Canon PowerShot G12
Manufacturer: Canon Part number: 4342B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Relatively unchanged from its predecessor, save the addition of 720p video, the Canon PowerShot G12 remains a very good, more-or-less compact model, designed to please photo enthusiasts.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Canon PowerShot G12 price range: $789.00
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 02/04/2011
- Released on: 10/01/2010
The good: Optical viewfinder; articulated LCD; built-in neutral-density filter; very good photo quality for its class.
The bad: Shot-to-shot performance still a little sluggish; some annoying controls.
The bottom line: Relatively unchanged from its predecessor, save the addition of 720p video, the Canon PowerShot G12 remains a very good, more-or-less compact model, designed to please photo enthusiasts.
User reviews
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Amazing Little Box of Tricks
by Johnston54 on October 2, 2011
Pros: + Very solid and reassuring
+ Screen is good
+ 5x zoom works very well and the pictures are still very sharp
+ Autofocus works really well
+ Lowlight functioning is great
+ Camera has RAW functionalityCons: - No optical zoom on video
- Cannot control parametres in HDR and minature effect modeSummary: I've had this camera for two months and it still amazes me.
I've previously had an Canon Ixus 60 and a Fuji F50. However, I felt ready to ...Summary: I've had this camera for two months and it still amazes me.
I've previously had an Canon Ixus 60 and a Fuji F50. However, I felt ready to move on from the F50. Yet I wasn't happy with buying a dSLR if it meant it was too bulky to move around - it'd be used only for special occasions and there was a lot of investment in the system. So I looked at bridge cameras only to realise they were still too bulky and that what I really wanted was a high-end compact. After much faffing around, I settled for the G12. At the time of purchase, I could have bought a Canon 500D/550D for a little more!
From the moment I picked it up, I loved it. I loved the chunky feel - it feels snug in my hand. Unlike others who seem to have problems, I've not accidentally pressed any buttons. The build, although plastic, is very solid and reassuring. It feels expensive in your hand. It comes with a neck strap which I think is a bit OTT - a wrist strap would suffice and is my next purchase.
The screen is good - it's not spectacular but it's fine for looking at the photos you've taken. The variangle feature (one of the points that drew me to the G12) is excellent. I've used it to take shots above other peoples' heads as well as from low down. Taking pics of yourself with friends is a lot easier too.
The viewfinder is pretty pants IMO and could have done with being electronic but I guess it's asking too much.
5x zoom works very well and the pictures are still very sharp. However, when you have compacts with larger zooms, it does make you wish you could zoom more. The camera does go into digital zoom if you try to zoom beyond the optical range. The autofocus works really well but when moving, I find it struggles a bit more.
Lowlight functioning is great and the pics are as good as indoor pics but I did find the autofocus struggled and again this was whilst moving eg taking a photo whilst walking.
The camera has RAW functionality, which was another reason for me choosing the G12. The downsides are that you can't take RAW pics in fully auto mode and that older software won't recognise the G12's RAW format - you have to update your software. The latest copy of CS5 will happily open G12 but if you have an older copy like CS3, it won't be supported. Windows have also started to have native RAW file support so you can see the pics like with other supported formats and again the G12 has been omitted.
I love the histogram function - you have a live histogram, and it can be displayed on when reviewing the photos as well as the RGBK channels. The camera also has a built in ND filter which you can hear click into place when activated. Need to have a fiddle with this as I've only just discovered it!
Finally, battery life. Mine lasted six hours of near-continuous use before it conked out. Only on second charge so no idea if it'll improve with further recharge-discharge cycles or whether it'll stop there. As it stands, I've bought another battery - a complete necessity IMO - you'll love taking pics with this little camera.
All-in-all, an excellent purchase and I've no regrets, despite the niggles.
and If you will buy the Canon G12 I suggest you have to compare prices before you decide at: www.amazonshotcode.com/canon-g1211 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great small camera for near SLR work.
by wrobart on February 7, 2011
Pros: Love the picture quality especially in low light. Like the fact that there's still a viewfinder because when it disappears I'll be forced to lug an SLR around and that be a chore I'd prefer to avoid.
