Плюсы по отзывам пользователей - Почему стоит купить Canon PowerShot SX210 IS?:
- Мощный 14-кратный оптический зум с эффективной стабилизацией:
- Позволяет снимать удалённые объекты (яхты, птиц, детали зданий) с чёткостью, без смазывания даже с руки.
- Стабилизатор работает на максимальном приближении, идеально для пейзажей и путешествий.
- Зум доступен во время HD-видео, что заменяет отдельную камеру для многих пользователей.
- Полноценные ручные режимы (P, Av, Tv, M):
- Настройки выдержки, диафрагмы, ISO, баланса белого дают качество как у зеркалки в дневном свете.
- Предпросмотр эффекта на экране помогает точно настроить кадр.
- Ручная фокусировка полезна для макро и сложных сцен.
- Качество фото в хорошем освещении:
- Естественные яркие цвета, чёткость до 9-14 МП без артефактов.
- Хорошая цветопередача и детализация для печати 10x15 см и экрана.
- Макро на расстоянии 1-5 см с отличной резкостью.
- HD-видео 720p с оптическим зумом:
- Качество сравнимо с бюджетными видеокамерами, тихий зум без шумов мотора.
- Стереозвук приемлемый в помещении, стабилизация снижает тряску.
- Длительная запись (до часа на 16 ГБ карте класса 6+).
- Компактность и эргономика:
- Вмещается в карман брюк, лёгкий (менее 350 г), удобный ремешок.
- Большой 3" экран яркий, меню интуитивное на русском.
- Сборка в Японии, прочный корпус без люфтов.
- Ёмкий аккумулятор:
- До 200-400 снимков или 1-2 дня съёмки на одном заряде.
- Компактная зарядка, совместим с неоригинальными АКБ.
- Спецэффекты и удобства:
- Рыбий глаз, миниатюра, панорама без штатива.
- Распознавание лиц, улыбка/мигание для групповых фото.
- Программное обеспечение в комплекте для обработки на ПК.
Минусы по отзывам пользователей:
- Неудобное расположение вспышки:
- Выскакивает под левый указательный палец при включении, мешает хвату.
- Тень от объектива в нижнем углу при макро или близкой съёмке со вспышкой.
- Требует привыкания или ручного открытия/закрытия.
- Медленная фокусировка и затвор:
- Задержка 2-4 секунды между кадрами, пропускает движение (дети, животные).
- Автофокус "охотится" в низком свете или на сложных объектах.
- Серийная съёмка медленная (0.7-2 fps), требует class 6+ карты.
- Шумы и слабая съёмка в низком свете:
- Видимый шум от ISO 200+, смазанность без вспышки ночью.
- Авторежим переоценивает ISO, даёт зерно даже днём в тени.
- Требует ручных настроек или штатива для ночных фото.
- Слабый авторежим:
- Часто даёт пересвет/недосвет, активирует вспышку не вовремя.
- Не фокусируется на движении или макро без ручной помощи.
- Искажения по краям на широком угле.
- Отсутствие видоискателя и блики экрана:
- На солнце экран не виден, приходится теньを作る.
- Широкоформатный экран (16:9) с чёрными полосами для фото 4:3.
- Скользкий корпус, маленький рычаг зума неудобен в холод.
- Другие ограничения:
- Нет RAW (только с CHDK), видео в MOV требует конвертации.
- Аккумулятор греется при видео, садится быстрее без стабилизатора.
- Нет аксессуаров в комплекте (чехол, карта), объектив пачкается.
572 отзывов пользователей o Canon PowerShot SX210 IS
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Canon PowerShot SX210 IS?
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I was hoping to find a still/video camera that would give me the low light performance of my Fuji F20 and also allow me to avoid hauling around a separate HD camcorder. My tests of the Canon SX210 and Nikon S8100 show that the low light photos from the SX210 are very good but the Nikon has the edge when it comes to low noise at high ISO. However, if you also want great low light video, the SX210 is in a class by itself and the Nikon simply can't compete. Credit Canon's long history building camcorders --the SX210 even outperforms the HD video quality of the $350 Canon R10 camcorder I recently tested (and returned). In my two weeks of evaluation, I've determined that the Canon SX210 is the optimum choice if you want the best balance of low light photos and good video.Here are my observations after two weeks of testing:CANON SX210 PROS-Very good low light video, video brightness control really boosts low light sensitivity.-Very good still photos, camera chooses higher ISO settings to reduce motion blur-Camera displays its ISO choice when you pre-focus (not possible with Nikon)-Extensive customization settings for every shooting mode (versus limited Nikon settings).-Widescreen LCD for full frame video display-Very good build quality-Pop up flash automatically raises or lowers when you power on/offCANON SX210 CONS-Body design makes for tricky handling (pop up flash, no rear thumb grip, smooth surfaces)-LCD is only 230K pixel (compared to the incredible Nikon 921K pixel display)-Still photo review area is much smaller on widescreen display-Overall still image quality has more noise and less sharpness compared to the Nikon-Some flash shadow at the 28mm wide angle setting (disappears from 30mm on up)NIKON S8100 PROS-Nice build quality and easy-to-handle design. Feels like a pro-sumer $600 camera.-Outrageous 3-inch, 921K pixel LCD display --amazing clarity and detail.-Decent HD video in daytime lighting.-Powerful flash that provides excellent illumination at all zoom settings (no flash shadow at wide angle).-USB battery charging in camera (can connect to your PC to charge).NIKON S8100 CONS-No manual control except for +/-exposure compensation.-No brightness or white balance settings for video (versus Canon's excellent custom controls).-Auto white balance is fooled by compact fluorescent lights (Canon's AWB is more reliable).-Camera prefers low ISO settings even in low light and this can cause motion blur.-Significant zoom motor noise during videos (versus the nearly silent Canon SX210 zoom)-Video focusing is often slow to lock (but still photo focus is fast)-Pop-up flash must be pushed back into camera body before stowing camera in case.-Camera beep and shutter release sound can only be turned on or off (no volume adjustment like Canon)STILL PHOTO QUALITY COMPARISON:Photos in good lighting are comparable between the Nikon and Canon. The Nikon has the least noise at higher ISO settings. In low light, the Nikon really shines and if you take photos of non-moving subjects, the S8100 is your best choice. However, the Nikon chooses very low ISO settings (and therefore low shutter speeds) to achieve this great performance --not good if your subjects are moving (you'll get blur). At high zoom, both cameras have to use lower shutter speeds and every super zoom camera suffers from this issue --it's the problem most people complain about when they try out their new cameras. The only way to solve this problem is to either use the flash or set high ISO (something the Canon does automatically) in order to force the camera to select a higher shutter speed. There is no other solution and no camera has yet been developed to solve this problem -it's a compromise of light, optics, and sensor sensitivity in compact camera bodies. For all around shooting, the Canon is more reliable since it chooses higher ISO (and hence faster shutter speeds) to capture non-blurry images. Both cameras do well when the flash is used but the Nikon's flash works better at telephoto settings.HD VIDEO QUALITY:Both cameras have good HD video and excellent image stabilization in good lighting. As with most super zoom compacts, focus lock in low light is a challenge but the Canon SX210 is better than the Nikon if you want faster focus lock during video. The Canon operates more like a dedicated camcorder; the Nikon operates as if video was a second thought feature. The Canon's low light video brightness, focus speed, and silent zoom motor make for great video under all conditions. Unfortunately, the Nikon's noisy zoom motor is recorded in videos and the camera simply can't provide bright, usable videos in low indoor lighting. In low light, the Canon is in a league of its own. If you're trying to video children or pets running back and forth quickly at close range to these cameras then you'll be disappointed in ANY super zoom compact camera you try. The fact is the ultimate, magic "focus anywhere instantly" machine has not yet been invented.
