1. High-powered 20x wide-angle optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer
2. Capture 720p HD movies with stereo sound; HDMI output connector for easy playback on your HDTV
3. 2.5-inch Vari-Angle System LCD; improved Smart AUTO intelligently selects from 22 predefined shooting situations
4. DIGIC 4 Image Processor; 12.1-megapixel resolution for poster-size, photo-quality prints
5. Powered by AA batteries (included); capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

With a 20x wide-angle zoom, the 12.1-megapixel PowerShot SX20 IS offers intelligent, versatile shooting power. Switch to Smart Auto mode for effortlessly great results, or shoot stunning HD movies.

Customer Review :

BIG BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

In today's economic atmosphere, it's hard to find a good value for your dollar. I don't know about you, but it seems manufacturers of products and service providers are gradually cutting back here and there, never dropping their prices. It seems we are gradually getting less of something, while constantly paying more. Enter the Canon SX20.

This is where cutbacks stop and value for your dollar goes through the roof. Ten years ago you'd only dream of having a compact still camera that takes quality pictures like this along with pure, crisp, sharp, and great sounding HD video! Easy to use, although a little bulky, it has a solid feel in the hands and takes fantastic telephoto shots! A couple of drawbacks are the continuous photo option which snaps pictures at a measly 1 per second, and the fact that a full users manual in print is not included in the package (however a pdf format on disc is included, and we all have computers nowadays don't we?).

My friends and I used to judge our digital cameras on how well they could take a night shot of the moon. Generally, all we'd get is a bright white spot. With the SX20, you'll be amazed at what the moon can look like! Blow up your shots, and you might even see some inhabitants!

Made in Japan, and as usual a leader in quality, Canon once again does not disappoint!

Rating :

Worth every penny

I just purchased this camera and have been toying around with it in the house and so far the picture quality has been great! The auto is a little to vivid for my liking, so I just change to custom and turn the color to natural. The zoom is great and easy to focus when you zoom fast. The real test will be when I attend concerts, how well the low lighting shots will turn out! Can't wait to test it out some more

Rating :

Fine and simple camera to use.


As a film camera buff for many years I finally went digital. I really like this camera and especially its auto-focus feature. I have difficulty seeing and this takes the guess work out of focusing.

Rating :

A great camera!

I'm heading out soon for my 5th embed in Afghanistan and this should be the perfect camera. In the past few days I've taken 500+ photos and am totally impressed by the ease of operability and clarity of photos. On "sports" mode, I can be taking photos as I walk; the 'movie' mode is awesome, and even the night shots are remarkably clear and crisp (like an Afghan evening!)

Yes, it would have been nice for Canon to include their 180 page manual, but frankly I got enough info from their little pamphlet to get me started. Then I downloaded the manual to my laptop, so I've got it if I need it.

This should be a better camera than the usual SLR; no lenses to change in adverse conditions, and no bulky lenses to carry. Hint: buy decent rechargeable battery set; you'll be taking a lot of picts with this camera!

Now I'll really be able to 'get the word out'. S/F

Rating :

Great Camera

Bought this to replace another make that broke. First real use was at the Daytona 500. Great pictures.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10.0-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for prints up to 13 x 19 inches
2. 3x optical zoom; 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen
3. DIGIC 4 Image Processor with evolved Face Detection Technology; Face Detection Self-timer
4. Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings
5. Compatible with SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus (not included)

Editorial Review :

When a camera puts a smile on your face the moment you hold it, imagine how great you'll feel when you see your first pictures! The PowerShot SD1200 IS Digital ELPH has everything going for it - exuberant color, the sculptured style of Canon's famed ELPH series - and the innovative know - how that takes you to a whole new level of picture-taking accomplishment. Fun, smart and a style follow you everywhere.

Customer Review :

Great Camera

This is a great camera. I've only owned two digital cameras and this one is the best so far. The picture quality and features are great. It's fits easily in my purse, with a case. I was looking for a pink camera only, and this one is not only cute, it gets the job done. I would definitely recommend this camera.

Rating :

Not a friendly camera, I miss my Kodak easy share

I got this camera because it had such amazing reviews and because my mom had the 1100 model and I loved the pictures. I HATE THIS CAMERA!!! I had a Kodak Easy Share and I loved how the pictures turned out and how easy it was to use, but it was too bulky for a diaper bag. I got the Canon 1200 for its portability and the "amazing" pictures it claims to take. Boy am I disappointed. The auto feature is all but useless. 9 out of 10 photos taken with the auto feature turn out blurry. Even when it looks good on the screen I download them and see they are in fact blurry. (if you read a lot of reviews you will see the problems with the auto feature and blurry photos)
I have missed so many cute photos of my baby due to this stupid camera. The 1100 was far superior and much more user friendly. I am not a camera person so maybe if you know the ends and outs of cameras it will work for you, but if you are just a normal person looking for a point and shoot camera THIS IS NOT FOR YOU!!

