->Compare

Recording the activities of our three year old will no longer require deciding between lugging a video bag or using the so-so video mode of our digital still camera.

This is a pocket-sized wonder - Progressive HDTV, 7.1 MP photos, no discs or tapes to worry about and simple to use. Sometimes not having every possible feature can be a blessing.

I did purchase an additional 4 Gb card as the included 32 Mb is good for about 9 seconds of 16:9 (HDTV) recording! Someone at Canon needs to have their sense of humor adjusted.

My box did not include the Basic manual which describes much of the initial set-up - it was easily found on the Canon website. A good thing too as my TX-1 booted-up in Japanese, a fine and wonderful language which I cannot read. With the basic book it took 5 seconds to change it over to English.

I'm a Mac user and was pleased to see that without loading anything or changing any computer configurations, that upon plugging the TX-1 into the USB port, iPhoto immediately found the camera and imported both still and video files. I'll be doing the iMovie thing next.

A belt pouch is recommended for protection and summertime carry.


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Got the TX-1 last week through Amazon.com and was able to figure out how to use it quickly. It works exactly as advertised and is not nearly as hard to handle as the CNET review indicates.

I found reviews here very helpful and bought a Kingston 8-gig high capacity memory card which worked flawlessly with no formatting and an extra Lenmark battery (much cheaper than the Canon battery) as well as a Pelican 1010 case (very cheap, very solid).

It will take me a while to get used to all the options; but, so far, I've covered a wedding and got good stills and videos without more than a rudimentary idea of what this thing can do. Hard to believe you get 7.1 megapixel stills and near-HD video for this price. Sony and Panasonic aren't in the neighborhood yet as far as I can tell.

The included software works very well; but I've only used it in a limited way so far.

You really must get a second battery to make it portable, unless you purchase the adapter. The charger that comes with it requires you to remove the battery and charge it (1.5 houres).

Again, the key is that it is small enough (slightly bigger than a standard deck of cards) and versatile enough (good stills and good video) so that I will actually take it with me and use it. That was the problem with my last camera and the old VHS camcorder, just too big to use consistently.


->Best Price

Terrific camera, but needs some tweaking. So many reviews say the ergonomics are bad and it is difficult to hold. This is not true, it is just different than other point and shoot cameras. You just have to approach it differently. I bought my TX1 for a vacation I am still on and when having strangers take my picture they have had no problem seeing how to take a photo. In short it is simple to use, takes excellent photos and videos.
The build quality and internal design on the otherhand...

I have had my TX1 for 3 weeks and it is already failing. The lens cover does not close as quickly as when I first got it. (sometimes it takes 4 minutes to close!!) Another big problem is with image capture, In video mode a small spot is viewable. This ruins all video. No problem with stills, but the whole reason to own this camera is to take video. After only 3 weeks of ownership having these kind of problems is not acceptable. I called Canon and will be sending the camera in for warranty repair. Having to cover the cost of shipping after a product fails so quickly is a bit disappointing.

If you can wait for the next generation I would.



->Buy

I'm the proud owner of a digital SLR. For professional looking artistic shots this is what I recommend. But the large sized D-SLR is not convenient for those less formal spontaneous photographic moments such as when you're out with friends or when you're on a vacation and wish to relax rather than document. I needed a small light and uncomplicated point and shoot camera for those unexpected photographic moments. This fit the bill perfectly. I took mine for it's maiden voyage during a weekend vacation in London. As far as the photographs go the 7.1 mega pixel resolution pleased me quite a bit. The 16:9 aspect ratio was a new feature to me in still cameras and is my new favorite feature in the still photo department.

But unlike any other still camera that I've used before, this one features the ability to capture 720p HD video at 30 frames per second. This coupled with a fast 8gb SDHC card will land you 28 minutes of highest resolution 16:9 aspect ratio video. Considering this is not a video camera that is excellent. This space is perfect for those moments where you would like a short video to merely capture a moment rather than document an event as you would with a actual video focused product. For instance a few minutes of myself and friends in the Absolute Ice Bar in London. Or the belly dancer in the next bar/lounge we visited.

Ultimately I found the camera small, fast and uncomplicated for my level of technical ability which may be higher than the average consumer. I'm what is known as an early adapter. If you wanted to perform tasks such as manual focus and manual white balance a person would be frustrated with the task though not impossible without leaping through a few hoops. But the quality with the quickly accessible features are excellent and I have already recommended this camera to others.


->Prices

I Preordered my little new camera...I received it a week earlier than scheduled delivery. As it came out of the box I was surprised to be a little bulkier than my other SD1000 but that something that doesn't bother me a bit. I can carry it on my hand not my pocket.
Why did I buy it? because I wanted something compact and reliable, the amazing 10x optical zoom, and with video capabilities larger, longer, and better quality than the 3 minutes clips of my old camera. also easy compatibility with my mac laptop. the pictures are crips and colorful, I guess depends where you point the camera at. Video quality is superb, not HD though and the only low down it's very noisy at low light levels but I'm not using it for broadcast. for that I got to use the SNHVRZ1-J HD cam. Also the audio is fantastic, got some really good sound from a considerable distance at a concert.
Battery life. As expected, 1 hour for HD video and 4 hours for stills. buy a back up if you expect to shoot for more than 1 hour of video without having to turn it off.
Memory card. I got the 4 GB memory card.. definitely enough for the time I need to use it, I got a second card as a back up.