I read many reviews and my choice came down to this camera, the Canon Powershot SX210 IS, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7. I've been a long time Canon fan. That did influence my choice and I bought the Canon. Being familiar with the general control and menu system, manual layout, and computer software helps. I've had this camera for about 5 days and have taken more than 200 test and learning photos and about 25 additional photos. What follows are some impressions.In my research, I've read many complaints about the flash design. It is true that in some cases the lens housing will cast a shadow in the lower right hand corner of the photo when flash is used. I've found that zooming in ever so slightly will eliminate that. The other flash complaint that others have is that it pops up and is in an inconvenient position. I too find that the flash is often under my left index finger, but that can be a good thing as I can easily keep it down when I don't want it. I have no trouble letting it up when I want to, either. In fact, I routinely leave on the flash in the camera settings and then pop the flash up and down at will. It is much easier and faster than turning it on and off in the settings. If I'm in a place where flash is prohibited, keeping the flash down will positively keep me on the good side of the museum guards, etc. I see the pop-up flash as a huge plus, as I can easily open and close it at will. In my opinion, the flash is completely adequate for a compact camera.I find the Tv (shutter priority), Av (aperture priority) and M (manual modes) to be outstanding on this camera in ease of use and results. I couldn't be more pleased with the ease of control and the associated image on the LCD. I literally get what I see.The LCD is large and the information displayed is very welcome (easily turned off at the push of the button). The combination scroll wheel and 4-way pad is awesome. For those that don't know it, a slight touch in any direction will display the 4-way controls on the LCD (they change depending on shooting mode and therefore can't be printed on the camera). The LCD stands up to full, bright, California sun in situations where I'd have to resort to the viewfinder on my older point and shoot camera. I don't know how they did it, but it works and can be brightened even more than normal by holding the "display" button down if needed.The quality and color of the photos are great. Depending on the shot there can be a disappointing amount of CA (a.k.a. chromatic aberration or purple fringing) in the corners in high contrast situations when examining a photo pixel for pixel (an extreme view to say the least). Of course at normal viewing sizes it either can't be seen or is in the acceptable range for a camera of this class. Frankly, that is an engineering trade-off in the lens design that I accept due to this camera packing 14x optical zoom and decent wide angle performance into such a small package. I bought this camera for travel ease because I don't want to pack along my dSLR (theft, size and weight considerations). I'm willing to make that trade-off and understand what and why it is.Did I mention this camera has a 14x optical zoom with image stabilization? That's a huge plus for me. This camera puts the "super" in "superzoom". It also has decent wide angle performance.This camera handles ISO settings above 200 about as well as I've ever seen it handled in a compact camera. The Auto mode is perfectly acceptable for a quick snapshot, though I prefer to use the Program, Tv, Av, and manual modes. I find that the Auto mode does tend to favor higher ISO settings than I would choose manually. Like all cameras, even those with IS, taking a moment to frame and focus the shot, and holding as still as possible in the process still helps. You still need to follow basic good practices to get good pictures.I've found the zoom lever not to be a problem. I've quickly adjusted to it and use it with ease. I still have trouble finding the power button without looking at it or thinking about it. The good news is that I'm in no danger of turning it on or off accidentally. The knurled mode dial on the back is great. It is stiff enough to not move accidentally and loose enough to move when needed.I've only shot a few short video clips. They are acceptable for my purposes which are quick memories rather than great movies. I like the 720p HD capability. I wish they hadn't bothered with the video cable, but then again, I still have the video cable from my old camera sealed in its original bag.The battery life is not stellar, but it recharges in a couple of hours. Pick up a couple of inexpensive aftermarket batteries and you will be good to go. A nice 110 to 240 (only need the plug adapter for international travel) battery charger is included.There are a lot of fun, pre-programmed and artistic modes available, many of which I'll never use. But for those of you who want them, you will not run
This camera has just the feature set I wanted, and using it is a truly enjoyable experience. The best feature of the camera has to be the nice, sharp 14x wide angle zoom lens (28mm-392mm equivalent). While not the fastest lens Canon makes (f/3.1 at 28mm; compare to the S95's f/2.0 lens), it's very sharp and the camera seems to focus quickly, especially in well lit situations. The lens zooms by a small lever on the top of the camera--that's a design feature that likely will take some getting used to. It's a departure from the normal lever that surrounds the shutter. I personally like the traditional design better, but this works just fine.The camera also sports the ability to take HD movies (720p). I wanted this feature to take videos of my children, but I've found it very useful in other situations as well. My main photographic interest is nature photography, and my DSLR is too old to take movies, so I now take this with me to shoot HD video of the scenes I shoot with my DSLR. Because it lets you set your video exposure manually, you can pan the camera while shooting to achieve a nice, even exposure. This was a nice, unexpected benefit to the camera.The manual controls are also fairly accessible. There's dial that controls the on screen menus, and because the operations change in different shooting modes, they aren't printed on the camera, but if you touch the dial, they will appear on screen, and it's very easy to manually set the shutter speed, aperture, ISO and many other features. Unfortunately, the camera does not allow you to move the center focusing point to a desired position on the LCD screen. I don't know why they left this feature out, since it's helpful when using a tripod, and my older S3IS had that ability. But you're not likely to use this camera on a tripod often, so it's very easy to focus on the center point and recompose when you need to, so I haven't really missed this feature. When shooting people, you can set the camera to automatically focus on people's faces, and you can even choose a mode that will take the picture when everyone in the photograph is smiling.The design of the camera is very compact, slim and attractive. The largest complaint I've seen with the camera is that the flash automatically pops up when you turn on the camera, and if your finger is covering the flash, it will keep it from popping up. This was annoying to me at first, but I quickly learned to either hold the flash down when I don't want it or keep my finger off the flash when I do. And the flash can be manually raised or lowered at at any time, so it's not a big deal either way. The LCD screen is bright and colorful and LARGE. It takes up almost the entire back of the camera, which is very nice.My biggest gripe with the camera is that Canon decided to cram 14 mega-pixels into the tiny sensor. This has to be little more than a marketing device. With a sensor size this small, crowding this many pixels into the sensor only increases noise, and then Canon compensates for the noise by running noise reduction, which then lowers the sharpness of the image. So there's no significant gain in overall picture quality by raising the resolution of the sensor. I wish Canon would have used the same 10 mega-pixel sensor they used in the s90 with this camera. I suspect the image quality would be significantly better.That said, the image quality of this camera is pretty darn good. Especially at low ISOs (80-200), this camera performs very well. As you raise the ISO into the 400-1600 range, noise becomes a more significant factor, and Canon's noise reduction causes the image to lose detail. Because of this, I rarely use the automatic modes in lower light situations because I don't trust the camera to choose the ISO for me. I'd rather choose it myself and keep it at 400 or lower if possible. I've been very pleased with my results.When I take this camera with me on nature shoots, I now frequently take roughly the same shot with this camera and compare my results to what I achieved with my DSLR. Of course, my 10 mega-pixel Canon 40D shooting in RAW is noticeably superior to what this camera can produce. The 40D is significantly sharper, has less noise, better color, and so on. This shouldn't be surprising. At the same time, however I suspect if I printed out both shots as an 8"x10" print, you'd be hard pressed to see the difference. With the noise reduction abilities of Lightroom 3, I'd be more than willing to shoot with this camera when I don't have my DSLR available. I've been very happy with the results of this camera.This is just fun and enjoyable camera. The 14x zoom lets you get close to your subjects, and the HD movie performance is fine for well lit situations. When I researched this camera, I narrowed my choices to this camera an the S90. I chose this camera because of the 14x zoom and the ability to shoot HD movies. Faced with the choice again, I'd make the same one. I highly recomme
First off - background on me and what I was looking for: I would classify myself as an intermediate photographer. I own a Nikon DSLR which I use primarily for low light situations having learned the hardway at my son's 18th birthday that my old point-and-shoot did a lousy job of photos in low light situations. I am planning a trip to Europe in the fall and simply did not want to lug my Nikon camera around with me along with all the other stuff - like map, dictionary, travel guide - that I would have to take with me as I wandered around whatever town I was in. So I started my search for a really good PNS camera. What was I looking for in the PNS ? My goal in picture taking is to have a terrific photo of what I actually saw. So when I got home and looked at the photo, I would say: Yes, that's exactly what it looked like when I was there. So onto my criteria: First size. I wanted it to be small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket. Second, confidence that it would take good to great photos under normal (not low-light) conditions. Third, I liked the idea of HD videos of my trip, so I wanted that capability. Fourth and finally, at least decent performance in low light conditions as I expected to frequently want to take photos inside a museum or art gallery.The search turned out to be much more difficult than I had expected. Frustratingly difficult I will add. No one camera is loved by all reviewers. So those of you reading this review, who are still searching, I feel your pain. I came to the conclusion that currently there is no perfect PNS that does it all. I would do hours of research on the web and then go to the local camera store to actually play with the PNS cameras that had caught my interest. In the end I concluded that there are 3 or 4 reasonably good PNS cameras out there, but all of them required me to compromise on something I wanted. So figure out what your must-haves are and sort through the available cameras accordingly.Obviously I chose the Canon SX210. I have had it about 3 weeks now and have taken about 200 photos and about 6 HD movies. My comments in no particular order:1. the Canon does a good but not outstanding job of taking photos under normal daylight conditions. I did play with several photos on my computer and kept zooming in on a particular point to see when the picture would deteriorate. Of course it did eventually, but again, since 8.5 x 11 is the max size I expect for any enlargement, I do not see any problem with the picture quality.2. the HD video capability is more fun than I had expected. Again as already noted, the mic's are located on the top of the camera. Great for recording my commentary, but not so good for recording sounds coming from whatever you are videoing. One other point: the Canon allows you to zoom in while taking an HD video. That's great, but with 14X optical zoom, the more you zoom, the more susceptible the camera and the video you are taking is to shaking. If you zoom all the way to 14X, I found it impossible to avoid shaking when holding the camera in my hand. At no zoom, there is no problem with shake when taking a video. Bottom line: limit your zooming in when taking a video.3. I agree with everyone else that placement of the pop-up flash and the telephoto zoom in-and-out mechanism is NUTS. What were the Canon engineers thinking ? However both are annoyances rather than deal-breakers.4. the battery life is reasonable but not outstanding. I never ran out of battery life during a day of shooting photos and the battery re-charges in about 2-3 hours. Not bad.5. Speed - I bought 2 Sandisk Extreme III 4 GB Class 6 SD disks. I agree with the suggestions that you have to step up to a Class 6 disk to avoid serious delays when writing the photo to the disk. I also decided against one 8GB disk since I did not want all my pics on one disk. Back to speed - I also turned off the automatic review after each photo taken, and found that improved the speed of the picture taking noticeably. You can also turn on continuous picture taking and take a "burst" of photos if so desired. Bottom Line: speed is fast enough for my needs.6. Definitely buy a plastic shield (or cover?) to protect the 3" LCD screen on the back. The Apple Store has them if you can't find them cheaper any place else.7. The camera feels surprisingly heavy to me. But solid. I guess 14X optical zoom does create some weight.8. I set the camera on 9MP pictures since 14MP is overkill for me. I would never enlarge a photo to more than 8.5 x 11 anyway. I left the movie on HD settings however. Dumming down the photos to 9MP also improves the write-to-disk speed BTW.9. Expect a serious learning curve with this camera. I printed out the manual from the PDF file and it is 180 pages. Not all was relevant to me and my interests, but still I have spent several hours reading and re-reading sections of the manual. Since I will not take the manual with me on my upco
I love my new camera. Only complaint is the auto pop-up of the flash, which is located right where my left index finger wants to be. Otherwise, it's a handy size that fits in my purse and takes great pictures. The camera arrived in new condition as promised and was a terrific bargain at $55!
