Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

Viewfinder

Unlike many compact digital cameras on the market, the SD1200IS has an optical viewfinder. It is a tiny one, though we appreciate it nonetheless since it can make it easier to hold the camera still closer to your face than in your outstretched hands in some situations, and provides a backup solution when bright sunlight glares on the LCD.
 

Better a tiny viewfinder than no viewfinder at all

LCD

The SD1200 IS has a 2.5-inch display with approximately 230,000-dot resolution. Brightness is adjustable between 5 levels in the main settings menu. If you prefer to use the optical viewfinder, pressing the Display button below the 4-way controller turns the LCD off so you don't have a bright light shining on your cheek as you frame up your image.
 

The SD1200 IS LCD display

Flash

The flash is above and slightly to the right of the lens, but the two seem mighty close together for our taste. In fact, the flash doesn't even clear the chrome ring around the lens. The closer a flash is to a lens, the higher the likelihood of red-eye, so we view this design with suspicion.
 

The flash uncomfortably close to the lens

Fortunately, there are Red-eye Reduction and Auto Red-eye Correction flash modes, in addition to a Slow Synchro mode that will slow the shutter speed in low-light conditions, allowing both the foreground and background to appear in the shot. According to Canon, the flash is effective out to 14 feet when the lens is at its widest setting and out to 7.9 feet at full zoom. It takes up to 10 seconds for the flash to recycle when the battery voltage is at least 3.7.
 

Lens

The SD1200 IS's lens spans 6.2 to18.6mm, with a 35mm film equivalent of 35-105mm. Maximum aperture at its widest setting is a fast f/2.8, and f/4.9 at maximum zoom. Zooming is accomplished via a rotating toggle that surrounds the shutter button.
 

The lens fully extended

The lens can focus as close as 1 foot away from the subject in normal mode and as close as 1.2-inches in macro mode.
 

Jacks, Ports & Plugs

The SD1200 IS has a single port that doubles as a USB connector to connect the camera to your computer as an AV-out connection. Both cables are included with the SD1200 IS.
 

The only port on the SD1200 IS

Battery

The SD1200 IS comes with a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery. The battery and expansion card compartment is on the bottom of the camera, and the battery is held in additionally by a small plastic tab once the compartment is opened so it won't tumble out as soon as the compartment door is opened. Canon estimates the battery will last for 260 still shots with the LCD on, or up to 700 with the LCD off.
 

The SD1200 IS's battery

Memory

The SD1200 IS takes SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus, and HC MMC Plus cards.
 

The expansion card slot above the battery