Ended up returning it for refund...

I am returning the camera to JR Music where Amazon shipped it from. Not too happy with JR's return handling. I would not purchase anything else from Amazon that is not coming directly from them.

On manual, I had the choice of a blurry mess at 800ISO, or a moderately less blurry mess at 1600 ISO that was so grainy it looked rather like an old newspaper photo. The other digital cameras in the group were quite capable of taking a photo of people with the castle in the background and exposing them correctly while capturing the glowing castle, but the 870 was not. Of course, no inexpensive camera is going to function all that well in darkness, and I wouldn't expect it to.

It reads different focal lengs (how much you zoomed for each photo) from each image's EXIF header and applies the right correction parameters to it! I have a script that uses "exiftool" to copy the original's EXIF header to the corrected image, because fulla does not preserve it. fulla also did not have a JPEG quality setting, but that was added recently (I use -e 97 which produces same or slightly larger files that my camera's originals).

I knew this up front but we take very good care of our things and felt that it would not be a problem. Less than a month after buying the camera it stopped working when my husband went on a trip. The camera was not dropped or anything.

Good image quality - The camera should shine in ideal conditions, and allow you enough control to get a good image when conditions are not ideal. The perfect camera would have good low-light (high ISO) performance, but it seems that's nearly impossible to find in a point-and-shoot these days. At the very least, ISO 400 should not look like a poorly-tuned TV.

The only problem with these is that you experience quite a bit of blurring when there's not 100% sunlight outside, so for every good indoor photo there were 2 or 3 bad. And of course, if it happens to be dark outside, you get a huge amount of blurring. If one were to look at my photo of the Disney World castle at 7 pm, the automatic setting photo came out as a almost completely black photo with just the windows in the castle barely visible (and that thing is pretty bright).

I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because it is a great camera that takes great pictures. If yours is one that does not have an error, you will be pleased, but I would be nervous wondering when it was going to quit working. The close up picture taking was very good.

I am sending it back because for $300.00 I expect it to work everytime I need it to. I am so surprised that a company like Canon that makes cameras with such great picture taking quality has dropped the ball on this major defect in what seems to be all their products. Just google Canon E18 or Canon lens error and you will see what I mean.

The pictures are like you were actually there, but I will admit that at the higher ISO setting, it can get a little fuzzy, but not too bad. The image stabilizer feature sold me on this model. I was looking at the SD750, but it lacked that feature.

So, despite loving the size and features and most things about this camera, upon arriving home it was packed up and returned. I wouldn't pay more than $150 for something that performs the way the 870 did. Who wants a camera that becomes useless every day at 6:30 pm?

Also, compared to the Sony T200, it fell short, which surprised me because of the Carl Zeiss lens. It does have more zoom, but the picture quality was beyond comparison from the Canon (negatively). The image stabilizer was worthless on the T200 in a slight shaking scenario (which I created in Best Buy).

I am very disappointed. I contacted Canon and am awaiting a response. I hope this is covered under warranty or something.

When taking pictures at night outdoor (or even indoor with low lights), there are couple of vertical lines appeared on the LCD screen. Is it normal? Do I have a defective camera?

So far with Canon, pictures came out too grainy, shadows, too dark, too bright and colors come out weird!!! So, I need help, does anyone know ONE setting that works for every occasion and pictures come out just how you see it. I spent many hours to figure out but so far no good results I would appreicate inputs.

Everytime I'd open my camera case to take a pic the camera would already be on. Also a few pics would have white spots and at first I thought the lens was dirty but i read at the canon website that it occurs when theres a dirty/dusty spot. So I only had the camera 2 weeks but in those 2 weeks it made me miss the sd850, i just gotta live without the 3.0 LCD

Now after about a month, the line has extended completely across the screen and the thickness of the line has increased. The camera still takes good pictures, but it is extremely frustrating every time I take a picture. I would not purchase again.

We bought this camera December 18th, it stopped working January 12th. I had an 8 year old Toshiba digital camera that showed up for work everytime I turned it on.