Cons: It's slightly larger than my old Canon S70 so it's not as easy to stuff in a pocket. Won't fit in pants pocket but will fit in jacket pockets.
Summary: Have used the camera for numerous indoor construction pics with out the flash and the results are excellent. Haven't used the camera outdoors much due to lousy weather in ...
Summary: Have used the camera for numerous indoor construction pics with out the flash and the results are excellent. Haven't used the camera outdoors much due to lousy weather in the NYC area this year. Battery life is more than adequate for me but I rarely take more than 200 pics per day. Use 4 gig 30MB/S Extreme chips and the download speed is fabulous. Picture to picture speed is more than fast enough fo my use as I rarely take pics in rapid succession. Power up speed is fine too. There's a slight delay when zooming but hasn't spoiled any opportunities yet. Love the function dials as it reduces the need to scroll thru menu's. The menus are very similar to the old S70 so my learning curve has been short. Used a friends Nikon and the different menu organization made using it very difficult. I'd need to spend lots of time in the manual to learn their organization.
Also looked at the S95 but lack of a viewfinder was a turn off for me.3 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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miserable tiny controller wheel at back.
by NeilFiertel on February 10, 2011
Pros: solid build decent image quality and movable LCD and RAW as well as a sort of viewfinder, crude but sufficient in bright light conditionis
Cons: noisy above ISO 200 ..small sensor issues of course. The control wheel at back with its buttons is too easy to set manual focus and so forth
Summary: The small sensor does as well as one can do with that but the camera is not a small camera so there are larger sensor cameras out there that puts ...
Summary: The small sensor does as well as one can do with that but the camera is not a small camera so there are larger sensor cameras out there that puts this old design in the shade. The Sony being the one that I most favour and if it had a better direct menu system I would have gotten that. Instead I will buy neither and wait for a new Sony or for Canon to modernize the compact designs that need a serious updating. I will not be surprised that they will suddently do just that.
2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The lens is scratched because the cover rubs against it
by villuzzi on December 25, 2011
Pros: Takes good photos before lens scratched.
Cons: Lens scratches when opening and closing. Appears to be a somewhat common problem.
Summary: Caution!
Summary: Caution!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I wanted to love it.
by stevenz66 on March 29, 2013
Pros: Build quality, feel in the hand.
Top Dials.
A lot in a compact camera.
Optical viewfinder.(See Cons.)
Swivel LCD.
Very good in low light.
Good flash performance.Cons: Viewfinder does not zoom with same parallax as lens.
Viewfinder does not refocus when zooming in video.
No information in viewfinder.
HDR functionality.
Shutter lag.Summary: I wanted to love this camera, and I did love it when I got it. But only until I started using it. What I think are flaws may not be ...
Summary: I wanted to love this camera, and I did love it when I got it. But only until I started using it. What I think are flaws may not be everyone's idea of flaws. But the cons listed above are serious for me. The viewfinder might as well be a hole in the camera for all it does. If you rely only on the optical viewfinder when zooming, it's likely you'll get badly off-centered pictures. And why it doesn't refocus when you zoom is a mystery. My cheap Kodak can do that!
When my iPhone can do HDR exposures with one click, why does this camera need three separate exposures and a tripod? Makes HDR useless unless you're being very very serious about a particular shot and have lots of time.
The little wheels in the back are fine for small fingers. I constantly push them accidentally. They aren't designed for quick changes, and have no tactile indicators to distinguish them by feel.
The settings are very confusing to me, and the menus don't seem intuitively organized. I sometimes get settings I don't want then don't know how to get out of them. For example, somehow the 10x setting for video was turned on and I ruined several important videos without knowing it.
