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
3
Good for Casual Users
on October 7, 2009
Posted by: slhimages
from Bethlehem, PA
I bought this camera mainly for the HD video capability, assuming (wrongly) that the still image quality would be at least as good as my trusty SX10is. Boy was I surprised. Two extra MP gets you nothing except 720p video. Still images are good and sometimes even very good. To my eye never excellent. In the megapixel race the consumer comes out the loser. In fairness I have to say that this is a very VERSATILE camera and can do a lot of things, just not as well as I'd like. If you do not insist on tack sharp images you'll probably be fine with it. The zoom range is great. I'm hoping for a software update that will address the sharpness/compression issues.
Pros: Nice features/settings, good battery life, very versatile, great macro capability, swivel lcd is great, love the zoom range, easy sd access on tripod, nice shape & feel, so close to being great
Cons: Complicated controls/menu, Poor image quality, no printed manual (cd), controls a bit crowded, still images dissappointing
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Glad I bought this one!
on November 23, 2009
Posted by: traveller
from LA
I've used the SX20IS for about one week. Love the zoom feature (20X). First impression of the controls is good . . . very similar to SD800 I currently own. Wished the camera came with a comprehensive user's guide, however. Must install ExBrowser to obtain PDF Users's Guide. Wanted something a little more advanced than SD800 but not quite ready for a EOS Rebel! So far, great still shots, but not experienced enough (haven't read user's guide yet) about action shots.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable
Cons: Short battery life, seems to be a little slow between shots
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
No Comparison
on December 18, 2009
Posted by: Mia Mia
from Florida
I usually shop with Kodak or Fugi because of their prices, but my Christmas Gift this year was for a high tech camera from a reputable manufacture. I chose the Canon. I wanted one I could have extensive zoom for photographing song birds and raptors. The Canon SX 10 came to my mind but notice Canon had just put out the SX 20 and it was actually a better deal. I am still learning with this camera but already it has proven an outstanding choice. Very durable, high quality and my photos have excellent up close shots. You will not be disappointed. You must first read the inst. to see all the different choices you have with this camera. Once you are familiar you will love it!
Pros: Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD
Cons: price
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Using the SX20 in Manual Mode
on April 20, 2010
Posted by: Larry
from Southern California
The Great features of the SX20 are the x20 zoom lens and its manual mode. Note - I only shoot manual mode.
The bad features of the camera are its Very limited aperture range and no threads in the lens barrel to attach filters (neutral density filters to compensate for the limited aperture range). No "cable" release capability (I want to mount the camera at a humming bird feeder and remotely fire the camera). And the flash in manual mode with only three power settings (this can be worked around by using a separate flash unit).
Photography schools need to be able to recommend good starter manual cameras. In these schools they push the student and the camera to extreme fringes of photography (night shoots, drops of water, motion, portraits) so that they learn. This camera would be a great starter camera with all the features.
The bad features of the camera are its Very limited aperture range and no threads in the lens barrel to attach filters (neutral density filters to compensate for the limited aperture range). No "cable" release capability (I want to mount the camera at a humming bird feeder and remotely fire the camera). And the flash in manual mode with only three power settings (this can be worked around by using a separate flash unit).
Photography schools need to be able to recommend good starter manual cameras. In these schools they push the student and the camera to extreme fringes of photography (night shoots, drops of water, motion, portraits) so that they learn. This camera would be a great starter camera with all the features.
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, durable, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: Missing features/settings
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
I have really enjoyed this camera and its features
on August 4, 2011
Posted by: linda
from Utah
This has been a fantastic camera. We had so much fun until it and I took a fall into a creek the other day. The pictures were all saved it even took a movie of what it saw until it quit under water. It has been fantastic and I want to replace with the same thing.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Pics, easy to use, HD Video
on December 14, 2009
Posted by: ScottGO
from Phoenix, AZ
"This was purchased as an upgrade to my previous Canon Power Shot. I needed some more advance features and this camera had what I needed, wanted and some extra. It's easy to set up, use and has not let me down. I choose this model due to my previous experiance with this line of camera's. I'm not ready for a totally DSLR. Maybe soon, but this will let me learn as I go and will be great as I get ready for the next level. I use it for my business and the pictures are great. Getting ready to buy a bigger flash. This is a great camera, lots of MP and Zoom."
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: non-teathered lens cap
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Struggling
on February 17, 2010
Posted by: sam
I have used and loved the Powershot S2 IS and S3 IS, so when I saw the SX10 IS I bought it right away, but have been struggling with it. The feature I miss most is the exposure compensation -- in the older models you could easily change the f stop by +/- 1/3 stop in the P,Tv and Av modes, but this feature is nowhere to be found on the SX 10. I also hate the wheel, as my thumb keeps banging into it. This old dog doesn't like the new tricks, but since my other two cameras have died, I'm just going to have to live with this. But I want to PLEAD for the exposure compensation to come back to being listed when the func. button is pushed.
Pros: good battery life
Cons: Missing features/settings, Poor Low-Light Performance, Heavy/Bulky, Complicated controls/menu
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Picture quality not pleasing
on September 17, 2009
Posted by: Chakochi
from New York, NY
Starting with the positives, I like new HD video but was hoping for 1080p, Video has a less of that rolling shutter or "jello" effect., the flip out screen and the wide and telephoto lens is nice. I also I think I notice less chromatic aberration than the sx10.
I was actually a little disappointed with this camera, like many already mentioned the picture quality is not very good. Not what I was expecting from Canon. Like the new G11, canon could have went down on pixels focusing on sharper, cleaner, true color, image quality and good low light performance. Seems like canon needs to go back to the drawing board focus more on picture quality more than anything.
Thanks for reading :)
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, good battery life, durable, hd video, swivel lcd screen, wideangle and telephoto lense
Cons: Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com