Description

It's all about the power of contrast. Color that defies convention. Sleek, gentle curves that merge art and technology into a camera designed to inspire. The PowerShot SD1300 IS Digital ELPH camera captures your world as much as it expresses your originality, with bold innovations that include remarkable Low Light performance. Everything looks right. Hold it...and everything feels right, too.

Customer Reviews

 the camera is just OK, but the service from Amazon is nice. - Sep 02, 2010

I returned this camera immedeately after I received. It was said to be 18 shooting modes with the camera. However,I could just find. The LCD seemd not as good as my "old" canon SD880 IS, which I have loved a lot. Also, the outer shell of the camera was made of a kind of plastic, instead of metal. It is a cheap camera, so do not expect too much of this one.

Anyway, the return service from Amazon was awesome. I got all my refund shortly.

 flash problem - Aug 29, 2010

i brought this camera for my brother. the camera looks great and has nice features. but indoor photography is awful. any photo taken in flash comes out with a nasty yellow tint. the processor cannot render correct white balance, sharpness and color

 Nothing like a Canon! - Aug 27, 2010

Having owned many of these canons, I can say that by far they beat the Sony and other models. They are easy to use, take great pictures without having to fiddle with settings, and in general offer a non pro a great lightweight option.

 Great Camera...sleek & easy to use - Aug 23, 2010

Just recieved it this past Saturday...Very happy with the product, packaging, etc. I recieved a free 4GB memory disk from amazon with the purchase and was able to use it right away. It was a lot more sleek and smaller than I expected which makes it great for taking it anywhere. Love the brown color, very modern look. It was super easy to turn on and started taking pics right away. All the buttons and settings are easy to find and figure out their function without even looking at the manual. As a previous reviewer mentioned, make sure to update the picture quality setting, you have about 5 different dpi options so the higher the number the better quality pics. Definitley wouldn't leave it on the 'S' Setting. Video quality is great as well. Only gave it the 4 stars because I haven't had the chance to fully explore everything. Before you take the photo the live screen shots show a little fuzzy on the screen but after you focus and take the pic, it's a great quality.

 Very Nice. You should own one. - Aug 20, 2010

Just a very good camera. Small and compact with a nice sized LCD screen. Takes great pics.

 Great camera - Aug 01, 2010

The camera is easy to use with lots of great features and settings. Admittedly it sometimes feels too small, but that's just a personal thing. The pictures that come out are very nice.

 Horrible product - Jul 28, 2010

We bought this camera as a replacement for an older Canon Powershot the day before going on a trip. ALL the pictures came out blurry...really, really disappointing. I have since taken the same exact photo with this camera and the old one - its like night and day. Everything is either slightly out of focus or blurry - and its not user error! Just not sure how Canon can sell this shoddy quality equipment. Worst experience ever - never buying Canon again.

 Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS - Jul 24, 2010

NOTE:
I returned this camera to Amazon - but here's the review anyway.

Pros:
1) Good point-and-shoot - works alright in most cases.
2) Small, sleek, light and handy. Fits in your pocket.
3) Zoom during recording video (some older models did not have this functionality).
4) Face detection works suprisingly well.

Cons:
1) Overexposure in Auto mode, sometimes.
2) No manual mode. Not even aperture priority or shutter speed priority modes.
3) Flimsy construction of (a) the battery and card slot door and (b) auto-program-video mode switch - I was scared they would come off every time I used it.
4) Static noise during video (an older canon camera I tried did not have this much noise).
5) No manual focus.

Summary:
This seems to be a good point-and-shoot. The overexposure problem can be corrected by exposure compensation in Program mode. I'd want a little more manual control over the settings (eg: shutter speed, f-stop, manual focus), and the Program mode doesn't cut it. However, if you don't need all that, this camera looks like a decent buy.

Misc:
Shipped fast, packaged well, product arrived in good condition.

Seller:
Amazon.com

Price:
$179.99

 Excellent camera - Jul 09, 2010

Excellent little camera. Very light and easy to take with on trips and such. Takes excellent pictures and is very user friendly. I would recommend this camera to anyone wanting a good priced camera that takes good quality pictures.

 great quality of pictures, easy to use - Jul 07, 2010

Pros: picture quality is good; macro is very nice for a compact camera; Auto mode is good enough is most case; compact size
Cons: when change mode, need to hit display key to find more mode options. However, I found it ok as I don't use the other modes that often.
I've taken about 500 pictures and need to change the battery twice. Not sure how's the battery life in about a year.

