Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Black)
020 4 BEWARE of the Powershot SX200 ! ! !
I bought one and it got a lens error 28 days after purchase . Returned it and got another one . It got a lens error 65 days after purchase . And now they want me to pay $130 to fix it . Plus I had to spend hours to find out what was wrong with my camera , pay shipping because it was still under warranty only then to find out that they wanted to charge . No phone call . No email . Nothing . I had to track them down . Canons have changed and there customer service has too .
Waste of time and money .
We were so careful with the second one - afraid it broke because of human error . But no they are LEMONS . UNRELIABLE .
I had only ever bought canon cameras - a number of them and even for gifts . Never again . Canon's customer service was so RUDE and was put on hold for extended periods . Completely turned me off canons forever .
155 4 All
Just to balance the rave reviews out there . Are some of them not written by Canon employers I wonder !
I bought this camera based on the rave reviews about a year ago . I wanted something compact but which offered a fast processing speed . Even back then people were warning of the flash issue etc .
I - like many others who have written reviews - was happy with it during the honeymoon period .
After exactly a year it just stopped working . Lense is stuck in the half way posn . It has not suffered any knocks etc . I was just downloading pics and it went US . Warranty only for a year .
So DONT BE SUCKERED IN BY THE RAVE REVIEWS which have no doubt been written by people who have only had the camera for a short period of time . Read the reviews who are not impressed with the camera and they all have the same issue : CAMERA LENSE AND LACK OF AFTER SALES SERVICE . You have been warned ! Its a too high tech for its own good ! Save your money and go for something more reliable !
036 4 After purchasing both the Panasonic zs3 and Canon sx200is I came to the conclusion that the Panasonic was going back , the zs3 is a decent camera and I basically went by the reviews before buying it , but realized most people just want a P & S camera that takes nice photos and dont explore the possibillities of it , thats not for me.I need to use Manual conrols at times which the sx200is has and zs3 doesnt , there are situations where the Aperture needs to be changed for example etc.Some of the reviews on the sx200is are not in favour of the pop up flash , well after using for over a month I can certainly say that its not problem at all.I also am a Macro Photographer person and as well as regular Macro this camera has Super Macro and the name says it all , its Super.I also print a lot of 8x10 pictures and they are very professional looking , cant beat that.As for the Video aspect of this camera I find it just great , I have hooked the camera up to our 37 TV and the videos are extremely clear , this I am very excited about , as I like recording.So in conclusion , I highly recomend the Canon sx200is .
029 4 After researching this camera and reading rave reviews , I replaced my point and shoot with this model . This camera makes beautiful crisp outdoor pics . But like any point and shoot , indoors , if the subject is too far away for the flash to reach ( approx 15ft ) , not going to get the shot . I was however able to make some beautiful video of my child's recital from the back of the room , great zoom for video . Sound quality great . Pop up flash is a bit of a bother as it pops up everytime the camera is turned on . Easily hooks up to hdtv for viewing . A little bulkier than I had expected .
066 4 These cameras have a design flaw in the lens . After some period of time , you will get a Lens Error and the camera will be dead . Mine lasted just under 90 days . Now I'm in warranty hell . I send it in , they pull a beat-up camera off the shelf and send it , and it lasts for a few weeks or months . Repeat until the warranty expires . Given that Canon knows about the problem and won't make it right , I will be avoiding all Canon products in the future .
099 4 I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera , and I can now safely say that I made the right choice when I bought the SX200 . The picture quality is excellent , the full assortment of manual controls is great , and the overall build quality of the camera is second to none . I have yet to encounter an aspect of the camera which I do not like . I would have thought the ever-present pop-up flash would be distracting and cumbersome , but you really don't notice it at all . Another aspect of this camera that really impresses me is how fast you can take multiple pictures . In good light , I can easily squeeze off three pictures in less than two seconds . That's a great feature that no other P & S I've ever used has been able to match . Overall , I really can't see how you can go wrong with the SX200 and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something more than your average P & S camera .
055 4 We bought this camera as a gift for a relative , so my review will be limited to the short time I've looked at it . It was bought to replace an aging Canon Elph , for someone who doesn't necessarily use all the capability the camera has . One consideration was the large LCD . I like the long zoom , which allows close-ups of flowers and other subjects the owner will be photographing . The nicest new feature is the automatic switching the camera does between regular and macro focus distance . That really is a plus for someone who forgets to switch to the macro mode in close-ups . The only immediate weakness I notice is the weak flash , but that's not new to Canon point-and-shoots . This camera's opening the flash unit every time it's powered on is somewhat disconcerting , and my fingers typically were on the flash when it tried to open . I suppose you would get used to it . Overall a great-looking camera . We probably could have found similar features in a less-expensive Canon model , but the owner is pleased with this one .
078 4 It is so easy to use ! But also take the best pictures of any camera I've ever owned ! The pictures in low light have even turned out ! I haven't even had to use anything but auto yet ! If I try manual who knows how much more I can do ! The zoom is so much more then I've got with any other camera . LOVE IT !
082 4 The camera is really good , with a couple of glitches . The glitches are slow to the next shot and a slight hitch in slewing the magnification .
112 4 this camera is between easy ones and professional ones . relatively easy to use and the pictures have high quality .
146 4 The pictures are great . Very easy to use all the extra functionality outside the AUTO feature .
101 4 The first digital camera I owned was a Canon , and it had gone everywhere with me for 6 years and outlived many cameras owned by friends and family . So when it came time to purchase another camera , I didn't look anywhere but to Canon . I initially was going to go up to the DSLR , but with all of the outstanding specs and reviews attached to this camera , I decided to give it a chance and I am extremely happy that I did . Not only is this camera a steal for its price , but it is very comparable in quality of pictures to that of the DSLR without the fuss and baggage . This camera , while bigger than the PowerShots , is still compact enough to fit in your pocket , purse , or whatnot , for easily accessible photo opportunities . The variety of options for photo shooting ( night time , aquarium , snow , fireworks , sunset , etc . ) are very useful and provide for more photo options while maintaining excellent quality . It is also suited with a Li + battery , as opposed to the AA battery operated Canons , which I prefer , and it has a remarkable battery life . The screen is large and the resolution is excellent . It does take some time to get accustomed to all of the new features attached to this camera , but once you do , you are limitless in the style and types of pictures you can take . While being a little less user-friendly than the PowerShots , it is still a relatively easy camera to operate . Overall I am very happy with this purchase !
019 4 When this camera works , it works beautifully . But . . . . . . I have had two and both suffered from the same flaw : after some use the lens jams ( sometimes opened and sometimes closed ) and the camera becomes inoperable . I sent the first one back to Amazon and received a replacement ; the second one malfunctioned after the return period expired so now it has to be sent to an authorized repair center that I have yet to find . I can understand this happening once but twice on two separate cameras indicates a design flaw , making it a camera to avoid .
024 4 I bought this camera December 15 2009 .
January 21 , 2010 the automatic lens cover malfuntioned . Cannon will not cover under warranty - Wants $ 160 for repair . Says it was broken due to mishandling . It was kept in a padded case , never dropped .
It failed due to faulty workmanship or design .
I have had good cannon products in the past . This is not one of them .
I am also surprised at their response .
065 4 Had the camera for about six months now . Very happy at this point that I bought an extended warranty .
Anyway , I'm not sure if its a problem with just my camera , but from day one I have had problems with the camera not focusing correctly . If anything is in motion at all the picture is blurry . Even staged portraits often come out blurry . I love the zoom ability of the camera , but couple it with the focus problems and it is darn near useless . When the pictures do come out , they come out very nice , but this camera does have problems with low light situations . Additionally , the battery life sucks . I shot around 100 - 120 pictures in around 1.5 hours and had to change the battery . . . sounds like a lot of pictures , but really its isn't when half of them are out of focus .
Last weekend , the camera started having other problems . You look at the display on the back and the image on it shifts left and then right over and over again . I mean big jumps that could take half your subject out of the frame . Put an ear to the camera body / lens and you can hear it constantly adjusting when it is doing this . So , returning this piece-o-junk today . . . not going to get another one if I can help it .
080 4 I have had many Canon cameras , but this one is the best . Very easy to use and review pictures . The large screen on the back is awsome . Easy to delete , zoom , and pictures are true to color . Have not tried the movie part yet co can't evaluate that part . Takes good pictures in low light and sunset pictures are great on the sunset setting . Transferring pictures is easy and necessary cables came with the camera . I did alot of research on cameras and the 12x zoom was a big selling feature for me . You can stand far away and get a more natural picture when taking pictures of pets or people without a pose .
The pop up flash that everyone talks about is anoying but not a big deal . I recommend this camera to everyone !
Shipping was fast and in less time than advertised .
084 4 I have worked my way through at least 5 cameras , used while traveling and for recording family events . I always wanted at least a little more zoom capacity , while retaining clarity and ease of taking pictures . This one fulfills my wishes perfectly , without the size and inconvenience ( to me , at least ) of putting on additional lens , etc . The software that came with the camera also provides me with an easy way to trim , reduce red-eye and a number of other features . This Canon PowerShot well deserves the 5 stars I've awarded it . Incidentally , I discovered this particular model while talking to a fellow bus traveler in Mount Rushmore . . . . we were so impressed with the viewing surface . M . Schanapp
102 4 Returned a Nikon Coolpix s630 because some pics were blurry . Not one blurry pic as yet with this camera . I had an old Canon from 2002 that we just loved . Hardly any bad pics from that camera either .
This is a great point and shoot camera with easy to use adjustments for an amateur like me . Highly recommended .
135 4 If you are looking for a camera that does it all . . but is simple to work . . . this is it ! I am not the techie kind of person . I wanted simple with flexibility and have it with this camera . Plenty of settings from Automatic to portrait to landscape to action and if you want to set shutter speed & apature you can do that too . It even has video capabilities .
The ease of use is a godsend . One button the turn it on , one to zoom in and one to take the photo . You press down the button to take the photo 1 / 2 way and it focuses the shot . Push down the rest of the way and snap your photo . If the camera can't focus on what you are trying to shoot because you are too close or some other reason then the button won't go the whole way down . I like this feature . I'm sure that it would be more valuable in a film camera . . . however no use wasting memory for no good reason .
Photos come out clear . It's easy to delete photos as you go or all at once . I haven't worked much with the video settings yet .
If you need a reliable camera that takes great photos this is it !
136 4 I am a big fan of Canon point and shoots , having had an s110 , s400 , s800 , and now sx200 over the years . The sx200 takes wonderful pictures and movies . . .
But the lens mechanisms have to be fixed !
- My new canon sx200 just stopped working after 45 days - - the lens won't close and I get a lens error restart camera message that I can't get rid of .
- A couple years ago , my canon s400 suffered the dreaded E18 lens error after 18 months of use and became a wonderful paper weight .
I would take it back but Amazon says my return window just expired May 9th : - (
So now I have to go through the hassle of getting a warranty repair for a camera that I no longer trust .
Canon I hope you're listening !
144 4 My Canon Digital Elph from 2005 has a slightly faster shutter speed . I like to catch action , and although this camera takes incredibly better photos than my Elph , the frames per second are severely lacking for 5 years later if you want to continuous shoot and get some action shots .
It's a bit big and the battery does not last as long as my 2005 camera either .
I did return it , just waiting for my refund .
168 4 Had to return this camera after waiting over a month .
After owning several Canon p / s that I was very pleased with and still own two , the sx200 is not at all what I expected . I have just returned it .
The pop-up flash is just a really bad design for several reasons .
The camera body has a very slippery feeling , and nothing really to anchor it in your hand with any feeling of safety from dropping .
I fear it will be a real energy eater recharging batteries and replacing much to often .
Bottom line , Canon has made a mistake with this camera .
Guess I'll look at the Olympus 9000 , or wait for the Panasonic tz7
107 4 I love this camera . It is small and sleek and takes the best pictures I have ever taken . The zoom is incredible so I can be far away and get those candid shots no problem . My hand shakes a little but this camera takes care of that . It also takes care of red eye . Want a small powerful no fuss camera . . . this one is for you .
095 4 this camera takes amazing pics , the super zoom is wonderful and crystal clear , the numerous functions / settings make picture taking even more enjoyable !
138 4 This is a great camera - the macro is just as amazing as I expected . My only complaint is that the image quality is a little worse in low light , but that may be just in comparison to the superb macro images .
108 4 I upgraded to the SX200 because I wanted a small p / s that had some advanced features . The SX200 has manual aperture and shutter speed controls if you want complete control ( of course the aperture range is only from 3.5 to 8.0 - not a large range ) , or you can put it on the easy setting and just click away not worrying about any of the settings . The camera is larger than some ultra-compact cameras , but with a 12x zoom you sort of expect that . Before you buy any camera , you have to figure out what you'll be using the camera for ultimately . This camera is not a dSLR , and will never match a 1DS , 5D , 20D , etc . - this camera is only $300 ! Also , if you want a strictly point and shoot and nothing more , look at canon's elph or A series cameras - the SX200 is probably more then you need . But if you want the best of both worlds , then you have found your camera .
140 4 This camera is for folks who wants to take a leap to intermediate level of picture taking . For people who want more than just point and shoot . Since a lot of features have been placed in this camera it is a little bulky compared to SD1200IS which was my alternate choice . Most of the major store that i went to don't have this model on display so i have to bite the bullet and order it and than find out if it is easy to carry around in my pocket . What i found that it does not easily fit into trouser pockets . However overall i love this camera's capability . One of the thing to watch out from is the popping up of flash . To avoid dropping the camera it is a good idea to always put your hands through the wrist strap and than operate the camera . The popping of flash gives less area to grip the camera . I wished they kept the flash design same as SD series . The flash recharging time is excellent .
050 4 Bought this camaera for my wife for Christmas It has never worked right . Cammera freezes in the open position and will not turn off until I removed the battery . Then we must recharge the battery and it will do it again after just a few pictures are taken . Never should have bought it .
059 4 I purchased this camera app . 4 months ago and every time I use it , I just find something new and amazing about it . This user friendly canon makes photographing so easy and fun . Everyone thinking to have a semi-professional camera should buy it . This is a confession of a longtime nikon fan . . .
086 4 This was the fourth Canon PowerShot I have bought for my wife . I have had one four years ago that took a five foot fall onto pavement and other then a small scratch it worked fine . We have had the SX200IS for less then three months , never had an accident with it , kept it very clean , treated it like a baby . It just froze with the lens extended and said lense error on the screen and restart . It could not be restarted with even the battery removed and replaced . Canon said it would have to be sent in . The good news is we got it at [ . . . ] so returning and replacing it should be easy .
121 4 I was very disappointed with the Auto and Easy modes indoor picture quality . Good to great pictures can be taken when in one of the manual modes but I purchased this as a high end point and shoot camera . In the Auto modes colors are washed out and any lighting fixture in picture becomes a white blob from high ISO setting these modes usually choose . Focus also struggles in these modes . I would welcome any advice or software updates to camera to fix this . I have seen this complaint from other feedback sites so expect this is normal for this camera . Like everything else with camera , unfortunately I need a good Auto mode camera where I can reasonably expect good results when passing it off to my wife or children . Wanting to love it but still debating whether to return .
126 4 I am very pleased with the quality of photos taken , and surprised at length of battery life . Charged once a month ago and still using . I am a little disappoint with flash location and its pop up for I seem to always have my finger over it and hope it does not get damaged from holding down .
129 4 I ordered this for my daughter for Christmas . She loves it and carries it everywhere we go ! Great product . Thanks Canon
141 4 I recently purchased Canon's PowerShot SX200IS . I have fount it easy to use with lots of options . It takes great pictures . The only thing I don't think is well done as the rest of the caamera is the flash but overall it is a great camera and I would recommend .
142 4 The build quality is great , aside from the plastic door for the inputs . However , the flash is a real pain . No matter what , every time you turn on the camera the flash pops up . I found myself having to adjust my grip on the camera . Why wouldn't Canon just incorporate the flash into the body of the camera like most of their other PowerShots ? ? ! ! ! My pictures at high-zoom levels were pretty average . I've come to the conclusion that if you want big zoom , buy a DSLR with a big lens ! Pocket point-and-shoots just can't compare when it comes to producing nice images at high zooms .
145 4 I still am in the testing stages of this camera . I FINALLY GOT IT ! ! ! Let me recommend to any interested buyers to go the EXTRA FEW DOLLARS to purchase this from a TRUSTED website . I had ordered this from about 2 - 3 other websites for $20.00 - $30.00 cheaper and they ALL ended up being bait-and-hook schemes ! ! So far I REALLY love this camera . I have previously had a Fuji S1000 which had some very similar capabilities to the Canon SX200 , but WHOA ! ! I like the Canon SOOOO much better - especially how compact it is for SOOOOOO many extra and awesome features . I have to keep testing the super macro setting so that I can perfect that , because the Fuji seems to be able to do a better job there - but I've only have it for a week so I've got more to experiment . With the 12.1 MP , the shots have been incredibly clear . And with the 12X zoom - I can see things I didn't think I would be able to see ! ! Haha ! Lets hope this camera continues to impress me ! !
103 4 works great . takes great pictures , only complaint is it takes a little long for second shot .
150 4 I travelled to Switzerland last Spring and one of the people in my group had the SX 200IS . I was so impressed with her photo shots that I could not get , that I purchased this SX 200 IS camera for a trip to China , replacing a previous model Canon that did not have the 12x wide angle zoom . I was amazed at what this camera could do and during my trip in China my co-travelers could not believe the great shots that I was able to get . My camera was stolen and I have just replaced it with the same model in spite of many sales people trying to convince me to upgrade to HD . I am very satisfied and love the results that get with this SX 200IS .
148 4 Good : 12x zoom , wide angle , picture quality , HD video , scene modes , face detection timer , eye closed sensor , NTSC / PAL , manual settings , color accent , color swap .
Bad : No optical zoom while video capture , flash remain outside all the time when camera is on .
Overall a good camera .
152 4 this camera replaced an underwater olympus camera that was stolen . i very much like the zoom on this camera . it has 12x optical ( lense ) zoom and 48x overall ( digital ) zoom . the picture quality at 48x is very surprising , much better than i expected . good value at the 321 i paid for it , i dont think its worth much more than that if any at all . amazon could have shipped it a little better instead of just throwing the box in another box . . . but the camera works .
