i've only ever used canon digital elphs. my first was the sd100 back in 2003. in 2007, i switched to the sd850. what i love most about these cameras is their super compact size...the fact that, when off, it's completely flat and fits in my jeans pockets was a deal-breaker for me. it's size and compact-ness lets me carry it wherever and whenever i go out. the large lcd screen is great, and it takes wonderful photos. the colors are amazing and true and it makes me look like a way better photographer than i know i actually am. i love love love the image stabilizer option. my first canon elph didn't have it, but this model does and it's a fantastic feature! the battery that came with this camera is also way better than its predecessor. when i go on adventures, it's not uncommon for me to take 200-300 photos and this battery will let me do it. i'm a true and loyal canon digital elph user. i won't use any other point-and-shoot digital camera...with the 850, i don't need to!

spaceexplorer

Los Angeles, CA

This is my 3rd digital camera and while I'm not a pro, this is by far the best purchase I have made when it comes to digital cameras. The pictures are exceptional. The movie mode is better than my last camera as you can zoom while filming which my former camera did not do in the movie mode. I have not tried every option but those that I have tried worked great. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants one that is small enough to fit into your pocket and that gives you the picture quality of those costing more than double the price of this one. It's a great buy.

ngolubski

Delavan, WI

The Canon SD850 IS is a great camera if you're going for portability and size, not as great if you're going for image quality, night-time shots, or video. Canon makes wonderful digital cameras and I must admit that once I left film and got into digital cameras, I have only ever purchased Canon cameras. The benefit of the Canon SD series is that it gets you beautiful looking cameras that are small enough to fit into your pocket and that you can take anywhere. Unfortunately, there is a major drawback to that size. This camera struggles in difficult environmental conditions such as where there is weak lighting, night-time shots, moving objects/people, and with video. It doesn't take a comparison with an SLR to know that this isn't the best camera for people who really care about photography and image quality. However, it's definitely good enough for most people who just want to remember a great moment and don't need 100Megapixel pictures. Bottom Line: Good camera but not a great camera.

cardinalandgoldfan

Provo, UT

I really love this camera.  I went through several cameras before settling on this one.  I had a Kodak EasyShare and a Sony 10mpx.  I paid a pretty penny for these two cameras and ended up selling them both.  The main reason I sold them was because the pictures were often blurry and I decided I wanted one to fit in my purse.  I have 2 little boys, only 1 at the time of purchase.  I had trouble catching the pictures with the first 2 cameras but NOT with this one.  This camera has an image stabilizer, which in my opinion is the greatest invention ever when it comes to digital cameras.  I very rarely have a bad picture with this camera.  The day I bought it, I took pictures of cars driving past me on the road with no problem at all.  The pictures of my little boys are great.  The delay is minimal.  This camera has special features too.  I love picking an accent color.  The video capability is great also.  I guess I can really think of anything bad to say about it.  I've dropped it a few times without any issues.  Overall I would definitely recommend this camera.

smokeytigger

Georgetown, KY

The Canon sd850 IS is the best digital camera I've owned.  It has easy to use features whether you want to point and shoot or take time to read the manual.  A positive feature is the view finder and option to turn off the display so you can take pictures at concerts and other events without shining a distracting light on the people around you.  The price is reasonable and accessories are easy to get.  Great zoom, easy transfer.

roppbec

Dewitt, MI

   this camera replaced a Canon sd 1000. The pictures are perfect!!!! It has all the bells and whistles but if you don't want to use them, the camera does it all. Pictures are clear, bright and "shake free" Very intuitive controls and comfortable feel make it an excellent choice. We used this camera in very bright sunlight and the lcd screen could not be seen, but it does have a view finder which helped immensely. You sacrifice lcd screen size for this feature but it is a well worth it trade off. The rechargeable batteries hold their charge and are cost effective.

piman

Brooklyn, NY