Customer Reviews

Canon Powershot SD200 3.2MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Canon's newer, higher end SD models (SD200/SD300) are fantastic little cameras for point-n-shooters like myself.

What's new compared to SD110/S410/S500:
-2.0" LCD as opposed to 1.5" on other canon models
-Low-light focus system dramatically improved over previous canon ultracompacts
-Built in scene modes, making it much easier for those illiterate in manual functions (white balance? huh?) to get better looking pictures.

Pros (aside from new features mentioned above):
-Canon's image sensor is consistently one of the (if not THE) best when it comes to ultracompact digital cameras. Compare pictures taken by a Canon ultracompact to any other brand of ultracompact at the same resolution and the difference is remarkable.
-All metal body feels sturdy.
-Controls are mapped very efficiently (zoom and shutter operatable with one hand). Menus can be navigated easily.
-Numerous shooting options are enough to satisfy amateur photographers as well as snapshooters. Auto-mode is efficient and usually does a good job.
-About 2/3 the thickness of the S-series of Canon cameras, which are already about the size of a pack of cigarettes.
-3.2 Megapixel sensor is exactly enough for snapshooters, which ultimately makes this camera cost far less.
-Automatic lens cover prevents dust, etc., from marring lens.
-Canon switched from Compact Flash memory to SD memory, which reads and writes much faster.
-Fast start-up time (although not as fast as Casio's Exilim line).
-Sleek design makes the camera a fashion statement. You can and WILL get "oooh"s and "ahhh"s from people when you pull this thing out.

Cons:
-Canon switched from Compact Flash memory to SD memory, which costs more.
-3.2 megapixel resolution, while enough to print 5x7s, usually isn't enough to print 8x10 images with anything resembling decent resolution. Luckily, 90% of home users will never need more.
-This camera is clearly not for anyone other than casual snapshooters: lacking in the manual functions more experienced photographers demand.
-No RAW file mode for experienced digital photographers.
-Basically, experienced photographers will hate this camera. But thankfully, it's not geared toward them, but rather at home-users. If you are an experienced photographer, don't look at ultra compact snapshooter cameras. Go for digital SLR cameras, like Canon's EOS or Digital Rebel series'.

I've had this camera for over a year now and couldn't be happier with it. Obviously it's very small, which works out great for those that travel a lot or generally like taking a camera wherever they go.

Picture quality isn't amazing, but very good. And at 3.2MP, there's enough resolution to print out an 8x10 photo...why would you need anything bigger?

I purchased the underwater camera case accesory. It's a bit pricey (around $100), but well worth it for the money if you know you're going to use it a lot. I took it to Florida during vacation and took hundreds of photos that turned out brilliant. I HIGHLY recommend using the "underwater" setting available. I took a few without it just to see the difference. They were very blue-saturated. The "underwater" setting eliminated all of that, leaving a clear image. With the attached strap, it wasn't a hassle to carry around either, even underwater. We did lots of snorkling (sp?) and diving with no problems.

On the con side:
- There's no battery life indicator! The only time you know the state of the battery is when it's very low.
- The lcd scratches easily, but that's to be expected. I haven't had any problems with the case itself scratching.
- The included SD card won't hold that many photos. Just spend the extra money and get more memory. They're fairly cheap these days. I bought the 256mb, and it holds plenty (hundreds).

Overall, great camera for the price, size, and ease of use. I did a lot of research on compact cameras before I bought, and this one has met all my expectations.

This is one of the best point-and-shoot 3 megapixel cameras currently being produced. As with all Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, the SD200 is very easy to use. Canon also makes a 4 megapixel version of this camera (PowerShot SD300) which costs about $100 more.