 SD1300 - Jul 06, 2010

The product is good and delivery was very quick. Picture quality is excellent, but as other reviewers noted there is some manual entries that have to be made for certain conditions - the auto feature is not as good as I would like. I miss the viewfinder, but knew it wouldn't be part of this product. It's so small I almost forget it is in my pocket when out and about - makes it very easy to take along any time.

 NO VIEWFINDER - Jul 02, 2010

If you need a viewfinder, this new model doesn't have one.

Buy the previous model sd1200 for a viewfinder; the performance is the same.

It's almost impossible to find a viewfinder in compact point and shoots, so now is the time to buy.

 canon camera - Jul 02, 2010

The camera arrived quickly and was in fine condition. Took a few pictures, and am pleased.

 It's a Point n Shoot, Not Meant to be the Hubble Telescope! - Jun 21, 2010

C'mon, guys! It's a point and shoot micro camera, not the Hubble Telescope so don't expect D-SLR build and features from this little cool baby. The lens is good, the handling is good, on/off is good, it fits in my back pants pocket. I keep the strap on it so I can pull it out quickly. I also put a screen protector on the LCD to protect it from scratches. Due to all the scrathces on the plastic sheet, I change the protector every few months. I replaced my older canon SD700IS with the new SD1300 since I wanted a new pocket camera. I use my Nikon D-SLR for all my heavier shoots but always keep my mini Canon in my pocket just in case. You can't go wrong for $179. This is first camera I've had without a view finder but I'm told that change is good and I shouldn't drug myself to overcome the lack of the peephole. Yes, I used to be a pro. And remember the adage, "It's the photographer, stupid, not just the camera." Oh yeah, the reason I didn't get the SD1400 is that I'm an old timer and need buttons to push rather than a touch screen.

 Superb camera at a great price - Jun 20, 2010

I bought this to replace my girlfriends aging Canon SD1100, and we couldn't be happier.

We love the compact size of the SD series, and the intuitive menu system used by Canon. Unlike many other camera brands, it's very easy to find even the most obscure settings in the Canon menus; they're well laid out, responsive, and easy to navigate.

Picture quality is also superb. I was a little worried at first that the huge megapixel count on a tiny point & shoot camera sensor would just result in soft, noisy images, but I was wrong. We've printed a bunch of shots at 8x10, and a few really great shots at 12x18. It's no APS or APS-C, DSLR, but for a little pocket camera, this thing rocks. I'm now trying to decide if I want one of these for myself, or if I should make the jump to the SD1400.

I would heartily recommend this camera to anybody looking for a high quality, moderately priced device.

 Love my Canon Powershot. - Jun 13, 2010

My daughter had been through a camera she did not like and therefore researched before purchasing the Canon Powershot. I took her recommendation and love this camera! User friendly, versitile, dependable. Movie clips are wonderful.

 Excellent - Jun 05, 2010

This camera is a worthy upgrade over my 2006 Canon pocket camera. What impresses me most about the camera is the smart software that it uses when taking pictures. Photos look noticeably more crisp than my last camera.

My only minor complaint is that I sometimes accidentally turn the camera on while it is in my pocket. Thankfully the lens is a good sport and hasn't broken so far.

 Good Quality - May 24, 2010

Over the years I am owned may cameras, but this one bets them all. It has very good picture quality and works extremely well in dim light.

 Conventient and smart little camera! - May 20, 2010

My Dad bought me this camera recently. I am a fifth grade teacher and the size is perfect to have for class trip and activites. I'm not a professional photographer, so the fact that it is so user-friendly is wonderful. The quality of the pictures is better than any point and shoot camera I've ever had. I bought a 4G card, and I have never come close to filling it up with pictures and video. My ideal camera is one that is easy to use, doesn't take up much space, and takes great photos quickly. This is the perfect camera for me!