I compared this camera to the Panny zs3 (in lieu of the zs7 which wasn't available at the time), and the Sony hx5v. I did buy and use all three cameras to do this test. You can only go by reviews written by others to a certain point, and then you need to see for yourself. The canon won out after hundreds of photographs were taken and compared among the three cameras. Here's why:1. Panasonic zs3.-The overall image quality on the panasonic just wasn't that good.-Low light performance and IQ was very poor.-The form factor was good-I didn't like the fact that the battery was expensive, proprietary and had a firmware bit that made 3rd party batteries inoperable, meaning that a spare battery was a $40 expense.-Several photography sites have stated that the IQ of the zs7 was not as good as the zs3. Therefore, the zs7 was out of contention.-While gps is interesting, I have managed all these years to go without it and don't believe that it adds much to the package.2. Sony hx5v-burst mode at a maximum of 10 fps is very nice. The downside is that the camera does in fact take 17+ seconds to process all that data and during that time you cannot take a photo.-Hand held twilight is nice, though IQ is average-Anti blur motion is also nice, again, IQ is average-25mm wide angle (at 35mm equivalent)is nice.-Form factor is okay, however, the microphones for the video are poorly placed and are exactly where your fingers fall when videoing.-Flash is weak and shows up off centered if you shoot with a wide angle-No iris - uses a neutral density filter to achieve an ersatz f-stop. Therefore, you get one depth of field for all photos.-With the ND filter, you get only 2 f-stops.-Image quality was poor at any magnification. Heavy use of noise reduction obliterates and smears detail in the photo. For desktop viewing and small prints this won't be a problem.-the lcd screen was just about useless in very low light. And since the camera has no view finder, you have to guess what is properly framed or not.-poor white balance.--While I did take video with the camera I didn't fully evaluate it since I was not pleased with the stills. However, the low light video at late dusk and around the house was dark and flat and not really viewable.- as with the Panasonic, gps really isn't important to me and I'd be paying for something I don't see a use for having.3. Canon sx210 is-good image quality, some noise above ISO 200, but correctable with Neat Image-I thought the 14x zoom would be too much, in fact, it is nice to have.-It would be nice to have 25mm on the wide angle end and reduce it to 12x on the tele end.-burst mode is not too bad with a fast card (SD Class 6)...cycles at 0.7 seconds. Nowhere near as fast as the Sony at 10fps, but gets the job done. Importantly, you can continue to take photos until the card fills and it is never "busy" processing images. So there is a trade off. With the Sony, you get 10 shots in a second and have to wait 17 - 20 seconds to take the next shot. Or with the Canon you get about 4 frames in 3 seconds and you can just keep shooting. To me, that was somewhat important since the photo I might really want could occur soon after I used the burst mode on the Sony and I'd just have to watch it go by.-very good low light performance in manual mode or auto mode-much brighter lcd screen for viewing in low light. Low light video far better than the Sony.-the fact that you can manually close the flash is great in my opinion. Several reviewers have complained about it - however, I like it because when it is closed, it is off. In other P&S cameras, depending on how I would change the shooting mode among program, auto and others, the flash may become active without me thinking about it. And at times when flash is not allowed nothing is worse than having a flash go off. With the sx210, when the flash is off, it is off.-video is very good as is sound quality. The hd is in 720p and that is just fine, and when viewed on TV, it looks great.-I do think that the form factor could be improved - give me a little something to grip. It's not bad, but it could be improved.-A low light mode is available that pushes the ISO to 3200. It gets the picture, but it is certainly noisy (clean up with Neat Image).-somewhere in this camera the cost savings for not implementing gps is made up somewhere else. I think it is image quality.The Canon sx210 won out - primarily because of image quality. Some of the features on the Sony were very nice and I had to give it a lot of consideration before keeping the Canon and returning the Sony. But in the end, a camera is all about the image and when taken with the other capabilities of the camera, that nod goes to Canon.UPDATE later this same day: While thinking on the burst mode question and thinking of a work-around I experimented and checked the burst mode in different shooting modes, compressions and resolution and found that if you shoot in the low light option (within the scene mode) you can get about
NOTE: If you are confused about some of the issues brought up in the negative reviews, including the LENS SHADOW ISSUE, please read my commentary under the UPDATE section at the end of this review and feel free to ask any additional questions.___________________________________________________________________REVIEWPeople have already written excellent reviews for the black version of this camera and, obviously, everything applies to the Gold version as well. I will summarize my own experience with the camera and update the review as I learn more. Feel free to ask any questions.I am a hobbyist and own a Canon DSLR with some high end lenses and accessories. It's a great setup, but because of its size and weight I rarely have it with me. I got sick of missed opportunities and knew I needed a pocket camera to take with me everywhere.I've owned a Canon Powershot SX110IS 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) previously and thought it was great, which is why I considered getting the Canon PowerShot SX120IS 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Images Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD this time. However, it's not pocketable, so I've also considered the amazing Canon PowerShot S90 10MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD, Panasonic DMC-LX3 10.1MP Digital Camera with 24mm Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black), and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1/H 10MP "Exmor R" CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touch-Screen LCD (Grey). These are all great on their own, but lack the zoom, and Sony also lacks manual modes. When I finally saw an SX210 at a local store, I almost bought it on the spot. It's pocketable yet boasts 14x optical zoom and all the benefits of the SX120 plus more!Color: The Gold color is actually quite pleasant. It isn't the "bling" bright yellow gold as it might appear on pictures. It's a softer champagne-like gold that I personally love. It's perfect if you want something unique, yet not obnoxious. I was excited that Canon provides a color choice for this camera.Size: The SX210 isn't as tiny as some Elphs or other manufacturer's (like Sony) pocket cams, yet it's borderline pocketable and quite light. I can put it in the back pocket of fitted jeans comfortably, although I definitely recommend a pouch (it won't fit into my back pocket with a pouch though).Design: Nothing special about the design, but it looks classy and serious. Looks much more substantial than the somewhat plasticky SX1XX line. There aren't many buttons, but it's enough for easy and fast operation. If you've used Canon point and shoots before, you'll find the interface familiar, although it looks more sleek and refined than the slightly outdated SX110 interface.The control (not the mode) dial is actually not physically labeled. BUT when the camera is on, touching the control dial slightly will display the functions of the buttons. Touch the left side of the dial and it will highlight the function for the left button and bring up a brief description. This allows for a dynamic arrangement of functions in various modes and although it took a little getting used to, I'm a big fan.The mode dial is way too stiff for my liking and requires two fingers to operate. At least it won't change accidentally...The flash position did startle me at first, but now I don't mind it at all. Yes, your finger is over the flash and it tries to pop up when you turn the camera on. However, the finger will suppress the flash popping up, and most of the time you don't want flash up anyway. So it's strange, but it works out in the end.Screen: I would prefer a regular aspect ratio screen to the wide one on the SX210. It's catered towards HD video, but I use it more for pictures, so with the black borders around pictures it effectively becomes a 2.5" screen. But it's a minor drawback and the screen is gorgeous otherwise. It's much more accurate in terms of colors and exposure than the Sony TX1 screen I've tried.There isn't much of a bezel around it, so I'd recommend a screen protector. (Don't use those film ones, use a stiff glass or plastic one. There are many available on amazon and ebay - you don't need a specifically SX210 one, just get one big enough and cut it to size. What I did is get a screen protector from a local Verizon store - they have nice stiff ones for the touchscreen phones like Droid and cost only $12 for 3 of them. When the protector is on, it looks exactly like the screen without a protector, which cannot be said about those film ones).Operation: It's not the fastest camera around and the zoom is a little slow, although smooth. I've found it to be just fine for everyday shooting and the smooth zooming works great on videos (with other cams I'd often overshoot). As I said, the interface is in line with most Canon's point and shoots.Image quality: Canon rarely disappoints in this aspect. The images are perfectly sharp (unlike the Sony TX1) and the colors are vivid yet accurate (unli