Overal, a great compact camera, I love it, even with the cons the pros outweight any doubt about it
coudn't have made a better choice.


->Affordable

It's the best thing going unless you have the budget to go for the Cannon HV20.


->Affordable

I have read most of the reviews about button location, picture & video quality & all I can say is that this camera works GREAT for me. The quality of the video @ 640x480 30fps is fantastic....all I have to do is remember NOT to move so much while shooting video. As for the picture quality, I took some pictures at the Yankee vs Pirates game this Saturday 6/9/07 using the zoom feature....EVERYONE who saw the pictures commented about the EXCELLENT quality. I have a small to medium hand & the button location is NOT an issue. I believe that even the larger hand will learn to adjust to the button location. The software that comes with the camera is also VERY user friendly.

The ONLY negative I found was with the flash, it is NOT the best. Also its hard to find a "GOOD" case for the TX1, although you CAN carry it in your shirt pocket or purse if you wish.

I would recommend getting a spare battery & a "GOOD" SD card, I use the Sandisk Ultra II 4gb SDHC card that I got right here @ Amazon & it has PLENTY of room for videos & pictures. I understand that Sandisk is NOW going to offer an 8GB SDHC card, WOW. One note; If you get an SDHC card...get the one that comes with the MicroMate card reader included, most of the "OLDER" computers wont recognize the SDHC card when you insert it into the card slot.

If you are looking for a good "COMPACT" digital camera that takes both EXCELLENT videos & GREAT pictures...then this is the camera for you...




->Price

I was very excited about this camera when it was first announced - finally, HD-quality video in my pocket! 10x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, excellent! And I've always been a huge fan of Canon's SD series - tiny pocket-cams which take great stills and decent video. This seemed like the next step - great stills and great video too. So I pre-ordered the camera as soon as I could, and waited eagerly for it to ship. And waited, and waited...

When the camera finally arrived, I was surprised at the bulk and heft of it. Sure, it's still highly compact, but for someone used to the SD300 and SD600, this is a step backwards in portability. It makes my pockets kinda bulge. Right off the bat, strike one: my primary use case for the camera was to keep it in my pocket all the time. Once I tried it though, I realized that it'd have to go in a bag most of the time.

Strike two: it's kinda awkward to hold. I have very large hands, so I rarely have a problem with any camera. I'm not sure if others would have the same experience, but it's worth noting, since I've always been comfortable with various other Canons, Nikons, and Pentaxes.

Finally, my main criticism, Strike 3: Picture Quality. I wasn't happy with either the stills or the video. With the stills, I had trouble with the focus system. The face-tracking system seems useful at first, but when I viewed the photos on my computer, the focus never seemed quite right. Even when I switched to a more conventional focus mode, the picture quality just wasn't as satisfying as that of the SD600, an older and cheaper model.

Video quality was, for me, the last straw. Sure, it may be technically HD, but for me, HD promises more than just resolution. When I think HD, I think sharp, clear, and vibrant. The video produced by the TX1 is high-resolution, it is wide-screen at 16x9 - but it's not really HD. The video picture is blotchy and fuzzy, and really no better than that, again of a much cheaper SD series camera. It's nice that it's wide, the video is definitely much better proportioned for today's wide-screen televisions, but it's not much of an advance beyond that, and it certainly isn't really HD.

Also worth noting is that the video files produced by the TX-1 are immense, making it fairly inconvenient and/or expensive to use as a video camera. These file sizes certainly aren't justified by the video quality.

To sum up: the TX-1 has an impressive array of features, and had the potential of being a truly groundbreaking device, of finally bringing HD video and stunning stills into a single pocketable device. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't deliver on quality, and it's not as pocketable as its predecessors, which take better stills and video that's nearly as good as the TX-1's.

Ultimately, for me, the TX-1 wasn't satisfying as a still camera or a video camera. I've returned mine; I'm going to stick with my SD600 for now.

I'm still eagerly awaiting the first truly pocketable device which shoots both high-quality stills and video. I'd even be willing to pay more than I did for the TX-1 - maybe that would give it a better chance of succeeding. In the meantime, I've got my eye on the Canon HV10 HD Camcorder to supplement my SD600 and Nikon D80.

[...].


->Deals

I am mom to three kids ages 2 to 9. I have kept a Canon Elph in my purse for years. That was great because I could catch important and cute moments wherever we were when they occurred. The TX-1 is like someone threw a video camera in my digital camera that I keep in my purse!

