Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS user reviews (Silver)

5.0 stars

"IT IS CLASSY AND IT TAKES GREAT PICTURES" on March 14, 2010 by COWBELL

Pros: The SD1300 has a touch more style, a larger 2.7 LCD screen and a little more virsatle lens than the SD1200. But the 1200 is also a very good camera. It is very easy to use. The SD1300 has good battery life for a small unit also.

Cons: No camera is perfect

Summary: I am going to try to share what i have discoverd about this camera. these are just my thoughts, some things I am compairing to the canon SD1200 and the SD940. The flat button arangement is the same as the SD1200, SD940 all but the power button on the top is larger and easier to turn on and off, I like that but be carefull it does not come on in your pocket. I have no trouble using any of the flat buttons even with my big old hands, thats just me though. I like that the mic for the viedo is in the frount of the camera instead of on top next to where your finger sets like the canon SD940 and SD1400, it picks up less noise (from your fingers) being in the frount. I like the func menu (this is where you set iso white balance,my colors) better than the SD940 because it lets you set things with one less step like on the SD1200. It also has a better color skeem (the color of the menus) than the canon SD1200, again thats just me though. I can not tell any differnce in shot to shot or flash shot to shot times between the SD1300 and the SD1200 which is 1 and 1/2secs to 2secs with out the flash and 3 to 4secs with the flash on(up to 6sec for a full all out flash recharge). Shutter lag is good for a canon point and shoot but if you prefocas that will help even more. I never tested the continuous shooting(but see my battery test) but canon says it is 0.9 shots per sec on the SD1300 where the SD1200 is 1.4 shots per sec, if that is important to you. I did test the battery by using the continuous shooting mode with the flash on and got well over 420 pictures on a freshly charged battery and still had 3 bars left on a the battery icon and it was taking 1 picture every 2secs or less if that helps you out on the continous shooting part any and when I turned the flash off it seened to be very fast for a small canon point and shoot. I am getting about the same image quality as the SD1200 which is very good for this size camera, your getting a larger 2.7inch very clear LCD screen and a 28mm x 112mm lens, a little better than the 35 x 105 on the SD1200. A lot of review sites blow their pictures way up and look for defects, your likely to only make 5x7 8x10s and you won't see what all they see. if you do want larger prints you could go to a canon S90 or the larger G11 and stay in a point and shot camera,( but they are much more money I know). I use program mode and keep the ISO to 80, 100 or 200 if i can, thats just me though. I mostly take pictures of bear in the smokey mountians(cades cove) and I love chaseing the grand kidds around taking their pictures.

Updated on Apr 2, 2010

You do not get a SD card with the camera and if your new to this digital camera stuff remember to low level format the SD card. >((I carry my camera in a little phone case that has a belt clip not a loop for fast & easy on and off the belt)) I definitely recommend picking up a small camera case for protection. Some will miss the viewfinder that the SD1200 had.

4.5 stars

"Best picture quality in sub-$200 compact market" on November 28, 2010 by drotschmann

Pros: Excellent picture quality, small size, ease of operation, picture controls sufficient for point and shoot, flash excellent for fill flash in bright sunlight, colors

Cons: small size can be tricky to hold, photos rapidly get noisy above ISO 100

Summary: I am an amateur photographer and shoot with Nikon gear. I needed a simple point and shoot for my wife and didn't want to spend too much. This is an excellent choice for that purpose. The picture quality is excellent. There are a few tricks to get the best quality: Set picture size to "M" (5 MP), set color controls to "C" for custom and max. our sharpening, leave contrast alone, while maxing out "saturation". This will give you fantastically sharp and colorful pictures. I also set the cam to ISO 100 since it often early raises ISO beyond 100 even in bright light. Noise becomes a very limiting factor beyond ISO 100-200 and is already annoying at ISO 400. The fact many people overlook is that less pixels lead to sharper images, while more pixels will yield more detail when the picture is blown up to 100%.
Bottom line this camera fits the bill when you need a simple point and shoot and if you use the above settings you get excellent picture quality too...... all this for $129 too !!!!

4.0 stars

"Great basic point and shoot." on August 25, 2010 by goodboy34

Pros: Easy to use, good size LCD display, not too big/not too small

Cons: A bit slow.

Summary: Gave this camera to my Mom for her birthday. It's her 1st digital camera and she is not a techno anything and was clinging to her 35mm. After a very brief "getting use to it" period she loves it. Takes good pics, not too complex, and the display is nice for the price. If you're looking for a good 1st digital camera that won't break the bank this is a good one.

5.0 stars

"great bang for your buck" on June 13, 2010 by cheftyler

Pros: its macro is great, its a canon, and it has both brains and brawn. Smart and quick.

Cons: when i find something ill let you know