m269IQ0CFACC9V / moROKE6X6XJ97R Length:: 1:33 MinsUpdate 5/31/2011 You may want to consider the new SX230. It has a faster CMOS chip which will give you better low light picture quality. This was my biggest complaint with the SX210is.Update: 7-19-2010 The video that I posted today is to answer questions about the camera's cycle rate. It is not an overall camera review but a demonstration of how long it takes the shutter to fire and a demonstration of the "wicked fast" continuous mode. I posted the continuous mode photos on my Google Picasa account which can be viewed by going to my Amazon profile page.I am a professional motion picture camera assistant and an advanced hobby photographer. I own a Nikon D90 and several other compact cameras. There are times that I wanted to bring a decent camera but didn't want to haul my SLR kit around with me. I have always felt like I had to make a big compromise until now. This camera captures amazing images for such a compact device. If wanted it also allows for full control of all aspects of your shots including ASA, shutter time and aperture. The HD video it captures is fantastic and it does this without the need to hand focus like my D90.The first thing that you will notice when you get the camera is that it is very small. It is the size camera you can put in a belt case and forget you have it with you.Controls - I am use to more direct access to the controls but anyone who is familiar with SLR photography can easily navigate the controls without a manual. Amateurs or those unfamiliar with SLR controls have two great options, Auto or EZ mode. You can put this camera into the hands of an inexperienced photographer and if they can compose a shot, and have fundamental consideration of lighting, they can get technically great pictures.Colors are accurate with excellent black detail for this price range camera. This camera achieves a level of image quality that was available only from professional SLR cameras a few years ago.Once you turn on the camera, you are going to be impressed with the wide end of this cameras lens. For vista shots, it does not show wide lens distortion. For close wide shots, it does show an acceptable amount distortion that is fun to shoot with. When I took this camera on a family trip, I was easily able to hold the camera myself and get all 4 of us in the shot. The only issue that I have with this wide mode is that it will not fully translate in a standard 4X6 print. You will loose the sides of the pictures when you print. I hope that the 16X9 HD ratio will become a standard for future photo prints. Of course you can set the camera to shoot a standard 4X6 printThe long end of the zoom is equally amazing. The image stabilization seems as good as Nikon's VR system.The SX210is focuses almost as quickly as my SLR Nikon D90 in still mode.Contunuous Mode- The camera can record 2 FPS in continuous mode. It is a lot of fun to record action sequences or take a series of photos if you have the need to grab a lot of shots in a short time. I posted a few series of shots on my Google Picasa site that can be viewed through my profile page, or paste:[...]Movie Mode - The camera really shines in video mode, it focuses quickly and tracks action well. This Canon camera can continuously focus the image rather than having to press the button halfway to activate focus.In video mode, the exposure shifts in steps rather than gradual transitions. In other words, the exposure could be good for a particular scene and as it transitions to a different lighting scenario the exposure clicks to the proper exposure. Dedicated video cameras transition more smoothly between different lighting conditions than still camera shooting in video mode.It shoots 720p movies that rival a dedicated video camera. The optical 14X zoom is amazing. This camera could take the place of a stand-alone video camera for many people. The audio quality is good but not fantastic. You can notice the steady shot while shooting videos. It works well until you get to long end of the lens where you will notice that the image jumps around when you try to hold a steady frame. In reality, you would never want to shoot zoomed in all the way.Con's- I'm getting picky here but you should know...I would have liked a viewfinder. Shooting in bright sunlight can be difficult with the LCD screen. I also find that resting the camera against your head helps steady shots.I wasn't really crazy about the exposed LCD screen. The screen is made of glass rather than plastic, which is nice. If placed LCD side down it does not rest flat on the screen. It instead rests on the mode rotary dial and the opposite corner of the camera. I wish manufactures would engineer a slightly raised screen bezel to prevent scratches to the screen.I think it could have been better if the microphones were in front of, rather than on top of the camera. There isn't enough separation between microphones to realize ste
Let me start this story by saying that in the past, I have always loved Canon. I've gotten multiple Powershots over the last decade and been really happy with all of them. So October 2010, I thought I would spend the extra money ($320 versus the average Powershot ~$200) to get one with a better lens. And THAT was a HUGE mistake.I started noticing problems with the focus halfway through December (convenient - I have virtually no photos of the holidays that year that aren't blurry). After deciding that I couldn't do anything else to fix the problem, I spent $25 to send it in at the beginning of January 2011. They apologized, said it was defective, and fixed it for free.Fantastic.Then in May, my lens was having problems retracting. So I spent another $25 to send it in again. This time they charged me $150 to replace the lens. I had a big vacation coming up so fine - I paid the money. I got the camera back.Then in August, I start noticing problems with the focus again. So I write Canon, begging, saying that I simply can't do this anymore. I'm coming up on my one-year warranty, I've already sent it in once, paid an additional $200 for it, I'm over it, I want a new camera. They were gracious enough to send me a shipping label and said to make a note that I am requesting a replacement. So I did that. And THAT'S where my respect for Canon as a company ended.I sent my camera back in. I got an estimate for $130. To which I called them in a fury saying absolutely not, that I could not possibly put more money into a camera that simply wasn't worth it. They apologized, saying it should be free. Fine. So a week later, I check on the status of my camera online - nothing. So I call them - AGAIN. Apparently it was shipped across the country without my knowledge, the process is delayed by a full week, and they can't make any comments on my account until it lands at the new facility. Fine. So I wait another week. I have to call again (keep in mind that I'm on the phone with them for 30-60 minutes Every. Single. Time.). They say that they have no idea why it was shipped to another facility, nor why it's taking so long. So they refer me to a customer service rep who takes 3 days to call me back. I miss her call (dammit!) and now haven't been able to get in touch with her despite calling her yesterday and today. I've also informed them that I'm leaving for vacation in 5 days and would like to actually be document the experience. Look where that's getting me.For those of you keeping track, I've now spent $300 on the camera, $50 in shipping and $150 on a lens for a grand total of $500. For a whole lot of stress, a lot of time on hold, and very few pictures from the last year of my life.The fact that they keep "fixing" this camera and it fails two months later gives me total lack of confidence both in this model and the manufacturer. I'm not sure if it's a defect within this model (as I've always loved the Powershot and I've heard great things about their DSLRs), or if it's just this particular one that I have. But save yourself the trouble. Buy a NIkon.
