Canon Powershot A1200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Black)
- 12.1 megapixels, 4x wide-angle optical zoom (28mm), and optical viewfinder
- Smart Auto intelligently selects settings from 32 predefined shooting situations
- Record movies with 720p HD video
- AA battery power enables you to easily power up on the go
- Discreet Mode disables the sound, flash and AF beam for use in quiet areas
Canon PowerShot A1200 12.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 4x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom(Black)
List Price: $ 109.99
Price:
Canon SX30IS 14.1MP Digital Camera with 35x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 Inch Wide LCD
- 35x wide-angle optical zoom (24-840mm) with Optical Image Stabilizer
- Improvements to Movie modes: use the Optical Image Stabilizer in the wide-angle setting;Optical Zoom is now available while shooting video
- 720p HD video with stereo sound; HDMI output
- New Zoom Framing Assist button; DIGIC 4 Image Processor and 14.1 megapixels
- Capture images and video to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card, MultiMediaCard, MMC Plus Card, HC MMC Plus Card (not included)
- 14.1 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD); 35x optical, 4x digital, 140x combined zoom; Zoom Framing Assist button
Canon’s 4344B001 PowerShot SX30 IS 14.1MP Compact Digital Camera has got you prepared for your next extreme photo opportunity. This point-and-shoot digital camera comes with a massive 35x wide-angle (24-840mm) optical zoom lens – a first for any PowerShot. It also comes with a 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD, 14.1 megapixels, Zoom Framing Assist and much more. Shoot superb 720p HD video with stereo sound and then view them with an HDMI output connector for easy playback on your HDTV.
List Price: $ 429.00
Price:
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Best Camera Of Its Type – Like The Wide Angle,
The Canon A1200 has the features which we value most and as such, is our favorite digital camera. In particular,
* It can take wide angle photos – the equivalent of 28mm on the older film SLR’s
* It uses 2 AA batteries which is great – especially when traveling overseas. In the past, we encountered too many occasions when a battery became exhausted in the middle of the day or could not be recharged at night. This was especially true when traveling overseas. So now we only consider cameras which use AA batteries because they can be purchased almost anywhere.
* It takes HD video.
* Its size is compact and can easily fit in a pocket or purse. Years ago, I enjoyed taking photos with SLR’s and wore out 3 of them (the film versions). However, I missed many shots on vacation because I did not want to carry an SLR everywhere I went. The compact size of the A1200 allows us to carry it everywhere with ease. And it takes high quality photos.
* This camera does not offer as many options as some others. However, it gives you the options people use most of the time. I do not miss the other ones.
There are a few negatives. Cords to connect the camera to a TV or DVD recorder are sold separately. And it is difficult to force the camera to flash – it wants you to choose the mode and it will decide whether to use the flash. Also, this camera does not have the option to merge 2 or 3 shots into a panoramic picture. And it does not zoom in as close as some other cameras. All that said, we shopped around a lot and, in our opinion, the A1200 has the best combination of features and size.
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|Excellent for close-up nature photography,
Like it’s Powershot siblings, the Canon A1200 is a heck of a nice piece of equipment for shooting nature close-ups. I’ve taken this camera out twice now, and so far it has taken wonderful photos. I’ve posted some samples from a single hike.
Although the A1200 can’t squeeze in on a subject as closely as the A480 (one of my all-time favorite cameras), this new Canon camera is capable of focusing just an inch and a half away from the subject in “Macro” mode. I usually carry one or two Pentax DLSR cameras as I hike through miles of woodland trails every weekend, and although they’re great cameras, they simply can’t beat Canon Powershots for capturing the tiniest nature subjects, in my opinion. If a subject is smaller than a quarter, out come the Powershots.
This camera takes photos that easily match or beat the quality of images you’ll find in typical nature guides by Peterson or Simon & Schuster. Spend a year on the trail with it, and you could easily have a full set of quality publishable photos. Unlike more expensive point-and-shoots or DSLRs, this Powershot doesn’t have camera raw or enough pixels to fill a wall, but the image quality and output is suitable for small posters, so who cares? Frankly, counting pixels and foaming over camera raw are not admirable traits, and neither of those things produces good pictures.
Image noise seems to be a bit improved since the A480s and A490s came out, especially when shooting in lower light. This camera has 12 versus 10 megapixels of its predecessors, so in theory you can get a larger photo now and still retain sharpness and detail. The controls will be familiar to anyone who has used a Canon point-and-shoot. I like the general layout of buttons compared to other brands, but that may be just because I’m more familiar with Canon. The A1200 has a viewfinder, which I’ll never use because the thing is usually shooting photos right on the ground, and although I like the outdoors, I’m not sticking my face in the dirt and squinting through a viewfinder when I don’t have to. The LCD screen is good enough. I’ve banged and tortured the daylights out of one A480 and killed another one after multiple assaults due to clumsiness. So far, this camera has taken a little knocking around without a complaint.
