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Canon PowerShot A2200

*Est. $80

Reviewed

October 2011

by ConsumerSearch

Budget camera an all-around performer

Pros

Small size
Great photo quality
Easy handling
Plenty of preset shooting modes
HD video capabilities

Cons

Poor image stabilization
Slow recovery speeds
No optical viewfinder

Where to Buy

for $79.00

Our Analysis
Specs
168 Amazon Reviews

The Canon PowerShot A2200 earns favorable reviews as a dependable budget camera. This point-and-shoot model covers the bases: It's easy to use, takes great snapshots and has a cheap price tag. While its features are nearly identical to the Canon PowerShot A1200 (*Est. $90), the A2200 is thinner and a touch lighter, and it comes in more colors -- silver, black, red and blue. The A2200 also includes a bump up to 14 megapixels and a continuous shooting mode, but it lacks the A1200's coveted optical viewfinder and ability to use AA or rechargeable batteries.

Reviewers give the A2200 a big thumbs up for photo quality. Editors at Which? magazine say it shoots well in all light conditions, and CNET's Joshua Goldman says the consistent colors put it above other cameras in its class. HD video, though, is on par with competitors, and the zoom doesn't work when shooting video. Goldman adds that the A2200 isn't the best for photographing active kids and pets because of sluggish shooting speeds and poor electronic image stabilization. Despite the glitches, critics and a majority of users at Amazon.com deem the A2200 a solid pick for novices or anyone wanting a no-fuss camera to use on the go. For consumers who want a step up, Canon's A3300 IS model offers optical image stabilization for steadier shots.

CNET and Which? magazine provide the most in-depth reviews of the Canon PowerShot A2200. ConsumerReports.org and Choice magazine list results from rigorous lab tests, while About.com offers a hands-on evaluation. Rounding out our sources are user reviews from Amazon.com.

Canon Powershot A1200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Silver)

from Amazon.com

New: $109.00

In Stock.

Average Customer Review:

Where To Buy

Canon Powershot A2200 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom (Black)

(168 reviews)
Buy new: $139.00 $79.00 32 Used & new from $53.74

In Stock.

Our Sources

1. CNET

Joshua Goldman likes the Canon PowerShot A2200, saying it's simple, reliable and affordable, plus it delivers very good to excellent photo quality. In tests, however, some of the camera's shooting speeds lag behind the Canon PowerShot A1200, Nikon Coolpix L22 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100.

Review: Canon PowerShot A2200 (Silver), Joshua Goldman, June 28, 2011

2. Which? magazine

The editors at Which? magazine put the Canon PowerShot A2200 through meticulous tests alongside dozens of other digital cameras. In their brief yet useful write-up, they praise the A2200 for its generous 28 mm wide-angle lens and low-light shots that capture "satisfying detail," but they find the LCD to be a bit small and call its electronic image stabilization "poor."

Review: Canon PowerShot A2200, Editors at Which? magazine

3. ConsumerReports.org

The Canon PowerShot A2200 is one of more than 150 point-and-shoot cameras tested by ConsumerReports.org. While a ratings chart shows how the A2200 stacks up alongside the competition for features such as image quality, ease of use and versatility, editors don't provide a detailed write-up like other review sources do.

Review: Point and Shoot Digital Camera Ratings and Reliability, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

4. About.com

The Canon PowerShot A2200 outshines class competitors with more consistent performance and "extremely good image quality," says Kyle Schurman, About.com's digital cameras guide. Its strengths are enough to help him overlook the A2200's slow response times. Schurman also says it would be nice if the camera had more features. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Canon PowerShot A2200 Review, Kyle Schurman, Not Dated

5. Choice magazine

Reviewer Chris Ruggles and the product testers at Choice magazine -- Australia's version of ConsumerReports.org -- provide test results for 56 digital cameras. The Canon PowerShot A2200 lands mid-pack with decent ratings for image quality and versatility, although test scores drop for the LCD and ease of use.

Review: Compact Digital Cameras Review, Chris Ruggles, June 6, 2011

6. Amazon.com

Most of the 40-odd owners who rate the Canon PowerShot A2200 here give it respectable scores. They like that it's small and easy to use, has lots of features and takes good-looking snapshots. However, a number of users say the USB port cover is flimsy, while a few others report that the lens jammed shortly after purchase.

Review: Canon Powershot A2200 14.1 MP Digital Camera With 4x Optical Zoom (Black), Contributors to Amazon.com, As of Oct. 2011

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