The Canon A1200 Review

This is a review of my first digital camera and I would like to share some of its great features. If you're looking for a great camera to start with, I would suggest you to buy a Canon A1200 Powershot. It's a point-and-shoot camera that is great for all occasions and has a lot of great features. You won't find most of these features on other point-and-shoot cameras, or at least others with the same price rate.

I purchased this for long term usage and I found out that it has almost everything I need.

Optical View Finder

Today’s point-and-shoot cameras rely on its LCD screen which gives you the look on what the image will appear. One advantage of having an optical viewfinder is that you can save power. It also enables you to shoot like a pro as if you’re using a bridge camera or a DSLR. Using the viewfinder can help you reduce handshake as you have to let it lean on your face. And you can’t do that without a viewfinder.

Manual Dial

This is a little wheel above the camera that lets you select different shooting modes. It usually speed things up as you can also choose something before turning your camera on.

Photo Quality

I give the photo quality and 8/10. You can take pictures up to 12MP, enough for making post cards and web photos. The camera is good especially at daylight. Shooting modes also lets you get the best out of a scene. You can choose different scenes, or if you’re a pro, manually adjust your exposure rate.

It doesn’t have an image stabilizer you better use other alternatives like a camera stand or your viewfinder.

Power

The Canon A1200 runs on rechargeable AA Batteries. Batteries like these are economical. You can purchase batteries like these anywhere. You can be able make 450 shot on a fully charged NiMH and even up to 1100 shots with the LCD monitor off only using the viewfinder.

Video

It can also capture videos in HD Quality. You might not be able to find these features on other point-and-shoot cameras running on AA Batteries. Although you can only capture in HD for a limited time (20 mins) and you’ll capture another one again probably due to the internal memory.

The Canon A1200 also has its own drawbacks. On major weakness it its slow shutter speed and it also takes a few seconds for the flash to recharge. Making it not fit for capturing things instantly as you see them. I tried the continuous shot but it seems to be slow.

Another problem is that the LCD screen seems to look fuzzy under low light environment. But it won’t affect shooting quality. According to the manual the non performing dots is not a malfunction. I guess the camera does not draw much power when it is being used in dark areas.

Now here's a question for you

Before choosing this camera I came up to a few ones. They also sell in budget price and you can also have then for starters. These all run in AA batteries.

Budget friendly bridge cameras

Now its time you review my review :)