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Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (OLD MODEL)

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 699 ratings

$109.00
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Purchase options and add-ons

Compatible Mountings Canon
Photo Sensor Technology CCD
Supported File Format RAW, JPEG
Image Stabilization Optical
Maximum Focal Length 336 Millimeters
Optical Zoom 12 x
Maximum Aperture 3.5 Millimeters
Expanded ISO Minimum 80
Metering Description Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Brand Canon

About this item

  • Shoot 720p HD video with stereo sound while using the optical zoom
  • High-powered 12x wide-angle optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movie and Fisheye Effect; Advanced Smart AUTO
  • DIGIC 4 Image Processor, with 12.1 megapixels; 3.0-inch wide LCD
  • Capture images to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards (not included)
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Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (OLD MODEL)
Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (OLD MODEL)
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Price$109.00-10% $179.99
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Customer Ratings
Zoom
4.0
4.0
4.2
4.0
4.0
4.2
Picture quality
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
Image stabilization
3.9
3.7
4.0
4.0
Easy to use
4.0
4.2
4.2
4.6
Value for money
4.0
3.8
3.8
4.8
Sold By
TxPrime USA
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Photo4Less
Hiacinto
display type
LCD
LCD
LCD
LCD
LCD
LCD
display size
3 inches
3 inches
3 inches
2.7 inches
2.7 inches
2.88 inches
lens type
zoom
Telephoto
Wide Angle
Wide Angle
Wide Angle
Telephoto
zoom type
Optical
Optical Zoom
Optical Zoom
Optical Zoom
Optical Zoom
Digital Zoom
shooting modes
Scene
Panorama, Automatic, Easy
Automatic, Portrait, Landscape, Macro
Automatic
Manual
connectivity tech
USB
wired, wireless
USB
USB
USB
USB

What's in the box

  • Battery
  • Wrist Strap
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    Product Description

    Product Description

    Canon's 4345B001 PowerShot SX130 IS 12.1 MP Compact Digital Camera is the perfect companion to all your good times. Now you can capture every detail of special moments in crisp, stunning 720p HD even while using the high-powered 12x wide-angle optical zoom. You'll record in stereo sound, then play back your videos instantly on you computer. The SX130 IS all about creativity, with fun new scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movies, and Fisheye Effect for artistically distorted stills. While you're having fun creating, the camera's Smart Flash Exposure and advanced Smart AUTO systems are ensuring that every image is the best it can be. Add the DIGIC 4 Image Processor, 12.1 megapixels and Optical Image Stabilizer, and you've got the ideal camera for making the good times last.

    From the Manufacturer

    Smart, sleek and creative, the PowerShot SX130 IS is the perfect companion to all your good times. Now you can capture every detail of special moments in crisp, stunning 720p HD--even while using the high-powered 12x wide-angle optical zoom. You'll record in stereo sound, then play back your videos instantly on you computer. The SX130 IS is all about creativity, with fun new scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movies, and Fisheye Effect for artistically distorted stills.

    While you're having fun creating, the camera's Smart Flash Exposure and advanced Smart AUTO systems are ensuring that every image is the best it can be. Add the DIGIC 4 Image Processor, 12.1 megapixels and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer, and you've got the ideal camera for making the good times last.

    Canon PowerShot SX130IS Highlights

    Shoot 720p HD video with stereo sound while using the optical zoom
    The PowerShot SX130 IS is the perfect combination of still camera and extraordinary video maker. Videos are recorded in spectacularly detailed 720p HD with clear stereo sound. Better yet, you can now zoom in and out as your creativity demands, without losing a bit of the 720p HD resolution. Given the SX130 IS's powerful 12x wide-angle optical zoom, this capability is especially meaningful.

    12x wide-angle optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer
    With precision engineering and decades of leadership in optics technology, Canon has created a bright, wide-angle lens that magnifies to an astonishing 12x. Moreover, it's sized to fit the SX130 IS's compact profile, performs at high speed, and keeps power consumption low.


    Whether you're at a sporting event, school play, or just out and about shooting, you'll love how the SX130's powerful wide-angle 12x optical zoom gets you up close fast and puts more image into every frame. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer controls camera shake to ensure that throughout the zoom range, your images are steady and crystal clear.

    Scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movie and Fisheye Effect offers creative options for videos and images
    Explore your creativity! The PowerShot SX130 IS gives you fun, easy ways to play with perspective in your still images and videos, too.

    Miniature Effect for Movies (also available for still images) enhances perspective to give whatever you're shooting the fascinating look of a scene shot with miniature models. At the same time, selective frames are removed to enhance the effect when you play the scene back at 30 fps.

    "Fisheye" lenses are favorites of professional photographers: their quirky, convex perspective gives a fun creative punch to shots of kids, pets and more. The SX130 IS creates a Fisheye Effect without the need to attach a special lens--simply activate the mode, choose from three levels (low, medium and high) and shoot!


    Smart Flash Exposure determines the correct flash based on the shooting situation
    Smart Flash Exposure is a technology that uses the proper flash by analyzing a wide range of lighting conditions, and helps ensure against over or underexposed images. The detail and color of your photo remain intact and truer to life even in challenging lighting.

    Advanced Smart AUTO selects from 28 predefined shooting situations
    Just set the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS to Smart AUTO and you're ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture taking every time. It's a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely concentrate on your subject, knowing that the camera has the technical details covered. Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an appropriate setting from 28 specially defined settings. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at the park, you can be confident that you're getting dramatic, memorable images.

    With 22 Shooting Modes including 12 Special Scene Modes, you're ready for whatever shot comes your way.

    Capture amazing detail with 12.1-megapixel resolution Powerful DIGIC 4 Image Processor with 12.1 megapixels
    The PowerShot SX130 IS is equipped with many of the same features as a higher-end camera: an ultra-powerful zoom, eye-popping resolution and advanced picture-improving technology. 12.1 Megapixels of resolution gives your photography incomparable depth and ensures that any section of any shot can be enlarged and cropped with no loss in quality when you edit the image even if you choose to print the image. It can create crisp, clear 13 x 19-inch posters.

    Canon's proprietary DIGIC Image Processors have long set its cameras apart from the competition, and the new DIGIC 4 sets the bar even higher. Faster, more accurate noise reduction delivers better image quality, even at high ISO speeds.

    Large 3.0-inch LCD with wide viewing angle
    The camera's high resolution (230,000 dots) 3.0-inch LCD gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear picture to make shooting, playback and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient. Clear and bright, it also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light.

    AA battery power enables you to easily power up
    Conveniently, you don't need to worry about running out of batteries or having to recharge them. Since AA-size batteries can be purchased at any store, simply get new ones locally--wherever you go, no special power adapters or chargers are needed.

    What's in the Box

    • PowerShot SX130 IS Camera body
    • AA-size Alkaline Battery (x2)
    • Wrist Strap WS-800
    • AV Cable AVC-DC400ST
    • USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
    • Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM

    Product information

    Warranty & Support

    Amazon.com Return Policy:Amazon.com Voluntary 30-Day Return Guarantee: You can return many items you have purchased within 30 days following delivery of the item to you. Our Voluntary 30-Day Return Guarantee does not affect your legal right of withdrawal in any way. You can find out more about the exceptions and conditions here.
    Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here

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    Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (OLD MODEL)

    Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (OLD MODEL)


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    Read about our customers' top-rated cameras on our review page: Point-and-Shoot Cameras

    Customer reviews

    4.1 out of 5 stars
    4.1 out of 5
    699 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the quality and ease of use of the camera. They say the photos look great and it's easy to use. They also appreciate the high quality and value for money. Customers also appreciate zoom. However, some customers have mixed opinions on battery life, size, and speed.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    299 customers mention248 positive51 negative

    Customers like the image quality of the camera. They say the quality of photos is spectacular, it has a decent zoom range, and takes nice close up photos. They also say it's a sweet performer for outdoor photography, and the video is too good. They mention that it'll let them photograph moths and landscapes with equal success.