Some of my pictures are labeled "unidentifiable image!" What...? Others come out as half frame with the other half grey.
There must be a technological reason why there has to be shutter lag but I think that a camera of this quality shouldn't have any. It's very annoying and makes action shots a guessing game or results in blurred pics.
There are more things I don't like but those are the highlights. For the high spots you can read others' reviews. I wish I could love it like they do. I bought this camera because I wanted something small to travel with but not give up picture quality. Now I'm thinking it's worth lugging the Nikon DSLR around.
Also, I see that of this date, CNet says this is selling, low price, for $699. Ha! You can have mine, little used, unblemished, for $500 with the case! (It's a very nice case.) If I could do it over, I wouldn't buy this. I do so much research on the things I buy I'm rarely disappointed, so this is very unusual for me. Read these reviews and make your decision according to what's important in a camera to you. -
Canon G12 scratches its own lens
by blufftaylor on August 20, 2012
Pros: I love this camera. Lots of pro-level control, small enough to carry with me always. I agree with the many people who rank this one highly. That's why I bought it.
Except for the fatal flaw, noted below.Cons: The lens cover blades scratch the lens. Incredible, but true. I compare with every G10, G11, and G12 owner I meet, and scratches such as mine are common.
Canon, how can you do this, and not acknowledge it?Summary: I like it for so many reasons. But if Canon won't fix this, it's not worth owning.
Summary: I like it for so many reasons. But if Canon won't fix this, it's not worth owning.
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Beefy But Able
by desertratchel on September 6, 2011
Pros: Excellent image quality, high-res movies, stereo sound, articulating LCD, electronic level, color accuracy, very good dynamic range, clean images up to ISO 400 (800 not bad, and even 1600 is usable).
Cons: Bulky, smallish LCD, doesn't feel as solid as its predecessors.
Summary: The G12 is just enough too big that sometimes it's a pain to carry, so I've kept my S90, rather than sell it as I'd planned. It'...
Summary: The G12 is just enough too big that sometimes it's a pain to carry, so I've kept my S90, rather than sell it as I'd planned. It's hard to say which camera produces better images, the truly compact S90 or the hulking G12. Each camera has its strengths and drawbacks. The articulating LCD is invaluable in framing high or low-level shots and macros, and it's very handy in bright outdoor light; you can tilt it away from the sun so that it doesn't glare. The extra 1X of optical zoom makes a big difference over the S90, too. For my style of shooting I need all the reach I can get, and even the G12 sometimes fall short in that regard. Overall, it's a very pleasing camera and unquestionably the best G series iteration to date.
Still, -
As good as expected.
by ronsmith100 on June 20, 2011
Pros: Exceptional image. Light weight. Retro dials. 28mm wide angle. HD video with stereo sound. Fisheye FUN! HDR
Cons: A bit more mechanical zoom would be good. A flash shoe cover. Lack of a printed manual. I like off the shelf AA batteries better than Lithium.
Summary: With more than half a century of photography. I've seen it all. Moved to videography 20 years ago and naturally migrated to Digital imaging from that.
This is the ...Summary: With more than half a century of photography. I've seen it all. Moved to videography 20 years ago and naturally migrated to Digital imaging from that.
This is the perfect light weight walk around for me. I have an EOS 7D and lots of canon lenses. This camera is sort of like having a second body only better. It fits nicely in a small nook of my system case.
I don't find the dials and navigation buttons hard to use. I feels perfect to me but that's the Canon connection I suppose. If one liked and used a different camera a lot (like say the Lumix mentioned) then I suppose a different arrangement would be cumbersome.
Also I have a "good eye" too and do not see any degradation of image past 200. But then I don't just change to higher ISO on a whim. I can shoot 800 that looks very nearly as good a 200 after I set up other parameters to compensate and do the post processing. Not to worry.
