Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Orange)
Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Orange)
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Product Description
Brighter, lighter and more loaded than ever before. Canon's 10.0-megapixel ELPH is the complete package, featuring all the innovative know-how to help you start composing incredibly vibrant and lifelike photos right out of the box. One-year warranty. Model SD1200IS.
Details
- 10.0-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for prints up to 13 x 19 inches
- 3x optical zoom; 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen
- DIGIC 4 Image Processor with evolved Face Detection Technology; Face Detection Self-timer
- Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings
- Compatible with SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus (not included)
Rating
The SD1200 has some big changes over its predecessor SD1100, and is the smallest, best designed Elph I’ve used thus far.
I’ve owned many models of Elph, this is my 6th or 7th, so my review is aimed especially at other serial Canon owners. I mostly compare the SD1200 to the SD1100.
* The big changes: Digic4 and a larger CCD sensor. The slight increase in CCD size (1/2.3″ vs 1/2.5″) should make for “cleaner” photos. And Digic4 promises faster/cleaner shots also.
* You get 10MP vs 8MP on the SD1100, and “medium” (M1) size is now 6MP. JPG quality is down to 2 setting: Fine or Normal.
* SD1200 is only slightly smaller than the SD1100, but feels notably smaller by virtue of curved edges and the LCD being flush with the body (no bump-out).
* The 1200 now feels as small as this design can shrink. Good news: my average-sized male hands can still comfortably hold it, barely not covering lens, flash, or resting on the LCD. But the round power-button is now almost too small to press if you had big fingers and no fingernails.
* 1200’s new battery is a higher capacity 1000mAh (vs ~760mAh for SD1100). There’s also a new charger (not compatible with the old batteries), a glossy white-colored model to blend into your wall.
* The buttons and menus are streamlined. There’s now a button for review mode, pressing it a 2nd time takes you back to the previous state. Handy. The slider has dedicated AUTO and Manual settings, no longer need to use menus for that switch.
* Continuous mode and ISO now are in the Function Menu (on the SD1100, they had dedicated buttons).
* A SD card is no longer included. This makes sense to me, a 32MB card is barely useful, and with the downward pressure on electronics prices, I can’t imagine Canon wanting to bundle a more expensive/bigger card. Some people will find this lack annoying.
* The A/V output is gone, and the USB connector now serves both purposes (both kinds of included cables now have a USB-end)
* A new version of Canon software is required for this model, Zoombrowser 6.3. Canon typically requires a new release for each new family/season of cameras. Unfortunately, the CameraWindow software has been intentionally dumbed-down in the 6.x software and no longer offers the options to delete your photos (have to go through the OS), nor to chose custom naming for the downloads. I say intentionally, since I asked Canon customer-support about it and they stated the changes were not bugs. The last Canon software to still have that functionality was 5.x, corresponding to the SD1000 and other cameras released that season.
* In casual indoor tests, the 1200 seemed more ready to go to ISO400 (often too “noisy” to be useful) when the SD1100 would have chosen ISO200.
* The SD1200 and SD1100 have identical specs on their optics. However, I noticed a more pronounced barrel-distortion on the 1200 at extreme wide-angle. (still only noticable in close-up shots of straight-edged items at wide-angle)
* In a casual speed test, the SD1200 took/stored photos notably faster the SD1100 (same scene, continuous-mode, same brand SD card), despite the 1200’s image size being larger.
* Canon’s paper manuals have been shrinking steadily. With this model, the only manual included is a quick-start guide, the rest is on CD-ROM.
* The packaging is even more efficient than before, about half the size of the SD1100’s box.
* Sadly, there is no HD video mode, although all of the other Elphs released this spring had HD. SD1200 owners are stuck with 640×480 video.
Canon has several sub-series within the compact Elph line, varying mostly by asthetics and optics. The SD1200 is successor to the series that included the SD1100, SD1000, and SD600. These all favor a classic, slim design. If you’re unfamiliar with Canon’s Powershot cameras, there’s lots of good material out there on camera sites such as dpreview.
In general, the small sensors and optics in all ultra-compact digital cameras lead to some optical quirks (such as barrelling), chromatic aberrations, over/under-exposure in bright sunlight/shade, and underpowered flashes. That’s intrinsic to the size of camera, and vendors try to correct these effects in their on-board processing. My opinion is that Canon does a good job of correcting for these issues and the Elphs including the SD1200 take very good photos for their size.
