Canon PowerShot Compact Digital CameraA1200 .

WHY CANON?
One of Four* new “A” Series introduced January 5, 2011, Canon has rubbed its magic lamp and its Genie has brought forth more variations of the film-free Point and Shoot camera theme.

In its PowerShot A1200 the concept seems to be unique:
“Give 'em more for the price. And quickly”.
Speaking of which, this is the first Canon I have seen recently that was priced below $100.00 in stores and online.


Canon products have a pleasing look and feel about them that I like and:
According to the January 5 2011 press release, “Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes.”
To which I say, Amen. Moving Customer Service Offshore has cost other companies my business.


Canon became my default brand after some 4 years of dabbling with entries by HP. Beginning with the Canon A75, in 2004, a verbal survey at a family reunion revealed that all but one were using a Canon Digital Camera (DigiCam) Model. The final choice of the A75 was made easier by the fact that my costly Compact Flash (CF) Cards would fit and the reviews, especially the ones on Epinions, were mostly favorable. The A75 was left behind in 2006 with my old life. After a one year hiatus with no camera at all I was given a Canon S3 IS; which made me happy but, with other priorities, had since fallen into disuse and obsolescence.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Everywhere, there are dozens of Compact DigiCams on display in many stores and they all look alike. If this design is meant to differentiate from the incredible tsunami of choices; it is a flop. Manufacturers have tried everything to differentiate their wares: brand, color, size, shape, ease of dropping, er, holding, megapixel counts, nicknames; until now anything but what we finally behold at the corner store or on the Internet; LOWER PRICES!

How Simple! I set the bar at a price below $100.00 and the A1200 was. It had been marked down and, as I write this, the asking price is another 8% below what I paid 12 days ago. Whew! **
At the local stores, there were DigiCams priced below my target, but none by

Canon.
In the course of my search, I heard or read about a new camera by Canon with an Optical Viewfinder, confirmed the existence of it on the Canon Website and read some reviews including one in Epinions*. Another source stated that the A1200 was Manual only (Technically Not True) . These rumors excited the primitive streak in me. In brief, I obtained one and here we are.

“It's Yesterday Once More”* - Optical Viewfinder, a “Universal Power Supply” and Customer Service Rediscovered.

OUT OF THE BOX
The Canon PowerShot A1200 Digital Camera,
Wrist Strap (WS-800)
2 each Panasonic LR-6(XW) 1.5V AA size Alkaline Batteries (“Universal Power Supply”)
USB 1.1 *Interface Cable (IFC-400PCU) Standard Type A to Standard Type B
Canon Camera software Disc (not evaluated – used on-line PDF User Manual with
Startup User Manual* (35 Pages)).
Following the order and degree of difficulty in both documents:

PREPARATION / ASSEMBLY
Unpack the carton, find and assemble the included wrist Strap to the camera; secure it through the loop in the camera body per the illustration in the Getting Started manual, pg 9.
WARNING: The strap wrist loop is large enough that it can slip freely over the user's hand. To minimize risk, tie an overhand knot in the end of the strap – this shortens the free length enough for the hand to snub the potential loss of the camera.

POWER - Install the two included batteries and your choice of Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card
Sockets for both are hidden under a latched door in the bottom of the A1200. It will open if unlocked and slid endwise toward the right end with a coordinated effort.

Rechargable NiMH batteries may be used in the A1200. Canon offers and recommends their OEM items but other makes are allowed. Canon states that the enclosed AA size Alkaline Batteries will be good for 200 shots with the LCD turned on; 650 shots with the LCD turned off. Using Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMh) batteries will yield 450 and 1100 shots respectively. Movie file playback times are Approximately 8 and 11 Hours respectively.

All bets are off when the Flash is being used. I got approximately 150 shots; about 50-50 with flash and using the included batteries. The tests included a realistic sampling of A1200 settings. Battery death was leisurely, a fixed icon showed depletion for a while then the message “Change the Batteries” appeared, followed by a black screen.