I find myself shooting a larger number of panorama hdr landscapes with the g12 than the 7D. -
Best Point and Shoot I have used
by chrisandreae on May 11, 2011
Pros: Quick capture, fast flash recharge, ong battery life, sturdy construction. Excellent picture quality, vast array of customization options.
Cons: Price, Size
Summary: Very quick capture, no more lost moments because of the delay between pressing the button and the picture actually taking. Push, it takes...far faster than any digital camera I'...
Summary: Very quick capture, no more lost moments because of the delay between pressing the button and the picture actually taking. Push, it takes...far faster than any digital camera I've used to date. The flash is also extremely fast to recharge, it has a long battery life and a very sturdy construction. Picture quality is excellent and it has a vast array of customization options for those that know more about photography than I. The auto mode makes seamless transitions between normal and macro mode for closeups, and takes pictures indoors in poor light as well as it does outdoors in perfect light. I haven't had much experience shooting moving targets, so I'll pass on rating that.
I wish it had been cheaper, of course, but I still consider it a good purchase overall. If there were something other than price I'd love to change it would be the rather bulky size of the unit. Point and shoot convenience but in an SLR sized body.
Overall if you have a medium camera budget and dont mind lugging around a bulkier camera...this is a fantastic choice. -
Has Everything I Need With A Little Extra :)
by Finland on February 12, 2011
Pros: Swivel View Finder *** Image Stabilization *** Outside Controls *** A Place To Add A Better Flash *** Shoots In RAW *** Some Len's Can Be Added *** How To, Books Written Specifically For This Camera.
Cons: Awkward To Hold And Shoot *** A Lot Abilities I Find Unnecessary Because of Computer Photo Editing Software These Days,
Summary: I bought the camera because I missed out on Image Stabilization with a different Canon PowerShot (A630) back in 2006. I basically use my camera mostly to take shots of "...
Summary: I bought the camera because I missed out on Image Stabilization with a different Canon PowerShot (A630) back in 2006. I basically use my camera mostly to take shots of "text" from books & magazines to put them in my computer using Prizmo (sweet). Hence, taking Shot's without the flash (to avoid the glare bouncing back from the page) made my shots of "text" fuzzy and hard to read, like, all the time (that is, without an iron grip that would make Superman envious) all because my A630 has no Image Stabilization, follow? Furthermore without question, I need the swivel LCD screen, being books & magazines are just placed on the floor or table or even just on my lap etc. No studio over here (places everyone), lol...
Looks like the EYE FI feature of turning off the card from uploading (built in the Camera) does work, although there is still a note in the booklet about it "maybe" having trouble. Being a big fan of the EYE IF card I felt compelled to make an "addendum."
That's really about it, using the flash with my old A630 covered any other requirements for picture taking farfignugen (just fine).
So I thought I would leave my two cents worth at CNET because, I do own this camera :)
Also I had bought a lens that fit the A630 PowerShot, something called LA-DC58F if this is the adaptor and not the Lens itself, I forget because there are a couple of len's and filters but you do need an ADAPTOR, why?
The lens itself doesn't come off the camera, rather you add a lens OVER, the camera's lens itself, you with me? However, it seems the Fish Eye lens is unnecessary because the G12 apparently has the ability built in (and you'll never guess with lens I happen to have). But I'll see which one works better.
I'm not an advance photographer, rather far from it, which this camera says is a stepping stone too (a pro camera). It has all or at least most of the "adjustment" stuff on the outside of the camera, which even I know must be great (being that you don't have to dig around for it in the Menus). But for me, outside of avoiding the glare from flash (and using a slave flash sidekick helps), it seems you can just tweak the "stuff out" on Computer Programs, no? Like I said, I'm just a knock around type of guy.
I do look forward to trying out different abilities, and there is a book written specifically for this camera, which I have (in digital - bought through Kindle, Amazon) but I tell ya, between you and me, the more I think about it, why on earth try and make adjustments "on" the camera other than just getting a good plane, ordinary shot (which Auto seems to do just fine) and do the rest with a computer program.
