| Customer Reviews Collected from usa.canon.com |
Canon - PowerShot 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Average Customer Rating:
4.4
Rating breakdown 126 reviews
5 Stars
78
4 Stars
30
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
5
1 Star
3
82%of customers recommend this product.
(
103 out of
125)
Customer Reviews for Canon - PowerShot 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Customer Rating
5
Lovely SuperZoom
on June 18, 2010
Posted by: nikki
I bought this camera to replace my PowerShot SD790, which had a broken CCD and zoom. I was attracted by the vintage look of the camera, with the large lens and pop-up flash.
The camera feels much larger than my last PowerShot. However, its features are comparable to the PowerShot S5 IS, which is bulky and uses four AA batteries. The SX200 uses a small rechargeable battery that keeps the camera very light.
I was also impressed by the manual control that this camera has. My last camera allowed the user to use a +/- 2 value to pick the exposure of the shot as well as ISO and metering settings. This camera allows the user to choose the shutter speed, f-value, and ISO.
Those who complain that the camera takes bad quality photos or that the pictures look grainy are probably using the Auto mode, which tends to set the ISO very high.
It is also equipped with a manual focus, but it is a little difficult to use as the user needs to rotate the circle on the back of the camera to focus; the auto focus is perfectly sufficient. The macro mode is like that of any other camera, but the supermacro mode is wonderful. It can focus extremely close to the camera; I once took a picture that was roughly focused on the dust particles on the lens!
The 12X optical zoom is fantastic, especially for pictures taken outdoors. The digital zoom past that, however, produces predictably grainy photos.
Another one of the issues I have with the camera is the pop-up flash. Though photogenic and attractive, it takes some getting used to if you want to take a photo with flash. However, it can be pushed down to turn off the flash and for more comfort.
Overall, I love this camera and I think that it's a perfect buy for somebody who wants the features of a compact camera but not the weight. It doesn't have a viewfinder or hot shoe, which are the only things that are really missing from the camera. The LCD and photos are fantastic and I recommend it for beginning photographers!
Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable
Cons: Short battery life, no viewfinder
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Camera
on August 16, 2009
Posted by: Shawnster
from NYC
Takes great pix. Easy to learn, sharp and clear imagines. I am extremely satisfied with the camera. Fantastic value for the money.
It is my second PowerShot and they keep on getting better.
Web site is terrific. Answered my questions and easy to navigate..
Web site is terrific. Answered my questions and easy to navigate..
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, good battery life, durable
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
A lot of fun squeezed in a small box
on January 10, 2010
Posted by: Levi
from Gaithersburg, MD
I have been using this camera for 6 months. I am amazed by the optical zoom. I can catch smiles on my kids face from the distance that would not have been noticed with lower zoom power. Another feature I love is the wide angle. It makes a huge difference. I get much more of the foreground or background. I could take a picture of a narrow alley on a Greek island climbing up the hill with the houses in it from bottom to top.
The video mode is great. The picture is crisp and the sound is very good. It is just a bit shaky if I use the zoom.
I found that the battery life was not long enough. I changed the LCD display settings so that the screen goes to stand-by after a few seconds and now the battery goes a lot longer. The screen comes back a wee bit slower than I would want it to but it has never made me miss anything. A neat way to turn the display back on is by lightly shaking the camera.
I was very concerned about the weight and size but I can put the camera on my belt in its case when we go hiking. I was a little bitter, though, that I had to buy the case separately as the camera did not come with one.
The flash was very strange the first month or so but I am totally used to the automatic pop-up now.
I enjoy using most of the shooting modes but I could not use the continuous shooting mode to capture my kids playing. It is way too slow for that. Another thing that bothers me is the AV outlet cover. It is difficult to close properly.
My indoor pictures at home turned out OK but not super great. On the other hand, I could take pictures during an indoor rock concert that are just brilliant. They turned out much better that some of the professional photos I saw on web sites covering the event. Soon they will change the signs at the gates to “ No professional cameras or Canon PowerShotSX200.”
The video mode is great. The picture is crisp and the sound is very good. It is just a bit shaky if I use the zoom.
I found that the battery life was not long enough. I changed the LCD display settings so that the screen goes to stand-by after a few seconds and now the battery goes a lot longer. The screen comes back a wee bit slower than I would want it to but it has never made me miss anything. A neat way to turn the display back on is by lightly shaking the camera.
I was very concerned about the weight and size but I can put the camera on my belt in its case when we go hiking. I was a little bitter, though, that I had to buy the case separately as the camera did not come with one.
The flash was very strange the first month or so but I am totally used to the automatic pop-up now.
I enjoy using most of the shooting modes but I could not use the continuous shooting mode to capture my kids playing. It is way too slow for that. Another thing that bothers me is the AV outlet cover. It is difficult to close properly.
My indoor pictures at home turned out OK but not super great. On the other hand, I could take pictures during an indoor rock concert that are just brilliant. They turned out much better that some of the professional photos I saw on web sites covering the event. Soon they will change the signs at the gates to “ No professional cameras or Canon PowerShotSX200.”
