| | |  | All Digital Cameras | Home » » » » Canon PowerShot SX120IS 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Images Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD | | | | | | | Description: | | 10.0 Million Pixel Sensor
A new high-resolution CCD sensor provides amazing image quality and resolution for those wanting the maximum versatility out of their image files.
DIGIC 4 Image Processor
Canons latest and most powerful image processing engine. The DIGIC 4 processor ensures superior image quality, while providing new enhancements in speed, features and functionality.
Automatic Scene Detection Technology
AUTO mode uses Canons Automatic Scene Detection Technology. Automatic Scene Detection judges the subject brightness and contrast, camera to subject distance, the overall scene hue, along with other factors to accurately identify the scene. Working together with Canons Face Detection and Motion Detection technologies, this assures that optimum settings are made in all shooting situations.
Face Detect Self-timer
Detects faces in the scene and releases the shutter in response to the appearance of an additional face.
Enhanced i-Contrast
Canons i-Contrast function analyzes the exposure, dynamic range, and other image characteristics in the signal processing stage to adaptively control the exposure in the shadows and dark areas without affecting the brighter areas of the scene. Additionally with Enhanced i-Contrast the white, black, and gamma levels will adjust when needed on images with a narrow dynamic range providing an image with better brightness variation. | | | Features: | |
• High-powered 10x wide-angle optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer
• 3.0-inch PureColor System LCD; Smart AUTO detects and analyzes faces, brightness, colors, distance, and movement
• Easy Mode takes all the guesswork out of the equation by determining the right shooting mode
• DIGIC 4 Image Processor; 10-megapixel resolution for poster-size, photo-quality prints
• Powered by AA batteries (included); capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 4.4 inches | | Product Width:
| 2.8 inches | | Product Height:
| 1.8 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.55 pounds | | Package Length:
| 6.3 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.2 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.0 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.95 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 87 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $196.99 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | Refurbished | |
| Refurbished | |
| $196.99 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | Refurbished | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Great camera for the above-average userMar 08, 2010
Pros:
Excellent daylight picture quality, with good white balance in auto mode.
Good picture quality for low-light and night shots, especially after you take control of some of the settings (especially ISO - keeping it under 400 really helps). I had to go to the manual white balance modes only a handful of times - other than that, I was really happy with the automatic mode. For some indoor shots, the warm colors of incandescent lighting might be even considered a plus.
Fast, shutter lag in non-existent once the exposure and focus are set - makes it much easier to capture those split-second moments. Once you realize how the auto-focus operates, it's easy to have the camera focused properly in no time.
Slow synchro flash option, and 3 levels of flash output in manual mode - that way you can avoid the over/under exposure situations caused by the flash. Being able to use the flash as a fill-in to compensate for a backlit subject, while avoiding overexposing a very interesting background is a big plus.
Fully manual controls.
Good choice of semi-automatic controls.
Optical image stabilization - and it works, too!! I was able to take a picture of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicoper, hand-held, at max zoom, with the helicopter being about 2 miles away - and I still had enough resolution in the picture to be able to count the blades on the rotors.
AA batteries - try buying a proprietary Li-Ion or charger at a gas station. Ni-MH rechargeables are cheap and easy to find, and if you can't keep those charged and ready to go, you won't do any better with a proprietary battery. I read reviews from people complaining about battery life - there's something wrong with their batteries and chargers - I have three sets of 2300 mAh NiMH batteries, and all of them are good for some 400 pictures.
Good zoom lens, decent optics - F2.8 for a 10x zoom lens is impressive.
Small enough to carry around - thus, when the perfect shot shows up, you'll have something to capture it with.
Decent continuous drive mode.
Standard USB cable, the kind that you already have a dozen of them around the average household.
Good, intuitive, easy to use menus.
AA alkaline batteries and 128 MB SD card included - so you can test your camera right out of the box.
Cons:
No printed user's guide - just a quick reference guide.
Only supports PictBridge, no way to have it set up as a mass storage device for picture transfer. Easier to use an external SD reader.
No viewfinder - although the LCD does a good job by itself.
Battery level indicator - it would be nice to get more than a "Low battery" indicator. Once you see it, you can take another 20-30 shots with a set of NiMH batteries.
Some purple fringing along the edges, especially when transitioning from an overexposed area to something a lot darker. Not a lot, though - I've seen much worse. Did some experimenting with some infrared LEDs, and got the same effect and color - so I'm starting to believe some of the purple fringes are caused by infrared light hitting the sensor, slightly off focus due do the higer wavelength. I'm still looking for an infrared blocking filter to test this theory in full.
No optical zoom during movie recording - only digital.
No 3:2 picture aspect ratio - only 4:3 and 16:9
No automatic exposure bracketing mode - it can be done manually, without too much hassle.