MEMORY CARD (Not Included) should be SD Class 4* Speed or higher and may be Factory formatted but it is easy enough to follow instructions and do it again in the device where it is to be used. It will delete ALL data so think it out.
A full 4GB formatting in a PC may take 15 minutes. In the A1200, 'formatting' may take 2 seconds, it simply reorders the file management information.*

MEMORY CARD Capacities
Canon mentions 4GB and 16GB Cards in “Getting Started”, pg 12.
Capacities noted for these same two cards are approximately 1231 and 5042, respectively

Canon performance statistics are provided in the for 4GB and 16GB, the larger for MOV file recording. Compatible cards listed: SDHC, SDXC, MultiMedia, MMCplus, HCMMplus.
WARNING: Some Computer Operating systems may not recognize SDXC cards.

NOTE: Without a memory card, the A1200 will not operate.
For these reasons, I purchased one of each capacity. I don't think that is necessary for the typical user. 1200 is a lot of shooting but it is nice to have a spare.

INTERNAL MEMORY?
During setup, there was a hint of an internal storage location. There is a factory installed “date and time” device installed beside the AA battery sockets. It holds a CR1220 12mm diameter x 2mm thick button battery; which is held in a molded plastic adapter. The assembly can be pried up and out with ease and a small fingernail. But not without future regrets. Which begin the instant you realize that you have earned another chance to reset the date and time.
Do that chore now, if necessary.
(It took this curious klutz about 1 minute to reset this data.)

OPERATIONS
About 1 minute after opening the box, I was ready to shoot and so was the camera. The Memory Card, however, was not. Sticking to the script, the “Getting Started” meant a trip to the store. Everything was ready by late morning, after I had milked the cows, hauled the ashes, filled the wood box, and other nuisances were done. It was now 3:44am. Still at the desk, I needed to shoot something.

Resolutely, I powered up, tried to peer through the Optical Viewfinder, crushed my glasses on the back of the camera frame, knocked the glasses to the floor, aimed at my trophy wall and squeezed off a round. FLASH! (I like the intuitive approach – it adds spice to life.)

Nothing works like something that works! I fired again and then went back to bed.
Next morning I hired someone to do the chores and shot up the inside of the house.
Here is a sampling of the first two dozen Images captured, all at the “P” setting:

1 Aiming at a framed collection of historical family shapshots: Facial Recognition from 8 feet away, my son, aged 1 day in the center. 1972 Kodachrome faded picture of the same fellow granulating from Junior High, readable book and DVD titles, zooming into LCD display for clarity, moving around a zoomed view, ….how does one turn the display off? Phooey!

3 Label on double curved Bottle of Australian Port, 3/32” gold type readable well around the curve, field depth follows the bottle curvature. Date Stamp on. Good color.

10 Complex painting behind glass – flash at 6 ft distance good color.

13 Ceiling fan at high speed, stopped with 1/1600 sec, objects 12 feet further in focus.

16 Orchid, Macro – Excellent replication. View rotation as camera is turned 90 degrees.

19 Piano keyboard with blue stick-ons used in “Beethoven Symphonies” review. Player's fingers. Moving around while in zoom mode.

First impressions very favorable. But all erasable.

- - - Break Time - - -

FEATURES of the Canon PowerShot A1200
Optical Viewfinder (which, strangely, I learned to dislike – too small, difficult to 'frame' a view.)
2.7” Diagonal LCD Display
Smart AUTO with 32 Predefined Situations
D!G!C 4 (...in the series of microchips Canon uses to process imagery.)
Built-In Flash
Still Images and 720 HD Video MOV files (European PAL & North American NTSC) Regions
Image Capture with 12.1 Megapixel CCD***
Autofocus
28 mm Wide Angle Zoom:
4x Optical and 4x Digital Zoom 16x Combined
Added Scene Modes: Discreet, Toy, Miniature
Object/Face Detection
Powered by 2 AA Alkaline Batteries
Optional NiMH Recharger, 120VAC to 3.0 VDC Adapter

Physical:
3 3/4” Wide by 2 1/2” High by 1 3/16” Thick
Weight: 6.5 ounces

COMMENTS
Somewhat bewildered by that array, I dug out my trusty Canon S3 IS DigiCam and compared. The major difference, other than size, was glaringly evident. Many of the icons, the “Manual” ones, on the S3 MODE wheel were gone. Moved inside to an electronic menu. Not a good way to 'improve' a Point 'n Shoot design.