It’s questionable that a SD1100 owner would specifically find this a compelling upgrade other than the Digic4, but this is an excellent compact camera in all ways. Apart from the noteworthy quirks: the lack of HD and the limited features in the download software, this camera is Highly Recommended.
Rating
I purchased this camera as a replacement for an older Canon powershot that had been dropped 1 too many times.
I love the improved shutter lag time. (still has one but it is better!) The camera comes on quickly, after you have taken a photo, there is not a long wait before you can take another. I was able to easily capture my busy 3 and 4 year old kids in motion without blur (this is HUGE!).
The Auto mode is easy to use and so far has taken wonderful photos. I can not speak to the software that came with the camera as I always use picasa to tweak photos and I use the software with Shutterfly to crop or remove redeye before printing them.
On a side note, the SD cards have really come down in price!
Rating
We’ve previously owned a Canon SD630 and some other named cameras in the past. The SD630 is an awesome camera which never gave us any trouble. It would occasionally flash when it shouldn’t causing the picture to be washed out, but it is a great camera.
We purchased the SD1200IS because the initial plan was to give the SD630 to an older family member who isn’t always keen on trying something new. But, when this idea was run across my wife, she made it clear to me that she didn’t want to get rid of the SD630 because it was sentimental to her.
After using the new SD1200IS, my wife quickly fell in love with it. The camera takes phenomenal pictures every time. Neither of us are photo experts. The camera is set to auto and away we go. The camera makes little noises inside adjusting to the scene and picture you are taking at the time. There is a date stamp you can use which is visible when you take your photo.
Our older Canon had a setting where you could leave it on the review mode and if the power button was accidentally pressed, the lens would not open out. This one does not have that feature. So, if you ever accidentally press the power button, the lens will open out.
Overall we are very happy with our new camera. We have a small child and we love taking pictures with our new camera.
I would recommend this camera to everyone. It is easy to operate and takes great pictures.
Rating
The Canon Powershot takes pictures superfast and ultra-clear. It even takes photos with a subtle depth of field, in other words you can focus on something in the foreground and the background will be slightly blurred. Its a lot like using a 35mm, or the Digital Rebel. The photos are amazing! I used to have a Sony and everything looked so flat. You can get some real artistic shots with this little beauty….and the best part is that its shocking hot pink and I got mine for under $200!!! I love it:)
Rating
After using this camera for the last three weeks.I have to said this is great camera.After using a Canon sd 200 for the last five years (Great Camera)this is a more improved version.Its a very quick camera,the auto feature works very well as the red eye correction,picture quality is excellent and the image estabilization work great.
I will recomend this camera to everyone looking for a great camera.I bought it in Amazon at a good price thr delivery was very good as the over all service.
Rating
A very capable camera for the price, and wonderful for on-the-go pictures. I previously owned the Canon SD 1000 and while I enjoyed the features it had, wished it included the image stabilization “IS” feature. The 1200 has IS, and it has made noticeable improvements on those quick shots. The camera takes wonderful pictures in a variety of light settings, and is incredibly easy to use. All in all, for the price, great camera and highly recommended.
Rating
Wow! This is the 3rd Cannon Elph camera that I have owned. Cannon hit a home run with this one. I can’t seem to take a bad picture with this camera. I use it for work and take pictures all day long under different situations. Everything operates on automatic, the camera even switches automatically between long distance and macro modes. It is able to produce great pictures in different lighting situations, where my others cameras have failed in the past.
This is about my 25th digital camera that I have purchased, we actually wear them out through use, and I will purchase this same camera again, and highly recommend it to you. You will be satisfied. The only negative that I can say is that the camera is almost too small for my large hands and the camera disappears in your pockets and you will forget that you are carrying it! Really, that is not a problem, and actually probably a plus if you are on vacation and don’t want to be lugging around some big war club old camera to take some pics.
I can’t recommend this camera more. I just plain love it.
Rating
I got this camera because my son is nearly 2 and I’d noticed that my photo taking had dramatically dropped off. He’d be doing something adorable and I’d run to get the camera and by the time I got back he’d be five activities past whatever he’d been doing.
I needed a Dad camera – one that was small enough to carry with me all the time, started up fast, had good image stabilization and face detection, decent zoom and flash, was 100% automatic (no tweaking with portrait mode vs. sunny day mode vs. contrast settings while my son was peddling his tricycle for the first time), and was cheap enough that I wouldn’t mind dropping it occasionally.