Rating :

Unworkable as sold

I find it very unacceptable to pay $150 for a camera and find out that it cannot be used as sold. It does not come with a memory card and nothing in the sales information provided prior to the purchase calls this out. Therefore I will not buy another product from either the supplier or Canon.

Rating :

camera

This is the best camera for an amateur. Cannon PowerShot takes clear, perfect pictures. The PowerShot also is small enought to fit conveniently in a shirt pocket or small purse.

Rating :

Solid with Great Feature Choices

PROS: This camera has a great look and feel. More compact than pictures of it may seem, but not wafer thin like some. Doesn't have lush interface, just a practical and elegant one. For example, only about 5 different auto modes ('Portrait', 'Kids', etc.) that don't have example pictures; instead, you see the current shot as altered for that mode. When you press OK button options appear down right and across bottom of view screen; you select by navigating with ring button around OK.

You have direct EV+/- control via ring button and can easily set white balance via interface. Also has 'My Color' feature that lets you set color saturation, etc. via interface in Program mode: this feature is very detailed. Program mode is not complete...cannot select shutter or f-stop priority, but does include ISO setting, so you basically can trade off noise for blur (low ISO reduces noise but slows the shutter). You just can't add depth-of-field to the mix of trade-offs without 'tricking' the settings via EV and ISO.

Low ISO shooting makes a huge difference in picture quality to the point that shooting 10MP instead of 5MP at over ISO 300 is of dubious benefit. 'Indoors' auto mode lowers ISO for you, but using Program mode and lowering it more is better if the subject is stationary. With lots of light or a tripod photos are lavish even when zoomed when shooting ISO 80.

So at low ISO low-light shooting is great, but not for moving subjects or unsteady hands. The cammera has optical stabilization, and I've shot reasonable photos at a 1 second shutter free hand, but it takes some breathing control.

Playback has the standard zoom feature and can zoom out to either a panel of thumbnails or else a faux-3D picture cycle. Will also show all settings for the shot, even settings the camera set automatically like shutter speed. Also shows true file size along with the resolution and assumed file size for that setting (the assumed size is a worst-case assumption). The camera always shows this assumed size with resolution, which is handy, but it names the resolutions with single letters, a la VHS SP,SLP, etc., so that's what the funny L means in the corner: L=highest resolution.

In spite of some spec sheets saying it's 700mAh, this camera comes with a 1000mAh battery that is said to be capable of 700 shots when using the optical viewfinder, 220 shots using the LCD viewscreen--I assume without flash.

Camera offers three metering selections: full average, center-weighted, and spot. The face detection is nearly perfect...it can even follow faces through cross cuts while 'watching' TV, and it can recognize 3/4 views of faces--oblique views.

Power-on time is remarkably fast. No problems with shooting speed. Flash might slow things down, but unbounced flash shots are usually so icky I hardly use flash...it is said to be good from 1 foot (1 meter if shooting into eyes!) to 14 feet.

Camera has a magic red ray that it says helps with autofocus. You can turn it off, and I haven't really noticed much of a difference with it off.

CONS: In auto modes the camera picks higher ISO than I would like because I'm not shooting sports shots, etc., but I think the choices are good ones in general, and they can be overridden easily. The icons are not exactly self-evident. Camera does not come with a manual worth mentioning (but PDF is available). I can't speak to the software as I have no intention of using it.

The macro settings produce otherwise nice results but they are a little more fish-eye than would be ideal.

In full auto mode (separate even from the individual automatic modes) the camera is constantly focusing, etc., which must use up battery pretty fast. Just lightly pressing the shutter release will force settings in other modes, so unless you are shooting rapidly changing subjects the full auto mode is probably overkill.

Misses some of the more advance features even of my 5-year-old digital. You cannot set up your own preset settings and pick them like they were built-in modes. There is no internal memory at all. There is no self-portrait modes where you can set up a photo and then have yourself placed in the picture by getting someone to line up a translucent version of your setup with the scene with you in it. Etc. Still all these feature sound more useful than they really ever were since in the moment we usually do the quick thing and shoot the shot, anyway.



Rating :

More reviews...