The camera Is awkward to hold, in so much as your fingers easily can sit on top of some control functions, but the interfering controls are rather innocuous (not harmful), and when you start taking shots, you will realize that how the camera feels in the hand, is really not that important, when your mind is (or should be) on the shot itself, follow? So in my opinion, how a camera feels in the hand (truth be told) is not so high on my list. Oh don't get me wrong - when I'm shopping I find it hard to shake the need for the requirement, but trust me, I know when I'm shooting it's the farthest thing from my mind...
It shoots RAW, which from what I understand helps a lot when tweaking images on the computer; I look forward to seeing what that's all about; and last but certainly not least, there is a video camera built in to this bad boy, which I'm sure is fine, considering I use other devices specifically for that purpose, but it's there. The booklet talks about it maybe having some difficulty with working with EYE FI an SD Card Product, a dream come true (I use one) although there is a setting "in" the menu Made Especially for the EYE FI Card (believe it or not) to turn "the card" off. Which I found to be rather a cool idea, because I happen to shoot when the computer is on (not that I can't turn the EYE FI up loader off in the computer, you see?). So in closing, I think the difficulty they refer to in the booklet might be about the camera not being able to "turn off" the EYE FI SD Cards ability to upload (which is it's purpose) because when I have engage the off function in the camera, it doesn't work (at least so far) BUT the card still works just fine (so I don't know what that's all about and I don't wanna know - as long as my card still works). Yes, it's just avoiding the use of the cable, but when you experience the ease, there is no going back (and the speed seems to be the same as any other upload) being that I'm in the ten or so shot range. There are several cards to choose from "don't forget video" so I would suggest reading about them, if your interested...
by, by - I see you....
Updated on Feb 14, 20110 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon
- Part number: 4342B001
- Description: Feast your eyes on an updated G series digital camera: the G12. It's ready to impress the advanced amateurs who have always celebrated the G series. The G12 is still loaded with powerful technologies that has made the G series cameras so renowned, like the Canon HS system, 2.8-inch vari-angle PureColor system LCD, and RAW + JPEG image modes. This flagship camera paves the way with these upgrades like 720p HD video with stereo sound to get crystal clear footage, multiple aspect ratios, high dynamic range, electronic level, tracking AF, a front dial and much more to give you even more creative control than before!
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Enclosure Color Black
- Resolution 10 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 10,400,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 10,000,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/1.7"
- Optical Zoom 5 x
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Image Processor DIGIC 4
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty 9
- AE/AF Control FlexiZone
- Digital Video Format MOV,
H.264 - Image Recording Format JPEG,
RAW,
RAW + JPEG - Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
- AV Interfaces HDMI,
Composite video/audio Exposure & White Balance
- Light Sensitivity ISO 2000,
ISO 3200,
ISO 125,
ISO 1600,
ISO 2500,
ISO 250,
ISO 800,
ISO 1250,
ISO 100,
ISO 200,
ISO 80,
ISO 1000,
ISO 160,
ISO 640,
ISO 320,
ISO 400,
ISO 500,
ISO auto - Exposure Metering Spot AF area,
Evaluative,
Center-weighted,
Spot - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic,
Shutter-priority,
Manual,
Aperture-priority - Shooting Programs Snow,
Beach,
Underwater,
Sports mode,
Stitch assist,
Foliage,
Kids & pets,
Low light,
Fireworks,
Poster effect,
Portrait mode,
Landscape - Special Effects Miniature,
Vivid Blue,
Vivid Green,
Vivid Red,
Nostalgic,
Positive Film,
Vivid,
Fisheye,
Black & White,
Sepia,
Neutral,