Could benefit from longer exposure times, and smaller apertures - but the available selection covers about 95% of the situations that you would encounter in day to day photography. A software hack developed by a group of enthusiasts, called CHDK, is in the process of being ported to the SX120 - it will provide, among other things, exposures up to 64 seconds, the ability to take RAW pictures, battery voltage, live histogram and optical zoom during movie recording.
Overall, after using it for 6 months and taking more than 2000 pictures, I would give it 4.5 stars - it's not perfect, but for this price, you can't beat it.
A good substitute of my Canon A570Mar 08, 2010
I had lost my Canon A570 camera in a house break-in. I got a replacement from Canon, the SX120, to give me a better zoom capability. It does that. I was surprised by several things. Even though the lens is much larger, it actually seems lighter--and thinner. The LCD is bigger, now 3". The wider lens in normal (1:1) use captures more light and is apparent in indoor shots. The camera is rated as 10X but with two extra megapixels, it will actually go up to 40x is you are willing to settle for a .jpg that we had in 2002 (a tripod is a must). The color seems somewhat better--the A570 seemed to be a little "cooler". The only negatives--quibbles actually--is the lack of an optical viewfinder which was probably sacrificed to make room for the larger lens and the lack of a panorama mode which I never used and is readily available with shareware. I did like the flip-up flash which is gives more light than the one on the A570. One thing you definitely will need is a larger SD chip to hold the larger pictures, the one that came with the camera is only 128mB (the A570 came with a tiny 16mB SD.) However I got a 4Gb SDHC card for $16 which holds 1400+ pictures. I find that the SX120 is a better camera than the A570--definitely an improvement.
 whats up with no charger?Mar 06, 2010
This is a nice camera. Takes decent shots if you don't know anything, just put it on the auto setting and you'll get good pics. HOWEVER, the battery life is TERRIBLE. It takes 2 AA batteries and I have to change them almost every time I use the camera!!! It is so annoying and I always have to keep AA's where I go in case it suddenly dies on me. All my other cameras have had chargers that charge the camera and hold the charge for many uses. I hate this AA thing!!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Best third Canon I've ownedMar 03, 2010
I just got back from Israel. I took this camera with me and was so happy to have gotten shots at a moment's notice. The quality of the pictures is amazing. I found I did better on a manual setting for shots in which I had time to set up. Just a rotation of the wheel on the back and I had the shutter set and I was ready to go. I only use Duracell 2650mah batteries in my Canon. They perform for almost two days of shooting. I was on this trip with another who had the same camera, the SX120IS, and he only had the akalines which came with his. They lasted almost half a day. I shared some of my batteries and he was very pleased with his camera after that.
The only real drawback for this camera is it's hard to grip. I had a PowerShot A530 that I loved, but it suffered from eating batteries. i had sent it back and they fixed it, but three years later it got hungry again. That is when I got this one. If the bump on the front were bigger I would feel better about holding it. As it is, I used the wrist strap all the time and it was fine. If you have a camera strap, use it. You'll have a nicer camera for a longer period of time.
I have 680 shots from my trip and they all came out great. Just push the shutter halfway down and make sure you allow the camera to focus before taking any pictures. Love my Canon!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
I love this cameraFeb 27, 2010
I read so many reviews on this camera. Not just on Amazon.com, but Cnet and best buy also. So many people have such different opinions. I currently have the Casio Exilim 7mp with 3x zoom. I love this little camera. I found that I needed more zoom. My daughter is a cheerleader for the local NFL team, and I needed to capture her on the field, and all her appearances. I was at Best Buy and saw the camera. I played around with it taking pictures of everything in the store.. Loved the zoom feature. I was going to buy it, but the guy told me it was going to go on sale the next day. So I left. The next day I went to BJ's and found it for $30 cheaper than Bestbuys' sale price. (yes it was the same model number and camera). So I decided to "test" buy it. they give you 14 days to return. Well that was over 3 weeks ago. I love this camera. Most people said that they hated that it was so bulky... well it doesn't bother me. Others state that the battery life is short, well I put in the Duracell rechargeable, and still haven't charged ever since and I'm on my 485 picture. What convinced me to keep the camera was that my colleague, who is a tech geek, saw me with it ( I take it everywhere, have it in my purse 24/7)and he told me that he bought one about 6 months ago and loves it. However, his is the earlier model SX110IS...
Another selling fact was that I took a picture of an island that has a statue which you can't see with the naked eye. I zoomed in and saw all the details of it...wish I could post the pictures so you all can see it. People also gripe that the lcd isn't clear, but hey this isn't a $2000 camera. I don't agree and find it very clear and pictures look awesome.
the main thing is to learn how to navigate. Read the main points in the pdf manual, play with the camera. Most people say it doesn't have macro zoom, the manual says to stand 3 feet from object and then zoom in...it really is amazing the details that it captures.
I'm not a pro, but am a picture taking junky. I am the designated photographer for all our events, vacations and just for anything.
(PS, I also tried the Sony, but just the fact that it uses their special memory card turned me off... I have soooo many SD cards)
So go out and buy and "test" it for yourselves....
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