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
disappointing
on September 13, 2009
Posted by: Midwesterner
from Midwest
Oh where do I start.
I still have a S5is, and a SX10is, putting these literally side-by-side with my newly acquired SX20is, with all the same settings and pointing to the same focal point a block up the street I take pictures in the AUTO mode, PROGRAM mode, CUSTOM mode, and LANDSCAPE mode; The S5is and SX10is both produced sharper images than the SX20is. (At 4:15 in afternoon, facing East so as to have the sun light-up the scene. Both with the clouds shading the sun, as well as with the sun clearly shining on the scenery.) Very disapointing.
AUTO mode, the SX20is searches to select the optimum settings for the conditions.
I feel, while your busy trying to capture the second (the moment), the camera is busy trying to figure out what settings are required, leaving the picture less than desireable.
I expected a 12MP to be sharper than the 8 and 10MP of my other two cameras. Not the case, disappointing.
I think the pretty colorful icons and rolling icons on the viewing screen during shooting is too much for the little processor to do AND capture the picture all at the same time.
I bought the SX20is (12MP) expecting super-sharp crystal-clear pictures; sorely disappointed. It appears that, one out of four pictures are acceptable to good.
Outside picture require good strong sunlight, inside - as others have written "leaves a lot ot be desired". Even my 430EX-II had a time trying to make it bright enough for acceptable pictures taken inside.
CANON I think you are trying to make the camera do too much, and the viewer too colorful and cool looking - forcus on pictures, leave videos to your video-cameras.
I expect Exceptional, Sharp, Clean, Clear pictures form a camera Thank You.
I will be sending this one back, with a severely let down feeling with hopes of better in the future. You haven't lost me yet but, I am what you could call gun (camera) shy now.
Oh yes, for you power people. I had the camera on just over four-hours, just over 300 daytime shots were taken, and 4gig of daytime HD-movies on Energizer 8x lithium batteries (not rechargables) I will be putting these batteries in my SX10is or S5is when the batteries are gone in either of them.
I still have a S5is, and a SX10is, putting these literally side-by-side with my newly acquired SX20is, with all the same settings and pointing to the same focal point a block up the street I take pictures in the AUTO mode, PROGRAM mode, CUSTOM mode, and LANDSCAPE mode; The S5is and SX10is both produced sharper images than the SX20is. (At 4:15 in afternoon, facing East so as to have the sun light-up the scene. Both with the clouds shading the sun, as well as with the sun clearly shining on the scenery.) Very disapointing.
AUTO mode, the SX20is searches to select the optimum settings for the conditions.
I feel, while your busy trying to capture the second (the moment), the camera is busy trying to figure out what settings are required, leaving the picture less than desireable.
I expected a 12MP to be sharper than the 8 and 10MP of my other two cameras. Not the case, disappointing.
I think the pretty colorful icons and rolling icons on the viewing screen during shooting is too much for the little processor to do AND capture the picture all at the same time.
I bought the SX20is (12MP) expecting super-sharp crystal-clear pictures; sorely disappointed. It appears that, one out of four pictures are acceptable to good.
Outside picture require good strong sunlight, inside - as others have written "leaves a lot ot be desired". Even my 430EX-II had a time trying to make it bright enough for acceptable pictures taken inside.
CANON I think you are trying to make the camera do too much, and the viewer too colorful and cool looking - forcus on pictures, leave videos to your video-cameras.
I expect Exceptional, Sharp, Clean, Clear pictures form a camera Thank You.
I will be sending this one back, with a severely let down feeling with hopes of better in the future. You haven't lost me yet but, I am what you could call gun (camera) shy now.
Oh yes, for you power people. I had the camera on just over four-hours, just over 300 daytime shots were taken, and 4gig of daytime HD-movies on Energizer 8x lithium batteries (not rechargables) I will be putting these batteries in my SX10is or S5is when the batteries are gone in either of them.
Pros: durable
Cons: Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, auto-mode in camera is indecisive
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Camera
on September 13, 2009
Posted by: Richard65
from Waterloo, Iowa
Love the manual mode where you can adjust the aperture in order to brighten up the scene when taking a picture in low lighting. Great zoom capabilities I can zoom in 20x and still have a very clear picture. I love this camera best one I have owned yet.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, good battery life, durable
Cons: need a string added to the lens cap
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
2
Not Standard Canon Quality
on September 13, 2009
Posted by: Beach Days
from Half Moon Bay, CA
Purchased Canon SX20 IS because of features and also because of satisfaction with other Canon digital cameras that I own. However, upon taking photos and video clips, I was extremely dissatisfied with the quality. Photos were not crisp, and colors seemed to be muted. Video quality was also not as expected. I returned camera and exchanged it for a different brand that just came out from a different manufacturer.