(This text is posted on my personal website along with sample images and video.[..]I am excited about Canon SX210 IS camera. I read the specs Canon published back in February 2010. It had features I was looking for. I pre-ordered this camera before reading any reviews.Here's what I liked about this camera:- Quality of pictures- HD 720p video- 14x optical zoom with image stabilizer.- Optical zoom functions when shooting video (a biggie)- Mode wheel- Secondary 4-way controller with scroll wheel- Face detectionPhysicalThe SX210 is not a tiny camera like my Casio EX-H10 or even the EX-V7. It's about an inch and a quarter thick including the extension for the lens. Double the thickness of my Casio EX-H10. It's about half and inch wider than the smaller Casio. It is still very pocketable. But you can't put it in the front pocket of your jeans like you can the thinner Casio. I'm fine with the size. I usually wear carpenter pants with an extra pocket on the side. The camera fits in the extra pocket just fine. Considering the wonderful zoom I have no right to fault the camera size. That said, if you need an ultra compact camera to slide into a narrow pocket, the SX210 IS may not be the right choice.FeaturesThe zoom lens is pretty remarkable. It extends out from the camera about 2.5". It can shoot a wide angle shot of a building and then zoom in on the door close enough to read the numbers. Check out the clock tower picture in the samples. What incredible range this lens has. It's quiet and smooth as it moves. The zoom has two speeds. It can be hard to move only at the slower speed. The zoom button is quite small. It's hard to hold it with consistent pressure. Is it a problem? No. It's just a trade off with a small camera. The macro mode is excellent too.HD video with zoom was a must for me. I have a Sony HDR-HC5 HDV camcorder. It takes very good videos. Ever since I've had it, the standard def video of my cameras just hasn't been desirable to me anymore. This SX210 shoots video at 720p or 1280 x 720 px. My HDV shoots at 1440 x 1080 px. The video is interlaced. The Canon SX210 video is progressive scan. Overall the Canon video quality is very good. The ability to zoom while shooting is fantastic. I recorded my daughter at her swim class and was able to keep her full frame for the length of the pool.Mode wheel. The more camera's I've had the more I want this feature. I used to love the novelty of the 'on screen' interface. I've grown tired of it. Of course it is necessary because of the enormous number of parameters which can be changed. The mode wheel on this camera can get to selections which are 10 menu button clicks deep on the Casio. I like the Portrait, Landscape, and Movie are points on this wheel. So just by turning this knob to the icon the camera switches into this mode immediately. In bright sunlight I don't have to even look at the screen to know I'm a new mode. The movie mode on the knob is great, but Canon did one better and made a dedicated movie button. When you're in any mode you can click the red button and immediately start shooting movies. Casio has always done this and I love the feature. The red button is configurable to do a variety of things, movie mode is the default.The camera has, what is now a standard, 4-way control disc. You click up, down, left and right with a select button in the middle. The 4-way controller on this Canon is also a scroll wheel. So when you are moving between pictures in playback mode you can quickly shoot between images by turning the wheel quickly with your thumb. This scroll wheel is used to navigate the camera menus too. The optical zoom controller also works in playback mode. You can zoom back so 50+ thumbnails are on screen. All actions are very very quick. No lag or waiting for the images to display and move.The flash is great too. Not for it's performance, though it seemed to work fine. I didn't really test it much. I like the way it works. It pops up when the camera is turned on. 90% of the time when I turn the camera on my finger is on top of the flash and it doesn't pop up. Not a problem, blocking it doesn't harm it. If I need it I just pull it up to turn it on. I like this very obvious and direct control over the flash. I don't like to have to click a menu 4 times to turn it on or off. Many times I'm at a venue where flash isn't allowed. Using an on screen menu isn't nearly as obvious pushing the flash down and knowing with certainty it will not fire.The SX210 has great face detection. I like this feature because it draws green boxes around faces it recognizes and guarantees the face you want will likely be in focus. I know many many cameras do this, but this one seems quicker to find the faces and focus. The wink shutter is a neat idea. We tried it and had to wink several times to invoke it. I'm sure with practice I could make it work more reliably. It's fun but also a feature I'm unlikely to use often. Still fun to play with. Smile shutter takes pictures
I have been buying Canon cameras since their first digital fell on the market. I love them, I admit it. I've tried others, they don't compare. That being said, they have never been amazing in low light and they waited their sweet time to put out a pocket sized camera with a usable zoom. I've been holding off buying one for 3 years just so Canon could get their poo together. I was getting mad, how could Sony, Olympia, etc. have streamlined, pocket-sized, 5X zoom, OK in lowlight, easy to use, market ready cameras years ago and Canon - who, with Nikon, is really the only camera maker worth paying for - be so far behind? Now I understand. They waited because, as Woody says in Toy Story, they weren't aiming for the truck. This camera blows every other camera I have ever had out of the water. Not only did they laugh at 5X zoom and give us 14X OPTICAL with 14 MP, which is unheard of, but it's almost impossible to take a bad picture. I'm still messing with the options and figuring out how to use some of the settings, but honestly, putting it on Auto or Portrait and just 'pointing and shooting' got me some amazing shots, even at night - phenomenal shots. THIS CAMERA IS EASY TO USE! The only thing I had trouble with is taking pictures of a drummer on stage, which, if you have ever tried to photograph concerts, you know is pretty much an impossible task in general - crazy low light, distance and lots of movement. There's a little bit of noise in low light shots, but the color is wonderful and the ease of use is unbeatable. I'm even in love with the flash as it doesn't drown out the color or background like most do if it's just too dark and you need to use it.I have 2 complaints, and they're legitimate ones.1: Battery. There's no way to turn off the display to save it, the life is pretty short, and the batteries are expensive. But that being said, for every day use, get 1 extra and you're probably fine. I took mine on vacation, charged one at night and used the other during the day. Battery life is about 2-3 hours straight use, but if you turn it on and off for a few shots throughout the day, you're fine. I have 3 in total, just in case.2: Flash pops up automatically when you press the power button and it's right where you comfortably hold the camera for use. I have a feeling I will be wrecking that motor. Seems like an oversight to me, but as you can manually close and open the flash, hopefully I'm not killing it every time I accidentally hold it down - I guess that's TBD.FYI standard underwater houses do not work for this camera because of the lens length (even without hitting the zoom), and night shots get trickier when the battery life is low.The video is not true HD (its 720p) but as I bought it for photos, not HD recording, I look at 720p as icing on the cake, and the sound quality is not bad at all - I filmed a song in a rather loud concert hall, and it came out pretty well - plus you can zoom during recording, which is great (you'd that that would be an obvious thing, but not all cameras let you).Almost no red eye issues thanks to the pop up flash - in fact, my blue eyes looked rather dynamic in almost every shot, and the flash is perfect for standardizing pictures with too much background light. AND, the thing is pretty sturdy. Hate to say it, but it's been dropped, yet doesn't even have a scratch.This camera is so wonderful, I'm thinking of selling my Canon PowerShot SX1IS.Now buy it already!
I wanted to get a camcorder for our newborn. After many researches and testing of 2 other camcorder in $300 price range(Sanyo VPC-FH1A, Panasonic SDR-H100) I've decided to get a travel zoom type camera with good photo and video quality. And as long as photo is descent, I was mainly interested in better video quality.SX210+Pro+longer zoom+Bright Viewable video in low light with only 2candle on a table.+Excellent user control and menu and spinning control switch, I loved the menu and control.+I would say about 20% longer battery life than the panasonic with its GPS off.+Manual focus option+Better flash light exposure/light handling+No motor noise during zooming in video.-Con-Soft/fuzzy lens. Not sure if unit I got was defective or all of them are alike, it is 1of2 main reason for not keeping Canon. General users won't realize this unless you do a side by side comparison with a sharper image.-High noise video. Even in bright indoor lighting condition. The 2nd main reason for not keeping Canon-The weird...or lack of ergonomic design, which one can get used to with practice. Hard to operate with one hand.-Sound recording is lacking, when replayed on my pc, sound felt distend and tinny.-Highlights pink/magenta color.-Its got great flash exposure, produces nice looks flash photos, but in auto mode, it would lean to use longer exposure/higher ISO over flash...no idea why...ZS7+Pro+Beautiful video, the video is over processed, but video looks great.+Sharp lens, takes sharp photos and videos+Wider angle, and the i-zoom is very usable.+Great sound recording quality, what you hear is almost what you record.+Ergonomically friendly to handle with one or both hands.+When in full auto modeCon-Image is over processed...I really don't like it...look too unnatural to me, Even customization to tune everything down in setup does not help much. However, most general users will find the image beautiful, but that's because some of the details are gone, and colors are adjusted. A image taken of my wife with ZS7 will show her with smooth skin with light makeup, but when taken with SX210, you'll see the reality of wrinkles and no makeup. However same would apply if you want to take image to show detail...there will be no detail of fine scratches/fine dusts/fine particles...-Video taken with 2 candles, and background music in the room to emulate cake cutting, was very dark. However, if you can adjust the brightness and contrast on the player you use, you'll still be able to see most things that was captured by Canon. So the data is still captured...just too dark to be viewable.....wish this was adjustable in camera.-The menu control is not as innovative and easy to navigate as the Canon, is not bad, but can really see some improvement.-In auto mode, it leans towards using flashes....which does not offer as good as exposure when compared to Canon.In the end I kept the Panasonic and returned the Canon. It was a hard decision for me until I realized the fuzzy image Canon was producing, because I simply can't stand a fuzzy video or image. My wife is happy with the wrinkle removing feature...and I will revert to my DSLR if I wanted to take photos of greater detail. You will not notices the fuzzy images unless you pixel peep at 100%, it really doesn't matter to most users who print at 4x5. But I can tell the Panasonic have a very nice lens.I'm a Canon fan, but in this line up, Panasonic did a great job.
