Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

[chrisga]

Have got a couple of forthcoming trips and events coming up and am thinking of getting a smaller camera to replace our now defunct powershot g7. Want something that is a little more pracitcal than the SLR for when out and about. We went in to Jessops and they suggested the above as a great little camera. Does anyone have one?

What are they like to live with? Does the always up flash thing annoy? Are the photographs it produces any good?

[Ledaig]

chrisga said:

What are they like to live with? Does the always up flash thing annoy? ?

Good little camera apart from the flash which is bloody crap, halfway through a honymoon in Antigua a small piece of crud must have got into the mechanism which senses when it is up and so it stopped working. You could see the flash sign coming on as the switch (I assume) activated, and then the sign went off as the switch was deactivated when the flah was fully extended. Took a hell of a lot of manual pushing up and down to get it to clear, by which time we had left Nelsons dockyard and the museum. The flash is also underpowered for what the camera is capable of. I know most compacts do not have a significantly more powerful flash, but with these cameras every little helps.

I also found that to be able to zoom during movie mode (as Panasonics can) would have been helpful. I was aware of this limitation at point of purchase, but it's only when using it that you realise how handy it would be.

Other than that, it is a good camera and turns out pleasing shots. The major added bonus for me was having manual control when I needed it, but if you don't need this then maybe look at the Panasonics.

[chrisga]

Thanks, we had a powershot g7 and now have an eos 450d so are used to the controls of canons, hence wondering about this little camera. The powershot came to a sticky end, but we loved that camera and its range of shots. Just wondering if the SX200 would be a worthy replacement as the G11 is about £500!

[Ledaig]

Something to keep in mind is that the sensor in the G7 is bigger than the SX200, and the G11 is bigger than the G7. This will have an effect on image quality.

If the G11 is within budget (check for cash back deals at the min), and is pocketable enough, I would suggest you go with that. Can you take any sample shots at the store and review later? If you can be sure to include some low light shots.

[chrisga]

g11 is out of budget im afraid, hence looking at the sx200. I'd buy another powershot in an instant were money no object.