Video also looks pretty dang good, and while not a feature I considered when buying the camera, it was something I used quite often. The controls were all easy enough to use, and while the buttons and settings aren't the best designed things in the world, after playing around with the camera for an hour or so it's not too hard to figure out the main features and how to use them (although some features remain a mystery that even the manual couldn't solve). And on to the bad.

although no optical zoom/autofocus during capture. Cons: - No USB mass device support, but gphoto2 works fine; I plug it on my Ubuntu box, run "gphoto2 -P" and all images

I am sending it back because for $300.00 I expect it to work everytime I need it to. I am so surprised that a company like Canon that makes cameras with such great picture taking quality has dropped the ball on this major defect in what seems to be all their products. Just google Canon E18 or Canon lens error and you will see what I mean.

Also, compared to the Sony T200, it fell short, which surprised me because of the Carl Zeiss lens. It does have more zoom, but the picture quality was beyond comparison from the Canon (negatively). The image stabilizer was worthless on the T200 in a slight shaking scenario (which I created in Best Buy).

Everytime I'd open my camera case to take a pic the camera would already be on. Also a few pics would have white spots and at first I thought the lens was dirty but i read at the canon website that it occurs when theres a dirty/dusty spot. So I only had the camera 2 weeks but in those 2 weeks it made me miss the sd850, i just gotta live without the 3.0 LCD

I prefer to use the image stabilizer and High ISO mode and no flash. I've been able to take some FANTASTIC indoor shots that capture the mood of the environment far better than the flash-heavy, sterile-looking images that all point and shoot cameras seem to take when in automatic mode with the flash turned on. These shots are better than the ones I'd be able to take by hand holding my Digital Rebel XTI -- no I have not yet taken the plunge and purchased an image stabilizing lens for it.

That would not increase the camera cost like a good Leica / Zeiss lens might. Had I not discovered a method to automatically correct my images in batch, I would probably return this camera because I hate lens distortion.

Please comment on how my lens correction parameters work for you, if you have a chance to try clens or fulla. "apt-get install hugin-tools" will install fulla on Ubuntu & Debian Linux with no effort.

So, I tried cleaning the lens and the artifact remained. The artifact I speak of is a consistent patch of darker color on the picture.

If you take a picture of a building or picture frame so it almost fills the photo, you'll see lines severely bent at all 4 edges of the screen. Thankfully there is free software that corrects lens distortion, like fulla (part of hugin-tools) and clens, which use a free version of the commercial PTLens software camera/lens database.

The Panasonic DMC-TZ3 which I tried did not have this problem. I think the Canon's flash is too close to the lens. If Canon moved the flash to the corner of the camera furthest from the lens it would reduce the problem.

And just because it's small doesn't mean you can't add to it. I actually made a diffuser out of bubble wrap to fit over the lens, and it's amazing how much more warm and full the pictures are (for up close portraits that is).

I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because it is a great camera that takes great pictures. If yours is one that does not have an error, you will be pleased, but I would be nervous wondering when it was going to quit working. The close up picture taking was very good.

The pictures are like you were actually there, but I will admit that at the higher ISO setting, it can get a little fuzzy, but not too bad. The image stabilizer feature sold me on this model. I was looking at the SD750, but it lacked that feature.

When taking pictures at night outdoor (or even indoor with low lights), there are couple of vertical lines appeared on the LCD screen. Is it normal? Do I have a defective camera?

So far with Canon, pictures came out too grainy, shadows, too dark, too bright and colors come out weird!!! So, I need help, does anyone know ONE setting that works for every occasion and pictures come out just how you see it. I spent many hours to figure out but so far no good results I would appreicate inputs.

Now after about a month, the line has extended completely across the screen and the thickness of the line has increased. The camera still takes good pictures, but it is extremely frustrating every time I take a picture. I would not purchase again.

It would take some great pictures but it was inexplicably inconsistent. Still, it was a fine camera that took a lot of abuse. Still works but it has a too-small display and we were ready to change after 5 years with it.

