Digital CameraReviews, Samples, PricesCanon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic
Homepage NavigateFind the right Digital Camera.

Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Digital Camera

Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Digital Camera

Buy At Lowest Prices
Amazon.com $197.54
17th Street Photo $198.00
Adorama Camera $199.00
Electronic Express $199.99
Adorama $209.00
WholeSaleAV $216.96
J&R Music and Computer World $229.00
B&H $229.95
Norman Camera & Video $229.95
CompUSA $229.99
Cameta Camera Too low to display
Calumet Too low to display
Prices may vary by color. Prices shown are only for the defualt color.

Key Features of the Canon SX120 IS :
  • 10-megapixel Resolution.
  • 10x image-stabilized optical zoom.
  • Face Detection White Balance adjusts the white balance for best skin tones.
  • Large 3" LCD Pure Color screen; Motion Detection technology and Red-eye Correction.
  • 20 shooting modes, including 7 special scene modes.
  • DIGIC 4 Image Processor.
  • Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (2 alkaline batteries included).
  • Stores images on SD and SDHC memory cards (32MB memory card included).

A big, easy zoom. Everything about the PowerShot SX120 IS is easy. The Smart AUTO feature makes every shot picture-perfect. An impressive 10x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer keeps you sharp and steady. There’s even an Easy Mode that makes shooting super simple.

PowerShot SX120 Highlights

Smart AUTO detects and analyzes faces, brightness, colors, distance, and movement
Just set the Canon PowerShot SX120 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 18 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.

Easy Mode makes capturing images as easy as 1-2-3
Even if you've never picked up a camera before, with Canon's new Easy Mode you can take inspiring, dramatic pictures that will impress everyone. Once you choose Easy Mode, the PowerShot SX120 IS handles all the details automatically. It automatically sets every camera control, including the flash, to reduce blur and improve image quality. So you get pictures that are bright, clear and natural just by pushing a button. Best of all, you can relax and concentrate on what really counts--your subject.

With 20 Shooting Modes including 8 Special Scene Modes, you're ready for whatever shot comes your way.

Canon PowerShot SX120 highlights
10x optical zoom in action
High-powered 10x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer
The PowerShot SX120 IS has a 10x Optical Zoom lens that makes it easy to get the inspiring, emotive close-ups that will make your images lasting keepsakes. This magnificent lens gives you the power to shoot distant subjects with razor-sharp precision and stunning lifelike color. So you can brilliantly capture a bird high atop a tree, a child’s winning goal from across the stadium or a school play from the last row. Plus, thanks to Canon’s highly sophisticated Optical Image Stabilizer Technology, even at maximum zoom, every image is rock steady.

The PowerShot SX120 IS is equipped with Canon’s acclaimed Optical Image Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera shake--one of the leading causes of fuzzy or blurred shots. Even when zoomed in, you can get the steady, crisp, brilliant images you’ll be proud to shoot and share. And Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer Technology is convenient to use. It functions perfectly with or without a flash.

Canon PowerShot SX120 highlights
DIGIC 4 Image Processor
With DIGIC 4, your images boast superior quality, the camera operates at top efficiency and battery life is enhanced. What’s more, the DIGIC 4 Image Processor enables Canon’s Face Detection, Motion Detection Technologies and Red-eye Correction to give you better, more true-to-life people shots. Simply press the shutter button halfway down, and the camera automatically pinpoints the faces in the scene and chooses the ideal focus point. The camera controls exposure settings and flash to keep every face looking bright and natural. The camera also selects and sets the optimal exposure and ISO settings automatically to keep everything looking sharp and clear. Red-eye Correction can be handled in-camera, in two ways. The Red-eye Correction during shooting uses the Face Detection Technology to recognize and remove red-eye from images as they're taken, before the file is written to the memory card. It's also possible to correct red-eye during image playback, using simple settings in the PowerShot SX120 IS menu.

iSAPS Technology is an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the fast DIGIC 4 Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.

