Canon PowerShot TX1

usability, performance, portability, size, image quality

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86% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Images sport bright colors and sharp details, even in full 10X optical zoom shots. HD video quality matches stand-alone camcorders

Low-light shots look noisy and undefined. Tiny, 1.8-inch LCD. Buttons are hard to reach when shooting vertically

10X zoom and optical image stabilization ; Records high-definition video

Small LCD ; Short battery life

If you're already comfortable using a camcorder, the TX1 could be a good choice for taking still photos and short video clips. It's hard to imagine packing a 10X zoom into a smaller package. That small size, unfortunately, leaves you with a small LCD...

Good resolution, good edge-to-edge sharpness at most settings Surprisingly good output quality at lower ISO settings Very compact design and superb build quality Big 10x (39-390mm equivalent) zoom range in a very small camera Much improved on-screen...

Vertical design and control placement have a serious effect on handling Would be nicer if the lens started a little wider than 39mm equivalent Very difficult to hold for vertically-orientated shots Almost impossible to start/stop movies or zoom without...

I have to confess I'm struggling to know who Canon is really aiming the TX1 at; it seems slightly confused as to what its primary function actually is. One the one hand it is, technically, the cheapest 'HDTV' camcorder on the market, and one that is...

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Very good photo quality ; Big zoom in a compact, stylish metal body ; Optical image stabilization ; Flip-out, rotating LCD display is visible in low light ; AF-assist lamp, good low light focusing ; Top-notch movie mode: super high 720p resolution with...

Expensive ; Camera's small size means lousy ergonomics: tiny controls, uncomfortable to hold, requires two hands for best stability ; Inefficient video codec means huge movie file sizes and limited recording times (14 mins at 720p setting) ; Fair...

So what are my final thoughts on the PowerShot TX1? As a serious gadget geek, I think it's pretty cool -- flawed, but fun to show off to friends. As someone who is supposed to help people wisely spend their money on a camera, I have a hard time...

Maybe in the next generation Canon can integrate some of the features we already love that seem to have gotten lost in this design such as a larger screen, easier handling and better low-light capabilities. If the camera had all that going for it in...

Good image stabilization ; Above-average image quality ; Swiveling LCD view screen ; 10x zoom lens

Expensive ; High-quality video format gobbles memory ; Awkward styling

Built with the vertical orientation and movable viewing screen that is common to camcorders, the 7.1-megapixel TX1is Canon’s attempt at creating a device that excels at both video and still shooting. As a video machine, it’s no more or less capable...