It's been one month i am using this camera and i must say this is the best compact i ever had.Like everybody else i did internet research and read lots of reviews on almost every respected website.There is a reason for me to write such a lengthy review(for me it is very lengthy) because i found so much of information which was hard to digest for compact users, reviewers went to micro level(like cropping image up to 100% and then analyzing colors and sharpness among competitors. for god sake!!! most compact users are not professionals what is the use if newbie get reviews in terms of professionals).So wanted to write reviews for those who are confused with in depth reviews and tech specifications and looking for user experiences.Lets see what person look for features in compact camera.I like shooting with manual controls and many times i want to override Auto settings to capture scene as per my likings.I have Panasonic DMC G2(micro four third), Nikon D5000(DSLR).Both cameras are best in their class.But sometimes when i go to places like SFO downtown or friend's place or party i always felt to have compact camera which fulfills all my needs:1) A good zoom - which is a must when you have one multipurpose camera( you may want to capture closer shots of distant buildings.For newbies if you need depth of field you need zoom to bring blur background)2) Fast enough to take candid shots (please do not compare with DSLR)3) Allow manual controls to take creative shots( for those who want to learn photography, or want to upgrade to SLR and in learning mode, photo enthusiast. this is a must)4) Can click decent pictures with good colors5) Easy to carry ( This is most important factor otherwise there are DSLR available)6) High definition video with speaker sound7) Flash Performance8) Features (This camera has 90% of entry level SLR features to explore)Having stated all my requirements,I have few good things and few shortcomings which i would like to shareGood things1) Accurate metering systems2) color accuracy3) Fast auto focus4) Easy navigation of controls like ISO, White balance, Apperture, Shutter, Flash, Focus mode ( this is most important and encourage you to come out of Auto mode)5) Almost perfect Auto mode which beats all the competitors(exception is indoor night scene where you need to use custom white balance even DSLR needs overriding)6) Flash performance7) Good low light performance - not best but good, low light mode can capture very good shot (all the compact cameras can not perform in low light as compared to DSLR)Negative aspect where only this camera lacks edge over competitor1) Lack of RAW mode ( RAW mode capture image as sensor see it without performing any processing these images need post processing with software like Photoshop and then converted to JPEG.Almost all the pictures(professional or commercial)you see in magazines are clicked in RAW mode and gone edited in photoshop). It is worth sharing that there is only one competitor in this class which have RAW mode, CASIO FH100.2) Auto bracketing (I am not sure if any competitor provides this feature)Overall this is best camera in travel zoom class.Does not matter what star rating you see for this camera in reviews just go to store and try all the cameras and try to shoot other than Auto mode(I am sure you know competitors SONY H5V, Casio FH100, Panasonic ZS7, Samsung HZ35W).You will agree with me that when it comes to camera no one can beat CANON.As a final note if Zoom is not a concern try Canon S90 or S95(upgrade to S90).
So far I've had mixed reactions to the pictures I've shot. Perhaps I am not using the camera correctly, and when I get a few spare minutes (which isn't often) I will read the manual. In the interim, as I stated, I've had some mixed reactions.First reaction is that the close up shooting on this camera is below par, at least in the auto and easy modes (haven't taken enough time to learn the manual, AV and TV mode yet. Call me old school, but the thought of how some of these modes are digitalized and basically a computer version of reality makes me miss my 35mm. But, I digress). I've tried to zoom in even moderately on objects that are close to me (1-2 feet) and am incredibly disappointed at this camera's lack of ability to auto zoom on what I'm going for. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, and if anyone has any thoughts or recommendations, please let me know. B/c I'm definitely not happy with this feature.Second reaction is a simple one. As a father and soon to be husband, I carry the camera in my pocket with me quite a bit. I'm extremely, extremely disappointed with the two "eyelids" that protect the lens of this camera. I'm surprised that no other review I've read has noted the issue that I'm having - maybe something in my camera is broken? Anyway, the "eyelids" (for lack of a more technical term) come open quite easily in my pocket, which would seem to me to open this camera lense up to a pretty significant amount of scratching and other damage. Why don't these lock in place when the camera is off? One of the first thoughts I had after buying the camera is "I'm going to need a slim case or lens cap if I'm going to keep this in my pocket very often".Third reaction is that the zoom and longer distance pictures seem to be excellent so far. I'm very pleased, having used some longer and larger zoom lenses on my 35mm, with how well this camera zooms for a pocket sized point and shoot.Next - there is definitely a delay when trying to take shots. Kids and pets is mixed - sometimes it captures pictures incredibly fast (esp w/no flash) and others, it's still slow - not good when you have a kid!! Or pets, which I don't have anymore.The number of different shooting modes is definitely good. I like this quite a bit. Ditto that with the little wheel on the lower right hand side - this wheel is both practical and easy to use. I like how the menu comes up when you touch it softly to show you what it does. I also like how it allows you to scroll quickly through pictures on the review mode.I'm torn overall how I really feel about the camera. Unfortunately, it seems to be my experience that you need to get 500-1000 pictures before you really have a feel for a camera, and of course, by then, who's going to take it back?? So, we'll see.ps - Maybe mine has a different function or extra mode b/c it's brand new, but the zoom can go up to 56x, and when used properly (ie - on a tripod or other stabilizer), it takes EXCELLENT long distance shots.pps - I have this set up to notify me when you write comments on my reviews. If you have any hints, suggestions, or can help me with something I'm doing wrong (particularly the up close zoom issue I'm having), please comment so that I can get some help! Want to love this camera...!
I have owed this camera for about 2 years. After regular wear and tear, the telescoping lens has decided to get stuck in an open position. It seems to be due to the fact that the lens comes out extremely far. When it retracts back in, it brings any lint, dust or dirt with it. You can hear the lens trying to retract but it sounds like a piece of sand is stuck in it (you hear the crunching noise it makes). The camera definitely needs a better dust skirt around the telescoping mechanism. If you plan to only take pictures in your house it may be fine, but don't plan for camera to last too long in real world.
m2YUNUBXUHURB1 / moWN6W0KQHP6Q5 Length:: 7:38 MinsAs of 12/31/2010, due to time constraints, I will be unable to actively participate in further discussion over the SX210. You can, of course, still post your questions in hopes that someone else more seasoned than myself will be able to offer an answer. Good luck in finding the camera that best suits your needs =).THE REVIEW:This camera takes decent photos with one MAJOR exception that I will discuss later. However, it teeters right along the outer boundaries of the point-and-shoot category as it definitely requires you to get to know about ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and various other advanced camera options if you want to take the best photos.I am also satisfied with the video quality, although I was expecting better for HD. It seems that the only thing high def about the video is the actual pixel dimensions. It certainly doesn't produce true high def quality. Instead, it is grainy and lacking in clarity. With digital cameras, unnecessarily high pixel dimensions in video should be sacrificed for better quality. Leave true high def for camcorders and other video devices that can actually take advantage of the technology and keep the digital camera res to 640x480 unless it's actually capable of true high def. If not, call it like it is and advertise it as "wide screen" since, in reality, that's really all it is. I'm just trying to help others avoid the same misconception I had when I saw "high def video" since, to me, high def means high def.And now for the nitty gritty! I've since purchased and returned two SX210s, both of which were notorious for producing the lens shadow phenomenon caused by the position of the flash and the length at which the lens barrel extends from the camera. This combination of poor design implementation creates the potential for the SX210's lens barrel to actually block the flash, resulting in a shadow of itself being cast in the lower right corner of your photo.You might be thinking that all you have to do to is either retract the lens barrel to keep it out of the way if you don't need the zoom or simply turn off the flash. Both are certainly ideal solutions, but, unfortunately, retracting the lens barrel is not an option and the SX210 does poorly in low-light environments without a flash. The net result is an uncompromising camera that greatly limits itself in the conditions in which it can be used effectively.In spite of the fierce opposition you see me faced with in discussions here, I think most of you will identify with the shooting positions I demonstrate in my video review. I am certain that everyone has had those moments when they wanted to pick up their camera on a whim and take a picture of a friend, pet, or whatever other subject happened to be photogenic at the time. With the SX210, however, something so simple as taking a picture of a friend next to you on your couch can result in a fudged photo.Summary: I initially chose the SX210 because I simply wanted an all-around good camera. It was a major disappointment to me when I realized that I had to be conscious of where I was standing in order to avoid the lens shadow. Having to retake a photo because I happened to be too close to a wall or couch cushion was largely irritating, especially since this is a point-and-shoot, not a professional-grade SLR.I wish Canon implemented smarter design with the SX210 rather than resorting to the numbers game. 14 megapixels with such a small image sensor? Boasting high def video when it doesn't produce true high def quality? 14x optical zoom with a lens barrel so big it that blocks the flash?Canon, let's do better next time, shall we?