154 4 I love it . It's easy to use and takes great pictures . It's small enuf to take with me all the time .
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Fairly good pics . I have a 40D , and its not going to compare to and DSLR . But I wanted a point & shoot that would do fairly good video . I took some sample videos , and was happy with the quality .
I think the fact that the flash pops up ALL the time is stupid . It should only pop up when the flash is needed / operated . I would perfer the flash to be integrated , IN the camera , instead of popping up , but that is the price that you pay for the extended zoom . Else you'd get a really bad shadow .
The ON button is in the absolute WRONG place .
The screen is nice . The macro and supermacro are AMAZING . I was able to focus on an item literally 1cm away from the end of the lens .
The ability to do manual settings on a P & S is great ! I love the dial on the back , vs 4 arrows for navigation .
My last P & S was almost 9 years ago , I have only had DSLRs since , and I'm pleased .
I would give this a 5 if the flash wasn't ALWAYS up and if the ON button wasn't where it is .
051 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Fairly good pics . I have a 40D , and its not going to compare to and DSLR . But I wanted a point & shoot that would do fairly good video . I took some sample videos , and was happy with the quality .
I think the fact that the flash pops up ALL the time is stupid . It should only pop up when the flash is needed / operated . I would perfer the flash to be integrated , IN the camera , instead of popping up , but that is the price that you pay for the extended zoom . Else you'd get a really bad shadow .
The ON button is in the absolute WRONG place .
The screen is nice . The macro and supermacro are AMAZING . I was able to focus on an item literally 1cm away from the end of the lens .
The ability to do manual settings on a P & S is great ! I love the dial on the back , vs 4 arrows for navigation .
My last P & S was almost 9 years ago , I have only had DSLRs since , and I'm pleased .
I would give this a 5 if the flash wasn't ALWAYS up and if the ON button wasn't where it is .
061 4 I bought this camera after an extensive research . I read hundreds of reviews and I was sure it was the best camera available on the market in its category . After two months of use and more than a thousand pictures later ( thanks to a great honeymoon , I must say ! ) , I can say this camera is AMAZING .
For a great detailed explanation , please read the Rebutting the Cons , April 3 , 2009 review by Jacqueline Buemi . It explains perfectly why this is the best camera you could possibly buy .
Buy this camera , you won't regret it .
160 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
BOUGHT THIS CAMERA ON A CHANCE . I LOVE IT . TAKES GREAT PIX , ESPECIALLY GREAT FOR DARK SETTINGS AS CAMERA ADJUSTS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SET ON AUTO MODE . GREAT PRICE FOR THE QUALITY OF PIX TAKEN .
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I purchased the Canon Powershot SX200IS after much research on the web . I have been looking for a small camera that I can carry with me everyday : I'm doing the Project 365 . I would still like my shots to be better than ones I take with my smaller point and shoot or my cell phone . I discovered these wide angle / ultra zoom small cameras and have been debating back and forth about a few of them . My choices boiled down to this one and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 . While the Panisonic has some great features , like the optical zoom in video mode with stereo sound , I decided that I was mainly buying the camera to take still shots and the Canon seems like a camera I can grow with as my photographic abilities increase . The Panisonic has no Manual settings , but the Canon has everything from Easy mode that just lets you take shots and chose whether you want the flash or not , to full manual . I first ordered the Canon from the lowest price website online and they gave me a run around including trying to sell me more stuff that I didn't need and extended warranty . As long as I was willing to buy one of their package deals , they had one in stock , but when I declined all the extra stuff they put me on backorder . I finally canceled the order and went to another discount site that looked like it had it in stock . After I ordered it my order showed up as backorder and that went on for a month . I called twice and was told two different dates , both not acceptable to me so I canceled that order too . I ordered it from Amazon yesterday and had it in my hot little hands today , less than 24 hrs later . Great service ! It all boils down to you get what you pay for .
As far as the quality of the camera is concerned , it is a little larger than my old iPod , but I like the heft of it ; It feels substantial . It's going to take a little getting used to the power on button being on the left side of the camera ; it feels better to me to turn it on with my left hand . I'm used to a camera with a grip area on the right side so I am going to make sure I use the strap as I am afraid I will drop it . The door for the battery and media card feels substantial as does the flash . The door where you hook up the cables feels a little flimsy though .
I started playing with it the moment it arrived and , I have to admit that I had to check manual to get the hang of some of the features , like turning on the IS feature . ( My husband was shocked ! lol ) It's not visible in all modes . I am pretty savvy when it comes to figuring out techy stuff , but this has allot of different features to delve into . I will read the manual all the way through though so I don't miss any of the cool features like doing some actual editing ( cropping , red eye removal ( not on pets ! ) and rotation ) . It even rotates the photos in playback mode when you turn the camera from horizontal to vertical .
Overall I am very satisfied with the camera and look forward to many years of learning how to take better and better shots with this baby . I'm very impressed with the results I've gotten and , in the automatic mode , the camera senses what your subject is and chooses the appropriate mode to shoot in and it is very good at that . ( See a shot of some glasses I have in a garden window . The room was pretty dark , but the camera compensated for all the light coming from the window . I was very impressed . ) It's small enough to carry with me in my purse so I don't miss those important shots and it will be a great little camera to take on vacation with me . I love the 28 - 336mm lens and the fact that there's no lens cap to fiddle with or lose . I have taken some super macro shots ( 0 - .79in ) and they are amazing . I will post some soon .
The camera fires up very fast so you won't miss your shots ; seemed like less than a second from pushing the power button to ready to shoot .
I thought I might be bothered by only having the display screen but it is very easy to see in bright light . It automatically adjusts for night viewing . I also understand that the screen is scratch-protected .
One fun little thing I discovered is that you can display the time alone on the screen by holding down the FuncSet button and pressing the power button . This might be good if I need to check out what time it is ; us retired folk don't have to wear watches anymore ! = )
One other thing I did was to get the 1300mAh battery and a 16 gig SDHD card which gives me about 5000 shots . It does not come with any media card .
All in all , this is a great camera to learn on . It even has a hints and tips mode that you can turn on and off and , if your shot is overexposed , the whiter areas of your photo flash during playback so you could retake the shot if you want . I plan to update this review as I learn more and add more photos . I think this camera is a great value for the money . Good hunting and best wishes .
7 - 4 - 09 - after having this camera for awhile , I tried to upgrade my star rating to 5 stars but the Amazon edit mode won't let me do this . I love this camera . And it's small enough to have with me all the time so I don't miss photo opportunities . The more I use it the more impressed I am . You can't go wrong !
001 4 This review is based off of several days of use and a THOROUGH review of the manual . If you are interested in seeing specifications and actual pictures of this camera ( which I suggest you do ) I recommend visiting websites that offer extensive these types of reviews [ . . . ] First , lets review what seems to be common CONS to the camera .
POP UP FLASH . Contrary to some reviews , this camera is not hard to handle / hold nor does the pop up flash get in the way or feel flimsy . Notice Canon has made three designs to combat this problem ( e.g . indented thumbprint above controls on back of camera , curved body on right side of camera , and about 3 / 4 inch space to place finger behind the flash . As I right this review , I am playing around with the flash and notice it feels sturdy ; not flimsy . Also , the further the distance between the flash and the lens allows for a better red-eye reduction .
NO VIDEO ( optical ) Zoom . This camera offers excellent video quality for a point and shoot camera . It is 720 so expect that quality - no more no less . As for the zoom , it only has a digital zoom ( i.e . less quality than optical ) . Nonetheless , it should not be a deal breaker - unless you are in the market for a digital videorecorder . I recommend a stand alone video recorder at this point . Would it be nice to have a zoom , sure , but honestly , this is not a big deal .
NOISE - Indoor use . PLEASE believe me when I say I find very little if any noise on indoor shots ( when using the camera correctly ( e.g reading the manual ! ! ! ) . There are many ways to adjust this camera - MANY ways ! Again , I am reviewing pictures I just shot today inside my local library and find them very pleasing and no noise !
FIT / FEEL of Camera . This camera does not feel flimsy . This I think I can promise you . Actually , when I got the camera in my hands , I was suprised to feel and see it was thicker than I thought - but not too thick . Still able to put in pocket ( although not if you are wearing tight jeans ) . If you are looking at this camera , chances are you doing so because of the aesthetic body - and you are right . When / if you put it in your hands , you'll understand that it is , well , sexy and fashionable .
I have put forth what I saw as potentially deal breakers to some people and find all of these supposedly negative points not so negative . After thorough research and an extensive review of the manual , I find this camera to be excellent .
Finally , let me try to state what I believe to be the absolute best features of this camera .
1 . Quality . The only way to defend this point is to recommend doing research . Many websites have posted pictures this camera has taken - many of them stunning . I even saw a side by side comparison with the SX200IS rival - the TZ7 . It was a picture of a night time view of a major city . This camera won hands down . And as for video quality , I was happy with the quality - if you expect 720 and not blu-ray quality . It honestly is great - oh yea , and I notice that when shooting with video , the image seemed to have little or no shake ( I was suprised about this ) .
2 . Function . You can immediately use this even if you never used a camera before . Thank canon for the easy function which lets you only hit the shutter button : it does ALL the work for you , and has hints / tips on the screen as you shoot . Or if you are not so novice , you can turn this camera into a complete manual function and create your own aperture , shutter , and ISO values . ( This is the reason I bought this camera ; so I could go more manual while my wife could just point and click ) .
3 . After having this camera , I have noticed that CANON has not marketed this camera well enough . It has LCD image brightness control that changes on screen depending on how bright it is where you are shooting . Very nice to view the lcd . Also , the LCD has been layered with a scratch resistant coating !
Finally , in my opinion , this camera's best feature is its versatility . What I mean by this is that it takes excellent pictures and allows you to grow with the camera - this point needs to be emphasized .
I suggest that you truly do your research ( as you are doing ! ! : ) and you may see as I did that no matter how many cameras I reviewed , I kept coming back to the SX200IS . I am glad I have it .
One final point . If you do get this , please review the manual . It is your bible and will really help you understand the camera if you want to turn it into more than a point and shoot . I wrote this review because I was SHOCKED at the criticisms this camera received . I agree that this camera can be fine tuned ( longer battery life . . . . . etc . . . ) but these are by no means deal breakers . Don't worry , whatever camera you get , it will be soon outdated - all cameras get their annual tweaking . Having said that about camera's getting outdated , note that I chose this camera for the features it has for the price it is . Having taken it home , I realize that I am more than getting my money's worth . I am honestly concerned about answering any questions you may have . I wish I could ask people questions before I buy things , so please feel free to comment and / or ask . Best wishes .
* * * Updated 4 - 6 - 08 * * * *
For those interested in comparisons , I have recently compared the SX200IS vs the Panasonic TZ5 [ . . . ] . Unbelievable , I was able to find same scene shots taken by these two different cameras . This is hard to find . Plus , being that the TZ5 is really the main competitor to the SX200IS , it makes for an interesting comparison . If you do review this website , particularly notice the city night shot and ISO 400 setting . In my opinion , the SX200IS is much clearer and offers a more accurate picture . Again , the SX200IS is a winner to me !
* * * Updatd 7 - 26 - 09 * * *
After 4 months of extensive use , this camera is now having power issues . When the camera is turned on , and then turned off , it automatically turns on when I do not want it too ! : ( It will go back to be fixed . So in terms of reliability , I am a little disappointed . Nonetheless , given the quality and features of this camera , I will GLADLY keep the camera and GLADLY have it fixed . Even with this electronic issue , it is still the best camera out there .
002 4 Canon SX200
Well - I read in another post that someone likes to try the latest camera - me too ! Check out my other reviews as I'm always in the market for a P & S that take at least 720HD Video . I've been using the Sony T500 and Canon G7 for most of my pic / vids until now ! Since my last review , I've tried at least 6 other cameras and camcorders - all where returned for one reason or another ; let's see - there's the : Samsung HZ10 , Panasonic TZ5 , Sanyo 1010 , Leica D-Lux4 , Leica Clux3 , Sony CX12 , various other cameras at the local store . I have great news ! This new Canon SX200 will be my go to camera - at least until something better comes along ( my trusted T500 / G7 will be laid to rest ) . I'm giving it a 5 Star rating - is it perfect however ! No , but for MY needs , it great .
Pro's :
1 ) Great picture quality - generally speaking indoor pictures are pretty good , noise low on anything below 400ISO , comparable to my Canon G7 , much better than my Sony T500 , as good - if not better than my old Panasonic TZ5 . Outdoor - outstanding - what you would expect from a Canon , sharp , clear , good color , nicely exposed . Have not fooled around with manual settings , but nice to have .
2 ) I like the design and find it easy to hold ( no slippage in my big fat fingers ! ) . Other cameras make it easy for you to hold your finger over the mic or flash , but not here .
3 ) Flash - I do not mind the pop-up . No big deal for me ! Works good too !
4 ) Menu's are pretty easy to navigate - no problem here .
1 ) HD Video - I really like the quality of the video , nice wide screen playback on my 40 Samsung HDTV and looks great on the desktop . Playback is easy and smooth , no problem . ( not diggin ' the digital zoom - see my cons ) . Codec actually works with my Windows Media Player without any hick-ups or wiggles . It's not perfect ( like Sunrise Earth HD quality ) , but pretty nice for taking shots of the kids and grandkid , etc . Again , plays nice on the HDTV . Sound quality is only mono , but SOOOO much better than the Panasonic TZ5 ( my deal breaker for the TZ5 ) it's no comparison . The Sony T500 beats them both for sound quality - it's stereo ! Remember , during video you can NOT optically zoom this camera , but you can digitally zoom - it's not great , but will get you a little closer if you need .
6 ) IS - works great
7 ) Zoom nice and smooth - focus is fast and accurate .
8 ) Battery - pretty good - seems to last me the day - I bought an extra just in case .
9 ) Auto Focus works like a charm , even in low light - no problem here .
10 ) Macro looks great - took some beautiful shots of flowers and roses in my backyard .
11 ) Easy to carry around - not to big , not to small either - just right !
12 ) Overall quality and feel is nice ! Seems well built and should hold up to many outings with the kids and hiking around .
Cons :
1 ) No optical zoom with the Video . If this camera was able to optically zoom , it would be as good as it gets for a point and shoot with HD Video ! Come on Canon - what's up with that ! ! ! ! Panasonic can do it - why can't you ! Do you want your customers to jump ship when the new Panasonic TZ7 comes out ? ? ? ? ? ? ? If SOMEONE could . . . . . . . please , please , please , hack this and help me . Maybe Canon will do some kind of firmware update and allow optical zoom . I can put up with the motor noise of the zoom for this ability ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! While you're at the firmware hack - if you could disable the flash pop-up that would be nice too !
2 ) Indoor shots a bit soft , but just about all P & S's are , the SX200 is pretty darn good though .
3 ) In the Auto mode , the camera automatically ( hence auto mode ) picks the setting it thinks it needs for the best shot . For example , if you real close to an object , it will automatically switch to Macro , then turn back to other modes if you take another shot - this process takes a little time ( maybe a second or two ) to switch . I do not mind because that is what is supposed to do , it just takes a learning curve understand what is happening .
Anyway , these are just the things that really stand out . Of course there are other functions that I really like and others that I will rarely use .
Just one camera geeks opinion , I've read the above folks comments and agree with some , disagree with others . Each piece of tech has it's quirks ( like the flash popping up when the camera is on ; or it feels slippery ; or whatever ) . It's hard to try something new , but with all of the cameras I've tried , I can tell within a few shots ( I have my test shots all picked out for comparisons ) if I'm going to like it or not . The SX200 was the first in long time that kept me inetested , testing , and ultimately claim this one as a keeper ! Interested in your opinion - just me nice ! ! ! ! Oh , and one more thing - PLEASE don't tell me to go and get a DSLR and a dedicated HD Camcorder - been there , done that !
003 4 I received this before a weekend trip and it turned out to be a very well rounded camera . It's not as small as an Elph but it's still just small and light enough to carry around in your pocket or purse for easy access . The 12x zoom lens is terrific and in well lighted situations even the digital zoom creates clear , sharp pictures . The offset is that you lose the f2.8 aperture of other 3x camera's .
I tried most of the scene settings and they all produce slightly different results . The AUTO setting uses a higher shutter speed and ISO setting than Portrait . In Program mode you can set the ISO setting to 80 or 100 and have the camera adjust the shutter speed . The foliage setting does enhance the greens . If you have enough light the indoor setting works better and uses a faster shutter speed while Night snapshot uses a slower shutter speed and produces a better overall shot in lower light . In all but the low light scenes the camera does tend to over expose the shot slightly so I ended up using the exposure adjustment at - 1 / 3 or - 2 / 3 ' s to compensate .
I really liked the ability to adjust the settings to get a well exposed picture out of a range of situations that you can't always get with an Elph and the zoom lens allows you to frame a shot from just about any distance . The pictures are clear , bright and on par with other Canon camera's in it's class . There's plenty of features to play with like face detect and blink detect and the Image Stabilization works very well .
If you are ready to step up from a point and shoot camera to one that provides more control , has a better zoom but is still pocketable the SX200 IS is well worth putting on your list to check out .
004 4 UPDATE
A lot of people are comparing this to the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 ; I just bought one so I have both . After spending some time with each I've come to the conclusion that , despite the similarities , they are different camera for different audiences . Here's where each excels :
PANASONIC
* For a very powerful point-and-click / don't think about it camera , it can't be beat . The Intelligent Auto almost always takes great pictures under almost all conditions . The Canon Auto doesn't even come close and esp for indoor pictures you have to select specific scenes - or use manual controls - to get a good picture .
* Video : True optical zoom + AVCHD video format support . IMHO the Canon's video really is toy-like without optical zoom .
* Features : Here again the Panasonic runs circles around the Canon :
- Much faster burst mode
- Takes 3 aspect ratios at once ( e.g Normal + Wide Angle )
- Twice as many scene modes
- Focus locking ( e.g . a moving animal )
CANON
* Manual Camera Controls : ( e.g . ISO settings ) I honestly have never used these before , but I'm disappointed the Panasonic doesn't include any , as I'd like to start to learn more about them . I can see how this is a big omission if you're a semi-professional photographer .