1. 12.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 4x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilizer; 2.5-inch LCD screen
3. DIGIC 4 Image Processor with evolved Face Detection Technology; Face Detection Self-timer
4. Uses 2 AA-size batteries
5. Compatible with SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus (not included)

Editorial Review :

Splash Out with Dazzling Color. Brighten your world with the intensely colorful Canon PowerShot A1100 IS. Fashionably slender, this sleek camera body has been specially shaped to make it easy to hold and easy to shoot. There's a metal-plated front grip that contributes a striking note of elegance and adds to your comfort. Loaded with Features, Packed with Value. 12.1-megapixel digital camera with 4x Optical Zoom and Optical Image Stabilizer. With the PowerShot A1100 IS, dramatic, personal pictures have never been easier to shoot and share. This 12.1-megapixel digital camera lets you create impressive, large photos of family and friends you'll be proud to display. The high-resolution images taken by the PowerShot A1100 IS can be enlarged up to 13" x 19". The PowerShot A1100 IS has a 4x optical zoom lens that makes it easy to get the inspiring, emotive close-ups that will make your images lasting keepsakes. This magnificent lens gives you the power to shoot distant subjects with razor-sharp precision and stunning lifelike color. So you can brilliantly capture a closer shot of a landscape, or a child's big smile. The PowerShot A1100 IS is equipped with Canon's acclaimed Optical Image Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera shake - one of the leading causes of fuzzy or blurred shots. Even when zoomed in, you can get the steady, crisp, brilliant images you'll be proud to shoot and share. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer Technology is so convenient to use. It functions perfectly with or without a flash. A World of Advantages with Canon's Technology. DIGIC 4 Image Processor has evolved Face Detection Technology that tracks the faces of moving subjects and lets the shooter enter the frame seamlessly with the Face Detection Self-timer. DIGIC 4 Image Processor - Canon's most advanced image processor, DIGIC 4, delivers evolved Face Detection Technology

Customer Review :

flimsy battery and memory card cover

light weight and very cute looking......great quality photos.....however, the battery and memory card cover is very flimsy and feels like it could break with very little force. My older canon's cover worked better and felt more heavy duty.

Rating :

I'm not pleased - poor pic quality, construction not durable

I bought this camera before Christmas 2009, and took lots of pictures during the colorful holidays. I was not thrilled with the results - photos seemed dull, flat, and uninteresting. Photos taken with my 6-year-old Sony were much better! Thought about returning the camera, but couldn't be bothered. Wish I had - camera recently fell off a low end table, and the small plastic clasp for the battery/memory card compartment broke off. Now, because compartment doesn't close properly, camera doesn't always work. I have a good excuse to get a different camera - think I'll go back to Sony.

Rating :

Great value

We just took this camera on an extended trip abroad and were totally delighted with it. It made our old camera that we took along for backup look mediocre. Image stabilization is very good, exposure in low lighting was impressive, and automatic settings worked well to give us impressive photos. The only surprise was that there's no selection for image quality to control the size of the files.

Rating :

Don' like

Siempre tuve nikon, primero una L4 y luego una L11, pero ahora me cambié para canon, .. el software es mejor del canon, pero la calidad de fotos es muy inferior la de canon.

Rating :

Gorgeous pictures but...

...this camera is a hard-core battery addict! I can use it for "maybe" an hour and the batteries are dead! This happens with or without the view screen on. I either need to get a ton of rechargeable batteries or a power cord!

The pictures are beautiful! I use the macro mode for taking pictures of jewelry and they come out crisp and clear. I'm not a shutterbug by any means so it took me a while to figure out why they were coming out so HUGE.

If the batteries would last longer I'd love this camera!

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 12.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 3x optical zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer
3. HD movie shooting capability plus HDMI output
4. 2.5-inch widescreen PureColor LCD II screen; Face Detection
5. Compatible with SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus (not included)

Editorial Review :

It may be the slimmest Digital ELPH Canon has ever created, but the impact couldn't be bigger. The PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH captivates the senses with bold saturated colors and a daringly original design that matches the intensity of Canon's most innovative camera technology. Even when picture-taking conditions seem pretty unforgiving, you've got Canon on your side. So the shots you used to miss are the images you'll now be sharing, and the movies you never took before will be HD unforgettable.

Customer Review :

Nice Camer

It is O.K. sofar. I haven't gotten bad pictures, but i haven't really put it to the test. I have noticed that the stabilizing isn't what i hoped it would be. I will try to update the review once I put it through the paces.

Rating :

So disappointed!