DIGIC 4 features Face Detection Technology, giving you the best possible results in any shooting situation. Face Detection AF/AE sets the focus point and exposure for the faces of your subjects. Face Detection FE adjusts the flash to correctly illuminate your subject to provide the best balance between your subject and the overall scene, eliminating the common problems of over and underexposed faces.

Face Detection WB means the camera concentrates upon faces when calculating white balance for the best possible skin tones. Face Select and Track lets you highlight one face among several in a scene, and the camera concentrates on that person, even as they move around the scene. Face Detection Technology is a powerful contributing factor in Canon's Motion Detection Technology.
Canon PowerShot SX120 highlights

Simply press the Face Selector Button, then the selected face is double-framed and tracked when the face moves in the frame.

Motion Detection Technology works in the background to instantly evaluate how fast your subject is moving. It automatically selects and sets the optimal exposure and ISO settings to keep everything looking sharp and clear. This feature provides higher ISOs when you need it for action-stopping shutter speeds. But when no movement is detected, it sets lower ISOs for excellent color and detail.
Canon PowerShot SX120 highlights

Life doesn’t give you second chances to capture special times. That’s why the PowerShot SX120 IS features an ISO 1600 setting that reduces the effects of camera shake and sharpens subjects in low-light situations, giving you greater shooting flexibility.

Red-eye Correction provides three options for removing red-eye from subjects in flash pictures.
1) The Red-eye Correction during shooting actually identifies and corrects red-eye in human subjects as pictures are taken.
2) The PowerShot SX120 IS can be set to automatically detect and correct red-eye during image playback.

Canon PowerShot SX120 highlights
Large 3.0-inch PureColor System LCD
You’ll want to have your PowerShot SX120 IS with you wherever you go, and a slim new design makes it easy. Subtly rounded for an easy grip, the camera exudes modern elegance and simplicity. The back panel’s neat, intuitive interface includes a luxuriously big 3.0-inch PureColor System LCD screen. And the PureColor System LCD screen’s quality is as impressive as its size: you’ll get an exceptionally clear, bright view of all your shots, and enjoy a conveniently wide viewing angle for showing off your pictures to friends and family.

AA battery powered camera enables you to easily power up
Conveniently, you don’t need to worry about running out of batteries or having to recharging 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 SX120 IS Body
  • AA-size Alkaline Battery (x2)
  • SD Memory Card SDC-32MB
  • Wrist Strap WS-800
  • Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
  • USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
  • AV Cable AVC-DC400



Canon SX120 IS Photo Samples

Click here to view more samples.
These are actual photos taken with Canon SX120 IS.
Photos courtesy of Flickr and belong to respective users. To view a larger image click on thumbnail.

Compare Canon SX120 IS with similar cameras

Name: Fuji S1000fd Fujifilm S1500 Fujifilm F70EXR Canon SX120 IS
Megapixels: 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
Optical Zoom: 12 X 12 X 10 X 10 X
Max Res: 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736 3616 x 2712 3648 x 2736
LCD Screen: 2.7 " 2.7 " 2.7 " 3 "
Digital zoom: Yes, 5.7x Yes, 5.7x Yes, 4x Yes, 4x
Image stabilizer: No Yes, Sensor shift Yes, Sensor shift Yes, Lens
Media Card: xD Picturecard / SD / SDHC / MMC SD / SDHC SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus compatible
Battery: AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended) AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended) NP-50 Li Ion battery AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Weight (with batteries): 325g 345 g (12.2 oz) 205 g (7.2 oz) 285 g (10.1 oz)
Lowest Price: $159.95 $160.95 $197.95 $198.00
Details: View details View details View details View details

Click here to compare 2 or more cameras. OR Click here for a detailed comparision.


Canon SX120 IS User Reviews

Avg. Rating
4.0
Out of 5
This item is reviewed by 87 people so far.
Click here for complete reviews.