Despite its diminutive size, it takes very good pictures -- not as good as what I get with my DSLR, but clearly superior to compact cameras of two years ago.

Need to get an RMA. Also default auto-ISO pictures are too grainy. I've not tried non-auto settings yet.

I found that taking outdoor night pictures at a higher ISO make for better photographs. I tried taking a picture at 1600 ISO and was disappointed by the amount of noise in the picture.

I have problems with indoor pictures. The background either comes out too dark (so does people in the background) or subjects come out too bright. In addition, I have hard time getting the pictures of moving objects (especially kids) indoor and outdoor.

When taking pictures at night outdoor (or even indoor with low lights), there are couple of vertical lines appeared on the LCD screen. Is it normal? Do I have a defective camera?

Now after about a month, the line has extended completely across the screen and the thickness of the line has increased. The camera still takes good pictures, but it is extremely frustrating every time I take a picture. I would not purchase again.

(The red dots showed up on the view finder and on the computer screen). Without hassle, Amazon sent me another one. The other one worked fine until it developed an artifact.

The weather proof aspect was not as important as I have always managed to keep the camera dry stored in double zip lock bags, in the worst conditions. After weeks of research, I became discouraged and started thinking about settling for a model without a viewfinder. I read a review of this camera by a snowboarder who did not mention screen visibility in the sun, which I took as a good sign.

I received my camera a week ago and today it just died on me. The screen turns on shows the Canon screen then fades out.

If you take a picture of a building or picture frame so it almost fills the photo, you'll see lines severely bent at all 4 edges of the screen. Thankfully there is free software that corrects lens distortion, like fulla (part of hugin-tools) and clens, which use a free version of the commercial PTLens software camera/lens database.

Excellent screen clarity and brightness, the only drawback so far is the lack of a viewfinder, which helps me in focusing in on more distant objects (geese flying, etc.). But that is a minor inconvenience.

If you have even low light conditions, you won't need a flash and yet the pictures (on a computer screen at least) aren't grainy.

(Olympus Stylus 400) It' screen is not visible at all in bright light. I used it mostly while hiking and backpacking, so there is often bright sun and the viewfinder is essential.

The image stabilization is superb, even when you're zoomed to the max and a little wiggle would make things blurry. The camera itself is very nice looking, especially that 3 inch screen on the back. Buttons are a bit cramped so if you have large fingers, might want to check out a display model first.

On manual, I had the choice of a blurry mess at 800ISO, or a moderately less blurry mess at 1600 iso that was so grainy it looked rather like an old newspaper photo. The other digital cameras in the group were quite capable of taking a photo of people with the castle in the background and exposing them correctly while capturing the glowing castle, but the 870 was not. Of course, no inexpensive camera is going to function all that well in darkness, and I wouldn't expect it to.

Good image quality - The camera should shine in ideal conditions, and allow you enough control to get a good image when conditions are not ideal. The perfect camera would have good low-light (high iso) performance, but it seems that's nearly impossible to find in a point-and-shoot these days. At the very least, iso 400 should not look like a poorly-tuned TV.

The pictures are like you were actually there, but I will admit that at the higher iso setting, it can get a little fuzzy, but not too bad. The image stabilizer feature sold me on this model. I was looking at the SD750, but it lacked that feature.

It's image quality and high-iso performance are also on par with the Canon. Unfortunately, the Fujifilm has a very boring 35-105mm zoom. The Canon Powershot SD870IS is a very nimble photographic tool that's ready to respond to creative opportunity very quickly.

The colors are beautiful, thanks to the modern image sensor and the latest Digic III image processor. There is no detectable noise up to iso 400. Images are grainy but largely usable at iso 1600.

I prefer to use the image stabilizer and High iso mode and no flash. I've been able to take some FANTASTIC indoor shots that capture the mood of the environment far better than the flash-heavy, sterile-looking images that all point and shoot cameras seem to take when in automatic mode with the flash turned on. These shots are better than the ones I'd be able to take by hand holding my Digital Rebel XTI -- no I have not yet taken the plunge and purchased an image stabilizing lens for it.