PICTURE QUALITY
* Auto Point-and-Shoot : Panasonic . I've taken pictures with high motion , low-light conditions , etc . I never thought possible ( for me ) . If you know very little about ISO , etc . This is the camera for you .
* Manual and Best Possible Pictures : Looking at a LOT of samples , it's clear the Canon has a slight edge over the Panasonic here . I'm sure this is because Auto still can't quite take a picture the way a professional photographer would . I've always always been very partial to Canon cameras ( until now ) because they do seem to have the best picture quality , and the samples I've seen seem to show this is still true .
Realistically though , most of use won't take the time to adjust manual controls for every picture - in which case I'm confident the Panasonic will often take better pictures than the Canon ( esp indoors or low-light conditions ) .
So overall , even after owning maybe 5 canons over the years , I'd recommend the Panasonc hands-down , with one exception :
If you're looking to learn more about professional photography and manual camera setting - but not ready for a real professional camera yet , the Canon might be a really good place to start , as the Panasonic doesn't have these .
I'm keeping both - but thee Panasonic will be the one I use 95% of the time .
* * * INITIAL REVIEW * * *
I've owned a half-dozen Cannon digital cameras over the years , this is the first one I'm not entirely impressed with .
PROS
* The 12x optical zoom
* Wide angle pictures
* HD video recording ( digital zoom only )
* New features : Blink detection , etc .
CONS
* Auto Mode : Maybe I have a faulty camera ; if not Auto mode is useless for indoor photos . Auto mode seems VERY aggressive with setting the shutter speed , etc . The problem with this is its settings usually mean you have to hold the camera rock-steady or you'll get very blurry pictures .
Also ( with Auto Mode ) indoor pictures are soft , include lots of noise , and the colors are off .
Doing some experimenting , you can get around these problems by switching to another picture mode , like Indoor . But , IMHO that defeats the entire purpose of Auto Mode . Yes , it's a simple turn of a dial to get the right mode - but I think even that disqualifies this as a true point and shoot camera .
I think this would be a good camera for people who want more control over their photos - without having to be a professional photographer . But I can't recommend it for someone who just wants to push a button to take a picture .
005 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
HI All ,
First off , let me start by saying that I am a Canon fan-boy . I love their product lines in the point and shoot category . I have owned several Canon Powershots and this is my newest acquisition .
Basics :
Whats in the Box :
Camera
Hand Strap
Battery
Charger
USB Cable
Analog Video Cable
Documentation
Canon Software version 46
Whats NOT in the Box and Should be :
Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable
Sample Memory Card
ONLY GRIPE :
The NOT portion above automatically pulls this review down to a 4 star . Why ? Because if you are going to put a mini-hdmi port on your camera . . . you should include the cable . Even CREATIVE includes a mini-hdmi to hdmi cable with their Vado Video Cam . Come on CANON ! And no memory card to start playing out of the box . . whats up with that ? $349 for this camera would surely be able to give Canon enough to throw in a memory card . . and cable . Enough Gripes . . . now on to the good stuff .
PROS :
I love the look of this camera . Take a look at the images I have attached and ascertain for yourself . Canon has refined the lines on their power-shots so much so that they look like professional cameras .
From the time you press the power button to the time you take your first shot is about 1 second . . . which to me is pretty fast . Turning the camera off takes an extra second or so because it has to put the flash back down and bring the lens in .
The zoom ( 12x optical zoom ) is amazingly fast when compared to other cameras ( Lumix TZ5 ) that have a lens that is about this size . When the optical zoom runs out , it does get a bit slow on the digital zoom . . . but that is to be expected on all cameras . I timed about 1.6 seconds from wide-angle to telephoto at full speed . It moves faster as you put more pressure on the switch . The range is 28 - 336mm . NOTE : One of the cons here is that this amazing zoom can not be used for Video shooting .
A fully charged battery should give you about 280 - 300 shots depending on conditions , flash usage , light compensation , etc .
The face self-timer option lets you be in a photo , without having to sprint across the room while the self-timer counts down . The camera will simply wait until any other face is detected , and it will take 3 shots in 2 seconds .
The custom self-timer option lets you select both the time you need and how many pictures you want to take . Awesome feature .
The Optical Image Stabilization is awesome and works really well .
The LCD ( which is an issue on most cameras for bright outdoors ) is amazingly bright and high quality . It is easy to see what you are shooting indoors under heavy lighting and outdoors .
One of the few cameras in its class that allows you to use it in FULL Manual mode . . . although it does not save files in RAW format .
HD video at 1280 x 720 ( 720p ) at 30 frames / second , with mono sound in h .264 format . . . which means more video due to higher compression .
Amazing automatic red-eye removal . . . . tested on my daughter with eyes that will put any cameras red-eye feature to shame . We finally dont have to do any post editing on her eyes . YEAH ! ! !
I will be getting in to photo related details once I have had more time to experiment with the different shooting environments . So far I can see that this camera shines in bright light but seems to have some noise that causes detail loss over iso 200 in low light . Keep checking on this review for updates .
Cons :
Again , no included memory .
No HDMI cable .
Battery Life could be better ( not a deal breaker ) .
Flash takes a bit of time to charge after firing .
Optical zoom not usable in video mode ( my lumix tz5 allows it )
Low light performance is lack luster . . there is some detail loss .
As I mentioned above . . this review is a work in progress and I will be updating it regularly as my experiences with this camera increase . Please ask any and all questions via the commenting system here and I will answer them to the best of my abilities . . Thanks and I hope this review is informative .
006 4 HI All ,
First off , let me start by saying that I am a Canon fan-boy . I love their product lines in the point and shoot category . I have owned several Canon Powershots and this is my newest acquisition .
Basics :
Whats in the Box :
Camera
Hand Strap
Battery
Charger
USB Cable
Analog Video Cable
Documentation
Canon Software version 46
Whats NOT in the Box and Should be :
Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable
Sample Memory Card
ONLY GRIPE :
The NOT portion above automatically pulls this review down to a 4 star . Why ? Because if you are going to put a mini-hdmi port on your camera . . . you should include the cable . Even CREATIVE includes a mini-hdmi to hdmi cable with their Vado Video Cam . Come on CANON ! And no memory card to start playing out of the box . . whats up with that ? $349 for this camera would surely be able to give Canon enough to throw in a memory card . . and cable . Enough Gripes . . . now on to the good stuff .
PROS :
I love the look of this camera . Take a look at the images I have attached and ascertain for yourself . Canon has refined the lines on their power-shots so much so that they look like professional cameras .
From the time you press the power button to the time you take your first shot is about 1 second . . . which to me is pretty fast . Turning the camera off takes an extra second or so because it has to put the flash back down and bring the lens in .
The zoom ( 12x optical zoom ) is amazingly fast when compared to other cameras ( Lumix TZ5 ) that have a lens that is about this size . When the optical zoom runs out , it does get a bit slow on the digital zoom . . . but that is to be expected on all cameras . I timed about 1.6 seconds from wide-angle to telephoto at full speed . It moves faster as you put more pressure on the switch . The range is 28 - 336mm . NOTE : One of the cons here is that this amazing zoom can not be used for Video shooting .
A fully charged battery should give you about 280 - 300 shots depending on conditions , flash usage , light compensation , etc .
The face self-timer option lets you be in a photo , without having to sprint across the room while the self-timer counts down . The camera will simply wait until any other face is detected , and it will take 3 shots in 2 seconds .
The custom self-timer option lets you select both the time you need and how many pictures you want to take . Awesome feature .
The Optical Image Stabilization is awesome and works really well .
The LCD ( which is an issue on most cameras for bright outdoors ) is amazingly bright and high quality . It is easy to see what you are shooting indoors under heavy lighting and outdoors .
One of the few cameras in its class that allows you to use it in FULL Manual mode . . . although it does not save files in RAW format .
HD video at 1280 x 720 ( 720p ) at 30 frames / second , with mono sound in h .264 format . . . which means more video due to higher compression .
Amazing automatic red-eye removal . . . . tested on my daughter with eyes that will put any cameras red-eye feature to shame . We finally dont have to do any post editing on her eyes . YEAH ! ! !
I will be getting in to photo related details once I have had more time to experiment with the different shooting environments . So far I can see that this camera shines in bright light but seems to have some noise that causes detail loss over iso 200 in low light . Keep checking on this review for updates .
Cons :
Again , no included memory .
No HDMI cable .
Battery Life could be better ( not a deal breaker ) .
Flash takes a bit of time to charge after firing .
Optical zoom not usable in video mode ( my lumix tz5 allows it )
Low light performance is lack luster . . there is some detail loss .
As I mentioned above . . this review is a work in progress and I will be updating it regularly as my experiences with this camera increase . Please ask any and all questions via the commenting system here and I will answer them to the best of my abilities . . Thanks and I hope this review is informative .
007 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
The Short Version : I love this camera . While it has a few clear weaknesses , it more than makes up for them in quality , ability , and manual controls .
Background : I am a photography enthusiast . Not the kind who stalks around taking random pictures of strangers , or who wanders the forest looking for interesting plants . The kind who enjoys taking pictures at events : quiz meets , softball games , weddings , etc . to share with friends . I own a Canon EOS 50D ( digital SLR ) but also like to have a smaller point-and-shoot for travel or situations where the snap-click noise of an SLR is unacceptable . My last point-and-shoot had proved bad for the lower-light situations where I tend to shoot , and a wedding was coming up that I wanted to cover . In the past , I had always gone for ultra-compacts but this time around I wanted something that could handle both low-light and long zooms while still being pocketable . I tried an Olympus Stylus 9000 ( returned due to impossibility of focusing reliably and blur indoors ) and researched the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 . But in the end , I chose the Canon Powershot SX200 IS and purchased it from Amazon.Com .
The Good : This camera is a joy to use . It has an automatic mode , a super-easy mode , 5 scene modes , a dedicated special scenes mode with less-used options , video , full manual , aperture priority , shutter priority , and Program mode , like an SLR . Unlike the competition , the camera has nearly as much customizability as an SLR and the controls are fairly easy to use due to a new menu structure for Canon camera . The pictures are clear , crisp , and has relatively low noise even down to 1600 and 3200 , when compared to other point-and-shoot models . The SDHC card slot will accommodate even the largest 32 GB models of memory card ( yes , I tested with one those those ) and saving to card is quick . The 3.0 LCD on the back is also clear and crisp . And I love the selective desaturization mode in the camera . And how do you beat 12x zoom ( 28 to 300mm equivalent lens ) in this size package ? !
The Bad : The camera is not perfect . First , while very pocketable , it is not an ultra-compact - it is about as long as an iPhone but 4 to 5 times as thick and it is has definite heft in your hand and pocket . Second , time from shot to shot is not quick , even in burst mode , sometimes taking a full second or 2 to recycle between shots . Third , battery is life is only moderate - over the course of a wedding and reception ( about 8 hours ) I went through 3 fully-charged batteries , and the batteries themselves take over 2 hours to recharge . Finally , when zoomed to the extreme , the camera often finds it hard to find a focal point and may vacillate between two of them , forcing you to let go of the shutter and recompose the shot . This lead me to lose a few really critical photographs .
The Bottom Line : This camera is a keeper , but you'll want to keep your SLR for the most important or challenging occasions . The 12x zoom is great for getting in close or finding a good wide-angle option . It is pocketable , has a plethora of manual options to allow you to get the best shot , has several really fun auto options , and comes in at under $400 even at the expensive shops . How much did I like this camera ? Let's just say that I am now one of 3 friends who all own the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS .
008 4 The Short Version : I love this camera . While it has a few clear weaknesses , it more than makes up for them in quality , ability , and manual controls .
Background : I am a photography enthusiast . Not the kind who stalks around taking random pictures of strangers , or who wanders the forest looking for interesting plants . The kind who enjoys taking pictures at events : quiz meets , softball games , weddings , etc . to share with friends . I own a Canon EOS 50D ( digital SLR ) but also like to have a smaller point-and-shoot for travel or situations where the snap-click noise of an SLR is unacceptable . My last point-and-shoot had proved bad for the lower-light situations where I tend to shoot , and a wedding was coming up that I wanted to cover . In the past , I had always gone for ultra-compacts but this time around I wanted something that could handle both low-light and long zooms while still being pocketable . I tried an Olympus Stylus 9000 ( returned due to impossibility of focusing reliably and blur indoors ) and researched the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 . But in the end , I chose the Canon Powershot SX200 IS and purchased it from Amazon.Com .
The Good : This camera is a joy to use . It has an automatic mode , a super-easy mode , 5 scene modes , a dedicated special scenes mode with less-used options , video , full manual , aperture priority , shutter priority , and Program mode , like an SLR . Unlike the competition , the camera has nearly as much customizability as an SLR and the controls are fairly easy to use due to a new menu structure for Canon camera . The pictures are clear , crisp , and has relatively low noise even down to 1600 and 3200 , when compared to other point-and-shoot models . The SDHC card slot will accommodate even the largest 32 GB models of memory card ( yes , I tested with one those those ) and saving to card is quick . The 3.0 LCD on the back is also clear and crisp . And I love the selective desaturization mode in the camera . And how do you beat 12x zoom ( 28 to 300mm equivalent lens ) in this size package ? !
The Bad : The camera is not perfect . First , while very pocketable , it is not an ultra-compact - it is about as long as an iPhone but 4 to 5 times as thick and it is has definite heft in your hand and pocket . Second , time from shot to shot is not quick , even in burst mode , sometimes taking a full second or 2 to recycle between shots . Third , battery is life is only moderate - over the course of a wedding and reception ( about 8 hours ) I went through 3 fully-charged batteries , and the batteries themselves take over 2 hours to recharge . Finally , when zoomed to the extreme , the camera often finds it hard to find a focal point and may vacillate between two of them , forcing you to let go of the shutter and recompose the shot . This lead me to lose a few really critical photographs .
The Bottom Line : This camera is a keeper , but you'll want to keep your SLR for the most important or challenging occasions . The 12x zoom is great for getting in close or finding a good wide-angle option . It is pocketable , has a plethora of manual options to allow you to get the best shot , has several really fun auto options , and comes in at under $400 even at the expensive shops . How much did I like this camera ? Let's just say that I am now one of 3 friends who all own the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS .
009 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I purchased the Canon Powershot SX200IS after much research on the web . I have been looking for a small camera that I can carry with me everyday : I'm doing the Project 365 . I would still like my shots to be better than ones I take with my smaller point and shoot or my cell phone . I discovered these wide angle / ultra zoom small cameras and have been debating back and forth about a few of them . My choices boiled down to this one and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 . While the Panisonic has some great features , like the optical zoom in video mode with stereo sound , I decided that I was mainly buying the camera to take still shots and the Canon seems like a camera I can grow with as my photographic abilities increase . The Panisonic has no Manual settings , but the Canon has everything from Easy mode that just lets you take shots and chose whether you want the flash or not , to full manual . I first ordered the Canon from the lowest price website online and they gave me a run around including trying to sell me more stuff that I didn't need and extended warranty . As long as I was willing to buy one of their package deals , they had one in stock , but when I declined all the extra stuff they put me on backorder . I finally canceled the order and went to another discount site that looked like it had it in stock . After I ordered it my order showed up as backorder and that went on for a month . I called twice and was told two different dates , both not acceptable to me so I canceled that order too . I ordered it from Amazon yesterday and had it in my hot little hands today , less than 24 hrs later . Great service ! It all boils down to you get what you pay for .
As far as the quality of the camera is concerned , it is a little larger than my old iPod , but I like the heft of it ; It feels substantial . It's going to take a little getting used to the power on button being on the left side of the camera ; it feels better to me to turn it on with my left hand . I'm used to a camera with a grip area on the right side so I am going to make sure I use the strap as I am afraid I will drop it . The door for the battery and media card feels substantial as does the flash . The door where you hook up the cables feels a little flimsy though .
I started playing with it the moment it arrived and , I have to admit that I had to check manual to get the hang of some of the features , like turning on the IS feature . ( My husband was shocked ! lol ) It's not visible in all modes . I am pretty savvy when it comes to figuring out techy stuff , but this has allot of different features to delve into . I will read the manual all the way through though so I don't miss any of the cool features like doing some actual editing ( cropping , red eye removal ( not on pets ! ) and rotation ) . It even rotates the photos in playback mode when you turn the camera from horizontal to vertical .
Overall I am very satisfied with the camera and look forward to many years of learning how to take better and better shots with this baby . I'm very impressed with the results I've gotten and , in the automatic mode , the camera senses what your subject is and chooses the appropriate mode to shoot in and it is very good at that . ( See a shot of some glasses I have in a garden window . The room was pretty dark , but the camera compensated for all the light coming from the window . I was very impressed . ) It's small enough to carry with me in my purse so I don't miss those important shots and it will be a great little camera to take on vacation with me . I love the 28 - 336mm lens and the fact that there's no lens cap to fiddle with or lose . I have taken some super macro shots ( 0 - .79in ) and they are amazing . I will post some soon .
The camera fires up very fast so you won't miss your shots ; seemed like less than a second from pushing the power button to ready to shoot .
I thought I might be bothered by only having the display screen but it is very easy to see in bright light . It automatically adjusts for night viewing . I also understand that the screen is scratch-protected .
One fun little thing I discovered is that you can display the time alone on the screen by holding down the FuncSet button and pressing the power button . This might be good if I need to check out what time it is ; us retired folk don't have to wear watches anymore ! = )
One other thing I did was to get the 1300mAh battery and a 16 gig SDHD card which gives me about 5000 shots . It does not come with any media card .
All in all , this is a great camera to learn on . It even has a hints and tips mode that you can turn on and off and , if your shot is overexposed , the whiter areas of your photo flash during playback so you could retake the shot if you want . I plan to update this review as I learn more and add more photos . I think this camera is a great value for the money . Good hunting and best wishes .
7 - 4 - 09 - after having this camera for awhile , I tried to upgrade my star rating to 5 stars but the Amazon edit mode won't let me do this . I love this camera . And it's small enough to have with me all the time so I don't miss photo opportunities . The more I use it the more impressed I am . You can't go wrong !