Cons: Poor image quality
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Love this camera
on September 11, 2009
Posted by: Thangappan
from Chicago, IL
Like the SX predecessors absolutely love the
1) Swivel LCD Screen.
2) Flexible zoom wide angle to a whooping 20x telephoto.
and now finally the HD video, wish it was 1080p.
1) Swivel LCD Screen.
2) Flexible zoom wide angle to a whooping 20x telephoto.
and now finally the HD video, wish it was 1080p.
I was thinking between this and the new G11, great to see the swivel LCD back on the G family, but the HD video and the tele - zoom lens was too hard to give up.
Only two main things negative about this camera:
1) High noise levels, anything beyond iso 400 is not pretty much unusable.
2) Still not lipo rechargeable battery offered.
1) High noise levels, anything beyond iso 400 is not pretty much unusable.
2) Still not lipo rechargeable battery offered.
Pros: swivel lcd screen, hd video, wide angle plus 20x telephoto lense
Cons: Poor image quality, Heavy/Bulky, high noise at high iso, no rechargable battery
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Don't bother
on September 9, 2009
Posted by: gk16blman
from Lincoln, NE
I love Canon products. I shoot with their DSLRs at work, and use the XHA1 for professional video, however, for a home point and shoot camera, this sx20is is NOT the camera.
The feature set, functionality, quality of the super-zoom lens, video recording, the use of .mov format rather than AVHC and so many other items make this camera a HUGE winner. Except the noise of the image sensor. I am not talkign about the unuable 400-1600 ASA range, but at the basic 80 and 100 ASA setting. There is far to much noise in all but the most sun lit settings with objects that break up detectable noise such as flowers, trees and grass. with 12 MP, the image is sharp, but looking closely, there is far too much noise in any flat surface areas such as clouds, wall surfaces, concrete, people with flash inside, etc. I have made some extensive tests and 8x10 prints and the noise is significantly high. Much higher in fact than a camera I had been using for the last 4 years. With SO much going for the camera, and a marvel of engineering for a camera with this price point and feature set, this one item makes the camera un appealing. Please Canon, fix this in the next generation of camera and you will have the best machine out there!
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, good battery life, durable, great camera for the money, very strong and durable feeling, good sharp super-zoom lens, great hd video/audio quality
Cons: Poor image quality, Poor Low-Light Performance, very noisy at low asa settings, variable asa when shooting video
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Pro Quality
on September 7, 2009
Posted by: ProBill
from Norton, Ohio
Have had camera for 3 days, have waited for it since heard he SX10 was being updated. Used it quite a bit in the 3 days and enjoy it a lot. As a retired Pro Photographer who only used 2-1/4 format for portraits and weddings, this camers gives me a lot of features. The quality so far is great. The zoom is quick and gives good results. I especially love the hot shoe, so us photographers can use some of our more powerful strobes to reach out for great pictures. Can't wait to use the HD movie feature also to use with my studio lights and take portraits and see how well it does Will update this site as I try other features.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable
Cons: no in detail manual
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Amazed
on September 2, 2009
Posted by: Me
from Amarillo, Texas
I've had this camera for a few days, and so far I'm amazed. For the price and the pictures I can take, it's well worth it. While looking at other camera stuff, a man even said he spent 1500 on his camera and got the Canon Powershot sx10 IS which he enjoys way more. Almost the same camera here, and shooting pictures of the moon and see the orators all I can say is WOOW!
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, 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
Very Nice
on August 31, 2009
Posted by: Anonymous
from Duluth, MN
I'm usually a DSLR man,but I had to sell my expensive equipment to survive another college adventure. I'm pleasantly surprised with this little fella. It's no SLR, but it does pack alot in a small package. Pictures seems a little noisy, but I have yet to master the in and outs of this camera. I know I going to look to Canon when I am in the market for an DSLR after college and leave the my previous camera company. =)
Pros: very user friendly
Cons: images seem a little noisy
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com