Versatility and low price.

Slow write speed. Care needed (tripod and low ISO) in low light.

Wonderful camera to pack around.Extremely versatile, and the vari-angle viewfinder is great in crowded areas.
The camera's weakness is its slow write speed to memory, but otherwise it works amazingly well, even at long focal lengths.
Obviously, it prefers brighter light, but it will do most things at night with a good tripod.
It is inexpensive, and you can get a greater variety of photos in a short time without carrying extra lenses.
Having taken photos for the past 55 years, this camera amazes me.
No regrets.
Just some really good (prize winning) pictures.

I was not able to use the camera long enough to note its strengths

Factory defect in the cover of batteries. It is just IMPERFECT.

1. Camera shuts down suddenly when the LCD is open and it does not start. If you try to start it shuts down withing 1/2 a second. You need to wait for couple of hours - then it starts strictly in LCD closed mode.
2. The battery life is pathetic - it does not even complete 80 shots with Duracell Alkaline batteries.
3. The lens motors have manufacturing defect. They are noisy and it gives camera and image a jerk when retracting.
4. The camera does not give any low battery warning. It just says 'Change the batteries' and refuses to start.
5. The canon service is pathetic. All the 4 problems mentioned above were told to canon service and they agreed to all of them and they said to repair my camera and ACTUALLY DID NOT REPAIR IT.
6. The canon representatives on the canon service desk are arrogant and prejudiced. One of the representatives showed his surprise when I told him that the camera has the listed problems and his tone clearly indicated he did not believe me.

Customer Service

The canon Customer Service is PATHETIC.
The service technicians are LIARS.
They just dust the camera and send it back - they actually DO NOT REPAIR.
They CHARGE YOU for the shipping.
They are ARROGANT and UNTRUSTWORTHY.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Digital camera with 20X zoom. Works like a charm

Affordable, easy to use

The flash does not pop up automatically(unless I have something set wrong). Not used to having to do that.
Wish lense cover was automatic too, not used to taking that off anymore.

I just got this camera from my husbad and love it! It is so easy to use that I didnt even nedd the directions!
Shutterspeed is pretty fast, easy switching from camera to video.
Love it!

This is affordable, digital recording power for people who love to make live music and/or enjoy watching it later or sharing it with friends. The SX20IS outshoots in HD video just about everything for the price under low-light concert conditions. Making this camera very usefull for the millions who like to go to concerts and post stuff on youtube!!

Doesn't like Strobe lights. So avoid NIN or other fast bands that use nothing but strobes during the entire concert. Very High-contrast still photos are fringed with purple and green vs the SX10IS so if your thing is high contrast stills get that one instead.

This camera is the best for recording concerts for the $$. It IS the next big concert recorder, a "kodachrome" if you will. If you are a musician and want something cheap that does exaclty what you need- shoot true HD vids, capture light effects, focus in almost total darkness, pull in tight for full frame facials, have adjustable stereo mics built in and do it for under $400? insane~!

You want to see what sold me on this camera? Go to youtube and search "sx20 U2" and watch a few of those clips- WOW~!

Canon you have outdone yourself- These should be sold right along side "rock band" in walmart.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it yet but canon makes great cameras.

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fugifilm S1000Fd, coolpix series

Camera has a very high optical zoom of 20X, its IS (Image Stabilizer) works fairly well. Optical plus digital zoom is way above what's needed for the average person. It's still better to "zoom" on a computer, rather that use the digital camera zoom, but its available if the user wants to use it.

The video mode is of high quality, and also allows zooming while shooting a video clip. The video mode has a separate button, so you can set the camera for stills, push the video mode button and shoot videos without changing the camera settings.

Camera does not have a standard lense thread, so it is difficult to install a Lense Filter to protect the lense.

Probably have not figured it out yet, but I've had problems with the camera loosing focus while shooting a video of a model airplane in flight. Need to find a way to place the camera in manual focus while shooting videos.

I've purchased a number of digital cameras over the years. This Canon SX20IS camera is a close to a professional camera as I've had. I'ts no SLR but will do very nicely for the average person.

I'm no photography master, but this camera is capable of producing good results as required by a non professional photographer.

Customer Service

Non needed at this time.

Similar Products Used:

Canon SX100IS, Kodak DC9360 (I think) and several lower quality digital cameras.