010 4 I purchased the Canon Powershot SX200IS after much research on the web . I have been looking for a small camera that I can carry with me everyday : I'm doing the Project 365 . I would still like my shots to be better than ones I take with my smaller point and shoot or my cell phone . I discovered these wide angle / ultra zoom small cameras and have been debating back and forth about a few of them . My choices boiled down to this one and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 . While the Panisonic has some great features , like the optical zoom in video mode with stereo sound , I decided that I was mainly buying the camera to take still shots and the Canon seems like a camera I can grow with as my photographic abilities increase . The Panisonic has no Manual settings , but the Canon has everything from Easy mode that just lets you take shots and chose whether you want the flash or not , to full manual . I first ordered the Canon from the lowest price website online and they gave me a run around including trying to sell me more stuff that I didn't need and extended warranty . As long as I was willing to buy one of their package deals , they had one in stock , but when I declined all the extra stuff they put me on backorder . I finally canceled the order and went to another discount site that looked like it had it in stock . After I ordered it my order showed up as backorder and that went on for a month . I called twice and was told two different dates , both not acceptable to me so I canceled that order too . I ordered it from Amazon yesterday and had it in my hot little hands today , less than 24 hrs later . Great service ! It all boils down to you get what you pay for .
As far as the quality of the camera is concerned , it is a little larger than my old iPod , but I like the heft of it ; It feels substantial . It's going to take a little getting used to the power on button being on the left side of the camera ; it feels better to me to turn it on with my left hand . I'm used to a camera with a grip area on the right side so I am going to make sure I use the strap as I am afraid I will drop it . The door for the battery and media card feels substantial as does the flash . The door where you hook up the cables feels a little flimsy though .
I started playing with it the moment it arrived and , I have to admit that I had to check manual to get the hang of some of the features , like turning on the IS feature . ( My husband was shocked ! lol ) It's not visible in all modes . I am pretty savvy when it comes to figuring out techy stuff , but this has allot of different features to delve into . I will read the manual all the way through though so I don't miss any of the cool features like doing some actual editing ( cropping , red eye removal ( not on pets ! ) and rotation ) . It even rotates the photos in playback mode when you turn the camera from horizontal to vertical .
Overall I am very satisfied with the camera and look forward to many years of learning how to take better and better shots with this baby . I'm very impressed with the results I've gotten and , in the automatic mode , the camera senses what your subject is and chooses the appropriate mode to shoot in and it is very good at that . ( See a shot of some glasses I have in a garden window . The room was pretty dark , but the camera compensated for all the light coming from the window . I was very impressed . ) It's small enough to carry with me in my purse so I don't miss those important shots and it will be a great little camera to take on vacation with me . I love the 28 - 336mm lens and the fact that there's no lens cap to fiddle with or lose . I have taken some super macro shots ( 0 - .79in ) and they are amazing . I will post some soon .
The camera fires up very fast so you won't miss your shots ; seemed like less than a second from pushing the power button to ready to shoot .
I thought I might be bothered by only having the display screen but it is very easy to see in bright light . It automatically adjusts for night viewing . I also understand that the screen is scratch-protected .
One fun little thing I discovered is that you can display the time alone on the screen by holding down the FuncSet button and pressing the power button . This might be good if I need to check out what time it is ; us retired folk don't have to wear watches anymore ! = )
One other thing I did was to get the 1300mAh battery and a 16 gig SDHD card which gives me about 5000 shots . It does not come with any media card .
All in all , this is a great camera to learn on . It even has a hints and tips mode that you can turn on and off and , if your shot is overexposed , the whiter areas of your photo flash during playback so you could retake the shot if you want . I plan to update this review as I learn more and add more photos . I think this camera is a great value for the money . Good hunting and best wishes .
7 - 4 - 09 - after having this camera for awhile , I tried to upgrade my star rating to 5 stars but the Amazon edit mode won't let me do this . I love this camera . And it's small enough to have with me all the time so I don't miss photo opportunities . The more I use it the more impressed I am . You can't go wrong !
011 4 The best camera is the one you have with you . I walk either on the shore or in the woods every day and am a passionate if novice birder . I've used this Canon to capture images of birds that I couldn't identify in the field . The long zoom is amazing , especially with the image stabilization . This camera is small and light enough to slip in my vest or coat pocket and as such has become my constant companion .
The images it takes are good . I've compared it against my SLR a Pentax K20D . In good light its images stack up well against the jpegs shot with my SLR's kit lens , though they aren't as sharp as as those I take with my better lenses . This doesn't do RAW files to compare to , which are always richer in image information . In lower light and at higher ISOs the difference between this and the SLR becomes major , which is typical of a point and shoot . This is not a great low light camera , but that's not why I bought it . To further emphasize that , point please understand that the flash is pretty anemic . But that's not what I bought this for . Look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 , which should be out soon for better indoor capability . It has a better flash and somewhat better low ISO performance .
In daylight , even under medium overcast this PowerShot does a great job . I especially like the manual exposure and focus capabilities this camera has . The Panasonic against which this model is pitted is brilliant at auto exposure , still there are times when I want full manual control and this gives it .
I'm new a movie taking so can't really compare the abilities against dedicated movie cameras . I do love the fact that I can simply push a button and start taking a clip . Yesterday a bald eagle fought the heavy wind about 100 ft overhead and I got a great 2 minute movie of it struggling with gusts . Of course the microphone picked up the heavy wind sound but it doesn't seem to in more normal weather . The movies imported directly into FinalCut Express for editing . They're taken with the h .264 codec , which I've found in other circumstances gives good quality at comparatively small file size . That seems to be the case here as well . It also takes HD movies . Since my we got a widescreen TV , my wife only wants to watch wide screen video . That's covered with this camera .
For good light and where you'd want a high power zoom as well as pretty good wide angle , say landscape , wildlife or stree photography , I wholeheartedly recommend this camera .
012 4 Overall , I was happier with the Panasonic ZS3 and I returned the Canon SX200 . Historically , I have really enjoyed Canon camera's and have been very satisfied with my S3 IS over the years . In fact , I think my S3 IS takes better pictures and video than the new SX200 , but the SX 200 IS smaller . I don't consider myself loyal to Canon or Panasonic . For me , it all boils down to ease of use and print quality as I actually print 4x6 pictures on my Epson photo printer .
I agree with the other reviews that the Canon is probably capable of taking good pictures by tweaking the settings , but I needed a camera that I could quickly hand off to a family member or friend and have a reasonable chance of getting a good picture . I don't understand why the Canon , in Auto mode , raises the ISO to 800 and uses the flash for an indoor picture . It seems unnecessary to me . Overall , I thought the indoor pics were not up to par with the ZS3 . The Canon outdoor pictures were fair but not better than the ZS3 . I also found the pop up flash on the SX200 to be a neat concept but in the end , annoying . I kept hitting it with my fingers . I think the build quality of the SX200 is good but so is the ZS3 and ZS3 is built in Japan . Good luck !
013 4 First of all , the HDMI a / v door has been said to be flimsy and cheap by many . The door is plastic and it moves around and is on a rubber hinge . This is specifically designed that way . It is not an oversight by Cannon . It is a protective feature that allow you to plug and un-plug your cable using your fat fingers without damaging the door or hinge , which is bad . If the door or hinge bends , the door does not close and dust settles in . Pretty smart of Cannon huh ?
Night shots and low light pics are great . Many reviews state otherwise but it is not Cannon's fault if someone does not know how to operate or adjust the camera to appropriate settings when taking these shots . IF you only use easy or Auto for every pic , you wasted a great deal of money on this camera when you could have bought a more simple point and shoot without all the options and settings for half the price .
Camera is compact and can fit in my pocket but I wear baggy pants . IF you wear these slim pants people wear tody , no way will it fit in your pocket . This is not really a pocket camera ( like the Elphs ) but for the amout of optical zoom , it is quite small . Compared to the ELPHS , it is probably 0.5 inches thicker and 1 inch wider .
It is somewhat heavy but not anything that will be bothersome or affect pics ; remember there is a big lens in this camera . Probably extends 3 inches .
Video is great and has 4x zoom . However , quality diminishes with zoom . Appears to be a digital zoom in video mode.I have a Cannon HG 20 so the video was a deciding factor for me but if it is for you , check out zoom quality before you purchase .
Another cons I have seen on multiple reviews is the placement of the flash . The flash is located where some would place their left index finger ( on top of the camera , but fortuantely Cannon thought of that ( despite the reviews ) and the flash pops out and the moves forward so 75% of the top of the camera , where some would place thier finger , is still available . I am one of those people and there are no issues at all with the place ment of the flash : even if you want to put your finger on the front of the camera .
014 4 You won't find a lot of technical terms in my review . I'm a mom who wanted a great camera for photos of my kids , of landscape scenes , and to capture special moments . I , like most , did quite a bit of research on cameras prior to this purchase . I had been very happy with my old Canon Powershot S500 that has lasted me for 5 - 6 years and was partial to the Canon brand . That didn't stop me from checking out other brands , however . I looked closely at every camera that offered an increased zoom in the $150 - $350 range . My main goal was to find a camera with a great zoom . I'm no professional with the camera and really don't need a lot of fancy extras . I know enough to take some good pictures in various lighting settings , but I can do without a digital SLR and prefer to do so . I initally was led to the Canon SX 110 IS , again mainly due to the zoom and the Canon name . The more I looked at it the more I realized I didn't want the clunkiness of it . I do a lot of hiking and I'm a mom who likes to carry a small purse , so I wanted something easy to tote . I began my search again looking for a camera that had that portability factor as well as the mega-zoom . I finally found it in this camera .
I have had the camera less than a month and have already been amazed at the photos I have been able to produce . Even in low light settings the pictures come out clear and sharp . I was able to take some great shots of my daughter on stage from a dark audience at well over 60 feet away . I had a man behind me ask what type of camera I was using because he was so impressed with the shots he had seen on my camera that he was going to run out that night and buy one ! I also like the fact that this camera uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery . I didn't like the idea of going through dozens of regular AA batteries , regardless of how convenient they are . That was another factor in me not purchasing the SX 100 IS . I did buy an extra battery for this camera , just in case , and would highly recommend doing so . I also ended up with a 16 GB memory card . . . much more than necessary but again , peace of mind . It is well worth the time to read the manual for this camera . You will find that the added features are quite simple , but I have to say the auto mode takes incredible photos .
All in all , this is one smart camera . The zoom is simply amazing and the stabilization allows clear , sharp pictures to come through . The face detection is a great features that works well in action shots . The huge 3 inch LCD screen will ensure you get a fabulous shot . I was one who used to depend on a view finder and it has taken me some time to get used to not having one , but this large screen does help . The pop-up flash does take some getting used to as well , but I have yet to find it awkward or uncomfortable in any way .
I am not one to use a camera for video features . We have a great Sony camcorder that we use for that purpose soley , so I can't be fair in reviewing that feature .
I think this camera would serve a wide range of photographers . The ease of use and the quality delivered by Canon ensure that regardless of your purpose , the pictures will come out fantastic , which is the ultimate goal of any of us .
015 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
After only 5 months my this camera has quit working for me . I'm getting the now infamous Lens Error , Restart Camera message and apparently there is nothing Canon will do about it . I checked online to see if I might be able to fix the problem myself but all I found were other disgruntled buyers with the same issue . Very sad indeed . Anyway , just thought I would share this with everyone who was thinking of buying this camera . Please call Canon and ask them what you should do if you get this error message , there answer might be the best indicator as to whether you should buy this camera or not .
017 4 I was printing photos at home today on my canon selphy 760 ( nice compact printer by the way ) , and decided I wanted to get some 5x7 ' s and collages done . I went online and ordered some prints from Walmart . About a half hour after placing my order , I received a call from the photo lab at Walmart . Curiosly I answered the phone and the lab lady told me should would NOT print my photos until I got a signed relase from the photographer's studio . I said , What ? , Those are my photos I took with my own camera , ( actually my niece took them with my Canon SX200 IS of my wedding ) . She was quite snippy and stated that she felt they looked like they are taken by a professional and was insisting that I sign a relase before I can have them printed . At first I was mad . I explained to her they didn't need anybody's release , they were my photos taken with my camera . After hanging up , I couldn't help but smile , these were photos taken at my wedding which my 15 year old niece took with my canon sx200 ! I was so pleased . My ex-husband and I just got re-married and decided not to spend money on professional photos this time ( we had professional photos taken the first time we got marrried ) . I have to admit I was worried that I should have spent the money and hire a photographer since it really was an important day for us . I guess we didn't need to spend the extra money afterall . I have 4 cameras including the canon S3IS , Canon SX200 IS ( the camera we used for our photos ) , the Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ28 ( which also takes high quality photos , just seems the SX200 takes more vivid photos ) , and the casio sx - 12 ( a ultra compact with nice but not exceptional photos ) . These photos really do look professional and I had the camera set to auto mode so my niece wouldn't have any trouble . This camera is awesome . I guess I got my professional looking photos ( without the price ) .
* * I only used auto mode , and got wonderful results . I can only imagine what results I can get if I play around with the settings .
Before buying , I looked at cnet.com
I love cnet.com , although I do feel 90% confident in the editors review , I understand that their reviews are based on a test for that item , and not everyday use . I therefore place more value in the average users review , becuase these are the people who bought the camera and are using it to take their photos which can include different settings ( inside , outside , weddings , sports , landscape photos , etc . . . ) .
018 4 For those having trouble with noise on indoor shots I recommend using the indoors setting . This is very easily accessible on the dial and does yield significantly better results than auto or easy , so when my camera is just sitting around the house waiting for the dogs to do something cute that's where it's set ( see exception below though RE : low indoor light ) .
Macro is a little tougher to find ( you have to be in the P mode on the dial or the foliage scene mode ) , and while the manual says you can't use zoom past the area that will show yellow in the zoom bar on the screen , in my experience you can't zoom at all in macro without blurring your shots . But once you figure that out , the macro works great .
The zoom is also outstanding . I took a picture of a building across the river ( approximately a half mile ) and I was able to magnify the image on my computer enough to read the lettering on the building before the image got too pixelated . Will try to post this .
The only disappointing images I've had have been in low light using the indoors mode . But I've gotten good results indoors in low light using the auto or easy modes . On the other hand , I've had outstanding results with backlit subjects . I took a couple pictures of my husband and dogs outdoors with the sun behind them that came out great . Then at a party I took several pictures of people sitting inside in front of windows ; it was early evening in late May and still very bright outside . Not only did all the people come out great , but in several pictures the scenery visible through the window also came out great , which I find pretty amazing .
The pop-up flash does not bother me .
This camera fixes everything I didn't like about the SX100 ( which took great pictures but was too big and had very slow flash recycle ) .
I've always loved Canon's unique feature that lets you customize the self-timer for multiple shots . By setting it for 5 or 6 I always get at least 1 group shot where everyone looks good .
021 4 A few thoughts on the Canon SX200 IS :
1 . Flash always pops up on power-on : This has been the greatest criticism of this camera . The flash is in the way but perhaps not as obnoxious as many make it out to be . Once you use the camera you'll see why :
* When you feel the flash and push it down you'll understand how Canon made the hinge mechanism . You can press the flash down any time , it won't break the camera or fall off , it'll just lightly snap into place .
Place your finger over the flash , power-on , your finger won't feel any mechanism of the flash moving which suggests that it's not being pushed up but perhaps released . Remove your finger , flash pops up .
* The camera knows when the flash is up or down . With the camera powered-on and the flash set to Auto , you can press the flash down and the on-screen indicator will change to Flash off .
* Whenever I watch someone handle this camera they place their left index and thumb to hold the camera and unknowingly cover the flash . When they move their finger they say oh , there's the flash .
* This smart mechanism seems the right compromise to this flash design . I hope a future firmware update will allow the user to choose the pop-up actions .
2 . On / Off button is too far left : It's unreachable by your right index finger when held in hand . Placing it closer to the shutter would make it easier to operate with one hand .
3 . Set flash to Off , it remains off after power-offs and ons . An excellent feature . Too bad the flash pops up each time .
4 . Extra auto features : Get close to something , it switches to macro automatically . Super-macro available as well under manual control . Face detection kicks in and follows faces nicely .
5 . Feels fine in one hand : Every camera requires time and technique to adapt to operation in one hand . Although the power button is not in an ideal place , this camera works well in one hand . Features such as the flash staying off and auto-macro enhance the usability .
6 . Picture quality , camera speed : Both are excellent and consistent with Canon quality .
022 4 I am not a professional photographer , but I wanted a nice camera with me when I went on a trip to Europe . The Cannon Powershot SX 200 IS has more than served me well . It takes outstanding pictures , and the built in panorama stitching mode works wonderfully !
I also love the look of this camera , it is gorgeous and the perfect compromise between compact size and a full set of features .
I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone that is not a professional but still wants a camera that is capable of taking the very best pictures .
023 4 I have had the camera for about 2 1 / 2 weeks and this was the product I have been waiting for many years-compact size for traveling with a large zoom . Since the camera has been released , I have read all the reviews I could find , including the comparisions to the Panasonic . Although most of the professional reviews rated the Panasonic higher , I decided to stick with Canon because of the following-I have owned 4 Canon Elphs , Canon has been in the business of making cameras for many years and I don't really care about video .
Many have complained about the pop-up flash . At first , I was somewhat irritated about the flash being extended all the time , but after after a few days I hardly even notice it anymore . In fact , many times my finger prevented the flash from operating and did nothing to change the quality of the photos I took ( in properly lighted situations ) .
I have used all the possible picture modes with the exception of Easy and the camera performs flawlessly for me . I live on the beach in Florida and have many pictures of tropical flowers and boats in my sample collection that were extremely sharp in contrast and with great colors . The closeup features on the camera are just what I was hoping for in sharpness and blow away my Elphs by a long shot .
In reduced light or at night-time , I have taken pictures of my stained glass lampshades and the colors were reproduced perfectly . This also goes for my hound dog who never likes to stay still when I take her picture . By using the ' Kids and Pet ' scene mode , the camera again worked flawlessly and stopped her movements so I could get great quality pictures of her . I have a waterfall in my backyard and the same scene mode stopped the water flowing over the rocks so the stream appeared to be stopped - a very nice effect .
The zoom ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Just wonderful . I used the digital zoom at about 32X to take a picture of a flower blooming in a neighbors yard . I am not a fan of digital zoom pictures at all , but the photo appeared to very crisp and sharp . I take pictures of the sea birds near my house and the zoom is perfect for those hard to get close ups .