    "...never let me down, it can go anywhere with me, and it lets me photograph moths and landscapes with equal success...." Read more

    "...+ Better than average low light image quality+ Good set of manual controls+ Significant upgrades from predecessor (SX120IS)..." Read more

    "...The picture is vivid, sharp, clear and fresh, and will guarantee you can capture moments, action shots and beautiful nature.2...." Read more

    "...I have been very happy with my SX110IS - beautiful still shots, good movies, travels well...." Read more

    155 customers mention141 positive14 negative

    Customers find the camera easy to use. They say it offers simplicity along with an impressive array of features. They also appreciate the easy to understand pre-sets, a friendly menu, and a great interface for interacting with the software. Customers also mention that the camera setup is quick and painless, and the auto mode or easy mode allow for quick and easy shots. They appreciate the pictures come out well, and little to no editing is needed.

    "...low price, this is both a great travel-camera and an excellent beginner camera. It won't disappoint you." Read more

    "...Physically speaking, the camera is very comfortable to hold and all of the buttons are conveniently placed...." Read more

    "...The picture is vivid, sharp, clear and fresh, and will guarantee you can capture moments, action shots and beautiful nature.2...." Read more

    "...Fortunately, pictures come out so well, little to no editing is needed other than some cropping so the pictures will fill my computer monitor and 32..." Read more

    127 customers mention95 positive32 negative

    Customers like the quality of the camera. For example, they mention it's a high quality camera, excellent for outside pictures, and reliable. Some say the quality is almost negligible compared to a DSLR unless at higher magnifications. That said, most find it sturdy, durable, and easy to use. They also appreciate the 12x optical zoom and impressive features.

    "...pricier cameras but the portability to go anywhere, and it's quite resilient to damage.So, then -- list time:PROS:..." Read more

    "...tested some of the newer, fancier features and I have to say, they're quite impressive. The smile detection blew my mind because it actually worked!..." Read more

    "...Battery life not great (very minor issue for me; life is adequate with rechargeables and cheap/easy to change out being standard AA size)..." Read more

    "...My main complaint is the video mode. It is absolutely awful. Constantly goes in and out of focus while filming...." Read more

    101 customers mention93 positive8 negative

    Customers appreciate the value of the digital camera. They say it's a great purchase for intermediate users and a perfect companion to bigger bulkier cameras. They also mention it has a good features/price ratio and is worth the investment.

    "...Especially for it's relatively low price, this is both a great travel-camera and an excellent beginner camera. It won't disappoint you." Read more

    "...Fantastic price/performance ratioCons:* No CCD cleaner that I've found* No flash shoe for an external flash*..." Read more

    "...(very minor issue for me; life is adequate with rechargeables and cheap/easy to change out being standard AA size)Grey area:..." Read more

    "...The A590 is a nice camera with a good features/price ratio, a viewfinder that was becoming a rare feature even in 2008, but a less-than-stellar AA..." Read more

    87 customers mention80 positive7 negative

    Customers are impressed with the zoom of the digital camera. They say that it's impressive, and that it can zoom in the video mode. They also appreciate the high megapixel, large LCD screen, and high-res video. The resolution is -12.1 megapixels, which permits cropping and selecting areas. The zoom lens produces clear, crisp 12-megapixel images from wide angle to telephoto.

    "...-Compact and portable, will easily fit into a pocket.-Excellent Zoom, puts my Eos Rebel T3i to shame...." Read more

    "...Full manual control, including Av, Tv and full manual modes* Great zoom range, especially at the wide end*..." Read more

    "...+ Good optical zoom+ 720p video while optical zooming (Lumix ZS_/ZR_ may have better video per my homework though)..." Read more

    "...There is no view finder on the SX130 IS so the larger screen is nice (it's twice as big as the one on my old HP)...." Read more

    131 customers mention40 positive91 negative

    Customers are mixed about the battery life of the camera. Some mention that it uses AA batteries, which are easy to change and charge. However, some say that the batteries die out fast, and on larger photo trips you may even need to pack extra batteries.