Still, Canon crammed 8 modes onto that wheel (highlights only)

P (Program AE{Automatic Exposure})
On the 4 Way rocker switch ( ^ v < > are symbols for up, down, left, right):
-Press ^, Exposure Compensation Appears. Press < or > to set image brightness, -2 to 0 to +2
Freeze selection by pressing Center Button (FUNC SET)

Press > to control Flash, Off, On, Auto, Slow Synchro (Slows Shutter to brighten background.)
Freeze selection with FUNC SET

#######
In very low light conditions, the LCD viewer picked up ambient light from a low wattage desk lamp behind me and from my PC Screen. I could just barely see my notes: Pressing the shutter release half-way turned on an assist light beam (located between the Flash and Optical view finder window.) I pressed the shutter release fully and got the picture! In general, if you can see something faintly, so will the A1200. Think; about a dimly lighted cave tour – My, what possibilities!
#######

Select S, produces 640 x 480 images for e-Mail purposes.

Select ISO, Analogous to “Film Speed”. Select desired ISO, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, then lock with FUNC SET

SCN “Reduce Blur” or dampen the Shakes caused by holding breath too long.

Press FUNC SET, then
Press v/^ to select White Balance
Select using </> one of the six icons:
Auto, Sun (daylight) Bright Outdoors, Cloudy, Inverted Lite Bulb (Tungsten), Bar Flourescent,
Bar H (Daylight Flourescent), CUSTOM, Constant appropriate correction. (Imagine huge lighted hangar)
CUSTOM in this sub-menu layer allows users to emulate then capture the ambient lighting – Point at a plain surface then, press DISP (Display)

LIVE (as in “Is it?”)
Aim, select horizontal slide, move pointer from Dark-Neutral-Cool
Keep aiming, use v to select next slider, move from Neutral to Vivid
Still aiming, select 3rdslider, move from Cool to Warm.
Press FUNC SET

AUTO
Default, surrender, give up, Point and Shoot.

“Heart” (Easy) If only it were true.

SCN
Consistent and forgiving – the images are pretty good because shaking is minimized in this Mode.

“FishEye” Distorts, in a circular mode.

“Discreet” Disables sounds and flash; as when at a funeral.

“Movie Camera” MOV files – also very forgiving.
Easy to take good quality videos – adds “Life” to a visual essay.

ACCESSORIES

After reading dozens of “Drop Reports” involving small but expensive phones, I thought it wise to purchase a shock absorbing carrying case.* The camera finish is slick and dry hands will not hold it safely. Never handle the camera without using the strap. The Case should allow the strap to extend outside to allow for safe handling, especially when fishing it out of its case or bag. It is Very Helpful to have a Case with a security loop or belt clip built into it as well. A properly sized “CaseCrown” model was available for purchase at the same time as the Camera..

Not included is a required SD or SDHC Memory Card – 4GB and larger Class 4 Speed Minimum)
Accessories include Voltage Adapter and Battery Charger)

OUT ON THE FIRING LINE:
When the A1200 was ready, I took it outdoors and for a ride down the hill to the vineyards and the town. Aside from various views of my toes and an occasional glove compartment, subjects were hunted down and snapshots were taken; with some attention to composition.

From our perch 300 feet above Napa Valley, the usual weather phenomena were captured using point and shoot techniques. The results were uniformly awful. It was easy to blame the camera bit it was the shooter that was not ready. Things were complicated by the discovery that the (BigName) 4GB SD Card was defective.

A humbled and distressed user; faced with extinction was I. During the ensuing week, I studied the settings and read about them in the FULL user Manual; practicing the steps needed to access the settings. A couple of days later, with a new SDHC memory card installed; I ventured back to the same areas in Napa Valley to try again.


