    7. Other Features
    8. Physical Parameters
    9. For Different Types of Photography
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Here is the Canon PowerShot SD9xx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Canon PowerShot SD9xx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Canon SD980 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Canon SD940 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SD960 IS
    Compare
    		February
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 2.80"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SD970 IS February
    2009    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    461k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SD990 IS
    Compare
    		September
    2008    		 14.7 MP
    1/1.7-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 2.50"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Canon PowerShot SD980 IS vs PowerShot SD940 IS vs PowerShot SD960 IS vs PowerShot SD970 IS vs PowerShot SD990 IS.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot SD970 IS.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   Light - 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 3.0"

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 461k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.

    Sensor

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS features a 12.1 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 1,600.

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 4000 x 3000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 4000 x 2248, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 320 x 140 with 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SD970 IS.

    Canon SD990 IS
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    1/1.7-inch

    14.7 MP

    Canon SD940 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SD980 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SD960 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Sony a7R IV
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    61.0 MP

    Sony a7 III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.2 MP

    Sony a6500
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon R7
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    32.5 MP

    Canon 7D II
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Casio EX-ZR10
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Nikon Z8
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    45.7 MP

    Canon 5DS
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    50.6 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Battery

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS comes with NB-5L battery pack.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS's shutter speed can go up to 1/1600 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 1.0 fps.


    Flash

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS has a built-in flash with maximum range of 3.50 m.

    Physical Parameters

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS has dimensions of 96 x 57 x 26 mm (3.78 x 2.24 x 1.02"). It weighs 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    96 mm (3.78")

    57 mm (2.24")

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    57 mm (2.24")

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    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS dimensions

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Canon PowerShot SD970 IS is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    POOR
    47

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS gets a score of 47 and is POOR choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    64

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS gets a score of 64 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    60

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS gets a score of 60 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    71

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS gets a score of 71 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    83

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS gets a score of 83 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz)

    Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Evaluation

    We evaluate Canon PowerShot SD970 IS and give score of 52 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    52

    Sensor

    POOR
    45

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 45 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    58

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 58 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.0 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    POOR
    43

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 43 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    64

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 64 for Focusing parameters.

    •   9 Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    53

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 53 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    POOR
    46

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 46 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    54

    We give Canon PowerShot SD970 IS a score of 54 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz)


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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