 Best camera i've owned so far - May 14, 2010

I was just looking for a basic digital camera to take pictures with and am by no means a photo or camera buff. But for me using the Canon is fairly straightforward and I just leave it on the auto setting and am very pleased with the quality of the pictures. They are the best pictures i've seen with an entry level digital camera and I particularly enjoy the vivid details of the fairly large LCD screen that makes reviewing pictures much easier and pleasurable than i'm accustomed to. I was amazed at how small and thin it was; i mean length and height it is only a little bigger than a credit card (much wider, of course) but it also has a solid build to it. I could fit this easily into any pocket, even in my jeans. I'm glad i got this in time for my trip. Highly recommend this camera.

 Good Compact Size / Great Picture Quality - May 13, 2010

I am very pleased with the Cannon Powershot camera. I got it just a few days before my trip and was very pleased with the pictures I was able to take.
Its compact design made it easy to carry it all times. I used exclusively the 'Auto' mode as I had not had time to look into the more advanced features.
I do not think the use of these options is that intuitive. Still, the quality of the pictures was very good.

This camera does not have a printed manual; instead it comes with a DVD that contains the user guide. I wish at least a basic guide of the different programs/features were included to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the different camera functions.

 A Great Camera - Apr 27, 2010

I have been taking pictures with this camera ever since I got it to get a "feel" for it. I really can't come up with something negative to say about it! I took motion pictures at a baseball game; shots inside and outside, and all came out very well. I love the size as it is easy to carry in my purse. The instructions that came with it were very clear. I have had several Canon cameras and they do not disappoint me.

 1 Star is for the 1 hundred plus dollars you will lose on this item - Apr 27, 2010

I recently purchased this item and now it is so messed up that I have to sell it to a recycling site for a fraction of the price I paid

The reason for this is because the thing is cheaply painted. I took this camera to Prom and had it in a padded pouch in my tux pocket when I wasn't using it except for once when I dropped it, but it was still in the padded pouch. When I got home I discovered that it had at least four places where the paint had been chipped off the camera. Why? I had no idea until I held it in my hand and realized that even touching it some paint was coming off! This would not have been so bad if it was the only problem with the camera, but it isn't.

Other things wrong with this camera:

The Iso: As one reviewer pointed out, the Iso on the default setting of this thing is very high. That is an understatement. the Iso is through the roof! the only way to take decent photos with this thing inside and out, is to go to programming mode and set the Iso differently for every different situation you are in. Not very convenient.

The shooting speed: When taking a picture, it takes almost two seconds to process and display the picture you are taking. that is very slow compared to some cameras half the price of this one. it also becomes a huge problem when you are taking pictures of a fast moving object, like an animal or car.

Blur: Any time you take a picture of someone with this camera, you have to have your subject completely still! any sudden movements will cause a blur that will ruin the whole shot. For instance, when I took a picture of one of my friends dancing, the image was completely blurred!

Rotating a picture: Canon is well known for allowing the user to rotate a picture by rotating the camera. On this model, when you rotate the camera, the picture either doesn't rotate or it rotates very late.

Menus: The menus are very confusing. For instance, when I was looking for the Iso setting in the programing mode, I actually had to do alot of guess work before I found it. Even then the function was not named "Iso Setting" but something different. I can understand needing to read most of the instructions for a more advanced camera. but this is supposed to be a simple Point and Shoot. you should be able figure out at least the basic functions without them.

Zoom: When you zoom in on your subject you are very limited on the distance you can zoom in. You either have very wide view, midrange view, or very close view. there is almost no in between. the same goes for when you are browsing pictures in playback mode.

I hate to be so negative, but these are my true experiences with camera and I want to warn other buyers before they throw away almost $200 on this product. I have heard many good things about Canon's quality, but bottom line is this camera does not contain any of it. hope you find this review helpful. As for me, I am about to go buy a Nikon Coolpix S3000. hopefully will have better luck with it.

 Digital Camera was good to me - Apr 19, 2010

I receieved the digital camera. Easy to set up straight out of the box. Does what I want.

 Nice One - Apr 14, 2010

This camera is really awesome. pictures are very good. Low light condition pics also good. I had SD 600, compared to that canon improved picture quality , low light etc a lot. Video quality also good.
Only thing is pictures taken with auto mode are very good compared to manual mode, i would expect same picture quality with manual mode too with default factory settings.