yes this an excellent p&s digital camera. i love this camera beacuse i learned a lot from this. it influenced me to buy a dslr/slt camera(i bought sony a55). it gave me an idea what dslr is. i bought this because for its zoom capability. 14x zoom extended up to 56x and its image quality. the reason i rated this a four star is because of it's low light capability. the camera can get confused in an artificial lights. i use flash when it happen, so its not a big deal for me. the build quality is very good. dslr has a better image quality but it will not always with you unlike this camera you can bring this anytime and every where you want to go. i like the fish-eye mode too. there is a lot of future of this camera that is fun to use...you can use this in a fast action too...i brought this in a concert and it did a good job. i took i videos and photos at about 100 meters away from us. even at night it performed well. i really appreciated those good reviewers that help me to buy this camera and my new slt a55. thank you to all of you..
In my search for portability, I choose this camera over the Nikon coolpix 8100.To me, the canon sx210 edged the nikon just because the manual shooting mode.I own a DSLR and 2 prosumer camcorders, I also still own the canon S80 point and shoot, wich is an old model and I wanted an update in canon technology with the sx210. Recently I took this camera on a cruise ship, ( left my DSLR at home,did not want to hang a big chunk of camera on my neck) and this camera helped me do a pretty good job documenting my vacations with pics and videos. First of all I hated the zoom lever right away, is too small and flimsy it takes some use to it, the whole build of the camera feels flimsy, is plastic and very light in weight you have to be very delicate in the handling of this camera. The S80 feels more like a camera in every aspect.In the photo side of the house, color acrracy, exposure, metering, focus speed I found it exellent. The image stabilization works well with the large zoom, of course the more stable your the better your long distance shots are gonna come out.I found myself using the presets when I didn't have time to tweak, it worked out fine and i never lost the spur of the moment in any shots. In treaky situations manual mode is the way to go, if you use a DSLR before you'll feel right at home with this camera's manual mode. Also anybody with no experience with cameras can shoot very good pics in auto or easy modes in most shooting enviroments. The flash also works fine and you can increase or decrease the intensity, combine that with manual ISO, aperture and shutter speed and you will have perfect pics all the time.In the video side of the house. In broad daylight you will get a beautiful 720p High def video (mov file format) but guess what; in low light is a different story, the camera manages to mantain color acurracy and brightness but the noise plague is inevitable. In mid to low light the white balance is a little slow adjusting, but of course you have white balance presets to overcome that. Also in low light the focus starts hunting(all cameras do in low light)and some time is really hard to get it back, so I quickly switch to manual focus, avoid zooming and ohh! what a difference that made. That's a general rule to shoot in low light for any camera not just the canon sx210, you have to know your camera well to get the best out of it.I wanted portability and a little better quality of pics and vids than a smartphone. My overall experience with this camera has been very good so far. I did not expected DSLR nor prosumer camcorder performance but this camera can mimic such feats in a small tiny package.
Hi. I think this is a great camera and am glad I bought it. Got it on Black Friday 2010 on Amazon for $200, which was a heck of a deal.If you are looking to make a decision, here are some observations that may be helpful.I have been a photo enthusiast for 20 years. My main camera is a Nikon D40 with lenses ranging from 17 - 200mm. Have owned Canon compacts for over 10 years.The camera design has one interesting design aspect. The flash always wants to pop open and it's a smidge awkward to hold, but I am getting used to it. On the other hand, pushing it back down is a positive switch when you know you don't want the flash.The 28mm is wide enough for me. The magic is on the long end. Most cameras go to maybe 135mm. 400 is a huge difference. With the digital zoom on top of that, it's around 800mm which is ridiculous. I hike and camp a lot, so the 28mm is good for sunsets, etc. On the long end, I can get shots of shy birds, or shots of things I want to remember but don't want to get so close to - like bears and cougars. True story.This is marketed by Canon at a semi-advanced user, and one does get shutter, aperature, and full manual controls if you want to use them. Program mode works very well. Put it in Auto mode and hand it to someone to take pictures of you when you are out and about.I set mine to "Vivid" just because I like the saturated look.Probably the best feature is the command dial on the back. You can fine tune the exposure on the fly up and down by two stops if you are taking a picture of a high contrast situation and the meter doesn't give you what you are looking for. That's critical to me.Having the capability to take video up to HD quality is a bonus. Low light photography is also quite good.It can also overlay a composition grid and do a quick zoom on the focus area to ensure what you want is in focus.It's not a 'party camera' you can slide in your pocket like the SD1400. This thing has a BIG lens barrel.This is a 'travel' camera. It's not big by any stretch, but pocketable in a jacket. Very good picture quality with a long lens.So in the final analysis, I love my Nikon D40 and use it a lot when I am feeling artistic or have a special occasion and want to carry it around. This camera is fantastically capable, and I keep it with me all the time. Canon will eventually redesign the flash location. It's not a deal breaker for me, though some reviewers have a strong opinion on that one.It's not a DSLR in terms of image quality or speed. But it's 90% of what I could ask for as a hobbyist. This could replace my D40 if I didn't just enjoy using a DSLR.All in all, it's a great camera. I am glad I bought it, would buy it again, and would recommend to a friend.Cheers,R
This is not the smallest or lightest pocket camera you will find, but it has a couple of features that make it stand out from the rest, especially for traveling. First: the zoom. It's a 14x optical zoom. Not a 3x optical plus a useless "digital" multiplier. It's going to be tough to hold it steady enough at 14x to get sharp photos in all but the brightest conditions, but that's why they make tripods. With this lens you can zoom in on high-up building details or that strange bird across the marsh. I also use it to get photos of far-off signs I want to read. The other feature - and one I rarely see on cameras in this category - is a Manual setting for aperture and exposure. I admit that under normal conditions I usually leave it on P, or Av or Tv. But once in a while I want to do something the camera doesn't recommend and blur out running water or get a smaller depth of field or something like that. The M setting is why I bought this camera.I just got back from a trip to Yosemite and I was really happy with the shots I made with it. There is a bit more noise than with my DSLR but nothing terrible. Obviously, this won't replace a high-quality SLR under all conditions, but sometimes you really don't want the bulk. I haven't really used it with the flash but I assume it's about as useless as on most P&S cameras.I'm giving it five stars because of how well it works for me. But I do want to mention two little downsides: First, there's no viewfinder so for composing you have to use the screen. In bright light, this suffers the usual visibility problems. Second, the battery life is not very good. If you do a lot of in-camera review and deletions, the battery may not even last for one full day of shooting. I bought two extra (Canon brand) batteries and go out with at least one fully-charged spare on me. I have had to use my spare. Fortunately, the charger is fairly compact and easy to pack, so with a little organization you can easily charge up overnight and stay on top of batteries on a trip.