What makes this camera DESIRABLE:

(1) Takes Great Pictures. This is the most important part of a digital camera, no? The SD200 is quick to focus, is quick to take pictures (very low lag time), takes crisp pictures, and is very easy to use. The SD200 even focuses in the dark thanks to its focus-assist lamp (you can turn this feature on/off). The picture quality is excellent compared to other cameras similar in size. The ease of use is much better than other 3 megapixel point-and-shoot cameras. Many have complained about the flash, but that's almost a non-issue for most snapshots. Most people take snapshots of their friends & family when they are about 5-7 feet away from them. The flash is PLENTY strong for that. If you have a huge group and they're like 10-15 feet away, then the flash will be a problem. But seriously, when's the last time you tried to take a picture of a big group of people forcing you to stand 15 feet away to get everybody in the picture?

(2) 3 megapixels with 3x zoom. This is the new minimum when it comes to digital cameras. The general rule of thumb for megapixels is: the more the better. Not only will more megapixels allow you to print bigger & better pictures, having more megapixels gives you the flexibility to crop: you can take a small portion of the picture and blow it up to full screen and still get good detail. The SD200 also features 3x zoom. While this is generally not something to get all excited about, its predecessor (the SD110) only featured 2x zoom.

(3) Size. The SD200 is noticeably smaller than the S410 or the S500, and even smaller than the SD110. The SD200 will fit nicely in your pocket or your purse. Plus the shiny silver finish is so handsome/pretty that you will want to take this with you everywhere. After all, if you don't carry your camera with you, then what's the use of owning a camera?

(4) Movie with Sound. With its built-in microphone and speaker, the SD200 can capture and replay movies with sound. The 640x480 resolution is awesome. You can replay on your 19" monitor at full screen and the video will look great. Under the 640x480 mode, you can capture video at 30 frames per second (fps) or 15 fps, and there is no limit per clip as your only limitation is the amount of space you have left on your memory card. Under the 320x480 mode, you have the Fast Frame Rate option giving you 60 fps, up to 60 seconds per clip, which is great for capturing action shots such as your golf swing. While the main function of the camera is to take still pictures, the high quality video feature is so much fun that you will be using this a lot.

(5) Battery & External Charger. The battery life is average. You can take about 140 pictures on a full charge with the LCD screen on and about 400 pictures with the LCD screen off. Since Canon includes an external charger with all their SD series cameras, I recommend getting a second battery. This way, one battery can be charging while you are using one battery, so that you will never run out of batteries.

Downside. The only downside is the access to manual mode. On the SD110, S410, and the S500, you can switch to the manual mode by turning a knob. On this camera, you need to press function and switch to manual mode using a soft menu. There are few features only available in the manual mode such as turning off AiAF, long shutter, panorama mode, etc. Unless you use those features a lot, this will not be an issue for you.

Recommended Accessories. A must-have accessories are the already mentioned extra battery and a bigger SD memory card. Get at least a 256MB card (a 512MB card would be nicer) since the included 16MB card will not be sufficient for most people.

If you need more megapixels, then check out the 4 megapixel version of this camera: Canon PowerShot SD300.

Zero complaints about this camera for what I paid. Yes, you can get a better camera in terms of resolution or functions, but you probably won't need more than you get with the SD200. I've had mine for just over a year now. It consistantly takes sharp, well balanced photos, the shutter lag is negligible, the battery life is reasonable and the included charger is slim and charges the battery quickly.

I bought this camera after extensively researching the options in this price range. You will not be disappointed for the price.

This is a great little camera. I've carried it for the last 6 months in my sleeve cargo pocket while in Iraq--without a case, and haven't had any problems w/ the screen. It's handy, lightening fast, and takes crystal clear photos. Everyone who's seen it or taken pictures with it wants one. And the ability to recharge on 110/220 V is great for traveling. The battery will usually last at least a week or more while taking a few snap shots a day. I highly recommend it as an alternative to a big--slow--expensive camera. Get a 512 SD card and you'll be set for anything. 3.2 mega does the trick for most users. For under $200 nothing else compares, buy it! Or if you insist on spending more, buy the newer SD400.

I own a Digital Rebel and absolutely adore the photos I get from it. I've invested in a range of lenses, a decent external flash, remote control, etc. but the camera is so damn bulky I will only take it on my "photo excursions" into the real world.

