| 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
A terrific point and shoot
on May 29, 2009
Posted by: Mike
I love this camera. It produces beautiful shots, it's easy to use, it has every manual feature I want in a point and shoot, it shoots HD video -- and it looks amazing. Even simply switching it on and off is fun.
If you're comfortable with manual controls but don't like to read the instruction booklet, this camera's interface does a great job of explaining the options you have chosen (unless you choose to turn of the hints feature, which you can also do). You can choose from a large number of scene modes (including a cool ISO 3200 function that lets you take pictures in a dark room without using a flash), full manual exposure, program, auto, or if you're like my parents and you're not interested in pressing any button at all besides the shutter, you can put the camera in easy mode and it doesn't burden you with any choices. The advantage to this is that if you're thinking of buying a camera that multiple people in a family will use, everyone can be happy with both the shooting process and with the quality of the resulting images.
I love the controls. As much as I drool over the 3 physical dials on the top of the canon G10, it is simple and easy to navigate the virtual menus of the sx200. The spinning dial allows for very efficient control. I like the canon button/wheel design so much that it makes me cringe a little bit when I pick up other cameras these days because they often have much clumsier interfaces.
The camera is not tiny, but it is small enough that I often carry it in the front pocket of my jeans in a neoprene case. It makes a little bit of a bulge in my pocket, but frankly so do my keys and my phone which I carry in my other pocket and no one really notices either.
One of the biggest complaints other people make about this camera is the way the flash pops up when you switch it on. This is not a problem at all, and I don't understand why some people think it is! Yes, the flash physically pops up out of the camera body (which is nice, because it increases the distance between the flash unit and the lens but still allows for a more compact body).
What commentators don't seem to understand about it, though, is that the flash is easily disabled. When the mode dial is set to P, it takes me less than 3 seconds to press the on/off button, wait for the camera to start up (less than a second), press the flash button, and spin the dial to toggle the flash setting between on, off, auto, and slow synch. Really, it never would have occurred to me that the flash was an issue if I didn't keep reading about it.
Just to say one more thing about it -- if the flash really bothers you, pushing the flash back into the camera body doesn't damage the camera. If you have the camera set to flash every time but you push the flash down with your finger, you can see on the screen that the camera has registered this and the flash-on symbol on the screen turns to a flash-off symbol. So if you really really really care about the flash and it isn't enough for you to simply disable it, just tape the thing down! It's not a big deal.
What commentators don't seem to understand about it, though, is that the flash is easily disabled. When the mode dial is set to P, it takes me less than 3 seconds to press the on/off button, wait for the camera to start up (less than a second), press the flash button, and spin the dial to toggle the flash setting between on, off, auto, and slow synch. Really, it never would have occurred to me that the flash was an issue if I didn't keep reading about it.
Just to say one more thing about it -- if the flash really bothers you, pushing the flash back into the camera body doesn't damage the camera. If you have the camera set to flash every time but you push the flash down with your finger, you can see on the screen that the camera has registered this and the flash-on symbol on the screen turns to a flash-off symbol. So if you really really really care about the flash and it isn't enough for you to simply disable it, just tape the thing down! It's not a big deal.
I do have a gripe or two, however. My biggest complaint is that the continuous shooting mode is slow. Don't expect to get more than about one shot per second. I have an a Canon XSi (which I also love) which can handle 3 or 4 shots per second, so if I'm trying to make sure I don't miss important action, I know to bring the SLR instead of (or in addition to) this point and shoot. But for portraits or landscapes or other everyday snapshots, the sx200's continuous shot speed is just fine (and perhaps the fact that this camera shoots beautiful HD video makes its continuous shooting speed a moot point).
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life, durable, looks great, wide angle of lens
Cons: slow continuous shooting
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent in every aspect
on July 1, 2009
Posted by: Michael Z.
from Washington DC
Choosing a camera can be a tough decision. It took me ages reading reviews and looking at sample shots...finally I decided to buy the Canon Powershot SX200IS and it is better than I expected. It is one of the most complete cameras on the market. A few highlights: The lense: Image Stabilisation works extremely well, 12x Optical zoom is a dream. Full manual control gives you creative freedom. The Super macro mode is also an excellent example of the full pack of features you get with this camera. And last but not least HD video. The only thing I long for is the possibility to zoom whilst recording video (perhaps a firmware upgrade can address this, Canon?)
In short; a higly recomended camera!
Pros: Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, image stabilisation works perfectly
Cons: no zoom whilst filming
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
feature packed attractive camera
on April 30, 2009
Posted by: Hoosier photographer
from Clay City, In
First let me say that it is an amazing little camera.
If you want a 3” LCD in a small package, there is no room for an optical viewfinder. The screen is very bright so it’s no big loss.
I miss the rechargeable AA batteries but I was willing to give that up for smaller size and less weight. When you have a 12x zoom lens you can expect shorter battery life with a small, light-weight lithium ion battery.