The software inside the camera can be used to enhance or repair photos , and again this is a feature I never used before . I can take a picture into the sun of a person and by using the correction in the camera , they don't appear to be blacked out like with my Elphs .
The battery takes aproximately 250 - 275 pictures and I am very happy with it's performance . The LCD screen looks fine to me even in the bright sunlight .
My only wish was the camera was the same size as my Elphs , but I am sure that will happen in the not too distant future . It fits easily into the pockets of my shorts and feels solid , although a bit heavy compared to the ELph .
Lastly , these are just my impressions and everyone will have specific likes and dislikes about any brand of camera . I almost pushed the buy button on the Panasonic competitor , but I remembered what a professional photographer told me before I purchased my first digital camera : Go with a brand that has been making camera for a long time . If you do decide to purchase the Canon SX 200 , I think you will be pleasantly surprised . If not , return it and get the Panasonic which by all accounts is a very fine camera also .
025 4 * Fully meets my expectations .
* Looking forward to CHDK providing the capability to optically zoom during video . Digital zoom with 12 MP is marginally OK . It would also be nice if CHDK provided RAW capability .
* I was concerned that thickness of nearly 1.5 would be a problem . . . it's not for me .
* Lots of valuable features that will take several weeks , and a few hours in the owner's manual , to fully appreciate .
* Access to all the features is initially a bit of a challenge , but once Canon's scheme is understood , and practiced , it's not an issue .
* Of particular value is the camera's ability to be set in a mode that produces excellent results for most any situation , yet requires no more input from operator than composing the photo .
* Blink detection ? What next ?
* Now I can get excellent photos of subjects & situations that made using my digital SLR difficult or impossible .
* Very fast start-up and shutter release .
026 4 I purchased this camera to replace a stolen Canon Powershot SD1100 IS . Instead of going with the 1200 update , I opted for this ( more expensive ) model primarily because I wanted the zoom . When you learn a few things , the SX200 IS is markedly superior camera and the photos I am taking are breathtaking . Auto mode is okay ; however , experiment with the manual settings for fantastic photos . It is a point and shoot as long as you choose the right settings and they may not be what you are used to . Read the manual . It's easy . Canon's color is always good ( in my opinion ) but this color is the most realistic I have ever seen . Skin tones are exceptional .
As for the camera-style , I think it is gorgeous . . . a retro looking slighty-boxy , black ( the red looks good but I am a traditionalist ) . The flash location has never bothered me . I like that it is slightly bigger than my teeny Powershot ; I have small hands but had a hard time holding the SD1100 . This camera is way more comfortable . The screen is beautiful . I guess the only other thing I have to say is that I hope I have it for a long time .
027 4 This is my fifth digital camera , three of which are Canons . In my experience , Canons have provided the best images and this camera is no exception . I was considering a DSLR , Canon for the most part , ( having used a 35mm SLR for years prior to digital ) but decided on the compact SX200IS instead . It had everything I was looking for , good auto ability , manual adjustments , wide angle ability , and most of all a long ( 12x optical ) lens . This camera provides all the features of a DSLR , ( except lense interchangeability and a viewfinder ) and still can fit in a pocket . Although a little larger than the little ones out there , it still goes into a pocket or it's case on my belt and I take it everywhere . If I had to hang a DSLR anchor around my neck , it would be staying in the house or car and not taking pictures .
The automatic pop up flash is no big deal . I don't even know it's there . However , the multipoint focusing in Auto mode can lead to a lot of bad , blurry shots . I use the P mode with center focus and that irritation is gone . Indoor shots are great , especially when using Indoor mode . Battery life is very good . I'm surprised how good the 3 screen is and I don't miss a viewfinder at all . The functions , features , and adjustments are numerous but accessing them is intuitive . Reading the manual and practicing with the camera are essential .
DSLR owners may pooh-pooh me when I pull this camera out of my pocket , but I'm taking the pictures while their cameras are paper weights somewhere .
028 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
After researching this camera and reading rave reviews , I replaced my point and shoot with this model . This camera makes beautiful crisp outdoor pics . But like any point and shoot , indoors , if the subject is too far away for the flash to reach ( approx 15ft ) , not going to get the shot . I was however able to make some beautiful video of my child's recital from the back of the room , great zoom for video . Sound quality great . Pop up flash is a bit of a bother as it pops up everytime the camera is turned on . Easily hooks up to hdtv for viewing . A little bulkier than I had expected .
030 4 After so much anticipation , I got this camera from another retailer before Amazon had it available . Just a note , I am not a first time P & S user ; I had several of them before this . My main camera is a Canon 5D MkII , this camera impressed me so much that I decided to get a Canon P & S , thinking that I will get the same deep color saturation and image .
After shooting it for a week , here are what I found :
1 . Camera is hard to grip . There is no grip on this camera , the enlarged end does not count as a grip ! It is kind of slippery , so you can't shoot it with one hand . I had to add a strap and wrapped it around my wrist , afraid that I drop the camera .
2 . The flash popped up on power on and close when you power the camera off . This is a major issue for me . I hate it ! Wish I can pop it up only when I need like my Panasonic DMC-LX2 . It is also flimsy , I am afraid I break it off if I am not careful .
3 . Noise noise and noise . Less noise than the Canon G10 , but they are there even at low ISO . Images are soft , I guess from noise reduction algorithm . This is another major issue .
4 . HD video is fine . This is not my main reason to get the camera . For $200 , you could get a real HD cam that could do 1080p . I shot some video , but did not get to try it on my TV because I don't have the cable !
5 . Long end zoom image is visibly soft .
I have a Canon A620 and a Panasonic DMC-LX2 . Either one of these produces mush sharper and clearer images than the SX200 IS . I tested all three of them by shooting the same thing , under the same lighting condition . The result prompted me to give up on this camera . Guess I just shoot with what I have .
I gave it 4 stars because I think most people would be happy with this camera . I expect a lot more from a camera that cost $ 350 .
031 4 I will try to be brief . The reviewer who recommended doing your research / homework was absolutely correct . However , do not get too bogged down in the details , as you will only become further frustrated . Digital Photo Review , Megapixel dot c , are good resources . I own too many Canon cameras ( according to my wife ) , but this is because I LOVE CANON , they have yet to disappoint me . I would bet that for everyone that loves Canon there are a few who love another brand . Point being ; unless there is some HUGE advance forward in technology , the differences are often razor thin ( at this level ) . The Power Shot line up has been solid . I have several different models and use them all . If you want high quality video , buy a decent video camera . If you want high quality - photographs vs . snapshots , buy a quality DSLR , high quality point and shoot . . . buy high quality point and shoot . Even the Canon 5D MII ( my dream machine ) does not pull off - outstanding video - , but the photographic possibilities are off the charts , and that is almost a 3K camera . To each his own , but do not expect your VW bug to out perform a Porche , and you will be fine . This gadget , yes gadget , is more than most will ever use . I spent a few days with it , and never maxed out , within reason . ALSO : It has a 12X Optical , Not Digital . Digital Zoom is a marketing gimmick , the exact same as cropping on a photo suite .
Hope that helps . . .
032 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I've owned this camera for a few months now . I recently bought the new SX20IS as a superzoom . I'm asking myself why . The SX200IS does everything I want out of a camera . I might return the SX20IS because it really isn't any better than the SX200IS . I take this camera with me all the time . It's pocket size and considering it's a 12X zoom and takes flawless HD Video it meets all my needs . This even takes much better low light pictures than the SX200IS . It's picture quality is second to none in this price range . I've taken party pictures in Hall lighting and pics at my local airshow and all Of them came out beautiful . There aren't many cameras with a 12X zoom and HD Video that will fit in your pocket , considering that and it's photo quality and would highly reccomend this camera .
I like the SX20IS but it's size makes it a hassel to carry around , the SX200IS is the money .
033 4 I've owned this camera for a few months now . I recently bought the new SX20IS as a superzoom . I'm asking myself why . The SX200IS does everything I want out of a camera . I might return the SX20IS because it really isn't any better than the SX200IS . I take this camera with me all the time . It's pocket size and considering it's a 12X zoom and takes flawless HD Video it meets all my needs . This even takes much better low light pictures than the SX200IS . It's picture quality is second to none in this price range . I've taken party pictures in Hall lighting and pics at my local airshow and all Of them came out beautiful . There aren't many cameras with a 12X zoom and HD Video that will fit in your pocket , considering that and it's photo quality and would highly reccomend this camera .
I like the SX20IS but it's size makes it a hassel to carry around , the SX200IS is the money .
034 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I bought Canon PowerShot SX200 IS from Amazon.com almost a month back !
And , I am so happy that I made the right choice for the money I paid to get this baby !
The amazing 12X optical zoom will blow your mind away . . . with a sharp image quality . . . . thanks to 12 Mega-pixels !
The Strong Points -
1 . Excellent picture quality
2 . 12 MP ensures crispier and sharp images in good color
3 . 12X optical zoom and 3x digital zoom = 48X overall zoom
4 . Lots of manual controlling options to turn yourself from an amatuer photographer to level 2 or 3 photographer
5 . Easy controls
6 . Some coolsfeatures like color swap . . . . for eg . you can turn a red-flower into a blue flower ! : )
7 . Face detection , imagestabalizing , shak proof
8 . Night time photos are of very good quality if not excellent
9 . Even at 12MP , the average image size on disk is between 2 to 4 MB
The Weak Points -
1 . The battery runs dry after some 225 + photos in one go ( So buy a spare battery )
2 . HD Video takes huge space . . . . a 1 min video can be 150 - 200 MB ! ( So buy a 4 GB SD card )
The bottomline - An excellent camera from Canon !
035 4 I bought Canon PowerShot SX200 IS from Amazon.com almost a month back !
And , I am so happy that I made the right choice for the money I paid to get this baby !
The amazing 12X optical zoom will blow your mind away . . . with a sharp image quality . . . . thanks to 12 Mega-pixels !
The Strong Points -
1 . Excellent picture quality
2 . 12 MP ensures crispier and sharp images in good color
3 . 12X optical zoom and 3x digital zoom = 48X overall zoom
4 . Lots of manual controlling options to turn yourself from an amatuer photographer to level 2 or 3 photographer
5 . Easy controls
6 . Some coolsfeatures like color swap . . . . for eg . you can turn a red-flower into a blue flower ! : )
7 . Face detection , imagestabalizing , shak proof
8 . Night time photos are of very good quality if not excellent
9 . Even at 12MP , the average image size on disk is between 2 to 4 MB
The Weak Points -
1 . The battery runs dry after some 225 + photos in one go ( So buy a spare battery )
2 . HD Video takes huge space . . . . a 1 min video can be 150 - 200 MB ! ( So buy a 4 GB SD card )
The bottomline - An excellent camera from Canon !
037 4 I've had mine for several months now and the problems most people find with this camera ( specifically the pop-up flash placement and the lack of optical zoom in movie mode ) don't bother me at all anymore .
First I'll cover what i LOVE about this camera , then I'll address the concerns others have voiced .
The real features for this camera seem to go unnoticed by most people . It has aperture , shutter and manual focus . This is unheard of in non-SLR cameras ! It allows you to get crisp , sharp and artistic photos of portrait , landscape and macro that have previously not been possible with a compact camera . Because of this , I don't even really consider this a true point-n-shoot . More like a compact SLR .
Also , the 12x zoom that is the first draw for this camera also seems to let in more light because of its size . We all know more light through the lens makes for a better photo .
My only wish is that the continous shooting was a little faster , but that's what my SLR is for I guess ! So for an easy-to-carry camera this one gets my money if you are going to an event that is difficult to pack your SLR and all of it's accesories .
As far as the compaints others have made :
The flash positioning is actually not bad . If your hand naturally sits over that spot and you don't need the flash , just keep your hand there . The mechanism that pops the flash up is designed to slip instead force itself up , so you can hold it down if you prefer . It doesn't seem like it might break , which was my main worry when i purchased it .
I'm not even getting into the HD movie optical zoom issue becaue this is a camera , not a video camera . That's just a bonus feature to begin with .
038 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is my 2nd Canon Digital Camera . Overall , i am very satisfied with this product . The pictures taken in sunny , outdoor settings are stunning .
720P HD videos shooting is easy and quaility is very good . Camera Software user interface is very intuitive , and has some advanced editing features as well .
Here is some short-comings I've noticed : .
( 1 ) if you takes a lot of pictures with kids playing sports where your subject is in motion , this camera is not a good fit . The continuous-shooting mode is slow . ( ~ 1 shot / second range )
in addition , the LCD blanks out for a 1 + seconds after each shot so you have a hard time following your subject while in continuous-shooting mode . The Servo AF mode tends to over-compesate so i general turned that off .
( 2 ) If you would like to take picutres using the camera's 12X optical zoom , pls make sure you use a tripod since very small hand motion at that range can make the shot producing a lot of noise ( foggy pictures ) .
( 3 ) The Auto mode in indoor setting doesn't always detect the current light condition . It's best to put the camera in Program ( P ) mode and manually select light condition and sensitivity .
In general , this camera does not take good pictures in low-light conditions without the flash .
039 4 This is my 2nd Canon Digital Camera . Overall , i am very satisfied with this product . The pictures taken in sunny , outdoor settings are stunning .
720P HD videos shooting is easy and quaility is very good . Camera Software user interface is very intuitive , and has some advanced editing features as well .
Here is some short-comings I've noticed : .
( 1 ) if you takes a lot of pictures with kids playing sports where your subject is in motion , this camera is not a good fit . The continuous-shooting mode is slow . ( ~ 1 shot / second range )
in addition , the LCD blanks out for a 1 + seconds after each shot so you have a hard time following your subject while in continuous-shooting mode . The Servo AF mode tends to over-compesate so i general turned that off .
( 2 ) If you would like to take picutres using the camera's 12X optical zoom , pls make sure you use a tripod since very small hand motion at that range can make the shot producing a lot of noise ( foggy pictures ) .
( 3 ) The Auto mode in indoor setting doesn't always detect the current light condition . It's best to put the camera in Program ( P ) mode and manually select light condition and sensitivity .
In general , this camera does not take good pictures in low-light conditions without the flash .
040 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I was previously looking at budget cameras and settled on the Fujifilm Finepix J38 for about $95 . I figured companies had this point and shoot thing figured out , and pretty much anything would take good photos these days . I was wrong , and found out sometimes you do get what you pay for .
I restarted my search , this time focusing on cameras with greater zoom capability , since I had decided to up my budget and didn't need anything tiny . I decided on the SX200IS , and haven't regretted it . I haven't had it long but I can tell it does take good photos indoor and outdoor , without too much noise , and the 12x zoom lens is great .
Noise level is one of the things I hated about the Fujifilm , and this camera is much better in that regard . I would have loved to see what this looks like with an 8MP sensor since it could have reduced the noise level even further , but it takes fairly clean shots even in poor lighting conditions . If the lighting is good , such as in a room with windows during the day , the images are very good with little noise . Zoomed out to about 50% size or less , it's barely noticeable . In comparing similar indoor shots , I would say the noise is slightly worse than a Canon EOS 50D SLR ( over $900 without a lens ) , and comparable to a Canon SD1200IS . All this testing was with auto mode , so fine-tuning with different scene modes or manual control ( if you know what you're doing ) would perhaps improve things even more .
I also looked at the main competition from Panasonic ( Lumix TZ5 or some such ) , and found on one review site that at full wide angle with the flash on , the lens actually casts a shadow in the photo . Unbelievable , and a deal breaker for me . It's not like that is some kind of obscure shooting situation .
There are lots of other detailed reviews , so I'll just be brief .
- Lots of shooting modes seem to work very well
- Pop-up flash seems sturdy enough unless you abuse your cameras and presents no problem for holding it
- Image quality is good
- Zoom is awesome
- Price is quite fair for the value
- I don't have a sense for battery life yet but the charger is nice
- Big , clear screen , though I haven't done any outdoor shooting in sunlight
- Small enough to be very portable , but not a shirt-pocket camera . Then again , who makes a shirt-pocket camera with 12x zoom ?
I'm taking it on a trip to Europe soon so I may update after that . For anyone traveling with this camera , the battery charger does accept 240 volts , though of course you'll need a plug adapter . Also , there are some ridiculously inexpensive 3rd-party replacement batteries and chargers for this camera available on Amazon . I haven't gotten mine yet so no comment , but I'll review them when I can .
041 4 I was previously looking at budget cameras and settled on the Fujifilm Finepix J38 for about $95 . I figured companies had this point and shoot thing figured out , and pretty much anything would take good photos these days . I was wrong , and found out sometimes you do get what you pay for .
I restarted my search , this time focusing on cameras with greater zoom capability , since I had decided to up my budget and didn't need anything tiny . I decided on the SX200IS , and haven't regretted it . I haven't had it long but I can tell it does take good photos indoor and outdoor , without too much noise , and the 12x zoom lens is great .
Noise level is one of the things I hated about the Fujifilm , and this camera is much better in that regard . I would have loved to see what this looks like with an 8MP sensor since it could have reduced the noise level even further , but it takes fairly clean shots even in poor lighting conditions . If the lighting is good , such as in a room with windows during the day , the images are very good with little noise . Zoomed out to about 50% size or less , it's barely noticeable . In comparing similar indoor shots , I would say the noise is slightly worse than a Canon EOS 50D SLR ( over $900 without a lens ) , and comparable to a Canon SD1200IS . All this testing was with auto mode , so fine-tuning with different scene modes or manual control ( if you know what you're doing ) would perhaps improve things even more .
I also looked at the main competition from Panasonic ( Lumix TZ5 or some such ) , and found on one review site that at full wide angle with the flash on , the lens actually casts a shadow in the photo . Unbelievable , and a deal breaker for me . It's not like that is some kind of obscure shooting situation .
There are lots of other detailed reviews , so I'll just be brief .
- Lots of shooting modes seem to work very well
- Pop-up flash seems sturdy enough unless you abuse your cameras and presents no problem for holding it
- Image quality is good
- Zoom is awesome
- Price is quite fair for the value
- I don't have a sense for battery life yet but the charger is nice
- Big , clear screen , though I haven't done any outdoor shooting in sunlight
- Small enough to be very portable , but not a shirt-pocket camera . Then again , who makes a shirt-pocket camera with 12x zoom ?