I've found I increasingly miss great shots and parties where carting a huge Digital SLR just isn't practical. To this end, I purchased an SD 200 prior to going down to Disneyland with my family. I didn't want to go on all the rides worrying about my camera and accompanying backpack.

Pros: The SD200 is a tiny, tiny camera. It has the feel of a "spy" camera, the one I dreamed about when I was 10 years old. The shots in regular daylight are pretty accurate in color, sharp in detail and generally up to par with what you'd expect from a film point-and-shoot camera. In other words, I got exactly what I expected from the camera in its shots. On top of that, there is a fairly decent camcorder function. I'll be getting a larger 1 Gig SD card to take advantage of it, but the feature is so flexible and the video so good, it's worth leaving my Canon Elura at home (hardly a giant camcorder, but not pocket-sized either). The video is rendered as large as 30 fps and 640x480. I wish it was 720x480 but oh well.

Cons: Almost a pro, this camera makes me appreciate just how gorgeous the Digital Rebel's photos are. There's no comparison in color, saturation, sharpness and above all, depth. The SD200 feels and shoots like a toy compared to the Rebel. But for my purposes, that's just what it is. I'll be carrying it with me everywhere now and getting all those shots I'd otherwise miss.

Final con and this one is the largest - the flash on the SD200 is way too powerful. It literally blinds people and generates red eye EVERY time, even with red eye reduction deployed. The ironic thing is, when I take off the flash, the low-light pictures often come out well. My only real complaint is that I wish Canon allowed you to control the amount of flash generated. Maybe there's a firmware update. I'm looking now.

I just got this camera today and it's great! I needed a smaller one just to take around college. My other camera was too big to just slip in my pocket and I found myself just never taking pictures. But now I can just take the sd200 anywhere. The camera is also loaded with options and takes awesome pictures.

So you know how big it is, the camera is about the size of an altoids box. It also is very, very light.

All around great camera!

For me, this is almost the perfect camera. It takes great pictures, and has a pretty good optical zoom. Any better than 3x might be unusable for such a small camera, because the lens would shake too much without a tripod. I think the small size and light weight makes it more vulnerable to camera shake. But that's OK, because I love the small size; it makes it possible/practical to take the camera wherever I go.

This camera has a great continuous shooting mode, which I almost always use to take pictures of my daughter (who's 3 and always moving, so it takes a lot of tries to get a perfect shot). The continous mode is fast enough, although not as fast as some more expensive (and larger) cameras I've tried. I wish the continuous mode would stay on my default, so I don't have to turn it on manually every time I turn on the camera. I bought the SD200 instead of the 300 because the I don't need the 300's extra pixels, and the 200 has a faster continuous mode.

It also has video mode which has made my video camera nearly obsolete. It takes DV-quality movies of unlimited length (until your SD card is full). I wish it had stereo sound though. And, you can't zoom or change focus while taking a movie. Once in a while I get a video that is out of focus. But this is still not a good enough reason to lug my video camera around. There are some great videos of my daughter which I only got because the camera happened to be in my pocket.

I do have problems with redeye when using the flash, but I rarely use the flash.

Let me begin by saying that Canon makes exceptional digital cameras; the best in the market right now. This is because they have always used high quality components since they began manufacturing digital cameras. This one is no exception.

Now that I've sold you on a Canon, which one should you choose?

First off, let's see if you really need an SDxxx camera, or would be better suited with a cheaper non ultraportable camera.

The SDxxx Series offers several key advantages over less portable models:
-Beautiful, sleek design and metallic body will wow anyone who sees it.
-Gorgeous 2 inch LCD screens
-The excellent Dig!c 2 processor (other Canons only have dig!c 1)
-Much better movie mode than previous Canons
-Small light, easy pocketability

On the other hand, there are some significant drawbacks due to the components Canon had to use to get the camera so small:
-Few manual controls.
-Pictures are not as sharp as those of similar non ultraportable cameras.
-The flash is very close to the lens (lots of redeye problems)
-More purple fringing issues than other Canons
-Proprietary batteries that are expensive to replace
-The LCD is very fragile. Read the SD200 and SD300 reviews to see lots of unhappy people whose LCDs broke. Canon's warranty does NOT cover this either. My suggestion? Buy using a credit card that offers a warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. If your lcd breaks, many CC companies will replace the camera no questions asked!