This time, the tricky shutter release button instructions were applied the results were much superior with the same subject matter. (Select the object or person of interest, hold release half-way down to allow time for focus and then press the release the rest of the way.)


This time, when a poor exposure was made, instant feedback allowed interpretation of what had gone wrong with many of them; corrections could be tried and tested immediately.

Here, a tribute to “Endless Film”; the SD Memory Card allows dozens of experimental shots.

Not all of the possible settings were mastered but I was able to direct MLP as she shot at me indoors. That is a good way to test a relationship.

Further, I learned much more about my faithful 4 year old Canon S3 IS.

BACK STORIES
Two big events on December 16: Beethoven's Birthday; and the first new Camera of any kind in the household in several years:
“Ya want a viewfinder? We got viewfinders. Ya want manual settings? We got 'em, er, well maybe.
Ya want a FlashCube? Um.. we don't got that... is that a rock group?”

The exciting early days of Digital Photography are long ended. There was a day when I drove some 60 miles to the state capital just to behold the latest and greatest idea in Cameras: The Sony Mavica MVC-F85 and siblings, using an R/W 5.25” Compact Disk for digital image storage memory, was on the shelf. $700 – yikes! What's next? Yeah, what's Next? Ha!

After many 'next” steps, the SD Memory Card appeared. The makers of this ubiquitous latest and boldest “fake film” have also taken to the boldest merchandising trick: Adjusting the PRICE!*

And thus the happy convergence of co-dependent hardware removed the last obstacle to my surrender to the Dragon of Obsolescence; an affordable purchase of a new DigiCam and the required film substitutes called Memory Cards.

CONCLUSION:
The Canon PowerShot A1200 is a keeper.

Pushing a camel through a keyhole is easier than working one's way through skimpy user manuals and somewhat arcane language from well-intentioned sources. Try reading about it, anyway. It can help. Trying it means finding the way and following every single step word by word.

I overcame skepticism and discouraging experiences by suppressing intuition, testing the received word and literature, questioning everything and everyone, and practicing, practicing, practicing.

This was an eye-opening adventure; and a great learning one at that. There is still more to learn but there is plenty of time and plenty of hope. Take one of these magnificent instruments along on your own journey...

And so, year 2011 ends.

Ave Atque Vale!

~~~~~~
NOTES

*Thanks, Karen Carpenter

* Complete 196 Page Camera User Guide on included CD, Available on-line – www.canon U.S.A.

*It is interesting to observe how often users drop their CellPhones, then buy a protective case. I have used a miniature “Spider” tripod as a safety handle with limited success.

*If it is USB 2.0 it has to be marked as such to fully meet the Standard. This cable is not so marked. It is of the slowest transfer rate. If speed is the ultimate goal, why Canon tossed this low quality item into the box is a mystery.

*PowerShot A800, A1200, A2200, and A3300 IS. Beware of that press release, the wording is tricky and easily misunderstood as to which model has which feature. Move on to the “Press Kit” which includes specifications. Better yet, refer to the specifications online at CANON U.S.A. Where, Canon repeats the error.

*Downward, of course. A SanDisk 4 GB Class 2 was advertised online at Amazon for $1.36 last week (Dec 2011). Cheap quality Cards are everywhere – I drew a bad one, after returning it to BigBoxStore, I noticed several Class 10 items on the display rack. MOV file lovers tale note!

*Amazon.Com

*Rated in August, when the A1200 was listed well above $100.00

** One BigBoxStore (Napa) displayed no Canon prices below $100 after Dec 25 – NoBoxStore Online Giant still offered the Silver A1200 for a $78 price on early Dec 31.

*** CCD or Charged Coupled Device – Converts Light to Electricity. Beyond the scope of this simple overview of the Camera. Another device in common use is CMOS or Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor Detector.
See a summary by AXIS Techniques at:

http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_ccd_cmos_40722_en_1010_lo.pdf

FIN 

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 78.00
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use