Canon SD750 Optics

Zoom
Fairly good performance from the 3x optical zoom lens, though noticeable blurring in the corners.

The Canon Powershot SD750 has an optical zoom equivalent to a 35-105mm range, which is about average among consumer digital cameras. Results were just okay at wide angle, with noticeable corner softness and coma distortion. Results at telephoto were also a bit soft in the corners and edges. Digital zoom is a little too soft, and not recommended in this case.

Macro
A tiny macro area with excellent detail and high resolution. Flash exposure was very uneven up close.

The Canon Powershot SD750's macro setting performed well, capturing a very small minimum area of 1.39 x 1.04 inches (35 x 27 millimeters). Detail and resolution were both very good, though there's a small amount of softening in the corners from the lens. (Most cameras have some softening in the corners in macro mode.) The flash produced a very uneven exposure here, with a very strong overexposure in the top left corner of the frame. Plan on using external lighting for your closest macro shots with the Powershot SD750.

Distortion
Low barrel distortion, and very low pincushion.

This is the tendency for the lens to bend straight lines outward (like a barrel -- usually at wide angle) or inward (like a pincushion -- usually at telephoto). The Canon Powershot SD750's 0.5% barrel distortion at wide angle is actually a little less than average among the cameras we've tested, although still somewhat noticeable in images. At the telephoto end, the SD750's distortion was very low, only about one pixel, or less than 0.1%.

Chromatic aberration
High at wide angle, noticeable effect on images at edges.

Chromatic aberration is rather high at wide angle, showing about 13+ pixels of somewhat bright coloration on either side of the target lines. At telephoto, the effect is lower, showing only about 4-5 pixels, and is a little less bright. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.) At wide angle, the effect is noticeable in images, and is partly exaggerated by corner softness.

Corner Sharpness
Some softening in the corners of the frame.

The Canon Powershot SD750 produced soft corners in a few shots. At wide angle, corners were quite soft compared to the center of the frame. At telephoto, corners were still a bit blurry, but not quite as soft as at wide angle.

Coverage
Good accuracy with the LCD monitor.

The Canon Powershot SD750's LCD monitor produced good results here, with right about 100% accuracy at both zoom settings. Excellent results overall.