Canon PowerShot SX200 IS Reviews: Powershot Digital Compact Camera

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Score 9.1/10 Read 176
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This digital camera is a good all rounder.

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Canon PowerShot SX200 IS: See full product description

Ease of use	8.8
Image quality	9.3
Features	9.1
Build Quality	8.9
Value for money	8.9
Overall rating	9.1

Some customer reviews of Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

Most helpful reviews

Philip, Bristol Point & shoot

Score 10.0/10

Good points:: Amazing camera all round.
Bad points:: The flash keeps popping up and there is no zoom on video mode

Ease of use	10.0
Image quality	10.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	10.0
Value for money	10.0
Overall rating	10.0

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Confirmed purchase: 31 Oct 2010

Tracey, Experienced amateur

Score 8.0/10

Good points:: Easy to use and plenty of manual settings for more creative photography. Fast in operation and produces mainly good results. Large clear screen. Has some fun features such as colour accent and colour swap.
Bad points:: Can struggle to produce quality images in some conditions. Quite large camera so may not fit in your pocket.

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	8.0
Build Quality	8.0
Overall rating	8.0

Was this review helpful? 1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Confirmed purchase: 30 Sep 2010

steve, Chelmsford Keen amateur

Score 7.0/10

Good points:: Great easy to use camera, great pictures
Bad points:: There seems to be a flaw with the lens movement which if it jams the camera becomes unusable and can only be fixed if sent back to canon. if taken to the beach be aware of sand or dust getting in to the lens or if touching the lens whilst its moving it can jam up. i have owned it 4 months but as i have a mark on the ase of the camera canon will not repair it as it could have been dropped so i have had to pay to get it fixed. i have looked at forums on the net and it seems to be a common problem which is a shame as its a great camera to use.

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	6.0
Value for money	6.0
Overall rating	7.0

Was this review helpful? 1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Confirmed purchase: 26 May 2010

Sam, Milton Keynes Experienced amateur

Score 8.0/10

Good points:: Once you get used to the navigational and manual features, it is a breeze to use with a user friendy interface to boot. Macro photography and HD movie record is a definate stong feature for the camera. A decent sized camera for fun and experimental photography.
Bad points:: This is a my second one as the first suffered a cracked screen with a little accidental pressure . It is a weighty product and is quite fragile to handle. My advice, don't get too adventurous unless you have insurance for peace of mind.

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	5.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	8.0

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Confirmed purchase: 26 Jun 2010

Peter, Chard Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Compact with long zoom, wide angle, takes good, well-exposed pictures. Excellent "all purpose" camera.
Bad points:: As everybody else says, the pop-up flash gets in the way. As the camera is comparitively small there isn't much other room to hold it.

Ease of use	7.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	8.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 22 Aug 2010

Tony, thornwood common Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: performs well
Bad points:: slightly large and heavy for a compact.

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	9.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 21 Jul 2010

Flore, Cambridge Keen amateur

Score 10.0/10

Good points:: Using the camera on auto gives excellent results, automatically changing from general views to macro or bright sunlight. The zoom is very good for a camera of this size. Battery life is good. It feels good in the hand and is very easy to operate. When I have time, I will look into the manual use but with the other options, this hardly seems necessary!
Bad points:: Camera strap is too short. I like to attach the camera to a belt or bag in order that if it is dropped, it won't hit the floor or more important, others have little chance of removing it from your possession.

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	10.0
Value for money	10.0
Overall rating	10.0

Was this review helpful? 1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Confirmed purchase: 01 Nov 2010

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Product Features

Camera Type	Compact
There are 2 main types of camera: The SLR and the Compact. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras use a prism to reflect the exact image as seen through the lens and so offers a more accurate viewfinder. SLR cameras have detachable lenses offering greater flexibility if you wish to take a variety of different photographs. Compact cameras have a built in lens and an ‘above lens’ viewfinder which is less accurate but they are often cheaper, more sleekly designed and easier to carry anywhere with you to capture that moment perfectly without having to fiddle with complex settings or a bag full of lenses.
Resolution (Megapixels)	12.1

Optical zoom ratio	12
The amount by which the camera optics (lens) can bring the subject closer.
Screen size (Inches)	3
Screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner.
Digital zoom ratio	4
Not to be confused with optical zoom, digital zoom enlarges a portion of the image thus simulating optical zoom. In doing so, some image quality is lost.
Digital zoom ratio	2
Not to be confused with optical zoom, digital zoom enlarges a portion of the image thus simulating optical zoom. In doing so, some image quality is lost.
Type of image stabiliser	Yes
If a photo is taken at a slow shutter speed, or at a long focal length, the effects of ‘hand shake’ will be amplified. Some cameras come with built-in image stabilisation which is designed to act against this to produce sharper images. It’s great for low light shots without a tripod, like at a gig.
Touchscreen	No
Touchscreen technology allows you to move and click things directly on the screen using your finger or a stylus pen.
3D	No

