Suitability of a Canon IXUS 800 IS (UK) for someone with a tremor?

Question

(US equivalent Canon camera is PowerShot SD700 IS) I have a fine tremor due to a medical condition - sometimes not bad but at other times worse. Is the image stabilisation on this camera likely to be effective for me? Is this the best model to chose?

Ah yes the oh so cool alix is right a tripod is the answer in some situations.

Answer 1

I have the Ixus 800 IS (SD 700 IS)...and it's a very nice little camera.
The optical image stabiliser (O.I.S.) on compact cameras can be of great benefit, especially when a slower shutter is used...and I think it could help you in certain situations when your hands are not perfectly steady (like most of us).
Here is an excerpt from a well-known review page...
"With the SD700, the stabilizer is even more valuable since the lens, at the maximum telephoto setting, has an aperture of f5.5 — a noticeably smaller aperture than the f2.8 available at the wide-angle end — which could increase the likelihood of camera-shake.

The stabilizer allows the use of a slower shutter speed, which would otherwise require the use of a tripod, or some other means of stabilizing the camera, to avoid camera-shake which causes a blurred image".

However...there is another compact camera available, that does not need an optical image stabiliser. It has high ISO capability (800, 1600 even 3200)...so it performs very well in low-light (handheld, without flash).
It's the Fujifilm Finepix F30 and I would recommend it if you like to do a lot of low light shooting.

Excerpt of review...
"Higher light sensitivities allow the FinePix F30 to shoot with faster shutter speeds, which lessen the likelihood of blurry pictures caused by ever-active children, fidgety pets, dim ambient light or camera movement due to an unsteady hand".

Overall, any compact camera with O.I.S. should be of benefit to most people. Sony and Panasonic also have a very good O.I.S. system in their cameras, however I would not recommend Panasonic, due to it's excessive 'noise' issues..even at low ISOs.
Canon is the brand I would choose..due to it's excellent optics & reputation.

Answer 2

Don't ask this again!!!
http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/ http://thecoolwebsite2005.tripod.com/