Hi All,
I love taking pictures, and I'm pretty good at it.
Before I bought this camera, I had the previous version -very wonderful. I loved everything about it. It made great photos. Then in December I decided it was time to try the new generation, which to me sounded like it would be even better than the one I had. I was so excited!
Well... I've really tried to love my new camera. Really. But nope, the love connection is just not gonna happen.
The quality of the pictures is not good at all.
The quality of the video is ok, but there is a lot of noise.
What I hate the most about it, is that I have no control in the automatic mode. I know, it's automatic, d'uh, but sometimes I don't want to mess around with the white balance and such, so I enjoy just taking my camera out and taking an "easy" picture in automatic mode. This won't happen with this one. I love taking macro pics, and it just won't work well in the automatic mode with this camera. I missed so so so many good shots just because the camera couldn't figure out that I wanted to take a macro picture. It's so frustrating when that happens!
The manual mode sucks too. Even after setting the colors, it looks crappy.
Anyway, I feel like I'm talking too much now and I should probably get to the point...
My point is: if you like the previous version, keep it!
Or, if you don't care about taking nice pictures and just want to take "so so" pictures, buy it!.
But for people who enjoy nice and good quality shots, this is not the camera for you.
Now I'm trying to sell it so I can get another camera...! It even makes me feel bad that someone is going to buy it!
Hope this helps!

Rating :

As good as they say it is.

My first generation digital Canon camera final gave up after lots of heavy use and abuse. In looking for a replacement there were so many positive reviews on the SD780 that I wondered if it was some sort of marketing gimmick. Well, I liked the styling, the specs, and the price so I thought I'd take a chance on it and can now see why others were so enthusiastic.

To be honest when I first opened the box the camera was about the size of a deck of cards and was quite smaller than I expected. I wondered if I could even work the buttons. No worries. The size grew on me (if you will excuse the pun) and although the power button is smaller than I would prefer, the rest of the controls can be manipulated comfortably. I bought the gold color camera and think it's beautiful.

For starters the camera is pretty intuitive if you just want to jump into it, but I recommend studying the manual at some point to really understand the finer points and incredible features. By the way, unlike others, this manual is very well written and useful. You can also download a pdf version from the Canon website. The "auto" mode is a no-brainer, but using the varied programmed settings is pretty easy. I like the fact that a particular program function has a plain English title to go with the icon since icons always confuse me. I don't take much video, but it worked amazingly well for a small camera. The clarity and colors of the still photos were a huge improvement from my previous camera. I'm still learning and playing though.

One of the big features for me is the digital macro function. I use my camera extensively in business and often need to take macro shots of components. I was blown away by this capability. It was better than my macro lenses on my old SLR 35mm cameras. Just read the manual instructions first.

I was surprised that it didn't come with a memory card so I ordered a 4GB which is adequate for my needs. I do recommend a case and the LCD screen protector that will protect the display from scratches, fingerprints and is supposed to reduce glare. With the understanding that there is not much real estate on this camera, my improvement wish list would be for a larger power button, a better access door to the USB/HDMI ports, and a plug in charger so you don't have to take the battery out. Bottom line is that I am really enjoying this camera and have no hesitation to recommend it with the understanding that it is small.








Rating :

Fun camera!

Love JUST about everything about my little red camera. The only concern I have is regarding the latch cover over where it connects to the computer. It seems a little flimsy and will be careful when when I use the cable.

Rating :

Lens Error, Restart Camera

Before you buy any Canon camera you need to be OK with the possibility that your camera may become a brick. You see, Canon cameras often times get the error message, "Lens Error, Restart Camera", and you can do NOTHING about it. Don't believe me, just call Canon and ask them yourself. This is my second Canon camera to have this problem, my first being the PowerShot SX200is, and Canon REFUSES to acknowledge the problem. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this camera.



Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10.0-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for prints up to 13 x 19 inches
2. 3x optical zoom; 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen
3. DIGIC 4 Image Processor with evolved Face Detection Technology; Face Detection Self-timer
4. Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings
5. Compatible with SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus (not included)

Customer Review :

Solid with Great Feature Choices

PROS: This camera has a great look and feel. More compact than pictures of it may seem, but not wafer thin like some. Doesn't have lush interface, just a practical and elegant one. For example, only about 5 different auto modes ('Portrait', 'Kids', etc.) that don't have example pictures; instead, you see the current shot as altered for that mode. When you press OK button options appear down right and across bottom of view screen; you select by navigating with ring button around OK.

You have direct EV+/- control via ring button and can easily set white balance via interface. Also has 'My Color' feature that lets you set color saturation, etc. via interface in Program mode: this feature is very detailed. Program mode is not complete...cannot select shutter or f-stop priority, but does include ISO setting, so you basically can trade off noise for blur (low ISO reduces noise but slows the shutter). You just can't add depth-of-field to the mix of trade-offs without 'tricking' the settings via EV and ISO.