    "...Battery life not great (very minor issue for me; life is adequate with rechargeables and cheap/easy to change out being standard AA size)..." Read more

    "...The battery life is so small that on larger photo trips you may even need to pack extra batteries!..." Read more

    "...-Runs on two AA batteries, which is great when you're traveling...." Read more

    "...Yes, it means shorter battery life, but it also means never being unable to use the camera on a trip away from home -- all you have to do is buy AA..." Read more

    83 customers mention55 positive28 negative

    Customers are mixed about the size of the digital camera. Some mention that the size is perfect for someone like them who has bigger hands, it's compact and light, and easily fits in a jacket pocket. However, others say that it'd not fit in the pocket and is larger than the competition.

    "...and features available in larger, pricier cameras but the portability to go anywhere, and it's quite resilient to damage...." Read more

    "...Perfect size for a compact zoom, fits in a large pocket* Fantastic price/performance ratioCons:*..." Read more

    "...Grey area:+/- Bigger size than competition (Lumix ZS5, Lumnix ZR3, Cybershot H55)...." Read more

    "...The portability is also fine, however the battery powered function of the camera makes it weigh a bit more than it should.4...." Read more

    66 customers mention25 positive41 negative

    Customers are mixed about the speed of the camera. Some mention that it powers on and is ready to shoot fast enough for their amateur photo needs, with a fast shutter speed. However, others say that it has a slow shot-to-shot time, a longer delay than some other cameras, and that the focus is very slow.

    "...Windows doesn't like MP4s, for some reason.-It's a little slow, especially under low-light conditions...." Read more

    "...The SX130 does excellent in all these. The shutter speed is beyond good, even for fast action shots...." Read more

    "...It's just not well supported yet and takes a LONG time to open on my computer, even within Apple's quicktime application...." Read more

    "...It fires up quickly so I'm less likely to miss a shot. I've never had a problem with dust on the inside of the lens that some have reported...." Read more

    Better than similar cameras in its class
    4 Stars
    Better than similar cameras in its class
    I previously owned the PowerShot SX120IS, and it was a fantastic camera. When I saw there was a *new and improved* model, I purchased the SX130IS only days after its Amazon premier. I consider it an intermediate point and shoot since it offers simplicity along with an impressive array of manual functions. Although a professional photographer would probably not be impressed at first glance, the image quality may change their mind. I have received NUMEROUS offers from people, "I will pay you fairly for a photo shoot!" and the like :)Fantastic macro shots, great zoom, very easy to use. Overall, the image quality is the most important and I am definitely impressed with it! If you're on a budget but have high expectations for point and shoot image quality, this camera is sure to satisfy.The video feature has never impressed me. The auto-focus is very spotty, it tends to try to focus on other things (or just goes out of focus all together) in all lighting. I was very disappointed when I tried to record my daughter on Christmas morning and the videos were COMPLETELY out of focus at times. If you set it on manual focus the quality is decent. Also, if you're shooting video in HD (720p) you can only record about 30 seconds worth before the audio starts going out of sync. This is a problem Canon is aware of, but still extremely disappointing.I will purchase the Nikon P100 in the next couple weeks, but I do plan on keeping this Canon as a backup.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2012
    The Canon PowerShot SX130IS was my first camera, and it still one of my favorites. It has the power and features available in larger, pricier cameras but the portability to go anywhere, and it's quite resilient to damage.

    So, then -- list time:

    PROS:
    -Compact and portable, will easily fit into a pocket.
    -Excellent Zoom, puts my Eos Rebel T3i to shame. Doubles for a pair of binoculars now and then.
    -A Macro function, which is a special point of interest for some. It won't match dedicated macro lenses or cameras, but having it certainly makes a difference in your photos.
    -Around 9000 other features. Not literally, but this camera can handle a good variety of challenges and be set to perform quite a lot of functions, from portrait to landscape shots.
    -For its price point, it takes good photos and video. Pricier cameras would take better photos and video... but you would have to go more than double on the expense for that to happen.
    -There aren't any weird tints to your photos with this camera.
    -Runs on two AA batteries, which is great when you're traveling.
    -Having a wrist strap, while common to many cameras, is still a pro when the camera is small enough to fit in one hand.
    -You can control the entire camera with your right hand.

