Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Green)

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My wife and I were strolling through the store when she spotted this camera and said that she wanted her own camera, since I hogged the family camera, and that this one was cute. She was ready to purchase immediately, which I talked her out of doing. As a photographer I knew that these decisions took research, reading reviews on the internet and getting potential candidates in your hands to be scrutinized. After two weeks of consideration my research led me to the same camera that she had liked because of its size and color. Canon makes a great camera. Every digital still camera Ive owned has been a Canon. This camera offers image stabilization, which is a must, and delivers a 10mp image. The mega pixal race has gotten out of hand, being an easy selling point of more pixals must mean better imaging. This is not the case. Often more pixals means more image noise, takes up more space on your computer and requires bigger memory cards. At any rate, this camera is compact, offers enough shooting variations to please someone with a background in photography and, as my wife says, is cute.

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WOW! I really love this camera. I wanted to finally upgrade my 4 megapixel Casio Exilim. I had that camera for 5 years and have been unable until NOW to find a worthy replacement because the majority of digital compact cameras DO NOT HAVE VIEWFINDERS! Let me tell you a story folks. Last May I was on a once in a lifetime trip to the Grand Canyon and on a bright sunny day, there I was the only one in my group just snapping pictures away with ease. Several people came up to me on the tourbus and asked me how I managed to take such nicley framed shots in the sunlight. My answer was simple in 3 words. Viewfinder, viewfinder, viewfinder. Guess you get the picture! Now with the this Elph, I have achieved my goal. I got an updated camera with the features I wanted being more megapixels and Image stabilization. Not to mention, the menus on this camera are extremely intuitive and user friendly. The features on this camera are the best on the market for a compact and again folks, it was the viewfinder that clinched my purchase. I did not purchase the more recent 1300 model because it does not have a viewfinder.

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I hadnt used a camera in over 20 years because my Nikon F2A was just too bulky and too much trouble. With this Canon Powershot SD1200 IS I was taking pictures less than 2 hours after it arrived and the pictures were of good quality and easy to take. The viewing screen is bright and has good image quality. Most of the controls are intuitive. The zoom and auto focus features are really helpful. It is easy to download pictures to the computer. It is easy to change batteries and memory card. I am very happy with this reasonably priced camera. The one drawback is that the wrist strap is mounted solely for right handed people and is almost impossible and very awkward to use for us lefties. It was purchased at Amazon and delivered 3 days after the order was placed. Joe Canino

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I bought it for my wife, and she likes it a lot. I tried it, and I found the pictures are very good. My wife doesnt have the mechanical engineering knack like I do, but she figured out how to use it in a couple of minutes, so that tells me that everything is very intuitive. For the size, the camera feels heavy and solid, and it probably means that construction is good and sturdy. The flash is very good in the dark. My two boys, 3 and 7, are very active, and the camera was having problem catching up with the action. Basically, the shutter takes a tick or two to respond to my click, but other than that, everything is good. It is very compact so it will fit in my jean pocket very comfortably. It also takes video, so thats a good thing.

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If you are looking for a camera with these features, stop looking and buy this one!! My family and I just returned from a ten day trip to Italy during which this camera performed superbly. Battery life is great, we recharged only twice during the trip but it was never in "need" of a charge. Picture quality is as good as you expect for a 10MPixal camera. Pretty easy to use...even though I never read the directions! Some good features that I didnt discover until the trip was almost over (again...I never read the instructions). Image stabilization made picture come out really well - especially at night when not using a flash. Most of all, I like the compact size: small enough for a pocket, but not so small it is difficult to hold. Small enough to hold in your hand (when you are worried about pick-pockets) but big enough to have a decent-sized viewing screen. And its a Canon. Would have been a straight FIVE STARs if I had read the instructions and fully utilized all the features. Again....stop looking and buy this one! I certainly would do it again.

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The SD1200 has some big changes over its predecessor SD1100, and is the smallest, best designed Elph Ive used thus far. Ive 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. * 1200s new battery is a higher capacity 1000mAh (vs ~760mAh for SD1100). Theres 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. Theres 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 cant 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 1200s image size being larger. * Canons 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 SD1100s box. * Sadly, there is no HD video mode, although all of the other Elphs released this spring had HD. SD1200 owners are stuck with 640x480 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 youre unfamiliar with Canons Powershot cameras, theres 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. Thats 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. Its 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.