Colour	Multi
The main colour of the product.
Media format	SDHC Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	MMCplus Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	MMC Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	SD Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
PictBridge	Yes
An industry standard allowing images to be printed from camera to printer, without needing a computer. CIPA PictBridge Standard Website
Macro Mode	Yes
This mode allows close-up photograpy of small objects such as insects and flowers.
Video recorder	Yes
Video recording functionality allows the capture of videos in mpeg or avi format which is great if you want to capture a whole scene, not just one moment.
Manual Focus	No
Almost all modern cameras have autofocus. Manual focus allows you to override the autofocus and set the distance yourself. This is especially useful if your camera is struggling to focus in a low-light or confusing scene.
Manual Focus	Yes
Almost all modern cameras have autofocus. Manual focus allows you to override the autofocus and set the distance yourself. This is especially useful if your camera is struggling to focus in a low-light or confusing scene.
Timer	Yes

Weight (g)	220
The weight of the product in grams.
Flash	Yes
Whether or not your camera has an in-built flash. Flashes are essential for fully capturing a low light image.
Body Only	Yes
dSLR cameras have detachable lenses and are sold in a variety of combinations. This facet lets you know whether the package your are considering comes bundled with a lens or whether it is just the body of the camera.
Series	Powershot
The name the manufacturer has given to this model’s range.
WiFi	No
Wifi allows you to connect your device to wireless routers or modems which allows you to connect to broadband internet.
Shortest shutter speed (Fractions of a second)	1/3200
This is the fastest speed at which the camera can take a photo. Faster shutter speeds really freeze the action and are great for sports photography.
Longest shutter speed (Fractions of a second)	1/15
This is the longest exposure your camera will take. The longer you take a photo for, the more light is let in and the more motion is captured. Long shutter speeds can give fantastic, artistic results. Try photographing the night sky at 30s or longer to see how the rotation of the Earth causes the stars to curve through the scene.
Waterproof	No
If your camera is waterproof you will be able to film under water which is perfect for diving and snorkeling.
Viewfinder	LCD Monitor
USB port	Yes
Socket for connecting devices such as a computers and other components.
Dimensions (mm)	103x60.5x37.6
The size of the device in millimetres, in width x height x depth.
Dimensions (mm)	60.5x103x37.6
The size of the device in millimetres, in width x height x depth.
RAW Format	No
GPS Receiver	No

Resolution (Pixels)	4000x3000
A camera sensor, that captures the photograph, is measured in pixels. The number given here is the horizontal amount of pixels followed by the vertical quantity of pixels. The more pixels a camera sensor has, the bigger and higher quality the image will be.
Max. Aperture Lens 1	f3.4-5.3
Measured in f-stops the aperture of a lens dictates the maximum amount of light captured. If you want to do low light photography look for something with a wide aperture like f2.8. The widest aperture is given as a range as it changes when your lens is zoomed in.
Release date	2009-03-23
The date the product was originally made available for purchase.
Height in mm	6.1

Width in mm	103

Depth in mm	3.8

Serial Shot Mode	Yes
Bluetooth	No
Bluetooth is a technology for the wireless transfer of data such as contacts, photos and music between mobile phones, computers and a host of other Bluetooth enabled devices. Read more about Bluetooth on Wikipedia
Autofocus	Yes
Changeable Lens	No
Highest focal length (Millimetres)	336

Lowest focal length (Millimetres)	28

Also known as: Powershot SX200 IS, Canon PS SX200, Canon PowerShot SX200IS, Canon Powershot SX200 lS, Canon PowerShot SX200, Powershot SX200, Powershot SX200IS

Digital Cameras Buyers' Guide

Manufacturer's Description

28mm wide-angle 12x optical zoom
Capture more in your frame with a powerful and compact 12x wide-angle (28mm) optical zoom lens. Canon’s lens-based optical Image Stabilizer Technology counteracts camera shake, for crisp, blur-free images throughout the zoom range.

12.1 Megapixels
With a 12.1 MP sensor, you can capture every scene in vivid detail – print up to A2 size, or crop to achieve a desired composition without losing the detail necessary for large prints.

Compact design in three colours
With compact proportions that make it an ideal travel camera, the PowerShot SX200 IS has a sleek aluminium design that feels great to hold. It comes in a choice of three classic colours: black, blue or red.

High speed DIGIC 4 processing
Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor drives exceptional processing speeds, responsive operation, superb image quality and colour reproduction. Advanced Noise Reduction ensures richly detailed, clean images, even at high ISO speeds.

Scene Detection Technology for effortless ease
In Smart Auto mode the camera uses intelligent Scene Detection Technology to determine subject brightness, contrast, distance and overall hue – and selects optimum settings accordingly. Easy mode deactivates all buttons except flash and reduces on-screen icons for ultra-simple shooting.

Anti-blur
The PowerShot SX200 IS combats blur with Motion Detection Technology. Activated in Smart Auto and Easy modes, a range of technologies ascertain movement of both camera and subject. The optimum ISO is then automatically set for any situation. Servo AF tracks moving subjects to ensure they remain in focus.

Manual Control mode
A Manual Control mode allows more experienced users to creatively experiment with key camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed.

Face Detection Technology
A suite of Face Detection technologies detects up to 35 faces in a shot and adjusts focus, exposure, flash settings and white balance – for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones. Face Select & Track allows a particular face to be chosen as the principal subject in a photo. FaceSelf-Timer makes group photos easy, taking a shot when an extra face is detected in the frame.

3.0” LCD
A large, bright 3.0” LCD makes framing, reviewing and sharing shots or movies equally easy.

HD movies and HDMI output
Supplement great still shots with HD movies (720p, 30fps) and share them on any HDTV via a built-in HDMI connection.

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