I'm taking it on a trip to Europe soon so I may update after that . For anyone traveling with this camera , the battery charger does accept 240 volts , though of course you'll need a plug adapter . Also , there are some ridiculously inexpensive 3rd-party replacement batteries and chargers for this camera available on Amazon . I haven't gotten mine yet so no comment , but I'll review them when I can .
042 4 I like this camera . I've had it 6 months . It performs better in low light conditions than any point and shoot I've ever seen . The color quality is sometimes a little weak . If only SLR's weren't so large and expensive !
I love the pop-up flash because I really hate the flash and so I can just close the flash with my finger when I'm taking a picture and don't need flash - - instead of pushing the buttons on the camera . When you're taking pics of kids and animals , that extra 3 seconds is nice ; I actually think it's pretty clever design .
I don't know how they fit so much zoom into this little camera , but it's impressive ! I mean , it's a lot bigger than the new tiny cameras - but it has a million features . It's as big as it could be and still fit in your pocket , which is what I wanted .
I read it had crummy battery life so I bought two batteries when I got it for big events or camping trips so I wouldn't have to have access to a charger and wait . HOWEVER like I said , I've had the camera six months and only had to re-charge the battery about once a month . I took about 2 - 300 pics at my brothers wedding and didn't have to change the battery . So , I probably didn't need the second battery but I don't mind having it .
043 4 Pros : Nice features / settings , Bright LCD , excellent image quality , Good Low-Light Performance , Lightweight / Portable , durable
Cons : not for amateurs who wish to remain amateurs
This is a very solidly built camera with a large array of options to create the desired pictures in-camera . Although it does not have a grip , it is very easy to hold securely - the curvature of the right side of the body and the rubber pad on the back of the camera do the trick .
I would not necessarily recommend this camera to photographers who just want great pictures out of the box . The variety of adjustments can assure immaculate pictures , but they will need to be used occassionally to get the desired results . The learning curve to make full use of the camera could be quite a long one for true amateurs and lead them to be critical of the camera although it might not be designed for them .
For those who wish to have a point and shoot but are also motivated to become prosumers over time and don't want a bulky DSLR-like camera , the SX200 IS might be the best choice , and if you like HD movies ( albeit without optical zoom ) , the only choice .
044 4 I was looking for a new camera and this one was irresistible . I had a small Canon elf camera before and just wasn't getting the shots that had a WOW factor . After buying this camera and using at the zoo and the park I am very satisfied .
Size
This size is bigger than my elf but when you see the zoom lens expand it seems like a marvel . How do they pack this massive barrel in such a small camera ? I showed my neighbor my new gadget and he was equally perplexed . How do they do it ?
Quality
The feel is good with plenty of goods to have you going for months . The camera gives you a full line of features that make you feel like you are a professional . I took some pictures at the zoo of 6 kids . My wife told me the picture looks better than actually seeing them there . Now how is that possible I do not know but the color , contrast and skin tones are off the charts .
Zoom
The zoom is the ultimate feature of this camera . With a 12X optical and 48X digital you are in the driver's seat for some amazing photographs . I found that you rarely need more than 12X anyway . I was considering buying a 24X optical zoom camera that was much larger . After using the 12X I found that is about as much zoom as you want unless you are doing Moon Photography . Really , anything beyond 12X gets distorted from atmospheric conditions . If you take a picture of a landscape you will get a saturation of blue tones so the super ultra zooms are truly over kill in my opinion .
Pros
Zoom
HD Video
Battery Life
Size
Cons
Flash-It is almost a deal buster-Pops up anytime the camera is on . . . Why ?
045 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I use Nikon SLRs , but I have always chosen Canon point and shoots , because of their quality , high quality pictures they take and simplicity of use . The SX200IS takes the point and shoot up a few notches with sophisticated features to please most photographers . You can still set it on auto and let the camera make all decisions for you , but you can also set it on full manual like any SLR and set the shutter speed , apeture and flash to satisfy your creative side . I even experimented with the camera's movie taking ability and found it easy and fun ( I did not read the manual first ) . Many reviews take issue with the flash popping up and down as the camera goes on and off , but come-on , if this is your biggest complaint it must be a good camera . You adjust to your finger getting tapped as the flash cycles up and down . I would buy this camera again . The only negative is it is slightly larger than my last Canon point and shoot , but that can be attributed to the capable ( and great ) zoom lens .
046 4 I use Nikon SLRs , but I have always chosen Canon point and shoots , because of their quality , high quality pictures they take and simplicity of use . The SX200IS takes the point and shoot up a few notches with sophisticated features to please most photographers . You can still set it on auto and let the camera make all decisions for you , but you can also set it on full manual like any SLR and set the shutter speed , apeture and flash to satisfy your creative side . I even experimented with the camera's movie taking ability and found it easy and fun ( I did not read the manual first ) . Many reviews take issue with the flash popping up and down as the camera goes on and off , but come-on , if this is your biggest complaint it must be a good camera . You adjust to your finger getting tapped as the flash cycles up and down . I would buy this camera again . The only negative is it is slightly larger than my last Canon point and shoot , but that can be attributed to the capable ( and great ) zoom lens .
047 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I picked this camera up for my wife a week ago with the intention of using it on a fall colors motorcycle ride around Colorado . we both played with the camera quite a bit before the trip in order to familiarize ourselves with it before hitting the road and were very pleased from the very beginning at the interface and usability .
first , the pro's :
1 . in my amateur photog opinion this thing takes spectacular photos , the auto mode really does seem to do a good job at picking the right setting and getting the shot but for outdoor use and scenery photos , i was just blown away by some of the color in the pictures .
2 . the interface is slick , everything about it pleases me . but this is the first point n shoot digital camera i've bought in a few years so it might be run of the mill , i dunno . . but its definitely a huge step up from my older sony and unlike the DSLR we have , my wife instantly felt right at home playing with different shooting modes etc . this was very important to me .
now . . the drawbacks :
1 . construction quality has me a little worried , the second day we had the camera we noticed that sometimes the flash popped out even with flash disabled . . ok . . but then on the trip it became a quickly progressing problem and by 2 days of solid use the flash always popped out when you turned on and wouldn't retract when turned off . . you had to manually push it back down which i'm sure isn't great . . and yes , the flash does get in the way of your grip but i'd say thats a minor nuisance at most . . . the upside is this is my first exchange experience with Amazon and i gotta say . . thumbs up to them ! replacement camera is on its way . also , besides our problem with the flash . . the door covering the mini hdmi / usb ports is pretty flimsy feeling to me . . again though , I think if it weren't for the flash dud we had i'd not even be making a point about construction .
2 . battery life , i was a little surprised to find the battery dying before a full day's ride on the bike , this is the first digital camera that hasn't lasted a complete day before getting a recharge in the hotel room that night . . . luckily i bundled my purchase with a second battery which was dirt cheap . . . also , keep in mind this is shooting several hundred photos a day . . . in a three day period she racked up 900 + shots on the bike .
3 . it's not as quick at shooting as like say my sony DSC-T130 but again , this may not be the cameras fault . . i might need faster media given the increase in MP / image size .
overall , the picture quality and ease of use is what counts for me and this camera is aces in both .
048 4 I picked this camera up for my wife a week ago with the intention of using it on a fall colors motorcycle ride around Colorado . we both played with the camera quite a bit before the trip in order to familiarize ourselves with it before hitting the road and were very pleased from the very beginning at the interface and usability .
first , the pro's :
1 . in my amateur photog opinion this thing takes spectacular photos , the auto mode really does seem to do a good job at picking the right setting and getting the shot but for outdoor use and scenery photos , i was just blown away by some of the color in the pictures .
2 . the interface is slick , everything about it pleases me . but this is the first point n shoot digital camera i've bought in a few years so it might be run of the mill , i dunno . . but its definitely a huge step up from my older sony and unlike the DSLR we have , my wife instantly felt right at home playing with different shooting modes etc . this was very important to me .
now . . the drawbacks :
1 . construction quality has me a little worried , the second day we had the camera we noticed that sometimes the flash popped out even with flash disabled . . ok . . but then on the trip it became a quickly progressing problem and by 2 days of solid use the flash always popped out when you turned on and wouldn't retract when turned off . . you had to manually push it back down which i'm sure isn't great . . and yes , the flash does get in the way of your grip but i'd say thats a minor nuisance at most . . . the upside is this is my first exchange experience with Amazon and i gotta say . . thumbs up to them ! replacement camera is on its way . also , besides our problem with the flash . . the door covering the mini hdmi / usb ports is pretty flimsy feeling to me . . again though , I think if it weren't for the flash dud we had i'd not even be making a point about construction .
2 . battery life , i was a little surprised to find the battery dying before a full day's ride on the bike , this is the first digital camera that hasn't lasted a complete day before getting a recharge in the hotel room that night . . . luckily i bundled my purchase with a second battery which was dirt cheap . . . also , keep in mind this is shooting several hundred photos a day . . . in a three day period she racked up 900 + shots on the bike .
3 . it's not as quick at shooting as like say my sony DSC-T130 but again , this may not be the cameras fault . . i might need faster media given the increase in MP / image size .
overall , the picture quality and ease of use is what counts for me and this camera is aces in both .
049 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Bought this camaera for my wife for Christmas It has never worked right . Cammera freezes in the open position and will not turn off until I removed the battery . Then we must recharge the battery and it will do it again after just a few pictures are taken . Never should have bought it .
054 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
We bought this camera as a gift for a relative , so my review will be limited to the short time I've looked at it . It was bought to replace an aging Canon Elph , for someone who doesn't necessarily use all the capability the camera has . One consideration was the large LCD . I like the long zoom , which allows close-ups of flowers and other subjects the owner will be photographing . The nicest new feature is the automatic switching the camera does between regular and macro focus distance . That really is a plus for someone who forgets to switch to the macro mode in close-ups . The only immediate weakness I notice is the weak flash , but that's not new to Canon point-and-shoots . This camera's opening the flash unit every time it's powered on is somewhat disconcerting , and my fingers typically were on the flash when it tried to open . I suppose you would get used to it . Overall a great-looking camera . We probably could have found similar features in a less-expensive Canon model , but the owner is pleased with this one .
056 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I've owned four digital cameras before this one ; three were Canons . I have been consistently impressed and satisfied with the cameras . I got this to replace a ( very well-built ) Canon A620 .
I'm a basic camera user . I like taking pictures and videos , but I'm not a good enough photographer to worry about the minor details and settings . This camera is pretty good at taking pictures on Automatic , and the scene settings are great . I usually get some arguably amazing pictures , but that's mostly thanks to Canon's cameras more than my skill . But conversely , I sometimes get some pretty bad ones , usually due to waiting for a camera to respond or set up a shot , or just Automatically choosing a wrong setting . Though I'm sure if I took the time to learn more , I could eliminate some of these problems . I really only use Auto or Night , but if I did choose to go more in-depth , I'm sure the details would be fantastic .
Pros :
- The zoom is spectacular . 12x OPTICAL zoom is amazing .
- Very good night pictures , even on Auto
- Colour is vivid and beautiful
- Automatic Macro focus is sometimes very useful
- The HD video is great . I mean it's no Planet Earth-quality video , but my first camera had 15fps 480x320 video , so this is a huge improvement
- Photo storage is efficient . I can save many more pictures and much more video per GB than on previous cameras , even set at 720p video
- Survived a 1m fall , with no noticeable damage
Cons :
- I frequently find myself wishing I could force a flash in Automatic mode
- The manual settings are difficult to use , even to try to force a flash
- It's easy to automatically move the scene dial , which sometimes means being in unfamiliar settings
- Automatic focus isn't as good in low-light situations
- Auto focus also isn't too good in Macro with zoom . Macro is best used up-close
Neutral :
- The camera is bigger and bulkier than I had expected , but is not terrible . It's just small enough to fit in my jeans pocket , but is a tight fit .
- Battery life is good . I haven't had a chance to go anywhere touristy yet , but it lasts probably a whole day under moderate-heavy use . I prefer cameras with AA batteries which I can replace on-the-fly and not have to wait to recharge . A second battery would partially solve that problem I suppose .
Overall , a solid camera that provides great results . Definite recommend to anyone who wants a great camera and can't yet afford or justify a DSLR .
057 4 I've owned four digital cameras before this one ; three were Canons . I have been consistently impressed and satisfied with the cameras . I got this to replace a ( very well-built ) Canon A620 .
I'm a basic camera user . I like taking pictures and videos , but I'm not a good enough photographer to worry about the minor details and settings . This camera is pretty good at taking pictures on Automatic , and the scene settings are great . I usually get some arguably amazing pictures , but that's mostly thanks to Canon's cameras more than my skill . But conversely , I sometimes get some pretty bad ones , usually due to waiting for a camera to respond or set up a shot , or just Automatically choosing a wrong setting . Though I'm sure if I took the time to learn more , I could eliminate some of these problems . I really only use Auto or Night , but if I did choose to go more in-depth , I'm sure the details would be fantastic .
Pros :
- The zoom is spectacular . 12x OPTICAL zoom is amazing .
- Very good night pictures , even on Auto
- Colour is vivid and beautiful
- Automatic Macro focus is sometimes very useful
- The HD video is great . I mean it's no Planet Earth-quality video , but my first camera had 15fps 480x320 video , so this is a huge improvement
- Photo storage is efficient . I can save many more pictures and much more video per GB than on previous cameras , even set at 720p video
- Survived a 1m fall , with no noticeable damage
Cons :
- I frequently find myself wishing I could force a flash in Automatic mode
- The manual settings are difficult to use , even to try to force a flash
- It's easy to automatically move the scene dial , which sometimes means being in unfamiliar settings
- Automatic focus isn't as good in low-light situations
- Auto focus also isn't too good in Macro with zoom . Macro is best used up-close
Neutral :
- The camera is bigger and bulkier than I had expected , but is not terrible . It's just small enough to fit in my jeans pocket , but is a tight fit .
- Battery life is good . I haven't had a chance to go anywhere touristy yet , but it lasts probably a whole day under moderate-heavy use . I prefer cameras with AA batteries which I can replace on-the-fly and not have to wait to recharge . A second battery would partially solve that problem I suppose .
Overall , a solid camera that provides great results . Definite recommend to anyone who wants a great camera and can't yet afford or justify a DSLR .
058 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I purchased this camera app . 4 months ago and every time I use it , I just find something new and amazing about it . This user friendly canon makes photographing so easy and fun . Everyone thinking to have a semi-professional camera should buy it . This is a confession of a longtime nikon fan . . .
060 4 I am experienced photographer with successful history of international competitions who was on a market for smaller camera which could travel with me most of time . I own also sx110is and say it is very decent cam for the money . I read reviews about sx200is and ordered it from Amazon indirectly ( I earned some points with thankyou program ) . I must say after I received the cam ( about 2 weeks ) I can't believe the level of technology and finesse Canon packed into this cam .
First of all it produces nice images with grate picture quality . On ISO levels below 400 , in good lighting conditions it is better or equals than Pentax k10d ! ! ! ! I shot number of shots on the same focus length and I was amazed to see images coming out of this came . I need a camera for mostly nice lighting days and this baby outshoots any other camera in 12m level ! Yeh , you can get some slightly nicer shots with DSLR setup of $1200 body and $3000 worth of lenses but man , let givea credit where the credit is due !
The physical quality of cam is another song to sing ! It is real JAPAN made cam ( sx110is ) is China made , and while I like 110 a lot for its value and capacity , the all metal body of sx200is , its amazing clicking wheel , the lens are out of this world . If you buy DSLR , to match this level of optical performance , you must be prepared to cash out a lot !
Video out of this cam retires to hell my little camera I was using . In good lighting the quality of HD 720P out of this baby is to be seen to be believed . I really appreciate that canon went toward smart 720p in this cam and not 1080i for many reasons .
I must say , I am greatly thankful to Canon for making such amazing quality unit so inexpensive . I handle it in my hand as a jewel . Really amazing tool , amazing cam , outstanding engineering .
062 4 The SX200 is for keeps . Its not a perfect camera , its a point n shoot , a very good P & S . It has 12x zoom and 12 MP . Following is the competition and why I opted for SX200 : -
1 . Canon SX10 - Too bulky , too slow to startup
2 . Panasonic ZS3 ( TZ7 in Europe ) - Zilch manual controls ( but ZS3 has optical zoom in video , SX200 doesnt have that )
3 . Nikon P80 - Very poor indoor shots , too bulky , average reviews overall
As for the SX200 , startup is real quick , zoom is great and hyperactive kids stay in the frame : ) .
I noticed some noise while zooming in low light , but thats okay . Check out the 2 pics I uploaded from my Lake George Trip over the Memorial weekend this year .
063 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
First let me say that in either automatic or manual mode the SX200 takes stunning photographs in both bright and dull light , and its night shots are marvelous .
Here are the features of the camera that I like ( in no particular order of preference ) :
- i-Contrast , which brings out details in dark areas of an image . It can be used either before or after taking a photo . I live by the ocean where seascapes and landscapes often have a wide range of bright and dark areas .
- Editing colors in the review mode . I take lots of photos of flowers , generally using the foliage mode ; sometimes an image is improved when switched to neutral or positive film colors .
- Trimming photos in review mode .
- Fast , smooth , and precise zooming .
- Manual focusing , especially the distance scale shown on the LCD . But it takes practice to get proficient using the manual focus .
- Manual aperture control . I like to have maximum depth of field in my seascapes and landscapes , for which I always use f8 , the SX200 ' s smallest aperture .
- Manual shutter speed control . I take lots of night scenes , usually with a tripod , so I often use exposures of several seconds at ISO 200 , where noise is not noticeable .
- The image stabilization is the best I have ever used . Shots at shutter speeds as slow as 1 second have little or no visible camera shake .
- The wide angle lens is nice , but it would be even nicer if it were wider .
- 12 Megapixels are valuable when using digital zoom to extend the telephoto range beyond the maximum optical range of x12 . At 12x optical & 2.5 digital ( x30 total ) with ISO100 the SX200 produces excellent 8 x10 photos and very good 11 x14 ones . Digital zoom on this camera is fantastic compared with my previous digital cameras .
