Foreword:

The SX200 IS is Canon’s latest foray in the realm of the pocket-friendly high-resolution, super-zoom compacts and aims to be the direct competitor of Panasonic’s Travel-Zoom series, most notably its latest the TZ7/ZS3. With similar features such as 12 Megapixels, 12x zoom, and HD video camera, the Canon offering also differs in that it allows full manual zoom over shutter speed, focus and aperture. It however, also has a big disadvantage when compared to the Panasonic cameras in that the zoom lens is locked when shooting video.

Measuring 103×61x83 mm, the Canon camera is slightly chunkier than its rival, but with great manual features and nearly identical feature-set, it will definitely give Panasonic a run for its money.

+Ves:

• Odd-looking because of the wide-angle 12x zoom lens, but it still manages to be quirkily attractive and is available in three colours – black, blue and red. The camera is very sturdy and build quality is great.
• Though not very light, it is not large, and thus is pretty pocketable.
• Various settings – Smart Auto that automatically recognises a scene and applies predefined settings and Easy that is the same as normal Auto in other cameras. Full manual modes in the form of Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Program and Manual allow for manual customization.
• The Scroll Wheel is used for changing shutter, aperture and focus – easy to use.
• The NB-5L rechargeable Li-Ion battery is good for 280 shots under CIPA conditions – approximately the same as the Panasonic’s 300 shots.
• The inclusion of an HDMI port as well as USB and TV-out is a welcome addition to Canon’s line.
• The Image Stabilisation is optical and is offered in continuous, shoot-only or panning modes for various necessary options

-Ves:

• The design has its flaws – the body is slippery and the flash is motorised which cannot be retracted manually once it comes out. Pinch gripping the sides once the flash is out can be a chore. The Mode-dial is tiny, and with thirteen selections in it, a few of which could be done away with just one Mode like SCN, which are very hard to read.
• The left-key of the directional pad is very close to the raised LCD screen, preventing large thumbs from pressing the left button or completing a revolution in the scroll wheel that resides near it smoothly.
• The camera’s right side is capped by plastic that forms the door of the HDMI and USB A/V. This plastic is quite out of place and looks ugly.
• There is some barrel-distortion and colour-fringing.
• Very High ISO’s (beyond 400) are not usable.

Final Word:

The camera itself is a great addition to the Canon magazoom series, and with its gamut of features, it will leave the buyer satisfied even though there are some design quirks. Though it does not have an optical zoom while a video is being shot, it will not make customers turn away unless they want only that, since it delivers full customisation in shutter, focus and aperture – something its competitor Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 does not.

For a great camera with a 12.1 megapixel sensor and 12x zoom with great controls go for this one!