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
Amazing! So glad I bought it!
on November 4, 2009
Posted by: Dolphingrrl
from West Palm Beach, FL
I had been looking at reviews for this camera for a while and finally went to look at it in a store. I don't like using manuals. If I can't figure it out, it's not worth it in my opinion. I had to ask for help once to get to the features but I also had only found it once on my husband's Canon. I had to look up info about the flash because I'm not use to ones you have to flip up. So far the camera is AMAZING! It's a bit heavy but the pictures are the best I've ever taken! I took a picture of the moon! You can see craters and everything!!!! It's also got super macro! You can literally be touching something and it will focus on it. The camera strap it comes with is kinda eh but it's free. It also has manual focus. If you're not sure about it, go check it out in a store and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, good battery life, durable, amazing zoom and macro!
Cons: Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Does What I Expect it to Do
on October 28, 2009
Posted by: cvclick
I've been a pro photographer for 30+ years and while I have very high end DSLRs for work, I wanted something for home that was sophisticated enough for my tastes, but auto enough for my wife to use.
I started with the SX3 IS and liked that one, so I recently bought the SX20 IS.
Using top end DSLRs, I knew this camera would have some short comings and was as best a very good compromise, which was what I wanted.
I wish every camera had the pivoting screen.
The close macro is excellent.
I use the SX3's wide angle accessory lens attachment and do wish Canon had kept that availability for the SX20. Its my only real complaint. The long lens reach is nice, but I still like and need the wide end.
It isn't a $5000 camera and I don't expect it to be. It has lots of good features, plus the ability to turn most of them off for getting back to basics.
Its a fun camera to use.
I started with the SX3 IS and liked that one, so I recently bought the SX20 IS.
Using top end DSLRs, I knew this camera would have some short comings and was as best a very good compromise, which was what I wanted.
I wish every camera had the pivoting screen.
The close macro is excellent.
I use the SX3's wide angle accessory lens attachment and do wish Canon had kept that availability for the SX20. Its my only real complaint. The long lens reach is nice, but I still like and need the wide end.
It isn't a $5000 camera and I don't expect it to be. It has lots of good features, plus the ability to turn most of them off for getting back to basics.
Its a fun camera to use.
Pros: easy to use, Nice features/settings, Lightweight/Portable
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great purchase
on October 28, 2009
Posted by: Dottie
from Utah
This is a sweet little camera. I find the quality excellent, it's easy to use and the photos are sharp professional quality. I consider this a great purchase.
Pros: easy to use, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life, durable
Cons: Complicated controls/menu
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Just what I expected
on October 23, 2009
Posted by: Smiley
from West Chester, PA
I searched many cameras and decided to buy this one. I love the features and it does everything I've read about it.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, good battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Overall Great purchase with a couple minor glitche
on October 16, 2009
Posted by: RFranko
from Albuquerque, NM
Canon has put out another fine camera. I use the SX20 IS as a backup to my EOS 5D. Performance is great and the 12mp sensor gives really sharp images for its smaller sensor size compared to the 5D. The versatil 28-560 zoom is really a day saver. Canon is a jump ahead by including the portable flash hotshoe along with the pop-up flash; that was smart thinking! Using the camera for several weeks contineously, I have only a couple minor complaints. First I've got big mitts, and when holding the camera I tend to accidently push the buttons to the right of the thumb contact area. They need to move the buttons on top or to anoher area out of the way of gripping thumbs. Next, I pre-focus or set exposure by pushing the shutter button 1/2 way down, and then reframe my image. The shutter button is overly sensetive and I have taken more accidential photos while reframing then I can count. It's really a hair trigger. The next and probably biggest jaw tightener is No hardcopy owner's manual. This camera is complex enough that a manual in the camera bag is mandatory to look up those features you tend not to use frequently but need. With all the bells and whistles you surely need a hard copy owners manual. OK book publishers, there is your chance! The last and probably most important. Why didn't Canon include RAW as one of their shooting formats? For a camera of this quality, I feel Canon flubbed not having it. I hope they will have a firmware update for this soon..HINT. Some people complain about having AA batteries as the power source as it adds weight to the camera. However, I find AA batteries an advantage. Being able to pick up new batteries at most any store is great. However, I'm not totally convinced I got 340 shots from the in the box batteries, but I didn't count and there was a lot of geting aquainted before I went out and ahot 60 frames before I got the onscreen notice, "replace batteries." With the ability to use NiMhd recharagables you are really ahead and are suppose to get 600 shots if fully charged. Alkaline or NiMhd over the counter both beat an OEM spare battery and charger. Another smart move by Canon.
I've compared other manufactures of equal features and pricing and Canon wins again, inspite of not having RAW. Overall a 4 star product.
I've compared other manufactures of equal features and pricing and Canon wins again, inspite of not having RAW. Overall a 4 star product.
Pros: Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable
Cons: Complicated controls/menu
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Great in Manual Mode
on October 15, 2009
Posted by: JG
from Atlanta, GA
This is a really good camera if you take the time to learn how to use it. It works ok as a point and shoot camera set in auto mode but sometimes the automatic ISO is too fast for a good clear picture without noise. Auto usually selects 400 to 800 ISO in moderate light. For still shots, use the lowest ISO possible for best results (80 to 200). I normally use Program mode and manually select my ISO speed. I have been very satisfied with the results doing this. Don’t mistake this for a good fully automatic point and shoot camera because you may not be satisfied with the results. Many of the automatic shots have too much noise and are not satisfactory. I suggest practicing in the manual modes until you get the quality you desire. This camera takes a little work to get use to so be patient. Canon has provided a great value in this camera.
Pros: easy to use, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality
Cons: Complicated controls/menu
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
2
Nice Features, Horrible Still Quality
on October 14, 2009
Posted by: lolapics
from Midwest
This camera has amazing zoom and takes amazing zoomed-in photos. The HD recording is of very nice quality and you can zoom while filming, plus! The options you can use on the camera seem endless. If you have time to set the camera up for the type of picture you're about to take, it should turn out pleasingly well. Those features alone make this camera a 5.
However, there is more to a point and shoot camera than zoom and video! ...Perhaps Image Quality: The Auto mode focus - does not work! The focusing in any mode is terrible and inconsistant. Shooting is Auto the focusing is awful, if you're lucky you'll get a good picture if the lighting is great otherwise the picture quality is horrible. The pictures in Auto as well as Action come out blurry, unfocused, and awfully grainy/noisy. I am deeply disappointed in this camera.
If you're looking for a camera to catch a picture of your toddler or pet, in my experience, this camera isn't going to do that for you. If you're looking for a camera to take a quick picture of that moment you want to capture, this isn't the camera. If you're interested in using the Auto mode at all, this isn't the camera for you.
Pros: Nice features/settings, good battery life, durable
Cons: Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Canon Strikes Again
on October 13, 2009
Posted by: akatheone310
from New York
I recently upgraded from a powershot A520 to the powershot SX20is ... WOW ... the zoom outstanding ... the delay between shots very short ... on auto the camera shows when it adjusts from taking object close up to far to portrait ... its really awesome. The night i got the camera i put the batteries in while i was in the car, powered it up and the first thing i tested was the zoom .... about a block away there was a traffic light i sat in my car and aimed at the front of the car and i could see the plate when i look at the cars because of the headlights i couldnt even see the plates from that distance, when i look back at the lcd i saw it again and i just though amazing ... just thought id share that
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance
Cons: Heavy/Bulky
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com