I bought one of these to replace my Canon A720is that SOMEONE in my house managed to ruin by putting a deep ol scratch dead center on the lens. (No one has fessed up yet either....)Part of me is glad that happened though as I now own a camera that I love and enjoy ten times more than my previous a720.This camera is simply amazing. Easy to use, has TONS of features and manual settings for the guys that like to take more control, and the pictures are outstanding. The quality of pictures I am getting over my a720is is incredible. I am getting a much sharper, clearer, and more colorful picture and I thought what I was seeing before was nice with that a720...This camera has a plethora of fun settings, smile detection, wink detection, blink detection, redeye removal and prevention, an amazing zoom length (14x OPTICAL!)and it's no slouch on the macros either. I also love that this camera not only tells you what setting you have chosen on screen, but it also explains WHAT THE FEATURE DOES FOR YOU! My wife, who knows ZIP about photography, is now taking better pictures than ever before and is beginning to understand what changing the settings will do for her. Very nice touch by Canon...I researched the daylights out of this camera and I couldn't find a negative professional review. I read a LOT of them too. If your budget is around three hundred dollars look no further.Oh, someone else here wrote a review and commented that the camera zooms very slowly. This is NOT true. Had he read the manual he would have discovered that pushing the zoom button a little harder makes the speed increase. You can almost snap zoom in on a subject if you want to. I LOVE how Canon designed the zoom because you can crawl or run while zooming in...it's your call.EDIT:I just got home after using this gem to shoot my daughters softball game. Let me tell you, it's so nice to sit in the stands and get a close up of her on second base! The 14x zoom is still surprising me! Last year when shooting pictures using my a720is I always had to get as close as possible to get a decent shot and that camera has a 6x optical zoom. The day was cold and cloudy yet every picture and video I shot looked fantastic.The video is what prompted me to edit this review a little. I set it to record in HD and shot her at bat and while running the bases. You can still zoom in and out while shooting video which is another plus I discovered by the way. When I got home I was amazed at the quality of the video it took! It even looks better than what my full blown, mid range Sony handy cam produces! I can't believe I am getting video this clear, colorful, and sharp from a pocket sized camera. I installed an 8 gig, class 6 HC SD card in the camera and still had a TON of room left. Granted I didn't shoot a lot of video that day but I know I can fit a decent amount on there if needed. You can also step down the quality to also not take up so much space.Anyway, just buy this camera. It packs a punch in every category and is easy to use.Oh, the 8g HC SD class 6 card I bought was from Transcend. It has worked flawlessly and is very, very fast. I purchased it here at Amazon for around 20 bucks. I also have a 4 gig card that's the same brand and it's worked great as well.
I'm not a photo techy. I don't do aperture and focal length and all of that jargon. I'm a mom who wants good quality memories of my family. What I was looking for in a camera:* Works with my 4 GB Eye-Fi card (my 3 year-old one did not)* Could fit in a shirt pocket or purse* Good battery life* Good quality photos in the auto settings* Quality photos when zoomed in* Fast recovery time between shots (kids move so fast I was always missing shots)* Ability to zoom in and refocus when shooting videoThis camera delivers all of that and more. I learned about this camera from the Eye-Fi site of compatible cameras so waited until there were some reviews of it. I was greatly encouraged that so many photo buffs bought this camera as their point and shoot option when they didn't want to lug around their SLRs. They obviously are going to be more particular than I on the photo quality and the fact that so many found the quality close to the quality of their SLRs was good enough for me.Was a little concerned about the flash placement but turns out not to be an issue. The flash opens fine if you have to have your finger there and I have quickly learned to turn the camera on one-handed, which is easy to do because of its size. No problem with stabilizing the camera either. You can take crisp shots one-handed in normal photo taking circumstances, indoors and out.I've had it two weeks now and the battery is about 3/4. I've only taken about 30 shots so far but at least it doesn't drain just sitting around.I think the photo quality when zoomed is fabulous! I took one across the room and I can see the texture of the wall in it. I uploaded here a couple of shots at 14x zoom through a dirty window and they are gorgeous. One was while the wind spinner was in motion and it looks just like it was still when the photo was shot. Though I did change the setting for that one to continuous action on the Kids & Pets setting. Looks like that setting shuts off the 2 second review photo. In that mode I can take a shot again as soon as I can think of it so should be great with my kids, maybe 2 seconds between shots. I did take shots using the digital zoom (56x digital zoom) and those were blurry but that was with me holding the camera. Would probably work on a tripod.The video works great and I love that I can zoom in and pan and it refocuses automatically. My old camera didn't do that. If you wanted to zoom, you had to stop, zoom and then restart. This one also doesn't seem to pick up the sound of my breathing in the video which my old one often did. The whole HD thing isn't something I can speak to. I want to be able to shoot video clips. I play them back on my computer not my TV. They are for me and the grandparents.The smile detection seemed like fun and worked pretty well. Haven't tried the wink thing yet. I'm not getting any shadow like one reviewer said but honestly haven't been using the flash much. It takes great shots inside in lower light and when I have used the flash I'm finding I'm not getting that flash overexposure you often get. Photos just look properly lit. And my son, who always seems to have red eye in flash photos didn't in the photos I took of him with flash indoors at night.I am really pleased with this camera. If you want a good point and shoot, this is an excellent choice in my opinion.
Initial impressions after one month of ownership.This camera was purchased to replace an SLR film camera which required manual adjustments of zoom, shutter speed and apeture settings with a fast 1.2 50 mm lense and a 2.8 200 mm lense.One of the most difficult aspects to overcome for me was the requirement to look at a screen rather than through the lens at the image being shot. I found this difficult for two reasons. The first reason is that the level of detail on the screen is just not as good as the image through the lens. The second reason has to do with factors such as glare, brightness and contrast, and a slight amount of far sightedness making it somewhat difficult to adjust focus from a distant object to the screened image. However, I found that with a little patience and practice the images shot with the new Cannon SX210IS came out well centered and the autofocus did a credible job of obtaining details. This is no doubt due to the great combination of the zoom and the 14.1 MP images. The patience and practice came in handy during my grandson's soccer games, trips to playgounds when photos of both grandkids were taken and during the Thanksgiving holidays when friends and family dropped by. One slightly negative note regarding the flash capacity at ten or more feet should not be considered a deterrent to purchase of this camera; but, should be a factor to consider when preparing to take a shot. I know from research and reading that there are ways to overcome some of the lighting issues with settings internal to the camera. However, I have not taken the time to reset them and experiment with them yet.This camera was also used to take video shots of a few moments duration and the imaging was very nice and stutter free. The microphone is a little on the tinny sounding side in my opinion and not quite as good as a purpose built video camera. However, for a small format camera that easily fits in your shirt pocket it is much less cumbersome and less intrusive as was noted during my granddaughter's Thanksgiving recital.In addition to the camera, I procured a very nice 16 GB class 10 sdhc memory card good for hours of video or hundreds of photos. I highly recommend this size card and the class 10 speed to make the most of the camera's capabilities. I also purchased an extra canon OEM battery which I have not even needed to use as the battery life of this camera has been very nice.I have had photos processed at local photo kiosks on up to 8 by 10 sizes and used similar and smaller sized printed photos on our home printer and been very happy with the output.
Just returned from a 10 day trip overseas and purchased the SX210 as my video camera/still camera for the trip.The trip was sightseeing outdoors, and the camera excels at photography in daylight. The images are beyond compare. I connected the camera to my 32" Panasonic Viera HD TV with an HDMI cable and stills look like you are there. Color and sharpness is outstanding.There are a few tricks I learned to getting good results from the camera:1) You must make sure you are focusing on the right thing. If you are shooting a photo of a person standing in front of the Grand Canyon, make sure the auto-focus focuses on the person's face and not a rock that's 5 miles away. You do this by centering the person in your picture and pushing the shutter button half way down. You will see the little focus target box in the viewfinder on your subjects face. Then compose the shot the way you want it to look.2) Flash is amazingly good for a little camera, at least compared to the other 4 digital camera's I've owned. I always use the flash for fill when taking pictures of people outdoors, and find the pop-up flash very useful. Here's why: I have the camera set for "always use flash," but the flash is disabled when you close the pop up flash. Now I don't have to navigate through menu's to turn the flash on and off. This is especially useful if you're looking for a dramatic effect by using existing light in dim or night time conditions.3) Pick up a few cheapie off-brand batteries here on Amazon. They're like $2 each, which is a lot better than Canon's battery price. Shooting video eats batteries a lot faster than shooting stills.4) I got some fantastic night time pictures by setting the camera onto manual, opening the lens to its widest f-stop and selecting the shutter speed as I watched the image brighten in the LCD screen. What you see is what you get, but if your shutter speed is under 1/30th of a second, you're going to need a tripod, or at least a flat surface to steady the camera. I got a 5 second exposure by holding the camera firmly on a fence post, and it looks darned good for a point and shoot.5) If your computer has an SD slot, you can transfer the images directly from the card to the PC without loading all of the Canon software. That's my preference.I was a little disappointed by the video, but I think it's because I failed to set the camera properly. Video generally looks crisp on the camera's LCD screen, but when played back on my HDTV, it's soft. There's quite a few more settings than just selecting "best quality," and I didn't read the manual, so my bad. The video's not horrible, just not up to the quality of some of the samples I've seen from other users in their on-line reviews.On my trip, four other people on our tour bus saw me shooting video with my point and shoot, and by the end of the day, they were all shooting video. Most of them didn't even realize their cameras could do it.
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