The Cannon SD1200IS is that camera. It’s been a joy to use. I got the grey leather Cannon case to go with it and I now carry it everywhere. Looks a bit geeky (with the case it’s about the size of a blackberry) but I’ve caught tons spontaneous shots that would have vanished in the time it would take to get a larger camera. I agree with other posters – the battery and USB covers are a bit flakey – but the rest of the camera is solid. I’ve dropped it from waist height twice now with no issues.
A couple unexpected benefits:
1) My son now loves taking pictures himself (I hold the camera – he aims and pushes the button) – and the auto focus works well enough that some of his shots come out pretty well. It’s neat to see what’s important enough in his world to take a photo of (mostly toy trains and cars these days) and he’s very proud of his own pictures.
2) I didn’t know it when I purchased but the SD1200IS has a built in accelerometer so Picasa now auto-rotates all my imported photos – 15 minutes of time magically recovered from each week!
Highly, highly recommended ;-D
Rating
Overall, I think this is a great compact camera and is invaluable for the spontaneous people shots that capture those special moments in life. It won’t take pictures worthy of National Geographic (meaning it won’t replace a dSLR), but it fills in well when a large camera is just too much equipment to be carrying around.
Pluses:
*Very short power up to shot time
*Pocket friendly
*Solid build, mostly metal body
*Great battery life
*Bright LCD with good resolution
*Sharp images in good lighting/daylight
*Image stabilization
*Easy to use
*Captures vibrant colors
*DIGIC processor picks appropriate settings for most shots (see below)
*No red eye!
*Fast zoom
Minuses:
*No manual controls or scene modes
*Tends to use higher than necessary ISO settings (more grainy pictures, sometimes making them unusable) in low light using Auto Mode (ISO can be set manually in P mode)
*Underpowered flash (common to most compact cameras)
*Paper thin battery compartment cover!
Mostly, the camera suffers from its diminutive size. It doesn’t offer much in terms of artistic controls, but does a very good job of making those decisions most of the time. This makes it ideal for the weekend snapshot photographer who wants to take good photos without much more than hitting a shutter button! Great all purpose camera, everyday camera.
Rating
While I have only had my camera a couple of hours, I have logged in many (some may say too many) hours of internet research to find the best small digital camera under $[...] and think I have found it!! I had a Kodak DX7360 and loved it, but it is clunky, and then didn’t survive a night out in the rain on Halloween. Oops! As much as I loved my old Kodak, I have been scared off of purchasing a new Kodak since many many reviews said the pictures were not clear, the shutter time seemed too slow, and that they seemed to just stop working altogether in a matter of months. Seemed like these were similar complaints of Nikon Coolpix, Sony Cybershots, Samsungs and Olympus.
My final options were this Canon SD1200, an Olympus Stylus 7010, Casio Ex-S5 and Casio EXZ33. What really sold me on the Canon SD1200 was the fact that I found awesome reviews from expert websites:
[...] – it made the Dave’s Picks list
[...] – “strong buy” (the highest rating) (Olypus 7010 was only “good buy.”)
[...] – rated the Best Ultra Compact Digital Camera under $200
[...] – rated an A.
Like most people, I didn’t want to buy any camera without actually testing it out. I tested it out at Best Buy, got a few quick pics of my 4 yr old and was totally sold! The camera took crisp pictures immediately. Crisp and quick were my main objectives since I pretty much only take pictures of my 2 and 4 yr old boys who are always on the go! : )
I don’t know about technical details of zoom, digital/optical etc, but was able to shoot a quick, clear image little video of my dog and was able to zoom while recording. A lot of other point and shoot cameras do not have the zoom while recording feature.
I didn’t actually buy this camera from Amazon.com. I still wanted to submit a review though since I’ve pored over the many reviews on this site for this camera and the others I researched. I ended up buying it in person today for the same price at Best Buy(Black Friday)and purchased the Geek Squad Black Tie 2 yr warranty. Although after all the great things I’ve heard about the Canon SD1200, the $35 Best Buy protection plan will cover pretty much anything short of actually losing the camera…even if it gets left out in the rain next Halloween. : )
I’ll add to my review in the future if my opinion changes, but so far, this seems like the best quality, easy-to-use, quick and crisp picture taking camera for the money.