Canon Power Shot SD 1200 IS is the new offering from Canon that is a “fancy and capture”, compact.
As compacts are going, similar to what evolving humans will be, they are getting more diminutive, their size inversely proportional to their intelligence and the only large part of their body like the human brain is the lens which can thankfully retract and is not protruding and can be unobtrusive when not in use.
DIGIC 4 Processor
The most dazzling thing of all new Canons is the DIGIC 4 processor which apart from processing the image data from the CCD sensors, comprises the Ai AF and iSAPS. It is the combination of detecting the scene mode by comparing it to the data base in iSaps, Canon arrives at the optimum settings of Focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance and metering.
The Canon Power Shot Sd 1200 can automatically detect faces and apply settings to them although at this stage the intelligence can be slightly enhanced to apply for not so straight faces as well. It can recognize even moving faces alternatively if there is only one face the auto focus can be changed to center focus. The SD 1200 also has a timer facility that patiently waits till the face appears in the view. The acquiring of Auto Focus is hastened while capturing kids and pet animals. You can also lighten the dark areas of a subject with out brightening the surroundings when photographing a dark subject. The Auto Focus mode is also applicable to 18 situations which include an aquarium mode and an under water mode with the proper shielding.
Image Stabilisation
In the Canon Power Shot SD 1200 IS, image stabilization is applied to the lens unlike the Olympus cameras where it is applied to the sensor by moving it physically. For any pitch and roll displacement of the camera the correction is applied to the lens by stabilizing it. But this stabilization depends on the settings. For example in “continuous” the process of stabilization is an on going process, especially useful for videos and in “Shoot only” it is applied when the shutter is half pressed meaning for still photographs and then it is applied for “Horizontal” when the camera is panned. If you are confident of your grip it can be turned off.
Performance
The speed at which the Power Shot SD 1200 captures an image is commendable, being only 0.37 seconds inclusive of the shutter lag. With a continuous shooting speed of 1.5 fps it does not impose any restriction on the number of images that it can capture. Its video mode is capable of recording video up to 1hour or 4 GB of memory and can record 640 x 480 in VGA and 320 x 240 in QVGA. The output can be viewed on any computer or TV.
Other Features
The SD 1200 IS comes with a 4 x digital zoom and a lens that has 3 x optical zoom and a 35-105 mm, 35 mm camera and Tele Photo, equivalence. The sensors are 10 mega pixel, effective CCD and the LCD is 2.5″ with an aspect ratio of 16:9. The controls are minimal with out any fuss, although the optical view finder is anachronistic, and the displays and menus intuitive.
The SD 1200 comes with an in built flash that has 3 settings. In “Auto”, the algorithm evaluates if the flash is required. “Slow Synchro” is used at night and the third is “off”.
The SD 1200 IS comes with a 3.7 V, 1000 mAh, Lithium-ion battery that works for 260 images with the LCD on.
Image Quality
Although Fujifilm seems to be the only one opting out of the mega pixel race, it should become the trend of the future because of the noise problems in CCD sensors at ISO beyond 400. Thankfully in the SD 1200 ISO setting provisions exist and it can be auto or 80-1600 and 3200. The SD 1200 IS, “my colors” offers you a “vivid” and “neutral” colors where in vivid the colors are saturated and adds attraction to the image if you want to accentuate a color or you can revert to neutral and default. The other option is “custom” where the contrast, saturation and sharpness of an image can be altered. The other two options are sepia and Black and white. The SD 1200 has extensive algorithms for white balance that are displayed after application and can also be set by you.
Conclusion
The Canon Power Shot SD 1200 IS is a diminutive “fancy and capture” compact that is your intelligent companion for recording moments that you do not want to be bygones.
Does the Canon 1200is have a viewfinder?
Do you know of a good quality compact that does?
In bright light on big mountains, it is impossible to see an LCD (failing eyesight does not help).
Thanks in advance.
Hi Mark,
Just got the 1200is yesterday. Yes it does have a viewfinder. I havent tried the lcd in Florida sunlight yet.