    CONS:
    -You better have a lot of AA batteries. Battery life, depending on use, can range from 3-7 hours... unless you are taking photos very quickly or taking video, in which case two hours would be impressive.
    -Ten minute video length, max -- you can take as many videos as your memory card allows, but none of them will be longer than ten minutes.
    -If dust gets into the (irremovable) lens (it will,) you will know. And may the force be with you in trying to remove it on your own.
    -Some people won't find the video or sound quality up to snuff. Additionally, trying to play a video on some computers will often necessitate a download of the Combined Community Codec Pack. Windows doesn't like MP4s, for some reason.
    -It's a little slow, especially under low-light conditions.
    -The LCD screen is built-in to the camera -- it doesn't flip out.
    -It's also your viewfinder.

    This particular Powershot is my favorite of the series. It's never let me down, it can go anywhere with me, and it lets me photograph moths and landscapes with equal success. It has a myriad of features, and most of them aren't novelty gimmicks. Especially for it's relatively low price, this is both a great travel-camera and an excellent beginner camera. It won't disappoint you.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2010
    I'll start by saying that I'm a Canon fan. Three out of four of my current digital cameras, including both my DSLR's, are Canon. When I was looking to upgrade my compact zoom, this unit caught my eye for both its price point and its feature set. For a sub-$200 compact zoom, this camera definitely leads the pack.

    Pros:
    * 12 megapixel image capture
    * Very good image quality
    * Full 720P HD video capture
    * Excellent low light performance for its class
    * Excellent image stabilization capability
    * Full manual control, including Av, Tv and full manual modes
    * Great zoom range, especially at the wide end
    * Excellent, fast and intuitive performance
    * Reasonable battery performance with rechargables (a MUST!)
    * Works with convenient AA batteries
    * Excellent flash for its class
    * Excellent color fidelity with no detectable image artifacts
    * Fast continuous shooting for a compact camera
    * Perfect size for a compact zoom, fits in a large pocket
    * Fantastic price/performance ratio

    Cons:
    * No CCD cleaner that I've found
    * No flash shoe for an external flash
    * No external audio inputs for video capture
    * 10 minute video capture limit
    * No RAW image support
    * Terrible support for HD video codec
    * No optical/digital viewfinder / LCD display only
    * My unit got a speck of dust inside the lens, creating a spot on images/video for awhile

    It's been a couple years since I've purchased a camera and I was a bit surprised to see how far the feature sets have come, especially on the lower-end compacts. I've now put this camera through the paces in many different situations and overall, I'm very pleased with everything about it so far.

    My criteria for this camera purchase was fairly simple. I wanted a compact zoom with decent optical range, AA battery support, excellent color fidelity, reasonable low light performance and a unit that provided full manual control. I'm an amateur/semi-pro photographer and I expect a lot from my cameras. After reviewing the options out there, this one was a clear winner.

    First, I'll speak to the image quality and zoom. I've been very impressed with both its color fidelity and the overall image quality. Images are sharp and its ability to provide vivid color and great dynamic range within images is fantastic. With the unit's lack of RAW support, this was very important to me. At the low end of the zoom, there is a bit of the wide-angle effect...but I really appreciate how wide this camera is able to go. At the far end of the zoom, the optical quality is still great and I haven't detected any weak spots within the optical range. I've never been impressed with digital zoom, and I nearly always avoid it...but as is typical with digital zoom, you'll get artifacts at the furthest end of the spectrum. For a compact, the macro mode is also quite functional, allowing a very short focus range of less than 1/2" - and the 2" focus minimum for normal mode is also quite impressive.

    Aperture performance was up to my expectations for a camera lens of this quality, if not even a little better than I expected. The range is from f/3.4 to f/8.0 in aperture priority mode, and I typically would want more on the far end, but as far as I'm concerned, this camera produces f/22 and above quality in landscapes. You're not going to get beautiful bokeh effects at the low end (f/3.4) but this is typical of compact cameras with inexpensive lenses. With that said, though, I was surprised to see any bokeh whatsoever...and it is possible to get a little.

