Canon Powershot SD800 IS Digital Camera

I had been wanting to get a compact digital camera to carry with me at all times.  I have a larger Kodak and it is not convenient to carry on a regular basis.  So I finally decided to purchase a Canon Powershot SD800 IS digital camera.  Received it in the mail a few days ago and wanted to post about my initial thoughts on the overall feel of the camera.

Canon Powershot SD800 IS

Here is what came in the box (plus a lot of manuals).  To see a virtual tour of the camera go to Canon Virtual Tour.

 

First and foremost I like the compact size.  It has a nice shinny body and does not feel cheap and all plastic. 

Pros and Cons so far.

Pros:
Compact size
SD Memory (2GB for under $20)
Fast on/off speed (important for quick pics)
3.8 x Optical zoom not all digital

Cons:
Two access doors are flimsy
Mode dial button a little cumbersome
Shinny case get's smudged easy
Does not offer full manual mode (which is okay at this point)

Here are just some of the specifications of the camera, you can click on specifications below to see the complete list.

Specifications

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Type of Camera
Compact digital still camera with built-in flash and the lens shift-type image stabilizer (IS) system, 3.8x Optical / 4x Digital / 15x Combined Zoom

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Image Capture Device

Type
7.1 Megapixel, 1/ 2.5 inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD)

Total Pixels
Approx. 7.4 Megapixels

Effective Pixels
Approx. 7.1 Megapixels

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Lens

Focal Length
4.6-17.3mm f/2.8-5.8 (35mm film equivalent: 28-105mm)

Digital Zoom
4x

Focusing Range
Normal: 1.5 ft./45cm-infinity
Macro: 1.2 in.-2.0 ft./3-60cm (WIDE), 1-2.0 ft./30-60cm (TELE)
Digital Macro: 1.2 in.-2.0 ft./3-60cm (WIDE)

Autofocus System
TTL Autofocus

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Viewfinder & Monitor

Viewfinder
Real-image optical zoom viewfinder

LCD Monitor
2.5 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD
Brightness adjustment: 15 levels

LCD Pixels
Approx. 207,000 pixels

LCD Coverage
100%

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Aperture and Shutter

Maximum Aperture
f/2.8 (W) - f/5.8 (T)

Shutter Speed
15-1/1600 sec.;
Long Shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec.

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Exposure Control

ISO Sensitivity
Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 (Standard Output Sensitivity/Recommended Exposure Index)

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I would recommend this camera to anyone wanting a nice compact digital camera that packs a lot of punch.

Enjoy

JB

Blue Hawaiian

Shot:

3/4 oz Rum
1/4 oz Blue Curacao
1/4 oz Creme de Coconut
Splash of Pineapple Juice

Build in a shaker over ice, shake well and strain into a lowball glass.

Cocktail:

1oz Light Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Creme de Coconut
1 slice of Pineapple
1 Cherry

Blended: Blend rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and cream de coconut with one cup of ice in a blender on high. Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish/decorate with a slice of pineapple and cherry.

Straight up: Build in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a highball glass and garnish.



Blue Curacao:

Blue Curacao is a sweet blue liqueur, distilled and flavored from the dried peel of bitter oranges. It can also contain distillates of lemons and curacao fruit, sugar and wine. The Caribbean island of Cura硯 is host to much of the fruit used in these liqueurs. Blue Curacao is often used to induce color into cocktails and other mixed drinks.

Purple Cadillac and Chambord

Shot:
3/4 oz Cabo Wabo Tequila Anejo
1/2 oz Cointreau
1 1/2 oz Sweet and Sour
Splash of Chambord

In a shaker half full of ice. Mix tequila, cointreau, and sweet and sour. Shake and strain into low ball glass then float chambord on top. Cheers!

Cocktail:

1 oz Cabo Wabo Tequila Anejo
1/2 oz Chambord
1/2 oz Cointreau
2 oz sweet and sour

Blended: Combine ingredients in a blender with a glass full of ice and blend. Garnish: Some like salt on rim others like sugar. A raspberry on the straw is a nice touch. Serve in a hurricane or margarita glass.

On the rocks: In a shaker half filled with ice combine tequila, cointreau, and sweet and sour and shake three good times. Strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Float Chambord on top for curb appeal. You can salt or sugar the rim if you wish. Garnish with a raspberry for good measures.

Chambord

Its full name is Chambord Liqueur Royale De France, and it is produced by Charles Jacquin Et Cie.

Chambord is inspired by a unique raspberry liqueur produced in the Laire Valley of France during the late 17th Century. The liqueur was said to have been introduced to King Louis XIV during one of his visits to the Chateau de Chambord during his reign. It was common during that time for liqueurs and cognacs to be consumed with elegant meals.

Today, Chambord is enjoyed throughout the world. Embraced for its velvety rich taste and versatility, it is delicious neat, on the rocks, as a flavorful ingredient in cocktails or with champagne. Chambord is crafted from the world's finest raspberries and blackberries, authentic Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey and cognac to create a delicious all-natural raspberry liqueur.

Alabama Slammer

Non-Alcoholic:
Half full of Orange Juice
Half full of Pineapple
Float Grenadine on top
Garnish with a Pineapple wedge

Fill Collins glass with ice and pour ingredients in. Float grenadine on top garnish and serve.

Shot:
1/4 oz - Kettle One Vodka
1/4 oz - Amaretto
1/4 oz - Southern Comfort
splash - Orange Juice
dash - Grenadine

Shake with ice and strain into shot glass. 1-2-3 bottoms up.

Cocktail:
1 oz - Amaretto
1oz - Grenadine
6 oz - Orange Juice
6 oz - Pineapple Juice
1 oz - Southern Comfort

Add ingredients in a shaker. Shake well, and drain into a large glass.
Garnish with a sliver of Pineapple with a cherry on top.

Southern Comfort is a peach flavored bourbon liqueur. It is a traditional American spirit made from an infusion of peach and other flavorings (i.e. citrus and orange) into a bourbon base. It is available as both 100 proof (50 percent alcohol) and 76 proof (38 percent alcohol). Although nowadays produced in St. Louis, Missouri the history and secret formula of Southern Comfort stretches back to 1874 where M.W. Heron created it in his bar in New Orleans.



Enjoy and have a great weekend.
JB