5
Out of 5
Great camera for the above-average user
- Reviewd on: 3/8/2010 12:00:00 AM By: Octav
Pros:
Excellent daylight picture quality, with good white balance in auto mode.
Good picture quality for low-light and night shots, especially after you take control of some of the settings (especially ISO - keeping it under 400 really helps). I had to go to the manual white balance modes only a handful of times - other than that, I was really happy with the automatic mode. For some indoor shots, the warm colors of incandescent lighting might be even considered a plus.
Fast, shutter lag in non-existent once the exposure and focus are set - makes it much easier to capture those split-second moments. Once you realize how the auto-focus operates, it's easy to have the camera focused properly in no time.
Slow synchro flash option, and 3 levels of flash output in manual mode - that way you can avoid the over/under exposure situations caused by the flash. Being able to use the flash as a fill-in to compensate for a backlit subject, while avoiding overexposing a very interesting background is a big plus.
Fully manual controls.
Good choice of semi-automatic controls.
Optical image stabilization - and it works, too!! I was able to take a picture of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicoper, hand-held, at max zoom, with the helicopter being about 2 miles away - and I still had enough resolution in the picture to be able to count the blades on the rotors.
AA batteries - try buying a proprietary Li-Ion or charger at a gas station. Ni-MH rechargeables are cheap and easy to find, and if you can't keep those charged and ready to go, you won't do any better with a proprietary battery. I read reviews from people complaining about battery life - there's something wrong with their batteries and chargers - I have three sets of 2300 mAh NiMH batteries, and all of them are good for some 400 pictures.
Good zoom lens, decent optics - F2.8 for a 10x zoom lens is impressive.
Small enough to carry around - thus, when the perfect shot shows up, you'll have something to capture it with.
Decent continuous drive mode.
Standard USB cable, the kind that you already have a dozen of them around the average household.
Good, intuitive, easy to use menus.
AA alkaline batteries and 128 MB SD card included - so you can test your camera right out of the box.

Cons:
No printed user's guide - just a quick reference guide.
Only supports PictBridge, no way to have it set up as a mass storage device for picture transfer. Easier to use an external SD reader.
No viewfinder - although the LCD does a good job by itself.
Battery level indicator - it would be nice to get more than a "Low battery" indicator. Once you see it, you can take another 20-30 shots with a set of NiMH batteries.
Some purple fringing along the edges, especially when transitioning from an overexposed area to something a lot darker. Not a lot, though - I've seen much worse. Did some experimenting with some infrared LEDs, and got the same effect and color - so I'm starting to believe some of the purple fringes are caused by infrared light hitting the sensor, slightly off focus due do the higer wavelength. I'm still looking for an infrared blocking filter to test this theory in full.
No optical zoom during movie recording - only digital.
No 3:2 picture aspect ratio - only 4:3 and 16:9
No automatic exposure bracketing mode - it can be done manually, without too much hassle.
Could benefit from longer exposure times, and smaller apertures - but the available selection covers about 95% of the situations that you would encounter in day to day photography. A software hack developed by a group of enthusiasts, called CHDK, is in the process of being ported to the SX120 - it will provide, among other things, exposures up to 64 seconds, the ability to take RAW pictures, battery voltage, live histogram and optical zoom during movie recording.



