Customer reviews from usa.canon.com
Canon - PowerShot 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Average customer rating
4.5
(219 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 219 reviews
5 Stars
145
4 Stars
46
3 Stars
16
2 Stars
9
1 Star
3
87%of customers recommend this product.
(
191 out of
219)
Customer Reviews for Canon - PowerShot 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Customer Rating
2
bad quality
on March 10, 2010
Posted by: Mosk
from new york
no matter the mode I use the macros and the optical zoomed pictures are just fair, and when I zoom the pictures in my computer, the details are unsatisfactory. This in my opinion is a simple camera for a begginer or for the family but not intended to take high quality pictures. I wil sell it and buy another.
Pros: good optical zoom, nice design
Cons: Poor image quality, Short battery life, lac of detailed contrast
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Amazing Zoom
on March 10, 2010
Posted by: Firefly
from Des Moines, Iowa
Pros: Still learning features of this camera, but love the zoom. It also takes great night shots, clear and sharp. The AA batteries are a plus, as is the LCD screen - very versatile. I would certainly recommend this camera to my friends and family.
Cons: The lens cover seems cheaply made, no way to attach a cord to keep from losing it, and the cover falls off easily. Some lag time between ability to take multiple shots.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, easy to use
Cons: poor lens cover construction
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
on March 9, 2010
Posted by: Anonymous
I like this camera. Convenient and very qualitative.
Pros: Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, easy to use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
A good reason NOT to by a DSLR
on March 9, 2010
Posted by: hal9600
from El Cajon, California
After losing my travel camera to a burglar, I decided to look at lower end DLSRs to replace it, until I came across the SX20. This is an excellent camera for those who are tired of the tiny point & shoot cameras, but who don’t need (or want) the complexity (or cost) of a DSLR.
The camera has an impressive optical zoom – going from 28mm to 560mm (35mm equivalent), built in image stabilization, and a nice 12.1 meg. resolution that allows portrait sized photos, or cropping without losing clarity.
It also has some nice internal tricks such as being able to adjust color balance to compensate for shooting indoors without a flash (no more yellow photos), enhancing blue sky for outdoor photos, or shooting in black/white or sepia. Currently the camera only saves in JPG format, not RAW.
Another great feature is being able to zoom in and out while using the video mode, and being able to take photos while you are recording a video.
But the feature I am enjoying the most is the swivel LCD screen. You can fold it up against the body to protect it when it is in the camera case, or when you are using the viewfinder. When the screen is open to the side, you can rotate it so you can put the camera very low to the ground or high up in the air (like when you are shooting above a crowd), or you can rotate it 180 and take photos of yourself and a friend or two.
The camera uses a SD memory card and 4 AA batteries, both of which are easy to find while you are on vacation so you don’t have to miss a shot because you forgot to charge a battery pack (happened to me in London).
The only thing that I have issue with, and the ONLY reason I didn’t give 5 stars is that the camera cannot accept a screw on filter even though it is 52mm diameter lens.
Other than that one issue, this is an excellent camera and I look forward to taking it to England next year.
The camera has an impressive optical zoom – going from 28mm to 560mm (35mm equivalent), built in image stabilization, and a nice 12.1 meg. resolution that allows portrait sized photos, or cropping without losing clarity.
It also has some nice internal tricks such as being able to adjust color balance to compensate for shooting indoors without a flash (no more yellow photos), enhancing blue sky for outdoor photos, or shooting in black/white or sepia. Currently the camera only saves in JPG format, not RAW.
Another great feature is being able to zoom in and out while using the video mode, and being able to take photos while you are recording a video.
But the feature I am enjoying the most is the swivel LCD screen. You can fold it up against the body to protect it when it is in the camera case, or when you are using the viewfinder. When the screen is open to the side, you can rotate it so you can put the camera very low to the ground or high up in the air (like when you are shooting above a crowd), or you can rotate it 180 and take photos of yourself and a friend or two.
The camera uses a SD memory card and 4 AA batteries, both of which are easy to find while you are on vacation so you don’t have to miss a shot because you forgot to charge a battery pack (happened to me in London).
The only thing that I have issue with, and the ONLY reason I didn’t give 5 stars is that the camera cannot accept a screw on filter even though it is 52mm diameter lens.
Other than that one issue, this is an excellent camera and I look forward to taking it to England next year.
Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, easy to use, that fabulous swivel screen, uses aa batteries, can use a speedlight flash
Cons: not threaded for a filter
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding Camera
on March 8, 2010
Posted by: Gunner
from Mansfield, TX
I love the zoom capabilities and the overabundance of features. The only thing I have a problem with is the slight delay in the image capture. I often take candid shots of my active grandchildren and miss the moment I’m trying to get because of the delay.
Pros: Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, easy to use
Cons: delay of image capture
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Quality pictures, easy to use
on March 8, 2010
Posted by: Lady Dog Trainer
from Edgerton, MO
This camera is easy to use, takes good quality pictures to use for my website, and quality pictures to enlarge for my wall. Has helped in the sale of my dogs because the color of the pictures is so much better than my last camera. The richness is so much better, now I don't have to "play" with the pictures to send them to prospective buyers. Also, sports pictures are better than a camera that I rented from a local camera store that retails for almost 3 times the price. The ONLY problem I have with the this camera, and it may just be that I haven't figured it out yet, but I can't seem to turn off the "beeps" when the camera is focusing or turning on. The kids acedemic bowl and spelling bees are too quiet to have the beeping all the time. I'll keep reading the manual though... maybe I just missed it. Overall a nice camera. Takes good pictures indoors and out. My daugher likes it because she can turn the LCD screen all the way around and see herself taking a picture of herself... which she does often, as most teens do... ;)
Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, easy to use, large lcd screen, lcd screen swivels, red-eye reduction
Cons: Short battery life, Heavy/Bulky, noisey
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Simply Amazing
on March 8, 2010
Posted by: Meg
from Ohio
This camera is truly amazing. The quality is wonderful and I wish I could post a few pictures to accompany this review. To be honest I did not know all the features of the camera when I purchased it. I was impressed by the zoom and quality that was shown through the display screen. I really thought the pivoting screen was unique and it wasn't until I got it home that I realized the screen flipped around and clicked into place to display like most digital cameras. I recently went to a festival and used the screens agility to my advantage. It helped me raise the camera far above my head with the screen facing down to my point of view so I could take pictures above other audience members heads to avoid those photos that would be wonderful if it weren't for the first row of "back of the head shots". The movable screen also helps in taking self-portraits and being satisfied with the first shot. Now this is where I decided I would write a review. It was snowing and I decided to take a picture of myself in the snow. Once I got the photo on my computer it was an expanded view and I could not believe the beautiful quality. The camera had captured a snow flake in my hair, it looked as if it were under a microscope. Being able to zoom while taking video was a wonderful surprise as well. The only con was every now and then if I just carelessly take a photo it seems to blur but that is by my own hand and movement. I have not took a blurry photo since by holding the grip more firmly. Really I have no complaints and feel that it is well worth the price!
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, 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
Wonderful Camera!
on March 7, 2010
Posted by: chels
from Lenoir, NC
I absolutely love this camera. Every picture I take with it makes me feel like a professional. It has a ton of features that makes every picture turn out great. I recommend reading the manual it will help out with a lot of questions. The zoom is incrediable one of favorite parts of the camera. I would give this camera two thumbs up! :)
Pros: Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, easy to use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com