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
5
Great Camera
on January 1, 2010
Posted by: lil64gto
from Upstate New York
I have owned a few other digital cameras and this one by far is the best that I have had. I got this as a Christmas gift from my oldest son and I have taken over 350 pictures already.
This is a very user friendly camera and has a lot of special effects to make your pictures look much better.
While I really wanted an SLR, this camera will be a great second choice. I would definately recomment this to anyone who is looking for a high quality, high performing digital camera.
This is a very user friendly camera and has a lot of special effects to make your pictures look much better.
While I really wanted an SLR, this camera will be a great second choice. I would definately recomment this to anyone who is looking for a high quality, high performing digital camera.
Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: doesn't support other flash units
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Outdoor Images Amazing, Indoor so-so
on December 28, 2009
Posted by: Anonymous
This camera is great with outdoor images. The foliage feature is great for feathers and leaves, as well as animals in the water or in the air. The zoom works great outdoors. As you zoom in, the image quality doesn't decrease! Face detection is great. Auto mode is useless. Macro is also poor unless outdoors, like shooting small insects. Amazing colors indoors and out. Low light indoors is poor unless with flash, then it's perfect. Like the pop-up flash but you have to lift it manually. viewfinder is amazing. The LCD is so bright but adjusting the angle is a little awkward. Menus are a bit complicated but the hints at the bottom are extremely helpful for amateurs. By far, the clickwheel is the most unique feature of the entire camera. it' so helpful for flipping through menus and reviewing all the pictures. Overall I would rate this camera 8/10. Great for anybody.
Pros: excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, outdoor images, flash, 20x zoom
Cons: Missing features/settings, Poor Low-Light Performance, bad macro, sometimes can't focus
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Performance & Price = Value
on December 27, 2009
Posted by: Mr. Remark
from Macclenny, FL
I bought this camera as my Christmas present from my wife. It is my third Canon. My other two (the Powershot A610 and Powershot SD1000) are terrific; so I decided on this Canon over my second choice, which most review sites compare it. After practicing with most of the features, I used it for three days and nights at Disney World. The Auto Mode works as good as any; and using the Scene Mode set to ISO 3200 for night shots without a flash was great. The stabilization really helped capture those night scenes. Following are my thoughts about the Canon Powershot SX20IS.
PROS
1) Fast auto focus to capture to write speed for a mega zoom camera.
2) Two speed zoom.
3) Able to zoom while recording video. HD is excellent. Separate Movie button is handy.
4) AA batteries. The Digic 4 helps prolong battery usage.
5) Great Menu and Function systems.
6) Good lens shade design.
7) Diopter adjustment is smooth and easy to use.
8) Articulating LCD. Good for self-portraits, shooting behind the back, overhead, or foot level.
9) Review button can function as a power button to view captured shots/videos without the lens being extended.
2) Two speed zoom.
3) Able to zoom while recording video. HD is excellent. Separate Movie button is handy.
4) AA batteries. The Digic 4 helps prolong battery usage.
5) Great Menu and Function systems.
6) Good lens shade design.
7) Diopter adjustment is smooth and easy to use.
8) Articulating LCD. Good for self-portraits, shooting behind the back, overhead, or foot level.
9) Review button can function as a power button to view captured shots/videos without the lens being extended.
CONS
1) No rubber grip around battery holder.
2) No tether on lens cap. Cap does stay on lens barrel. I never had it dislodged when putting the camera in or taking it out of my camera bag. A big problem with some camera lens caps.
3) No separate LCD/EVF button.
4) DISP button should list four view options.
5) Indicator lamp should be positioned next to the Short Cut Button.
6) Camera is heavy, but its weight is distributed well.
2) No tether on lens cap. Cap does stay on lens barrel. I never had it dislodged when putting the camera in or taking it out of my camera bag. A big problem with some camera lens caps.
3) No separate LCD/EVF button.
4) DISP button should list four view options.
5) Indicator lamp should be positioned next to the Short Cut Button.
6) Camera is heavy, but its weight is distributed well.