If you don't need the ultra portability and flashy looks of the SD cameras, a slightly larger camera with more features might be right for you. I would highly suggest Canon's A510 or A520 if you don't need an SD model.

If you still want an SD model, which one should you choose? The SD200 with 3.2mp, the SD300 with 4mp, the SD400 with 5mp, or the SD500 at a whopping 7.1mp?

Your first instinct may be that more megapixels is better. Today, however megapixel ratings are similar to Ghz ratings in the computer world: They used to mean a lot, but they don't mean as much anymore. More megapixels do NOT mean a better image. They mean a larger printable image. Unless you have to have huge prints, you simply do not more megapixels. In fact, the 3.2mp of the SD200 is enough for anyone who doesn't plan on printing pictures larger than a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

That having been said, there are some differences between each SDxxx model. In order to get the larger 7.1mp sensor in the SD500, Canon had to make the camera larger. Thus, it is around a quarter inch thicker and 30% heavier than the other 3 models. The larger size did enable Canon to pack more features into it, however:

Features unique to the SD500:
-1/4 inch thicker
-30% heavier
-50% longer flash range
-14% more battery life

The SD400 and SD500 also share these benefits over the SD200/SD300:
-New "Night Display" feature which brightens the LCD in low light
-My Colors feature lets you highlight or swap colors right on the camera
-USB 2.0 High Speed support

The following are shared by all the SDxxx Cameras:

Pros:
-Beautiful, eye catching design
-Great image quality, though not as good as non ultraportable models
-New Dig!c 2 image processor
-Excellent Movie Mode
-3x optical zoom is adequate for most people
-Excellent, intuitive manual controls
-Huge 2.0 inch lcd that looks great under various lighting conditions
-Uses widely available and cheap SD cards

Cons (most of these are minor quirks):
-Some purple fringing problems
-Proprietary batteries are expensive to replace and inconvenient at times
-Lots of issues with fragile LCDs
-No RAW support
-Few manual controls

If you do choose this product, the first thing you should buy is a larger SD memory card. The camera comes with a 16mb card (32 in the SD500), which is pretty much useless.

You should also immediately purchase a case and some screen protectors to protect the LCD.

Everything that a non-professional can ask for has been packed into this little miracle.
I ve been on the hunt for a digital camera for the past 4 months and have been researching the SD200 for the past 2 months. I considered a lot of factors, such as price, electronics, optics, digital noise, video capabilities and size.

This camera has satisfied all the items on my checklist.

There are many shooting modes and also functions that allow you to modify light, shutter speed , etc... Hence you end up with many combinations that is sure to give you the quality of shooting most likely any situation demands.

Canon has been able to bring together the optics and electronics in digital cams very well. SD 200 is a result of this progress.

One major improvement is that this thing can record AVI movies as long as memory remains. There are 3 video shooting modes and unlike other cams where there is a time limit, one of the video modes (the standart one) has no time limit.

The body feels solid, and dont worry about carrying it in your side pocket. As long as there are no other items in the same pocket, dont worry about the 2" screen being damaged either.

Battery life is good. It lasts for all-day-long trips. For longer periods a second battery would help. It takes 2 hours to charge.

Things I did not like :

The switch for shifting between movie , pic and review modes is plastic and is not "flush" with the body of the camera. It protrudes and it becomes a bit shaky, which is not the kind of thing you want to see on a camera of this quality.

The software is cumbersome. I'd rather have a direct plug and play version, where i can transfer my images like from any other storage device. Having to go through a software is not appreciated.

SD200 vs. SD300 , i'd say go for SD200 .
There is about $120 price difference. So spent that money on things that matter such a larger memory card (definite need) and an extra battery.