- The LCD screen is sharp and easy to see in bright sunlight . Manual brightness adjustment with the display button takes only a second .
- Function hints that appear of the LCD are helpful and easy to read .
- The SX200 has a stylish body made mostly of metal ; it is comfortable to hold ; and it is manufactured in Japan .
- The camera fits snugly in a Zing case , which in turn fits comfortably in my pants pocket . There is even room in the case for a battery , memory card , and a lens cleaning cloth .
- The software for transferring images to a computer and then editing them is user friendly . I fine tune most of my images with the first level of editing : auto adjustment , color levels , brightness , contrast , sharpness , trim , tone curve , and red eye . I rarely need to go to the external editor .
- The battery charger is elegantly simple .
- Unlike some other reviewers , I actually like the SX200 User's Manual . It is better than other Canon manuals that I have used . I read most of the manual during the 2 hours while I was waiting for the battery to be charged up .
- Red-eye with indoor flash shots is less frequent with the SX200 than the Elph SD850 ; perhaps because the flash is farther from the lens . I can optimize flash pictures by adjusting the flash power and / or aperture , and ISO .
And here are some SX200 features that could be improved to make an excellent camera even better :
- The plastic door on the output socket compartment feels flimsy and needs to be shut carefully .
- I would happily trade off the maximum focal length to get an even shorter minimum focal length ( wider angle lens ) such as the x12 lens on the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 .
- I'd like an ISO higher than 400 before the image gets noisy .
- A minimum aperture smaller than f8 would be valuable .
- I'd prefer a manual flip-up flash rather than one that pops up automatically when the camera is switched on .
- No live histogram ; but one is displayed immediately after every shot when the review information is set on detailed .
- The wrist strap is not Canon quality . Mine frayed after only two weeks and 1,000 photos .
- Longer battery life ( I always have a fully charged spare battery on hand . )
( I never use video so I am unable to comment on those features of the SX200 . )
Summary : This is a terrific travel camera for a photographer who needs an ultra-zoom compact with both manual and automatic controls . The SX200 is not perfect but it comes close . I bought my SX200 at Amazon for $325 . For my requirements , it is better value than its nearest rival , the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 , which might be a good choice for a beginner with no intentions of progressing beyond automatic snapshots or a person who wants a compact point-and-shoot ultra-zoom without manual controls and is willing to shell out at least $425 .
064 4 First let me say that in either automatic or manual mode the SX200 takes stunning photographs in both bright and dull light , and its night shots are marvelous .
Here are the features of the camera that I like ( in no particular order of preference ) :
- i-Contrast , which brings out details in dark areas of an image . It can be used either before or after taking a photo . I live by the ocean where seascapes and landscapes often have a wide range of bright and dark areas .
- Editing colors in the review mode . I take lots of photos of flowers , generally using the foliage mode ; sometimes an image is improved when switched to neutral or positive film colors .
- Trimming photos in review mode .
- Fast , smooth , and precise zooming .
- Manual focusing , especially the distance scale shown on the LCD . But it takes practice to get proficient using the manual focus .
- Manual aperture control . I like to have maximum depth of field in my seascapes and landscapes , for which I always use f8 , the SX200 ' s smallest aperture .
- Manual shutter speed control . I take lots of night scenes , usually with a tripod , so I often use exposures of several seconds at ISO 200 , where noise is not noticeable .
- The image stabilization is the best I have ever used . Shots at shutter speeds as slow as 1 second have little or no visible camera shake .
- The wide angle lens is nice , but it would be even nicer if it were wider .
- 12 Megapixels are valuable when using digital zoom to extend the telephoto range beyond the maximum optical range of x12 . At 12x optical & 2.5 digital ( x30 total ) with ISO100 the SX200 produces excellent 8 x10 photos and very good 11 x14 ones . Digital zoom on this camera is fantastic compared with my previous digital cameras .
- The LCD screen is sharp and easy to see in bright sunlight . Manual brightness adjustment with the display button takes only a second .
- Function hints that appear of the LCD are helpful and easy to read .
- The SX200 has a stylish body made mostly of metal ; it is comfortable to hold ; and it is manufactured in Japan .
- The camera fits snugly in a Zing case , which in turn fits comfortably in my pants pocket . There is even room in the case for a battery , memory card , and a lens cleaning cloth .
- The software for transferring images to a computer and then editing them is user friendly . I fine tune most of my images with the first level of editing : auto adjustment , color levels , brightness , contrast , sharpness , trim , tone curve , and red eye . I rarely need to go to the external editor .
- The battery charger is elegantly simple .
- Unlike some other reviewers , I actually like the SX200 User's Manual . It is better than other Canon manuals that I have used . I read most of the manual during the 2 hours while I was waiting for the battery to be charged up .
- Red-eye with indoor flash shots is less frequent with the SX200 than the Elph SD850 ; perhaps because the flash is farther from the lens . I can optimize flash pictures by adjusting the flash power and / or aperture , and ISO .
And here are some SX200 features that could be improved to make an excellent camera even better :
- The plastic door on the output socket compartment feels flimsy and needs to be shut carefully .
- I would happily trade off the maximum focal length to get an even shorter minimum focal length ( wider angle lens ) such as the x12 lens on the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 .
- I'd like an ISO higher than 400 before the image gets noisy .
- A minimum aperture smaller than f8 would be valuable .
- I'd prefer a manual flip-up flash rather than one that pops up automatically when the camera is switched on .
- No live histogram ; but one is displayed immediately after every shot when the review information is set on detailed .
- The wrist strap is not Canon quality . Mine frayed after only two weeks and 1,000 photos .
- Longer battery life ( I always have a fully charged spare battery on hand . )
( I never use video so I am unable to comment on those features of the SX200 . )
Summary : This is a terrific travel camera for a photographer who needs an ultra-zoom compact with both manual and automatic controls . The SX200 is not perfect but it comes close . I bought my SX200 at Amazon for $325 . For my requirements , it is better value than its nearest rival , the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 , which might be a good choice for a beginner with no intentions of progressing beyond automatic snapshots or a person who wants a compact point-and-shoot ultra-zoom without manual controls and is willing to shell out at least $425 .
067 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is a great camera . Large camera features and functionality in a small package . Zoom and lens stabilization are super . Image quality top notch . Good battery life . And it all fits in your pocket . No regrets buying this camera .
069 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Title says it all .
Only drawback is that it does not have a viewfinder so you cannot conserve battery by turning off the LCD .
070 4 Title says it all .
Only drawback is that it does not have a viewfinder so you cannot conserve battery by turning off the LCD .
071 4 I got this as a gift from my father last November . I'm using this until now and so far I have never encountered any problem with it . Picture quality is superb ! I even have some pictures which can be mistakenly taken by a DSLR . I especially love how I can set the settings manually ( such as the focus , aperture , shutter speed and color ) and the great number of features I can choose from ! Recording video is really not bad considering I am using a device which mainly functions as a camera and not as a camcorder so I suggest you don't complain about it at all . With proper lighting , video quality could be really great . When it is dark though , of course the result would be grainy , as any other video camera or camera ( on the same price range ) would result to .
One great feature is the panoramic shots you can create using photostitch , a software included when you buy the camera . You can merge 3 or more photos into one using this and it is very user friendly too !
I highly recommend that you buy this camera and try it out for yourself . It is great for people who want to try photography as a hobby but wouldn't really want to invest too much on it . It will give you a great and hassle-free experience !
Here is a sample of a picture I took using this camera . It was taken at night with personalized settings and automatic flash . [ . . . ]
072 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I'm a simple point and shoot kind of girl and this camera delivers !
So happy I didn't go with another camera , my CANON is excellent . No horror stories . . . yet , just beautiful , clear , crips , beautiful images . And that's just point and shoot !
Can't wait to figure out all the bells and whistles . Whenever I show friends pics , they always ask what kind of camera I'm using .
073 4 I'm a simple point and shoot kind of girl and this camera delivers !
So happy I didn't go with another camera , my CANON is excellent . No horror stories . . . yet , just beautiful , clear , crips , beautiful images . And that's just point and shoot !
Can't wait to figure out all the bells and whistles . Whenever I show friends pics , they always ask what kind of camera I'm using .
074 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Has more variables to adjust and personalize than comparable offers from other brands .
076 4 I own four digital cameras , each with a specific area of use .
This camera is used for drive-by-shootings - I drive through the landscape and take pictures of opportunity . I usually only use my SLR for planned pictures , because it is too bulky to carry with me all the time , and if I only take a few pictures during those tours , it is not worth the weight to carry around .
The SX200 fits this profile better - it is smaller and lighter as a SLR , yet has many manual controls , that other compacts lack . I predominantly use the aperture priority function , as I do with my SLR , to keep control over depth of field . It also has time priority and complete manual settings , which makes it an ideal camera for those of us who like to keep control over their settings . It also has HD video on board , which is a very nice feature , although I only use it very occasionally .
The lens is sharp and the 12x zoom factor is very useful .
The color rendition is superb , with very neutral and clear colors outdoors ( I haven't used it indoors yet ) .
The visual noise is acceptable and the only quality issue I have with the pictures is that the resolution could be higher for a 12 MP camera .
But other than that , I love the camera , it fits my needs perfectly and though it is a tad bulkier and heavier than the normal compact camera , it is still small enough to be carried around in your jacket pocket .
Only small annoyance is that the flash always pops up when you turn on the camera , regardless if you need it or not . For the first few instances , this can be extremely puzzling , but I got used to it and my fingers do not get in the way very often anymore .
Battery life is tolerable , about 250 shots without flash .
The LCD screen tends to very grainy in low light conditions , but in daylight it produces a picture that is very clear and with accurate colors .
The camera starts almost immediately and shutter lag is usually not an issue either .
Pros : very good picture quality , adjustable settings galore , HD video , large zoom factor , very good color accuracy .
Cons : somewhat bulky ( but still smaller than a SLR ) , annoying pop-up flash , grainy LCD screen in low light .
So why no 5 stars ? Because of the pop-up flash and the less than superb resolution . Both things could be an easy fix in a newer version . . .
077 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
It is so easy to use ! But also take the best pictures of any camera I've ever owned ! The pictures in low light have even turned out ! I haven't even had to use anything but auto yet ! If I try manual who knows how much more I can do ! The zoom is so much more then I've got with any other camera . LOVE IT !
079 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I have had many Canon cameras , but this one is the best . Very easy to use and review pictures . The large screen on the back is awsome . Easy to delete , zoom , and pictures are true to color . Have not tried the movie part yet co can't evaluate that part . Takes good pictures in low light and sunset pictures are great on the sunset setting . Transferring pictures is easy and necessary cables came with the camera . I did alot of research on cameras and the 12x zoom was a big selling feature for me . You can stand far away and get a more natural picture when taking pictures of pets or people without a pose .
The pop up flash that everyone talks about is anoying but not a big deal . I recommend this camera to everyone !
Shipping was fast and in less time than advertised .
081 4 I have only had the camera for a few weeks and haven't had much time to play around with it , but it's quite simple to just pick up and start taking pictures . So far I have been very impressed with both the still picture and video options .
The one drawback that I have noticed is that when I am taking pictures , if I am holding the camera with one hand instead of both hands , I frequently hit the play button which displays the pictures already taken . There have been many times when I am about to take a great photo of our kids and then it switches to the play setting and I lose the opportunity to take it . The button is just in a bad place on the camera . That is the only drawback I have found so far . Other than that , I am very satisfied with the camera .
083 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I have worked my way through at least 5 cameras , used while traveling and for recording family events . I always wanted at least a little more zoom capacity , while retaining clarity and ease of taking pictures . This one fulfills my wishes perfectly , without the size and inconvenience ( to me , at least ) of putting on additional lens , etc . The software that came with the camera also provides me with an easy way to trim , reduce red-eye and a number of other features . This Canon PowerShot well deserves the 5 stars I've awarded it . Incidentally , I discovered this particular model while talking to a fellow bus traveler in Mount Rushmore . . . . we were so impressed with the viewing surface . M . Schanapp
085 4 I got this camera for a twelve week study abroad program in Europe , and got thousands of great photos . The flash produces pretty natural colors , and the image stabilization works really well with the flash off .
I did a thorough read-through of the manual and found most of the functions really easy to use . I did generally shoot in auto mode , though . The zoom has to be the best I've ever used .
On the LAST DAY of my 12 weeks trip ( luckily ) I went to turn on my camera and the Canon symbol flashes on the screen , then a little message that says there is a lens error and the camera needs to be restarted appears , a green light flashes a few times , and the camera turns off . This happens even when I try to turn it on in the picture view mode ( without opening the lens ) . Also , even when the camera is turned on my computer no longer recognizes it . I have changed the battery and the memory card , and neither changed the results . There must be a problem with the internal computer , but I will have to get a licensed repairman to take a look .
Please comment if you have had a similar experience .
087 4 I bought this camera to replace my sd600 ( which I love ) I needed more pixels and more glass and I got both .
The 12x zoom , while a bit twitchy zooming , is a wonderful thing . Now I can take the SX200 with me on motorcycle trips and leave my 30 # bag of big Canon SLR's and lenses at the studio . It's quick to fire up but slow on the draw , ie , there is the inevitable shutter lag . The big screen is bright and clear , the HDMI video is crystal clear . ( would like to be able to zoom during video recording ) The super macro is incredible . I can put the end of the lens right ON the subject and the shot is clean and clear . Got an 8Gb card and a spare battery . ( battery life is less than I'd like ) Flash is weak but red-eye isn't a problem . biggest negative I've got is that I cannot shoot in RAW mode as I have gotten used to its flexibility . All in all , a great little camera .
088 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Everything to love about this camera . Only had it a month so durability is still unknown . Already made it through a backpacking trip and some family events . Small enough for my pockets , but I'm a big guy with big pockets .
If you are looking to do manual adjustments and create your own style then this camera will work for you .
Plus the zoom is great , easy to control and digital zoom can be turned off witch is great .
Wish there was a traditional view finder , but those are hard to find today .
Great camera , Cannon is easy to understand and well made .
089 4 Everything to love about this camera . Only had it a month so durability is still unknown . Already made it through a backpacking trip and some family events . Small enough for my pockets , but I'm a big guy with big pockets .
If you are looking to do manual adjustments and create your own style then this camera will work for you .
Plus the zoom is great , easy to control and digital zoom can be turned off witch is great .
Wish there was a traditional view finder , but those are hard to find today .
Great camera , Cannon is easy to understand and well made .
090 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I love the picture quality , ease of using , and size . Not too big , not too small .
092 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I am very satisfied with this purchase of this camera ! It is a major upgrade for me from a 3MP camera with a lousy macro function and no manual controls . I absolutely love the manual controls , in fact all the pictures I have taken of since I got it has been on the manual function . The images are wonderful , and can be made even better with a little bit of touch up on Photoshop ( brighter , tone , and sharpen ) . I really enjoy the camera's super macro function , it really makes a huge difference than my previous camera which only made close things a little sharper . I would really recommend it and reiterate my happiness with this awesome camera ! Wonderful ! Especially if you want to learn and play with the manual function , you can not go wrong with the Canon Powershot SX200IS !
093 4 I am very satisfied with this purchase of this camera ! It is a major upgrade for me from a 3MP camera with a lousy macro function and no manual controls . I absolutely love the manual controls , in fact all the pictures I have taken of since I got it has been on the manual function . The images are wonderful , and can be made even better with a little bit of touch up on Photoshop ( brighter , tone , and sharpen ) . I really enjoy the camera's super macro function , it really makes a huge difference than my previous camera which only made close things a little sharper . I would really recommend it and reiterate my happiness with this awesome camera ! Wonderful ! Especially if you want to learn and play with the manual function , you can not go wrong with the Canon Powershot SX200IS !
094 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
this camera takes amazing pics , the super zoom is wonderful and crystal clear , the numerous functions / settings make picture taking even more enjoyable !
096 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This camera is fantastic . I wish it were a little smaller . Other than that , perfect !
098 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera , and I can now safely say that I made the right choice when I bought the SX200 . The picture quality is excellent , the full assortment of manual controls is great , and the overall build quality of the camera is second to none . I have yet to encounter an aspect of the camera which I do not like . I would have thought the ever-present pop-up flash would be distracting and cumbersome , but you really don't notice it at all . Another aspect of this camera that really impresses me is how fast you can take multiple pictures . In good light , I can easily squeeze off three pictures in less than two seconds . That's a great feature that no other P & S I've ever used has been able to match . Overall , I really can't see how you can go wrong with the SX200 and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something more than your average P & S camera .
100 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
The first digital camera I owned was a Canon , and it had gone everywhere with me for 6 years and outlived many cameras owned by friends and family . So when it came time to purchase another camera , I didn't look anywhere but to Canon . I initially was going to go up to the DSLR , but with all of the outstanding specs and reviews attached to this camera , I decided to give it a chance and I am extremely happy that I did . Not only is this camera a steal for its price , but it is very comparable in quality of pictures to that of the DSLR without the fuss and baggage . This camera , while bigger than the PowerShots , is still compact enough to fit in your pocket , purse , or whatnot , for easily accessible photo opportunities . The variety of options for photo shooting ( night time , aquarium , snow , fireworks , sunset , etc . ) are very useful and provide for more photo options while maintaining excellent quality . It is also suited with a Li + battery , as opposed to the AA battery operated Canons , which I prefer , and it has a remarkable battery life . The screen is large and the resolution is excellent . It does take some time to get accustomed to all of the new features attached to this camera , but once you do , you are limitless in the style and types of pictures you can take . While being a little less user-friendly than the PowerShots , it is still a relatively easy camera to operate . Overall I am very happy with this purchase !
104 4 I've been a big fan of Canon and this is my second point and shoot made by Canon . After trying Olympus and Sony I believe Canon offer the best value today .
The SX200IS is an ideal camera for taking a lot of close quarter shots . The wide angle lens give great depth and perspective to photos . Photos of people , babies and objects look much richer with this camera than others I've used . After comparing the same shots with others cameras I'm convinced this is a great value . The 12MP is nice but not as important as the lighting and auto-features this camera provides .
This camera is bigger than the ultra slim models and wont fit in your pants pocket ( unless you wear giant pants ) but the extra features and image quality make up for it .
105 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Best camera . Easy to use , easy to carry . Great resolution . Great pictures .