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This camera is to replace the same model stolen when on vacation. My original camera was same model, except dark gray, purchased 3 years ago. After the theft, I immediately went on Amazon to replace it with the same model. Unfortunately, since this model is 3 years old, I was unable to afford the camera in the dark gray color. The prices for a new camera in that color were twice what I had paid for the original camera! So I compromised and settled for a new blue camera in the same model, which had a reasonable price. The camera is perfect, and works just as well as the original. It is tiny in size, and will fit into my shirt pocket, even inside its little case. It takes great shots, even if I shake the camera a bit! And there is an optical viewfinder, in addition to the digital screen. I cant find anything I DONT like about the camera, except that because of its size, I suppose it is easier to lose or get stolen. I like the camera model so well, that after receiving this camera, I bought another one, same model, except used, and I am also pleased with it! Though the camera does not come with a memory card, they are quite inexpensive now. Love the camera! And also pleased with the supplier!

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We bought this camera to replace our aging 5 mp camera. My picture taking ability is amateur. This camera makes me look like I know what I am doing. If is simple point-and-shoot you want, this camera is for you. If its more professional looking images you want, this camera is for you too. One switch changes the automatic, manual and video mode. One definate plus- Once the manual settings are done the camera will remember them. Even if the camera is turned off and on. This is helpful if there are two different people taking pictures during the day (I like the manual mode, my wife prefers the automatic). It has general settings like portrait, night snapshot, kids and pets, etc. But is also has specific settings like ISO,AWB,My colors (vivid,sepia etc.) and continus shot. Can be mounted on a tripod. The screen size is adequate and can be adjusted for brightness. The display button will show the on screen display, display off, or just the subject. The included CD is the manual and software (sorry no book). There is a small "getting started" booklet included. The software lets the user edit pictures before they are uploaded or after. Also included are the USB cable and video cable. I have not taken the time to fully evaluate the software but so far I am pleased. To give you perspective on how much memory you will need, we bought a 4 gigabyte card as well. On the highest resolution, this card can store over 1,400 pictures.The camera has no memory of its own. The size is a little smaller than I am used to. It is about the size of a credit card and a little thicker than a half an inch. One small con is to charge the battery, it must be taken out and snapped into the included wall charger. There is a "charge complete" light that lights when it is fully charged. From completely dead to full charge takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Battery life seems great but we have only taken about 25 pictures so far.

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This is my fourth PowerShot/SureShot from Canon. I am hard on my cameras - I am a blogger so my camera is always in my bag, on my wrist, in my pocket. I need a camera that is reliable, small, and can take clear, quick photos and videos. When my last camera died a sad death from falling onto concrete, I knew I would come back to Canon. The only problem I have is that one reason I return to Canon is that over the years, I have accumulated plenty of batteries and chargers from dead cameras. The PowerShot SD1200IS does NOT have the same size battery as the previous Canon cameras. In fact, this battery isnt the same width as the Canon battery on my camcorder, my works camcorders or my husbands professional Canon cameras. I was really frustrated by this - I usually have a charger at work, one at home, have one available for travel in my bag. I also like to have an extra battery on hand for travel. With this camera, I would have to invest in all new equipment. That being said, this new battery holds charge for an incredibly long period of time. I take at least one photo per day, and around 5 short videos per week. I hadnt charged the battery in almost two weeks before I went to a 4-day music festival. For four days, I took almost 200 photos and 15 videos. The battery kept ticking through the whole event, no delay or slowing. The battery didnt start to die until a couple days after my return. I have never seen a battery last that long on any other camera! I find the body to be durable, more so than previous Canons I have bought. The latch for the batter/card slots is pretty sturdy, the buttons are flush against the back of the camera so they arent as likely to accidentally be pressed or scraped against something. Speaking of buttons, I find them to be very user friendly - similar to other Canon cameras, easy to figure out even in the dark. Pictures are clear, dont get wash out from the flash, even night photos come out well. Video works great - no complaints for the pricepoint of this camera!

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I bought this camera back in 2009. I now do photography as a hobby, and my husband has bought me a more expensive camera, this camera works better. It takes great action shots of the kids. Its perfect for sports events!

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