- High iso mode is a bit grainy - Camera should charge when plugged into USB -- it does not. - I wish it had a fill flash mode -- if it does I can't find it.

Need to get an RMA. Also default auto-iso pictures are too grainy. I've not tried non-auto settings yet.

I found that taking outdoor night pictures at a higher iso make for better photographs. I tried taking a picture at 1600 iso and was disappointed by the amount of noise in the picture.

This will force the camera to use iso 80 whenever it can and only increase the iso only when necessary. At iso 200 and above, noise in the image becomes more apparent. Taking video with the image stabilization is a treat.

I agree with other reviews that finding a way to hold this camera is not intuitively obvious. You have to work with it to find a way to hold it without getting a finger in front of the flash, or to hold it with one hand. I think that is the price you pay when you buy a small camera that has almost the whole back taken up by an LCD display.

I prefer to use the image stabilizer and High ISO mode and no flash. I've been able to take some FANTASTIC indoor shots that capture the mood of the environment far better than the flash-heavy, sterile-looking images that all point and shoot cameras seem to take when in automatic mode with the flash turned on. These shots are better than the ones I'd be able to take by hand holding my Digital Rebel XTI -- no I have not yet taken the plunge and purchased an image stabilizing lens for it.

- High ISO mode is a bit grainy - Camera should charge when plugged into USB -- it does not. - I wish it had a fill flash mode -- if it does I can't find it.

Worst yet, the user guide is not clear: On the page (page 71 of the user guide) that describes the flash function, it showed that these 3 flash options are available for both auto and manual mode. But on another page (page 238, almost at the end of the user guide) that has a table to show the available functions in each of the shooting mode, the "on" function is not available in the auto mode.

flash on-off. Done with the little round rocker on the back. The little round rocker on the back is small and the icons on it are hard to see for older people, like myself.

The Panasonic DMC-TZ3 which I tried did not have this problem. I think the Canon's flash is too close to the lens. If Canon moved the flash to the corner of the camera furthest from the lens it would reduce the problem.

My only complaint is that it could have more intelligence when using the flash. If you are too close, it will always overexpose. Such a simple thing to fix in the computer chip, too....

If you have even low light conditions, you won't need a flash and yet the pictures (on a computer screen at least) aren't grainy.

There are 3 flash options available: auto / on / off, but they are available on the manual mode. For auto mode, there are only 2 options: auto and off. You can not force the camera to use the flash while in the auto mode.

The flash, which I have found to be a disappointment on other digital cameras, was excellent . . .

I agree with other reviews that finding a way to hold this camera is not intuitively obvious. You have to work with it to find a way to hold it without getting a finger in front of the flash, or to hold it with one hand. I think that is the price you pay when you buy a small camera that has almost the whole back taken up by an LCD display.

It would take some great pictures but it was inexplicably inconsistent. Still, it was a fine camera that took a lot of abuse. Still works but it has a too-small display and we were ready to change after 5 years with it.

saying nothing about their portability. A bridge camera would be a good intermediate step but again, they don't exactly slip into one's pocket. The SD870 is small enough to throw in a pocket (or purse, i'm sure) and takes a quality image.

Flash on-off. Done with the little round rocker on the back. The little round rocker on the back is small and the icons on it are hard to see for older people, like myself.

Not only is it comfortable to use, but the image quality is superb. I previously owned a DSC-W80, and I was so disappointed by how muddy the picture quality was. In this age where cramming more megapixels onto small sensors is the norm, I was afraid that this 8.0mp camera would be more of the same.

OF COURSE it is not going to be perfect, OF COURSE it will have some or a lot of noise at high ISO's, OF COURSE it is not going to have super fast shooting....... These things can be had on small point and shoots but you need to pay 5-10 times what this camera costs.

And just because it's small doesn't mean you can't add to it. I actually made a diffuser out of bubble wrap to fit over the lens, and it's amazing how much more warm and full the pictures are (for up close portraits that is).

although no optical zoom/autofocus during capture. Cons: - No USB mass device support, but gphoto2 works fine; I plug it on my Ubuntu box, run "gphoto2 -P" and all images

The colors are beautiful, thanks to the modern image sensor and the latest Digic III image processor. There is no detectable noise up to ISO 400. images are grainy but largely usable at ISO 1600.

