- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 32 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"It's a camera with great video capabilities -OR- a video camera with great photo features!"
Pros: Best video/phot camera for good quality, everyday use.
Cons: LCD is small.
Summary: I'll cut right to the chase, if you want technical details/specifications etc on what the Canon TX 1 has, visit Canon's site here. I want my review to focus more on the camera's functionality for a number of reasons. First, many of the reviews like CNET (where you can also get an entire paragraph of tests conducted on the camera's power up time *yawn*) have indicated that form factor and image quality were two main reasons why one should wait. I disagree. I'll get to that in a second. If you want another detailed spec review, visit DPReview's article here. It's a very straightforward regurgitation of Canon's specs/press release when the camera first came to market. So my initial thoughts were "Is this a camera with great video capability, or a video camera with photo features?"
First Impressions
Yes, the camera is initially awkward to handle. So was the ability to text with one hand and hold a mocha frappaccino in the other, but we adapted and so did I when I started using the TX-1. It turns on just as fast as my Canon SD900, with only one additional minor task to complete, flipping up the LCD monitor. Moving on...
The LCD is probably my only major complaint, it's tiny. About 25% smaller than the one on my SD900, or 1.8" vs. 2.5". But I'll live. Next it's button placements. Hard to say where I stand on this, at first the "nipple" is somewhat hard to use in an upright position compared to the "dial" on the SD 900, why Canon choose this is beyond me, but I started to really like the "nipple" because in the upright position I could easily navigate the menu with just my thumb. Hey, if you can text with one finger on the iPhone, then this won't be a problem at all.
The LCD swivels around a full 180 degrees so you can see yourself in self-portrait mode or if you are raising the camera high above a crowd trying to bootleg a concert you can simply rotate it in almost any 360 degree position. Once I figured out the buttons, menu navigation etc, it was time to use it.
Field Test
The Canon TX-1 isn't as easy to fit in your jeans pocket as the SD 900. It's a bit thicker, but still small enough to fold up and actually look like a camera rather than an upright device.
Image quality is better than CNET's review, I'm a firm believer that it's not all about the megapixel, but instead the composition, depth of field etc. This camera performed well in every picture I took. (Example #1) The zoom is especially nice when I took photos from atop the hill over looking the Golden Gate Bridge (Example #2).
Although a great still camera, video is where this baby excels. I'm talking about some serious 720P type stuff. The Canon TX-1 is an excellent alternative to walking around with a huge video camera. The microphone has quality sound with wind reducing capabilities, which is a huge plus here in San Francisco. This is an overall great camera for those seeking a nice middle ground for a digital camera and video recorder.
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot TX1:
$499.99
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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