Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti

Review based on a production Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti (SD900)

Announced (along with a handful of other PowerShots) just before Photokina in September 2006, the SD900 (we'll call it this throughout the review - see below for EU/Japanese names) sits at the top of Canon's successful ELPH / IXUS range and offers the highest resolution yet; 10 megapixels (on a 1/1.8" CCD). It also features Canon's new DIGIC III processor and another first; a solid titanium body, which as well as adding a touch of class makes for a lighter, more durable camera. Otherwise there's no surprises here; the IXUS formula is one that has served Canon well, and the SD900 is functionally pretty much indistinguishable from its other recent stable mates. So is the SD900 the ultimate ELPH or a megapixel too far dressed up in a snazzy jacket? Let's find out, starting as ever with the headline features:

• Titanium body with Perpetual Curve design and Touch Control Dial
• 10.0 Megapixels and 3x optical zoom
• DIGIC III with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AE
• Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom for extra telephoto reach
• 2.5” super-high resolution LCD with wide viewing angle
• ISO 1600 for flash-free low light shooting
• 18 shooting modes including XGA movies
• My Category automatic image tagging
• Range of optional accessories including Underwater Case

SD900 / IXUS 900 Ti specifications

Street price	• US: $399 • UK: £298
Naming	US name: Canon PowerShot SD900 Digital ELPH European name: Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti Asian name: IXY Digital 1000
Body Material	Metal and plastic
Sensor	• 1/1.8 " Type CCD • 10.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3648 x 2736 • 3648 x 2048 • 2816 x 2112 • 2272 x 1704 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 1024 x 768 @ 15fps • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps • 320 x 240 @ 30 / 15fps • 160 x 120 @ 15fps
File formats	• JPEG Exif 2.2 • DCF • DPOF • AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural
Lens	• 37-111mm (35mm equiv) • F2.8-4.9 • 3x optical zoom
Image stabilization	No
Conversion lenses	No
Digital zoom	up to 4x
Focus	TTL
AF area modes	• AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point) • 1-point AF (fixed center)
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	Closest 5cm
Metering	• Evaluative • Center-weighted average • Spot
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • Hi-ISO Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600
Exposure compensation	• +/- 2EV • in 1/3 stop increments
Shutter speed	15-1/1600 sec
Aperture	F2.8-4.9
Modes	• Auto • Manual • Digital Macro • Color Accent • Color Swap • Stitch Assist • Movie • Special Scene
Scene modes	• Portrait • Night Snapshot • Kids & Pets • Indoor • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Fireworks • Aquarium • Underwater • ISO 3200
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom
Self timer	• 2 or 10secs • Custom
Continuous shooting	approx 2.1fps until card is full
Image parameters	My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)
Flash	• Auto • Manual Flash on / off • Slow sync • Red-eye reduction • Range: 30cm-5.1m (wide) / 3.1m (tele)
Viewfinder	Real-image zoom optical viewfinder
LCD monitor	• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT • 230,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out
Print compliance	• PictBridge • Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP printers only)
Storage	• SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible • 32 MB card supplied
Power	• Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-5L • Charger included • Optional AC adapter kit
Other features	• Optional High Power Flash HF-DC • Optional Waterproof Case (WP-DC9)
Weight (No batt)	165g (5.8 oz)
Dimensions	91.2 x 59.6 x 28.2 mm (3.6 x 2.3 x 1.1 inch)