Overall, after using it for 6 months and taking more than 2000 pictures, I would give it 4.5 stars - it's not perfect, but for this price, you can't beat it.
5
Out of 5
A good substitute of my Canon A570
- Reviewd on: 3/8/2010 12:00:00 AM By: Harold W. Miller
I had lost my Canon A570 camera in a house break-in. I got a replacement from Canon, the SX120, to give me a better zoom capability. It does that. I was surprised by several things. Even though the lens is much larger, it actually seems lighter--and thinner. The LCD is bigger, now 3". The wider lens in normal (1:1) use captures more light and is apparent in indoor shots. The camera is rated as 10X but with two extra megapixels, it will actually go up to 40x is you are willing to settle for a .jpg that we had in 2002 (a tripod is a must). The color seems somewhat better--the A570 seemed to be a little "cooler". The only negatives--quibbles actually--is the lack of an optical viewfinder which was probably sacrificed to make room for the larger lens and the lack of a panorama mode which I never used and is readily available with shareware. I did like the flip-up flash which is gives more light than the one on the A570. One thing you definitely will need is a larger SD chip to hold the larger pictures, the one that came with the camera is only 128mB (the A570 came with a tiny 16mB SD.) However I got a 4Gb SDHC card for $16 which holds 1400+ pictures. I find that the SX120 is a better camera than the A570--definitely an improvement.
3
Out of 5
whats up with no charger?
- Reviewd on: 3/6/2010 12:00:00 AM By: Mom of 3
This is a nice camera. Takes decent shots if you don't know anything, just put it on the auto setting and you'll get good pics. HOWEVER, the battery life is TERRIBLE. It takes 2 AA batteries and I have to change them almost every time I use the camera!!! It is so annoying and I always have to keep AA's where I go in case it suddenly dies on me. All my other cameras have had chargers that charge the camera and hold the charge for many uses. I hate this AA thing!!
5
Out of 5
Best third Canon I've owned
- Reviewd on: 3/3/2010 12:00:00 AM By: Richard C. Beeman
I just got back from Israel. I took this camera with me and was so happy to have gotten shots at a moment's notice. The quality of the pictures is amazing. I found I did better on a manual setting for shots in which I had time to set up. Just a rotation of the wheel on the back and I had the shutter set and I was ready to go. I only use Duracell 2650mah batteries in my Canon. They perform for almost two days of shooting. I was on this trip with another who had the same camera, the SX120IS, and he only had the akalines which came with his. They lasted almost half a day. I shared some of my batteries and he was very pleased with his camera after that.

The only real drawback for this camera is it's hard to grip. I had a PowerShot A530 that I loved, but it suffered from eating batteries. i had sent it back and they fixed it, but three years later it got hungry again. That is when I got this one. If the bump on the front were bigger I would feel better about holding it. As it is, I used the wrist strap all the time and it was fine. If you have a camera strap, use it. You'll have a nicer camera for a longer period of time.

I have 680 shots from my trip and they all came out great. Just push the shutter halfway down and make sure you allow the camera to focus before taking any pictures. Love my Canon!
5
Out of 5
I love this camera
- Reviewd on: 2/27/2010 12:00:00 AM By: Shelly Ruiz
I read so many reviews on this camera. Not just on Amazon.com, but Cnet and best buy also. So many people have such different opinions. I currently have the Casio Exilim 7mp with 3x zoom. I love this little camera. I found that I needed more zoom. My daughter is a cheerleader for the local NFL team, and I needed to capture her on the field, and all her appearances. I was at Best Buy and saw the camera. I played around with it taking pictures of everything in the store.. Loved the zoom feature. I was going to buy it, but the guy told me it was going to go on sale the next day. So I left. The next day I went to BJ's and found it for $30 cheaper than Bestbuys' sale price. (yes it was the same model number and camera). So I decided to "test" buy it. they give you 14 days to return. Well that was over 3 weeks ago. I love this camera. Most people said that they hated that it was so bulky... well it doesn't bother me. Others state that the battery life is short, well I put in the Duracell rechargeable, and still haven't charged ever since and I'm on my 485 picture. What convinced me to keep the camera was that my colleague, who is a tech geek, saw me with it ( I take it everywhere, have it in my purse 24/7)and he told me that he bought one about 6 months ago and loves it. However, his is the earlier model SX110IS...

Another selling fact was that I took a picture of an island that has a statue which you can't see with the naked eye. I zoomed in and saw all the details of it...wish I could post the pictures so you all can see it. People also gripe that the lcd isn't clear, but hey this isn't a $2000 camera. I don't agree and find it very clear and pictures look awesome.

the main thing is to learn how to navigate. Read the main points in the pdf manual, play with the camera. Most people say it doesn't have macro zoom, the manual says to stand 3 feet from object and then zoom in...it really is amazing the details that it captures.

I'm not a pro, but am a picture taking junky. I am the designated photographer for all our events, vacations and just for anything.

(PS, I also tried the Sony, but just the fact that it uses their special memory card turned me off... I have soooo many SD cards)

So go out and buy and "test" it for yourselves....