109 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I was very excited to get this camera . I've had Canon products in the past that I've loved , and I was especially excited for the 12x optical zoom . I've had it for 6 months now and must say I'm not as pleased as I'd hoped to be . The photo quality is ok , but my old SD 600 with 3x optical zoom and a Zeiss lens had MUCH more crisp pictures . This camera also seems to have trouble focusing at times , even when it's not zoomed out . I do enjoy the wide angle lens , and the zoom has gotten me many shots that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise . But really I'm overall dissatisfied because I want my pictures to be more crisp , and it's just not happening no matter how hard I try .
111 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
this camera is between easy ones and professional ones . relatively easy to use and the pictures have high quality .
113 4 I was considering moving from my Powershot to a digital SLR but decided to try this one first . I am very happy with my choice . Although not as full-featured as an SLR with lens interchangeability , it is a great little camera with lots of features and still pocketable .
A couple of things could be better .
- Yes , I do have the tendency to have my finger over the pop-up flash preventing it from popping , but not the end of the world .
- The dor to the USB connector is the flimsiest thing I have ever seen . If that door lasts 6 months without breaking off I'll be amazed . I had the same issue with my little Powershot and you'd think they would have improved it by now . I see scotchtape ( or a return ) in my future .
114 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Our big camera is a
Canon Digital Rebel XSI
with several lenses and speedlites . But that's not really something you want to carry around all the time , so I picked up the PowerShot SX200 IS as an upgrade from our aging
Canon PowerShot SD500
, hoping it would bridge the gap between the Canon SD series and an SLR .
Initial impressions were very good . The SX200 is built very well and feels quite solid . There were no loose or creaky parts , and while the popup flash is annoying at first , it doesn't take long to stop putting your finger over it . In terms of size , it was bigger than our old SD500 , but not as big as the PowerShot A series was .
Start up time is incredibly fast . You can start taking pictures almost as fast as it takes to move your finger from the power button to the shutter . However , this was where the wheels started to fall off . If you turn on any of the features ( face detection , blink detection , etc . ) the delay between pictures is nothing short of infuriating - - and this is with a Class 6
Sandisk Extreme III SDHC Card
that we normally use in the SLR .
Outdoor pictures were quite good , with reasonably true colors and little distortion . The 12X zoom was responsive , tracked well , and distortion was reasonable at full zoom .
Indoors . . . Unless you're really close to your subject , the SX200 ' s indoor performance is nearly hopeless . The small flash is just too small to be useful in most situations . No amount of tweaking with the settings can change that the flash just doesn't have the ability to fill much of anything . So , indoor pictures in medium light have somewhat clear subjects , but the remainder of the pictures turned out grainy . In low light , subjects appeared to be standing under a spotlight in a tunnel . As such , using the zoom indoors is nothing short of an exercise in futility .
Keep in mind , my basis for comparison is an SD series camera that's nearly four years old , not the SLR . And using an SLR , going in to full manual mode was not difficult or mysterious . The SX200 simply has an abysmal flash , and that kills the functionality of this camera .
115 4 Our big camera is a
Canon Digital Rebel XSI
with several lenses and speedlites . But that's not really something you want to carry around all the time , so I picked up the PowerShot SX200 IS as an upgrade from our aging
Canon PowerShot SD500
, hoping it would bridge the gap between the Canon SD series and an SLR .
Initial impressions were very good . The SX200 is built very well and feels quite solid . There were no loose or creaky parts , and while the popup flash is annoying at first , it doesn't take long to stop putting your finger over it . In terms of size , it was bigger than our old SD500 , but not as big as the PowerShot A series was .
Start up time is incredibly fast . You can start taking pictures almost as fast as it takes to move your finger from the power button to the shutter . However , this was where the wheels started to fall off . If you turn on any of the features ( face detection , blink detection , etc . ) the delay between pictures is nothing short of infuriating - - and this is with a Class 6
Sandisk Extreme III SDHC Card
that we normally use in the SLR .
Outdoor pictures were quite good , with reasonably true colors and little distortion . The 12X zoom was responsive , tracked well , and distortion was reasonable at full zoom .
Indoors . . . Unless you're really close to your subject , the SX200 ' s indoor performance is nearly hopeless . The small flash is just too small to be useful in most situations . No amount of tweaking with the settings can change that the flash just doesn't have the ability to fill much of anything . So , indoor pictures in medium light have somewhat clear subjects , but the remainder of the pictures turned out grainy . In low light , subjects appeared to be standing under a spotlight in a tunnel . As such , using the zoom indoors is nothing short of an exercise in futility .
Keep in mind , my basis for comparison is an SD series camera that's nearly four years old , not the SLR . And using an SLR , going in to full manual mode was not difficult or mysterious . The SX200 simply has an abysmal flash , and that kills the functionality of this camera .
116 4 Only comera with 12x optical zoom with optical image stablizer system . Furthermore with 12 megapixels and 2 inch TFT color LCDD widescreen with wide viewing angle everyone will like to own one . One camera to bring along for any holiday .
Highly recommended esp those who wants to travel light .
117 4 I spent months reading - reviews , comparisons , characteristics . Decided to add a Canon to my collection and go with the Canon SX200 IS and not the Panasonic rivals ZS1 / 3 ( DMC-TZ6 / 7 in Europe ) - my other and close choice .
Ordered the camera online . I knew I am not getting a viewfinder ( this class of ' compact super zoom ' basically decided to skip it , which is quite painful especially when shooting in bright light ) . I also knew of the annoying feature to have the flash out every time you want to use the camera . Didn't expect the following problem - the door on the battery / memory opens every time I touch it ( e.g . trying to get it out of the camera bag ) , while at the same time the door on the the AV outputs has top be struggled with to get it opne . Played with the many functions - all nice , but the quality of the pictures weren't as impressive as I expected . The HD video is OK only at no or minimum zoom , so I decided no zooming in video mode ( which was one of the nice features the camera has ) .
And then the big disappointment came when after only 175 shots the camera broke - the lenses + flash came out and never went back in .
Which ruined half of my vacation for which the camera was purchased . Back in the US - took it to the service . Got 10 days later a refurbished different camera - the letter said mine couldn't be fixed for the lack of parts ( ! ? ) . They used FedEx which was completely inconvenient for me , but added a news et of battery-stripe-charger , so the wasted time and gas might have been worthed ( not ) .
Took about 50 shots with the new camera + some videos . The videos came up with striping , so I might be visiting the service again : - (
Not the quality from Canon I expected - neither in the performance , not the mechanics .
118 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I debated over this and the G10 . I chose the SX200 because of the zoom . It takes excellent photos !
It is not a tiny pocket camera . It has some weight and size to it .
Excellent job Canon !
119 4 I debated over this and the G10 . I chose the SX200 because of the zoom . It takes excellent photos !
It is not a tiny pocket camera . It has some weight and size to it .
Excellent job Canon !
120 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I was very disappointed with the Auto and Easy modes indoor picture quality . Good to great pictures can be taken when in one of the manual modes but I purchased this as a high end point and shoot camera . In the Auto modes colors are washed out and any lighting fixture in picture becomes a white blob from high ISO setting these modes usually choose . Focus also struggles in these modes . I would welcome any advice or software updates to camera to fix this . I have seen this complaint from other feedback sites so expect this is normal for this camera . Like everything else with camera , unfortunately I need a good Auto mode camera where I can reasonably expect good results when passing it off to my wife or children . Wanting to love it but still debating whether to return .
122 4 On our initial impressions this camera is everything we wanted and more . We bought this camera two days ago to replace our PowerShot SD630 . The SX200IS is just a bit larger than the SD630 and is still pocket size and easily transportable . The various modes available on the camera are great that make it easy for point-and-shoot users . The 3 LCD screen is a lot sharper than our previous SD630 .
With its small size , 12x optical zoom , HD video capability , and huge 12 MP picture size at $350 half of what my previous camera cost I couldn't be happier with this camera .
123 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Overall I am very pleased with this camera . The quality for such a small camera is very good and the 12x zoom is fantastic . I have had trouble with the HD video filming for longer than 30 seconds or so . For some reason it just cuts of and saves the video . Smaller videos appear to be fine . I have looked at settings but can't seem to see anything restricting the length of the video .
Overall a great buy in such a small camera .
124 4 Overall I am very pleased with this camera . The quality for such a small camera is very good and the 12x zoom is fantastic . I have had trouble with the HD video filming for longer than 30 seconds or so . For some reason it just cuts of and saves the video . Smaller videos appear to be fine . I have looked at settings but can't seem to see anything restricting the length of the video .
Overall a great buy in such a small camera .
125 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I am very pleased with the quality of photos taken , and surprised at length of battery life . Charged once a month ago and still using . I am a little disappoint with flash location and its pop up for I seem to always have my finger over it and hope it does not get damaged from holding down .
127 4 I got this camera about 6 months ago , as a replacement for my SD600 , which is a 5mp Elph Camera which I liked very much . I bought this camera because it had a 12x optical zoom , and it was 12mp , which I assumed would be a great step up from my SD600 . I was right about the zoom , It's awesome . I also shoot with a T1i DSLR , and this camera has about the equivilent of the 250mm zoom , which is great . For outdoor pictures in good light , it takes very nice pictures . Take it inside , and try to take pictures with moderate indoor lighting , and it all goes to h e double toothpicks The colors are aweful , and the camera immediately jumps to iso1000 or iso1600 , and the pictures become grainy and green / yellow ( in other words . . . terrible ) I've since put this camera on a shelf , and purchased a used SD880 , which is much more like my SD600 , and i'm much happier with the pictures .
I would have had this camera on craigslist already , if not for one thing . VIDEO . This camera takes AMAZING 720p Video . It's absolutely the best I've ever seen from a P & S Still camera . That said , the video does have drawbacks . It won't use the optical zoom during shooting . Once you start a video , if you want to zoom in , you get digital zoom , which kills the video quality . If you zoom in before you start shooting , the camera will make use of the optical zoom , but then you can't zoom out until you've finished shooting your video .
128 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I ordered this for my daughter for Christmas . She loves it and carries it everywhere we go ! Great product . Thanks Canon
130 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
It doesn't have everything , but it has quite a lot for such a small camera
the manual options are great and enables those who know how to use them to get some creative photo shooting , while the auto modes are very smart enabling normal point and shoot users to get really good pics too .
the lens is quite big for such a small camera and the zoom too is great .
the only two drawbacks I see in that little monster , is the fact that the flash can't be closed , it has to stay up while the camera is on .
the second one is that the continuous mode is useless when the camera can only shoot 0.8 frame / second , but I suspect you can get better from such a small camera .
overall , in this size range it's amazing , If you want more you'll have to go to SLR range
131 4 It doesn't have everything , but it has quite a lot for such a small camera
the manual options are great and enables those who know how to use them to get some creative photo shooting , while the auto modes are very smart enabling normal point and shoot users to get really good pics too .
the lens is quite big for such a small camera and the zoom too is great .
the only two drawbacks I see in that little monster , is the fact that the flash can't be closed , it has to stay up while the camera is on .
the second one is that the continuous mode is useless when the camera can only shoot 0.8 frame / second , but I suspect you can get better from such a small camera .
overall , in this size range it's amazing , If you want more you'll have to go to SLR range
132 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
After reading some of the reviews , I was a little concerned about what I might get , but it was unfounded . Other than the small problem where my finger sometimes holds down the flash ( it's in a bad position ) , this is an amazing camera .
It's my first Canon , and I was not disappointed . I took this on a trip to Central America into some rough country and it held up well . Also , the HD video was of amazing quality . The sound was way better than I have ever heard on a camera like this , and the picture quality was first class .
This was a great buy ! I would highly recommend it .
133 4 After reading some of the reviews , I was a little concerned about what I might get , but it was unfounded . Other than the small problem where my finger sometimes holds down the flash ( it's in a bad position ) , this is an amazing camera .
It's my first Canon , and I was not disappointed . I took this on a trip to Central America into some rough country and it held up well . Also , the HD video was of amazing quality . The sound was way better than I have ever heard on a camera like this , and the picture quality was first class .
This was a great buy ! I would highly recommend it .
134 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
If you are looking for a camera that does it all . . but is simple to work . . . this is it ! I am not the techie kind of person . I wanted simple with flexibility and have it with this camera . Plenty of settings from Automatic to portrait to landscape to action and if you want to set shutter speed & apature you can do that too . It even has video capabilities .
The ease of use is a godsend . One button the turn it on , one to zoom in and one to take the photo . You press down the button to take the photo 1 / 2 way and it focuses the shot . Push down the rest of the way and snap your photo . If the camera can't focus on what you are trying to shoot because you are too close or some other reason then the button won't go the whole way down . I like this feature . I'm sure that it would be more valuable in a film camera . . . however no use wasting memory for no good reason .
Photos come out clear . It's easy to delete photos as you go or all at once . I haven't worked much with the video settings yet .
If you need a reliable camera that takes great photos this is it !
137 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is a great camera - the macro is just as amazing as I expected . My only complaint is that the image quality is a little worse in low light , but that may be just in comparison to the superb macro images .
139 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This camera is for folks who wants to take a leap to intermediate level of picture taking . For people who want more than just point and shoot . Since a lot of features have been placed in this camera it is a little bulky compared to SD1200IS which was my alternate choice . Most of the major store that i went to don't have this model on display so i have to bite the bullet and order it and than find out if it is easy to carry around in my pocket . What i found that it does not easily fit into trouser pockets . However overall i love this camera's capability . One of the thing to watch out from is the popping up of flash . To avoid dropping the camera it is a good idea to always put your hands through the wrist strap and than operate the camera . The popping of flash gives less area to grip the camera . I wished they kept the flash design same as SD series . The flash recharging time is excellent .
143 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
My Canon Digital Elph from 2005 has a slightly faster shutter speed . I like to catch action , and although this camera takes incredibly better photos than my Elph , the frames per second are severely lacking for 5 years later if you want to continuous shoot and get some action shots .
It's a bit big and the battery does not last as long as my 2005 camera either .
I did return it , just waiting for my refund .
147 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Good : 12x zoom , wide angle , picture quality , HD video , scene modes , face detection timer , eye closed sensor , NTSC / PAL , manual settings , color accent , color swap .
Bad : No optical zoom while video capture , flash remain outside all the time when camera is on .
Overall a good camera .
149 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I travelled to Switzerland last Spring and one of the people in my group had the SX 200IS . I was so impressed with her photo shots that I could not get , that I purchased this SX 200 IS camera for a trip to China , replacing a previous model Canon that did not have the 12x wide angle zoom . I was amazed at what this camera could do and during my trip in China my co-travelers could not believe the great shots that I was able to get . My camera was stolen and I have just replaced it with the same model in spite of many sales people trying to convince me to upgrade to HD . I am very satisfied and love the results that get with this SX 200IS .
153 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I love it . It's easy to use and takes great pictures . It's small enuf to take with me all the time .
156 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is my first digital camera but it's easy to use so far . I'm learning how and this camera makes it very easy .
158 4 Great Camera buy it here . Found it for $229 at Camera Giants super deal uh ! No way ! Ordered camera then was told to call for order verification . The Rep . then tried to sell me another battery because he claimed the original would only last 20 minutes ! Battery cost $99.00 . Then he tried to sell me more memory cost $149.00 . When I explained that I own numerous Canon cameras and am well aware of what might be needed he quickly told me it would be a couple of weeks before they would ship the camera ! I called the next day to check on the status and was told it was back ordered and wasn't expected until late June ! I cancelled the order .
You get what you pay for stay away from Camera Giants and stick with Amazon . . . .
159 4 Got this camera few days before .
I know the lens is locked when shooting HD , but normally your subject is at a constant distance so zooming in beffore taking video is not a big inconvenience . This machine is a killer in its manual control .
The camera body is not that great , i has some thing to improve , but given its might i dont care about the body . After all im buying camera for its picture and Video .
A good hibrid camera , im not going to buy a dedicated videocamera for videos .
Many compare it with Lumix Z3 , but come on this guy is s mini slr .
162 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Bought this camera to replace my 5 year old digital elph 5 megapixel . I bought this model for three reasons :
1 . Because it's a Canon .
2 . Because it has a 3 inch viewing screen ( I don't know why Canon doesn't include this on all models ) .
3 . The 12 x optical zoom .
Overall this is a really great camera with lots of functions and takes high quality pictures . Not quite small enough to fit in your pocket but still a decent size given its functions .
My only complaint ( and it's a minor one ) is the pop-up flash . I don't know why Canon could not have put in a built in flash . It is annoying to have the flash up even when you don't need it .
163 4 Bought this camera to replace my 5 year old digital elph 5 megapixel . I bought this model for three reasons :
1 . Because it's a Canon .
2 . Because it has a 3 inch viewing screen ( I don't know why Canon doesn't include this on all models ) .
3 . The 12 x optical zoom .
Overall this is a really great camera with lots of functions and takes high quality pictures . Not quite small enough to fit in your pocket but still a decent size given its functions .
My only complaint ( and it's a minor one ) is the pop-up flash . I don't know why Canon could not have put in a built in flash . It is annoying to have the flash up even when you don't need it .
164 4 Personally , I'm not really impressed with the camera . Canon can do much better , especially for the price .
Besides all the other issues :
The photos have heavy noise filtering and then sharpening .
It seems to have trouble consistently focusing .
The photos are a bit under-saturated even in bright daylight .
Here are about a thousand photos my kid took with it :
[ . . . ]
165 4 This review is from :
Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0 - inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Review of the camera was very good . So , decided to buy it . Picture qualities were not as expected . Surprisingly my older canon powershot 650 IS produced better pic than this camera .
166 4 Review of the camera was very good . So , decided to buy it . Picture qualities were not as expected . Surprisingly my older canon powershot 650 IS produced better pic than this camera .
167 4 Canon SX200 This is a wonderful camera and it should be easy to learn to use it but the instruction booklet stinks . First it is too small and the print much smaller than makes for easy reading . The pictures of the LCD
are so dark I have to use a magnifier to see what the icons are . I have 20 - 20 vision so I suspect I'm not alone with my thoughts . Come on Canon ,
you make a fine camera but spend a few more bucks and make the booklet easier to read , esp . for the novice trying to improve his photo skills .