The grip is not as firm as my old 720 IS but it is still manageable.
The popup flash is little annoying. Given the huge size of that lens I would guess they had to elevate the flash. I just wish it didn’t pop-up when you have the flash set off.
Bottom Line:
Selecting a camera is always a compromise between features, performance, handling, size, image quality and cost.
I think Canon packed a remarkable amount of features in a compact package and retained a high quality image. The camera has the full range of user exposure controls and that is one of the major selection criteria for me.
As a bonus Canon wrapped it all in a striking package.
Well done, Canon
Pros: easy to use, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, very attractive
Cons: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Camera...
on July 21, 2009
Posted by: Shurik
from Tulsa
Bought the camera a couple weeks before it was sold here at canon. Using it for around 3 month now.
the Sx200 is a great camera! looks good, performs great. Has lots of settings.
Zoom/lens on this camera is great! love it! takes awsome pictures if you know what you're doing, but if you don't it still has pretty nice quality.
the only downside I can think on this product is it's poor battery life =( it did let me down a couple times. Guess I would have to buy an extra one, cause the battery runs out quick.
Overall it's a great camera, no problems so far.
the Sx200 is a great camera! looks good, performs great. Has lots of settings.
Zoom/lens on this camera is great! love it! takes awsome pictures if you know what you're doing, but if you don't it still has pretty nice quality.
the only downside I can think on this product is it's poor battery life =( it did let me down a couple times. Guess I would have to buy an extra one, cause the battery runs out quick.
Overall it's a great camera, no problems so far.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Lightweight/Portable
Cons: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding
on March 28, 2010
Posted by: Bill
from Florence SC and Sturgeon Bay WI
This is our fourth Canon Power Shot. Each has had progressively improved capabilities. Our first Canon was a G1 purchased 9 years ago. The high resolution and macro lens capabilities of the SX200 IS provides outstanding images. I bought this for my wife, she loves to take artistic photographs. She is planning on entering a photo contest here in SC. She has already won several awards with her photos that she has taken with her Canon Power Shot. She also takes photos of Jewelry that she sells on E-Bay. The photos with the macro lens look like they were taken under a microscope.
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
5
10days & 900+ shots
on May 21, 2009
Posted by: Woody
I just got back from a 10 day trip to Austria & Germany were the camera performed very well. I rarely used the flash do to the low light performance of the camera. The only problem that I had was with the battery. Either the battery meter doesn’t let you know soon enough or I was busy snapping away and didn’t notice until it started blinking. At that point I still got off a dozen more shots. I found myself changing the battery after every 200 or so shots without a problem and had a spare. Other than the battery everything else worked well and it takes great shots.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance
Cons: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Great Camera
on May 2, 2009
Posted by: NT
from Sacramento, CA
I have purchased and returned numerous cameras over the last two week due to poor image quality and not enough features. I have always been a fan of Canon and own a PowerShot S3 IS. However, I wanted something smaller to fit in my pocket but also have great features. I find other name brands limited in features and quality. I was very happy when I purchased the SX200. It has the 12 Optical zoom and HD movie which are very important to me and also loaded with other great features. I am still testing it out but so far, very good camera.
I love the quality of the pictures it produces in various setting. It is fairly simply to use and has numerous mode dial that comes preselected. It is easy to select the mode then point and shoot.
For those who prefer manual control, those options are also available. I love the quality of the pictures with the preselected options and don't think I will need the manual controls as much. It has a 1 to 2 seconds delay when taking continuous pictures.
Only negative, does not have a viewfinder. However, the LCD UV 3.00" totally makes up for it.
It is not cheap; however, you pay for what you get!
I strongly recommend this camera to those who love all the loaded features this camera provides but small enough so you can travel and enjoy it.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable, durable
Cons: Short battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great buy
on June 27, 2010
Posted by: Jusaphotonut
from CA
I bought this camera mainly because of the super macro.
I deal a lot in coins and stamps. I need to take pictures in macro all the time.
Since purchasing a macro lens for my DSLR would have cost me in the neighbor hood of about $700 dollars I decided to give this a try. Even a macro for my DSLR would not have as much detail.
I am in awe at the amount of detail that this camera produces even at less then an inch away. I carry this camera with me every where and I am pleased at the versatility that this camera has.
I would recommend this camera to anyone if it is too hard to carry a large camera all the time and you are just looking for a point and shoot.
I deal a lot in coins and stamps. I need to take pictures in macro all the time.
Since purchasing a macro lens for my DSLR would have cost me in the neighbor hood of about $700 dollars I decided to give this a try. Even a macro for my DSLR would not have as much detail.
I am in awe at the amount of detail that this camera produces even at less then an inch away. I carry this camera with me every where and I am pleased at the versatility that this camera has.
I would recommend this camera to anyone if it is too hard to carry a large camera all the time and you are just looking for a point and shoot.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com