The A1200 shoots HD video, which isn’t nearly as good as even an inexpensive video camera, but nonetheless I was surprised that the movies looked as good as they did. When shooting video, you’ll get the best results if you stabilize the camera on a tripod, the back of a chair, a railing, or tree branch, depending on where you are. Video compression is a little cleaner that way, and you can avoid making people sick from zinging the camera around like a roller coaster.
Here are some tips for taking good close-up nature photos with this camera. I usually shoot with the dial in “P” mode. Most importantly, always remember to set the camera on “Macro” (the flower icon button). That allows it to focus as close as 1.5 inches away. Since the camera resets when you turn it off, Arggh!, you have to turn “Macro” on each time you restart it. On this camera, macro focus becomes dysfunctional if you zoom in, so keep it zoomed all the way out. Next, go into the menu and change the general settings. AF Frame should be “Center” so you can pick the point to focus on, AF Frame Size should be “Small” so it doesn’t get confused as to where it should focus, and the Digital Zoom is garbage and should be banished forever. Unlike the “Macro” setting, these settings will NOT go away when you turn the camera off, fortunately. Since this is not an image-stabilized camera model, find some way to keep it still when shooting. When you’re focused on a close-up subject, even a tiny movement is enough to blur your photo. To keep my camera still, I swear by a monopod with an adjustable pivoting head. Basically it’s a one-legged tripod. A monopod can remove the worst of your hand jitters, and it doesn’t even need to be extended to the ground — just having your camera mounted to a stick helps stabilize your shot. Practice photographing coins or small subjects in your yard to get a feeling for macro photography. You’ll notice that the area of sharpest focus is not as deep as it is when subjects are father away. You have to make deliberate choices on the point of sharpest focus. Check the photos on a computer if possible, so you can really see how well you’re doing. And finally, shoot a million pictures. This is the digital age. You don’t have to pay for dud prints any more. Be vicious when culling out the duds, because believe me, nobody wants to see 75 views of the same buttercup flower.
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|Excellent camera for the price,
I bought the Canon A1200 because I wanted a small point and shoot that I could take everywhere with me. Other selling points were the optical viewfinder which I don’t really use much, as well as the AA batteries. I use Sanyo Eneloops in this camera and they work great. I don’t know how many pictures I can take with them on a single charge because I end up recharging them before they die completely.
The biggest surprise for me has been how well this camera does in low lighting. I have sometimes had trouble with getting good exposures in the dim lighting in my house but not with this camera. The sensor seems to be tuned for low light performance and it is a consistent performer for birthday parties or just taking snapshots of my kids.
I uploaded a few of the artistic shots I’ve made with this camera and I can say that the A1200 has exceeded all of my expectations for a point and shoot camera at this price range. It is a great performer and with a little effort it will take great images. I’ve messed around with some of the preset options and they help a little bit, but the auto setting works well if you don’t want to fiddle with things. Also, the Discreet Mode is great! I accidentally took a picture with auto-flash and interrupted a speaker, so now I always use this mode to disable the focus light and flash when needed.
On a final note, I bought a Lowepro Volta case and it’s a perfect fit, though there is no room for spare batteries. I just wanted a slim package that I can fit in my pocket. It’s a bit bulky but not an inconvenience. I highly recommend this camera if you are on a budget and want a solid performer at the hundred dollar price range.
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|I traded an EOS 7D for this!,
I’m a just a fellow who wants to take nature photos, and my kid at soccer and stuff for eBay and such. I owned a Canon EOS 7D with fancy lenses, the whole works–about $3000 worth of Canon stuff. all I needed was this camera.
The EOS DSLR is heavy, “fixy”, and not good for nature walks and plenty of mobility at sporting events. Rarely would I use the 8 frames per second shooting rates. I watched the DVDs on EOS 7D, and played with it and took some pretty artsy photos that I blew up and put in my office. It’s a great camera, the pricey EOS DSRL. But it had plenty of drawbacks: price, size, bulk, complex attachments, battery life, compact flash rather than SDR cards, and on and on.
But for what I need, this Canon here is stellar, and I sold all my EOS stuff, and extra lenses on eBay!! I’m totally thrilled with the size, build, and photo quality of this camera. Frankly, it’s one of those situation where, to get the highest level of quality you have to pay exponentially more (the EOS 7D), with plenty of limitations (bulk, attachments, multiple lenses, etc.), when for most of us who just want to take quality photos, this is plenty enough. I pop this into a Lowepro camera fannypack and I’m good to shoot and walk and hike all afternoon. I adore the zoom, and as the reviewer below me states, when I zoom, of course there’s less light entry into the camera and the images will be “hazy”. So, you must select a very bright subject at top zoom. I can easily take my son on the bench across the entire field in soccer, and it’s amazing.