    Low light performance is important to me as this is one of my strongest interests in photography. Up to ISO800, there is very little noise in the captured images and I've found that my noise filters will clean up what little there is quite well. ISO1600 starts to introduce a fairly strong noise characteristic, but I expected as much. There is no ISO3200 support, but personally, I feel like this is a waste in a camera at this price point as there's no way you're going to get good performance at such extremes. The image stabilization works well, especially when you're right on the edge of needing a tripod. The camera features an auto focus assist beam, which is a welcome addition within a camera at this price point. Low-light video performance was quite good, although it does take a performance hit in the noise department...but I was still very impressed that it performs as well as it does by producing very watchable low-light video results.

    The overall feature set for a relatively inexpensive compact is just staggering to me. All of the basic features are there for a person who appreciates some creative control, including full Tv, Av and manual modes. The automatic modes are great for those times when I don't want to put effort in and P-mode (full auto, except for control over ISO) was an absolute necessity for me. The time-to-live is quick and from an off-state, I can capture an image in less than 3 seconds. I've tested some of the newer, fancier features and I have to say, they're quite impressive. The smile detection blew my mind because it actually worked! The ability to auto-shoot portraits when new people enter the scene is also pretty amazing to me. Blink detection? I would have never thought of that, but it's actually worked for me in a couple of cases. The HD-video is a great addition to my camera lineup and I've started playing with it fairly extensively. I have noticed a bit of discrepancy between the image stability on the LCD screen and the actual result in the produced video, but then again, if I wanted super-stable video, I'd use a tripod. There is a 10 minute limit to video capture, which could be a deal breaker for some, but for my purposes it's just fine. It picks up audio quite well, which was surprising to me - although you're not going to get movie studio quality out of the thing.

    Physically speaking, the camera is very comfortable to hold and all of the buttons are conveniently placed. Anyone who's used a Canon camera will feel quite at home with it...and even if you're not, I wouldn't anticipate much difficulty. I haven't had any notable difficulty with the button placement, but have inadvertently turned off the camera when I was trying to capture a picture in a hurried situation. It's not exactly a sub-compact, but for a compact zoom, the size is perfect and exceeds my expectations. (It fits in a large pocket quite easily, but not well in smaller ones, such as most rear pockets.) The lens retraction is very nice and the lens portion only sticks out about 3/4" from the body when fully retracted.

    Battery performance met my expectations, for the most part. The use of rechargeable batteries is a must for any digital camera - it's no secret that ALL digital cameras suck up a lot of juice. (This is WHY most of cameras use proprietary NiMH batteries!) For me, I'm fairly heavily invested into NiMH AA batteries, so it was very important for this purchase to support them. I don't get the rated performance, but I never trust those values and I can certainly squeak 200+ images out of a set of 2300mAh batteries, without flash usage. Video use does suck up the juice, but I've still been surprisingly impressed with its performance as I expected a lot less. I wouldn't really consider using standard alkaline batteries in a digital camera for all but a pinch situation and if you expect good performance on alkaline batteries, you're not going to get it. I did find the camera did not like a couple of my sets of 2700mAh batteries, and wouldn't even turn on...and while that bugged me, it wasn't a deal breaker as it does work with 90% of my batteries. A quality battery charger/tester goes a long way, as you won't get good performance if your batteries aren't up to snuff and aren't properly matched according to actual capacity.

    I really only have a couple of complaints. Somehow my unit got a fairly large spec of dust inside the lens, and for awhile, all my images/video had a blurry spot on them - particularly in images with fairly strong light/midrange backgrounds. I'm a little concern about the seal and its ability to prevent dust from entering into the lens. Eventually, this speck of dust went away and my images are back to normal - but it's frustrating when you can't do anything about something like this. Additionally, the HD video codec that is used by this camera (H.264/Apple Quicktime MOV) is very frustrating to work with on a computer. It's just not well supported yet and takes a LONG time to open on my computer, even within Apple's quicktime application. (My machine is a quad-core 3.2Ghz proc, 4GB RAM...fast, for all intents and purposes - perhaps I have an issue with my computer's video codecs and I am willing to concede that possibility.) With that said though, I've found it best to convert it to a different format for editing...a step that I would rather avoid. These two issues prevented me from giving the product a full five-star rating.

    Overall, though, I'm impressed with this camera and it fit the bill perfectly for me. I hope you've found this review helpful!
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