Pros: Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, easy to use, wide angle, excellent video mode, zoom
Cons: Short battery life, slow continuous mode
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Camera
on February 19, 2010
Posted by: miningdolphin
I was looking for a subcompact digital camera with an optical zoom of at least 10x, and decided on this camera. I just returned from a two week trip to Europe, and after seeing the photos this camera produced, I am glad I chose this camera over other ones in its category!
The pictures turned out amazingly sharp and clear, especially when using the full 12x optical zoom.
The flash is very powerful. I can take pictures in pitch black darkness, and with the flash out I can still get a clear, bright picture.
One downside to this camera is it usually tries to focus on something just next to the main object you are trying to take a picture of. Nevertheless, the pictures still turned out very nicely. The camera is a little bulky. In an era of smaller is better, this is one of the larger digital cameras out there. On the flipside, it is one of the smaller cameras with a 12x zoom.
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this camera to anyone looking for a small camera with a great zoom.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent pocket camera
on June 13, 2010
Posted by: Jimmy O
from New Orleans
I have been using this camera for about 6 months. I've had 3 cameras from two other companies, plus a Canon SD1100 IS, Canon SD780 IS (a gift), and the Canon SX200 IS. All of the Canons beat the others for consistent quality and ratio of good shots to poor. The SD1100 is a great pocket camera. The SD780 fell into my lap and is an incredible, small pocket camera with HD video capability. The SX200 can be considered a pocket camera because it will fit in a shirt pocket, but it's a little heavy for that. I just saw the SX210 IS in a store, which should fit a shirt pocket more comfortably. You'll be hard pressed to find a better camera in a small form factor with the features and zoom of the SX200. You don't have to lug around a bulky 12 oz - 1.5 pound monster to get great long distance shots. It works just as well for normal distance shots and indoors shots. I love shooting indoors with the Indoors scene setting on the function wheel. The lighting and colors are always correct. I recently shot 131 pics over a 2 day period, all in Auto mode at an outdoor concert in a football staduim under cloudy skies and at night. Very few shots were out of focus (my fault) and the long distance shots were amazing, even using digital zoom. I didn't have to charge the battery and there was plenty of life left. You have to learn to keep your fingers away from the pop up flash, but guess what, you can do it. If you want a fantastic all-around camera that can fit in your top pocket, this is the one.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: no 3:2 aspect ratio setting
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Satisfying Camera
on February 10, 2010
Posted by: Gary
from Waverly, OH
I got my Canon SX 200 IS on Aug. 8, 09. Took over 400 pictures with it on a trip to Newfoundland (Elderhostel) in Sept. Pictures very sharp. Zoom is fantastic. I bought it for the zoom first of all. I can get great portraits of people by zooming. Takes great pictures indoors without flash at performances in an auditorium. The pop up flash is no problem at all; in fact it prevents me from getting my finger over the flash when I need to use it. I can turn the flash off and on very easily. The controls are where they ought to be. I have taken pictures of a children’s soccer game in progress which was sharp and clear and stopped the action at 38X digital zoom. It will go up to 48X digital zoom but is difficult to hold still enough to do that. I often use 12X optical zoom with no problem. I got the leather case with it and that works great on my belt. I like the dark red color. I used the feature to set camera on tripod and start the count down and got into the picture myself for a great group picture that I printed out on photographic paper and it now hangs on our wall. Camera has many controls and features which enables me to do whatever I want with it.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Great, but DUST PROBLEM
on July 16, 2010
Posted by: Kevin207
from Maine
I have had many Canon digital cameras. This camera has some very exceptional features in a camera that you can fit in a big pocket, and at least carry around all day with ease.The excellent and fast zoom and great wide angle capabilities make it a perfectly versatile camera, especially on family vacations. I have used the digital macro feature as a telescope...it is simply an amazing tool to check out the world in a different way.
I have a big problem now though, due to DUST ACCUMULATING INSIDE THE ZOOM LENS. It seems that the dust gets in through the edges of the telescoping zoom lens rings. I keep it in my pocket a lot when traveling and walking around as a tourist. There is no way to clean the dust off the inside of the lens. Now the dust shows up on movies I take. Maybe I can ask Canon to clean it for a fee, but I fear it is not a service that they provide (or it might be simply be too cost prohibitive to do it). I will contact them, but need a camera in the mean time.
I will probably buy the newer PowerShot SX210 IS, and then try to get my current SX200 IS disassembled and cleaned by Canon.
The camera is great, but I highly recommend trying to keep it in a case or something, and not in your pocket.
Pros: amazing zoom, amazing digital macro feature, great sound in movies
Cons: dust gets trapped in this excellent lens
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Super camera
on December 6, 2009
Posted by: Hank
from Waxhaw, NC
I am very happy with this camera. Especially i find the video is real clear. Some reviews complained about the pop-up flash but it hasn't bothered me at all.I bought the 5 hour battery and the high speed 8 gigabyte memory card ,which I'm very happy with
Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, easy to use
Cons: Complicated controls/menu
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com