Low ISO shooting makes a huge difference in picture quality to the point that shooting 10MP instead of 5MP at over ISO 300 is of dubious benefit. 'Indoors' auto mode lowers ISO for you, but using Program mode and lowering it more is better if the subject is stationary. With lots of light or a tripod photos are lavish even when zoomed when shooting ISO 80.

So at low ISO low-light shooting is great, but not for moving subjects or unsteady hands. The cammera has optical stabilization, and I've shot reasonable photos at a 1 second shutter free hand, but it takes some breathing control.

Playback has the standard zoom feature and can zoom out to either a panel of thumbnails or else a faux-3D picture cycle. Will also show all settings for the shot, even settings the camera set automatically like shutter speed. Also shows true file size along with the resolution and assumed file size for that setting (the assumed size is a worst-case assumption). The camera always shows this assumed size with resolution, which is handy, but it names the resolutions with single letters, a la VHS SP,SLP, etc., so that's what the funny L means in the corner: L=highest resolution.

In spite of some spec sheets saying it's 700mAh, this camera comes with a 1000mAh battery that is said to be capable of 700 shots when using the optical viewfinder, 220 shots using the LCD viewscreen--I assume without flash.

Camera offers three metering selections: full average, center-weighted, and spot. The face detection is nearly perfect...it can even follow faces through cross cuts while 'watching' TV, and it can recognize 3/4 views of faces--oblique views.

Power-on time is remarkably fast. No problems with shooting speed. Flash might slow things down, but unbounced flash shots are usually so icky I hardly use flash...it is said to be good from 1 foot (1 meter if shooting into eyes!) to 14 feet.

Camera has a magic red ray that it says helps with autofocus. You can turn it off, and I haven't really noticed much of a difference with it off.

CONS: In auto modes the camera picks higher ISO than I would like because I'm not shooting sports shots, etc., but I think the choices are good ones in general, and they can be overridden easily. The icons are not exactly self-evident. Camera does not come with a manual worth mentioning (but PDF is available). I can't speak to the software as I have no intention of using it.

The macro settings produce otherwise nice results but they are a little more fish-eye than would be ideal.

In full auto mode (separate even from the individual automatic modes) the camera is constantly focusing, etc., which must use up battery pretty fast. Just lightly pressing the shutter release will force settings in other modes, so unless you are shooting rapidly changing subjects the full auto mode is probably overkill.

Misses some of the more advance features even of my 5-year-old digital. You cannot set up your own preset settings and pick them like they were built-in modes. There is no internal memory at all. There is no self-portrait modes where you can set up a photo and then have yourself placed in the picture by getting someone to line up a translucent version of your setup with the scene with you in it. Etc. Still all these feature sound more useful than they really ever were since in the moment we usually do the quick thing and shoot the shot, anyway.



Rating :

Not a friendly camera, I miss my Kodak easy share

I got this camera because it had such amazing reviews and because my mom had the 1100 model and I loved the pictures. I HATE THIS CAMERA!!! I had a Kodak Easy Share and I loved how the pictures turned out and how easy it was to use, but it was too bulky for a diaper bag. I got the Canon 1200 for its portability and the "amazing" pictures it claims to take. Boy am I disappointed. The auto feature is all but useless. 9 out of 10 photos taken with the auto feature turn out blurry. Even when it looks good on the screen I download them and see they are in fact blurry. (if you read a lot of reviews you will see the problems with the auto feature and blurry photos)
I have missed so many cute photos of my baby due to this stupid camera. The 1100 was far superior and much more user friendly. I am not a camera person so maybe if you know the ends and outs of cameras it will work for you, but if you are just a normal person looking for a point and shoot camera THIS IS NOT FOR YOU!!

Rating :

Unworkable as sold

I find it very unacceptable to pay $150 for a camera and find out that it cannot be used as sold. It does not come with a memory card and nothing in the sales information provided prior to the purchase calls this out. Therefore I will not buy another product from either the supplier or Canon.

Rating :

camera

This is the best camera for an amateur. Cannon PowerShot takes clear, perfect pictures. The PowerShot also is small enought to fit conveniently in a shirt pocket or small purse.

Rating :

Great Camera

This is a great camera. I've only owned two digital cameras and this one is the best so far. The picture quality and features are great. It's fits easily in my purse, with a case. I was looking for a pink camera only, and this one is not only cute, it gets the job done. I would definitely recommend this camera.

Rating :

More reviews...