CONCLUSION
The main question is: Would I purchase this camera again? Definitely YES. Even though I listed six negatives, only #6 is really a problem; especially if you have been using a compact camera. The first five CONS should be considered by Canon for their next model. While on the Jungle Cruise at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, I had to shoot with the camera pointed away from me. Not a problem since I could swivel the LCD for the view before I took the shot. This was a great feature of the A610. Too bad Canon decided to abandon it from its current A series. If you are an occasional photo shooter, then alkaline batteries will suffice. Otherwise, get rechargeable NiMH batteries with a charger that can charge 1-4 batteries individually, has a battery discharge feature, and has individual LCD strength indicators for each battery. Make sure the charger has the AC prongs attached that fold into the back of the charger.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu
Cons: Missing features/settings, Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
EXCELLENT WITH BASIC UNDERSTANDINGS
on December 26, 2009
Posted by: Photoman
from Baltimore, MD
When I first used the camera on the auto and indoor settings in a poorly-lit indoor environment using a freehand technique, my pictures were very blurry and dark. Once I understood and utilized recommended practices and understood the controls, my pictures in the same poor-lighting situation were Absolutely Beyond Crystal Clear ! This is the best advice you can receive for this camera: If using a freehand technique, take a wide stance with your feet, stabilize your arms against your body, hold your breath while taking the picture to eliminate camera shake, slowly press the button to take the picture down enough to check the focus, then continue to slowly press the button until the picture is taken. No Jerky movements. If you can use a tri-pod, USE IT as often as possible. You will achieve optimum picture quality more frequent with a tri-pod. Practice in poor-lighting settings and fast-motion like shower water running as they will be the hardest pictures to capture effectively. Learn when to juggle aperature, shutter speed and distance. Also, lighting and positioning is important as well. Practice identifying different lighting conditions so when you arrive to an event, you recognize what you are dealing with and take some practice photos to configure your settings to produce high quality photos before you are actually put in the position to capture moments. Learning the camera settings, basic photography principles and practices will make you a pretty good photographer for basic events like birthday, holiday, etc.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, 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
on December 25, 2009
Posted by: Anonymous
from Florida
I just got this camera today for Christmas, it's AMAZING.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, 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
Good Purchase
on December 24, 2009
Posted by: georgus
from California
I have been using Canon cameras for years. I've owned a variety of their cameras over the years from their point and shoot line to the digital EOS line. I purchased this camera to replace my S5 IS, and I was happily surprised at the improved focusing, especially on closeup shots using the zoom. I did prefer the S5 menu setup though. The menu setup on this camera seems to have become more complicated with similar features. A 3" LCD would be nice too given the price point.
If I was forced to come up with a significant con, I would have to say the low light peformance on Auto. If one goes into the low light feature, or manual settings, it works just fine though, in my experience. I do recommend getting a flash for the hot shoe if you are going to take a considerable amount of pictures in low light in large spaces though.
Overall, a great camera.
Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, easy to use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Superb Upgrade
on December 22, 2009
Posted by: Swampyank
from Athens, Ga
Upgraded from SX31s - so far has proved to be a fantastic choice - excellent all around - no manual you can pack in your back a bummer though.
Great alternative to carrying my DSLR for those spur of the moment occasions while still delivering images of comparable quality.
Great alternative to carrying my DSLR for those spur of the moment occasions while still delivering images of comparable quality.
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
3
SX20IS
on December 21, 2009
Posted by: sunset 1
from UK
Over all the camera is not to bad , But the controls are horrible ,they need putting back how they were on the S3is and S5is (the Dpad) these were brilliant easy to use and let you adjust the settings on target without you having to take the camera from your eye to look at the change button.And as for the hint top right in the view finder is a joke , I was taking a picture of a oak tree at about 120 yards and it flashes up portrait . And in manual mode . Manual means I choose the setting , I dont want the camera tell me if I choose ,1200ss - iso 80- I carnt have f8, Manual should mean manual means I choose . And it needs the setting controls put back into Auto, ie light sources and focus point, as for the zoom focus ,picture quality is rubbish compaired to the SX10is
Pros: good battery life, Bright LCD
Cons: Missing features/settings, Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, Difficult to use, Complicated controls/menu
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com