I wish the lens wouldn’t move in and out whenever you turn the camera on, but rather just when you need zoom. With every “on” cycle, the lens does it’s silent grinding in and out like it’s adjusting itself, even if I want to just taken a normal photo. Battery drain, unnecessary mechanical movement, in my opinion. I wish it’d do it only when I want zoom.
Other than that, for me, the guy who might submit a photo to my local newspaper photo contest once in a blue moon, but mostly want to take excellent photos at the family barbecue, this camera is the best I have every owned. And I’ve owned a lot (including SONY HRs, and Fuji hand helds, and on and on). The movie capability, the size, the zoom, the battery life (very good), and the price (I paid more than this for one Sigma lens) makes this camera a winner. I will mention that this particular camera is hard to find: I think Canon may know that it’ll hurt the sales of some of the more pricey, entry level interchangeable lens DSLRs they sell because, spec for spec, they are very similar.
Please do me a quick favor and click if this review did or did not help you, either way your feedback helps me know what to include in the future on the reviews. Thanks, I appreciate it. Have a wonderful day
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|The pros and cons – mostly pros,
I purchased this camera as a replacement for my Panasonic FZ-35. After having taken a few hundred pictures – including some side-by-side comparisons with the FZ35, here is my impression.
The canon image processor is much better at color balance and overall image capture than the FZ35 – images are brighter and so capture more details otherwise lost in shadow or just a tendency the FZ35 has towards gray-scale processing in order to get the excellent sharpness the FZ35 is known for.
Having said that – I would not recommend using the Auto setting on the Canon. Its choice of focal point within an image tends towards creating images where the background is just as likely to be more in focus than the subject. Typically the camera tries to focus around the edge of the subject rather than the subject itself. Sometimes this can work to improve clarity by improving depth of focus a bit, sometimes it creates an image where nothing is in focus and sometimes it causes the camera to focus on “edgy” subjects that may not really be the subject at all – like a lamp post in the background, tree trunks in the background, etc. In the playback mode you can select a display which shows you the cameras focal point – which can help explain why some of your images look they way they do in Auto. Auto mode will also adjust the color of an entire image when it senses facial recognition to improve skin tones, but honestly the color balance of the Canon is so good anyway this is almost unnecessary and sometimes tends towards overcompensation so your entire image takes on a sickly green/brown hue.
However, if you switch from auto to P – or in fact any other of the SCN or mode selections on the dial, these annoying Auto features are disabled and you can get some really great photos. At this point the camera uses a single center focus frame (the size and position of which can easily be manually adjusted to fit your subject if you like) and you start getting pictures more like you expect. In addition, the customization options of the Canon such as magnifying the focal frame, color options, easy adjustment of just about any shooting function, combined with the superb zoom range still make this camera best in class. My only complaint for SCN settings is I wish they had a “sunset” but that is easily created in the color menu where you can select to emphasize reds.
The canon normally produces very clear images, however Canon generally processes to keep color balance as opposed to edge distinction at higher ISO speeds so sometimes the images become a bit more fuzzy than what those of us used the the FZ35 might like – on the other hand red stays red rather than turning black. You can manually limit the ISO to whatever maximum you prefer with the easy to use ISO button.
If you want to add a lens filter protector, polarizer, etc. you will need to purchase the 67MM adapter to do so (Canon FA-DC67A) – and good luck finding one!
This camera, like all of the others in this class, struggle with poor light conditions due to their small sensor. However unlike the competition, canon allows you to mount an external flash and that pretty much clears up this issue if you’re willing to pay the expense. The way I look at it its a cheaper option than a $1,000-$3,000 DSLR which can go up to ISO 6,000 for low light conditions.
Overall the Canon is definitely a step up from anything else that was out there – but it does have its quirks you need to be aware of and work around. The opportunity for creativity on one camera/lens is really unrivaled by anything else out there. The ability to go from 1 cm away macro to 35x superzoom at the pull of a switch just can’t be found on any other camera, combined with the scene options such as fisheye not normally found on other such cameras, and wide range of color options also not found on the Canon competitors in this class, you have a great tool for creative photography. So while the SX30 is certainly not perfect and image quality will sometimes be less than your $3,000 DSLR+lens (although for some pictures you’d need large magnification/blow-up to tell the difference) – on the whole it’s worth putting up with the limitations for the other factors. One caution – if you’re looking for a simple to use point-and-shoot this may not be your best choice due to the often poor intelligence in Auto setting. If not for this it would have gotten 5 stars.
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|The best superzoom digital camera so far.,
Customer Video Review Length:: 0:31 Mins
First handheld test of my Canon SX30IS with 35x optical + 4x digital zoom (140x) 3360mm (35mm eqiv) on a windy day at sunset.
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