Darker Skin Tone,
Lighter Skin Tone,
Color Accent,
Color Swap,
Custom Effect - White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - White Balance Presets Daylight,
Tungsten light,
Underwater,
Fluorescent,
Cloudy,
Flash - Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 15 sec
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps
- X-sync Speed 1/2000 sec
Lens System
- Type 5 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 30.5 mm - F/2.8-4.5
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 - 140 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 2 in
- Macro Focus Range 0.4 in - 19.7 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 9 groups / 11 elements
- Features Aspherical lens,
Built-in lens shield Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Rear curtain sync,
Fill-in mode,
Slow synchro,
Auto mode,
Flash OFF mode,
Red-eye reduction - Features Flash +/- compensation,
AF illuminator - Effective Flash Range 1.6 ft - 23 ft
Additional Features
- Continuous Shooting Speed 0.7 frames per second,
0.8 frames per second,
2 frames per second - Self Timer Delay 30 sec,
25 sec,
0 - 15 sec,
20 sec - Flash Terminal Hot shoe
- Additional Features Digital image rotation,
HS System,
Display brightness control,
In-camera red-eye fix,
Scene Detection Technology,
Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB,
Audio recording,
Wink Self-timer,
Resizing an image,
Cropping an image,
Saturation control,
I-Contrast (Intelligent Contrast Correction) system,
Blink Detection technology,
Face Detection Self-timer,
Smile Detection technology,
Exif Print support,
720p HD movie recording,
AF lock,
DPOF support,
RGB primary color filter,
Safety zoom,
Digital tele-converter,
FE lock,
Built-in speaker,
Motion Detection Technology,
Auto HDR mode,
Smile Detection Auto Shutter,
AE lock,
Digital noise reduction,
Histogram display,
Camera orientation detection,
In-camera movie editing,
Focus bracketing,
PictBridge support,
Sharpness control,
Contrast control,
USB 2.0 compatibility,
Direct print Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type Optical - Real-image zoom
Display
- Type 2.8 in LCD display
- Resolution 461,000 pixels
- Display Features Rotating
Microphone
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB,
1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x HDMI output
Software
- Software Canon ZoomBrowser EX,
Canon PhotoStitch,
Drivers & Utilities,
Canon ImageBrowser,
Canon Remote Capture System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows XP SP3,
MS Windows 7,
Apple Mac OS X 10.4 - 10.6,
MS Windows Vista - Peripheral Devices USB port,
CD-ROM drive Miscellaneous
- Microsoft Certifications Compatible with Windows 7
- Included Accessories Battery charger,
USB cable,
Neck strap,
Audio / video cable Battery
- Supported Battery Canon NB-7L
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Memory / Storage
- Memory Card Slot SD card
- Supported Memory Cards SDHC Memory Card,
MultiMediaCard,
SD Memory Card,
MultiMediaCardplus,
SDXC Memory Card - Included Memory Card SD Memory Card
- Image Storage RAW 3648 x 2736,
JPEG 3648 x 2736,
JPEG 3648 x 2432,
JPEG 3648 x 2048,
JPEG 2816 x 2112,
JPEG 2816 x 1880,
JPEG 2816 x 1584,
JPEG 1600 x 1200,
JPEG 1600 x 1064,
JPEG 1920 x 1080,
JPEG 640 x 480,
JPEG 640 x 424,
JPEG 640 x 360,
JPEG 2736 x 2736,
JPEG 2112 x 2112,
JPEG 1200 x 1200,
JPEG 480 x 480 - Video Capture H.264 - 1280 x 720,
H.264 - 640 x 480,
H.264 - 320 x 240,
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - Miniature Effect,
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - Miniature Effect,
H.264 - 1280 x 720 - Miniature Effect,
H.264 - 640 x 480 - Miniature Effect,
H.264 - 640 x 480 - Miniature Effect,
H.264 - 640 x 480 - Miniature Effect Dimensions & Weight
- Width 4.4 in
- Depth 1.9 in
- Height 3 in
- Weight 12.4 oz
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Main Features
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Canon products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Canon
- Address:
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 - Phone: 516-328-5000
- Email: mediacontact@cusa.canon.com