Canon's noise reduction is mild, and doesn't destroy the image. The images are a little soft/unsharp, but that is to be expected from ANY digital compact, so that's not a knock at the product.

I prefer to use the image stabilizer and High ISO mode and no flash. I've been able to take some FANTASTIC indoor shots that capture the mood of the environment far better than the flash-heavy, sterile-looking images that all point and shoot cameras seem to take when in automatic mode with the flash turned on. These shots are better than the ones I'd be able to take by hand holding my Digital Rebel XTI -- no I have not yet taken the plunge and purchased an image stabilizing lens for it.

That would not increase the camera cost like a good Leica / Zeiss lens might. Had I not discovered a method to automatically correct my images in batch, I would probably return this camera because I hate lens distortion.

While not as easy to tweak the manual settings as on a DSLR, the ergonomics of the controls and menus are very good; they are very similar to the older Canon models. I can't comment about Canon's bundled software, because I use it only to download the images off the camera -- and I have no complaints about that.

On manual, I had the choice of a blurry mess at 800ISO, or a moderately less blurry mess at 1600 ISO that was so grainy it looked rather like an old newspaper photo. The other digital cameras in the group were quite capable of taking a photo of people with the castle in the background and exposing them correctly while capturing the glowing castle, but the 870 was not. Of course, no inexpensive camera is going to function all that well in darkness, and I wouldn't expect it to.

It reads different focal lengs (how much you zoomed for each photo) from each image's EXIF header and applies the right correction parameters to it! I have a script that uses "exiftool" to copy the original's EXIF header to the corrected image, because fulla does not preserve it. fulla also did not have a JPEG quality setting, but that was added recently (I use -e 97 which produces same or slightly larger files that my camera's originals).

The only problem with these is that you experience quite a bit of blurring when there's not 100% sunlight outside, so for every good indoor photo there were 2 or 3 bad. And of course, if it happens to be dark outside, you get a huge amount of blurring. If one were to look at my photo of the Disney World castle at 7 pm, the automatic setting photo came out as a almost completely black photo with just the windows in the castle barely visible (and that thing is pretty bright).

That is probably my biggest complaint with the reviews I read on this camera, that the LCD is not good in bright sunshine. Those reviewers are wrong. Even with my poor eyesight I have no trouble framing my shot and then viewing the resulting photo in any lighting conditions except the darkest of rooms, where even a view finder would have problems.

If you take a picture of a building or picture frame so it almost fills the photo, you'll see lines severely bent at all 4 edges of the screen. Thankfully there is free software that corrects lens distortion, like fulla (part of hugin-tools) and clens, which use a free version of the commercial PTLens software camera/lens database.

When taking pictures at night outdoor (or even indoor with low lights), there are couple of vertical lines appeared on the lcd screen. Is it normal? Do I have a defective camera?

Everytime I'd open my camera case to take a pic the camera would already be on. Also a few pics would have white spots and at first I thought the lens was dirty but i read at the canon website that it occurs when theres a dirty/dusty spot. So I only had the camera 2 weeks but in those 2 weeks it made me miss the sd850, i just gotta live without the 3.0 lcd

I agree with other reviews that finding a way to hold this camera is not intuitively obvious. You have to work with it to find a way to hold it without getting a finger in front of the flash, or to hold it with one hand. I think that is the price you pay when you buy a small camera that has almost the whole back taken up by an lcd display.

That is probably my biggest complaint with the reviews I read on this camera, that the lcd is not good in bright sunshine. Those reviewers are wrong. Even with my poor eyesight I have no trouble framing my shot and then viewing the resulting photo in any lighting conditions except the darkest of rooms, where even a view finder would have problems.

I think it is worth the extra money to get the larger lcd. Having the wide angle lens and a bunch of shooting modes is just icing on the cake.