I read reviews before I purchased the product. Some man said that the little controls were difficult and didn't understand why they just didn't make a bigger camera. I'm pretty sure this has to do with the size of his hands. The controls aren't too tricky for me. I have also heard criticism of where the buttons are located. The on/off is located far from the other controls. That's actually good--I sometimes turned my Elph off instead of pushing the shutter and now that isn't an issue. I like where the buttons are located. I can take a still photo, press Rec, zoom and switch modes with one hand!
One last criticism I don't feel is a problem: there is no red-eye reduction flash setting. I don't like that setting anyway because the subjects would have to sit staring at the camera which never makes for a good shot. The TX-1 includes in-camera red-eye removal which is far superior. It's so fun to push the button and watch the red-eye disappear!

Bottom line--
Practical for mommies!


->Price

Goldilocks would have loved this camera. Although it may not have saved her from the bears, it would have certainly met all of her other particular criteria.

I bought this camera direct from Japan a few months ago when its introduction to the US market was delayed, and have not regretted the purchase. (Once I was able to find the menu setting to display in English rather than Kanji...)

Elph sized, this recording device can do any sort of capture you desire to best preserve those special (and mundane) moments. It's not too big (like most Hi-def camcorders). It's not too small (so if you want a spy camera, look elsewhere). Its size is just right - fits in my pocket, my wife's purse, and surreptitiously in one hand when I want to sneak some video I shouldn't be taking.

Functionally, it will record images and videos in every resolution any prosumer could need. For video, you can capture all frame sizes and rates - from full HD (1280, 720p, 30fps) down to 640x480 15fps, both 16:9 and 4:3 ratios. For images, it does everything any other good digital camera does, from 10X *optical* zoom to macro, image stabilization, and "quick settings" for portraits, night shots, even "aquarium lighting." (The 10X optical zoom is awesome, btw - I've never found this on any but the pro/commercial end cameras.) The 7.1Megapixels are plenty for most digital imaging tasks, supporting 8x10 prints indistinguishable from any other higher res images.

I've edited the HD video, and it is very easy to work with - much more so than H.264 video. This is due to the fact that Canon uses motion JPEG compression, which allows each frame to stand on its own (kind of like snapping 30 images per second of 1080x720 pictures - not only can you edit down to the frame level easily, but you can extract a frame as a still image with all quality intact - handy when you want to make a nice picture from some video you've shot).

It is true that for any specific function this camera performs, you can find another gadget out there that does the same function better. But nowhere have I seen one device that handles *all* recording functions (video/image and sound) to the excellent degree that this camera does - you aren't compromising on function here to get the convenience of portability.

The primary advantage of this camera is the fact that it truly does it all. No more do I need to decide in advance whether or not I will want to shoot video on an outing (then deciding wrong and later trying desparately to capture that special live action moment on my 640x480 15fps camera, or worse yet my cell phone!). No matter what moment presents itself, I can capture it in the way best suited to the action. Always. By simply reaching into my pocket.

Wait till you see the HD video of these three angry bears running after me...and no bulky equipment to slow my escape!


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This camera is small enough to carry with you at all times. The picture quality on the stills @ 7.1 mgpxls is more than adequate. If you are serious about shooting in HD you will need to aquire an 8 mgb speed class 6 sdhc card for best performance (available on amazon). The opticaly stabilized lense allows the shot to be zoomed without the concern of fuzzy shots due to hand shake. A spare battery is also needed as far as video recoding is limited to around 30 minutes @ 720p HD. The camera takes some practice to feel comfortable in your hand as some of the buttons seem awkward at first. This is a "fun" camera you can carry with you in a belt pouch or purse. If your "gadget" freak this is a must have!


->Buy Online

I think some people are very hard to please
I have nothing bad to say about the TX1.IT shoots great still a FANTASTIC video!The snap on the fly feature is wonderful. I'm left handed and find the controls easy to use left or right handed. Thanks canon this camera is the party animals dream!
IF you're a Pro or looking to make a FEATURE FILM for hollywood. Don't buy this camera.If you are looking for a fun do all still video cam that will fit in your pocket.I say this is the one.THANKS CANON!!!!
Now how about a selphy printer and stand alone DVD burner combo to go with it?


->Compare

I've only written one other review - when I thought I had a duty give back to these forums! This is one more time - I feel compelled to share my recent experience with the new TX-1. I have used almost all of the Canon P&S type cameras. I've also owned several Sony's, Minolta, Panasonic, and other digital cameras over the years. Thank goodness some vendors have generous return policies or I'd be broke! With this background and my comments below - you can see that I am no "techo" person, just a gadget geek that likes new stuff that takes good pictures and video! Well, when I saw the TX-1, I thought I had fallen in love "again" - it looked too good to be true. So I bought one! Currently, I'm also using a Canon G7 (also have the Canon SD700 and really like it - but gave it to my son) and LOVE IT!!! Many have complained about no RAW and other stuff - but I think it's a great camera that take excellent pictures as well as pretty darn good video!

Well, back to the TX-1 - I won't comment on the looks (although I think it looks pretty neat) - I will just focus on how it worked and takes pics/video. Well - in a word - I was very disappointed. Believe me, I tried all the settings - both auto and whatever manual I could use. Pictures are totally inferior to the G7 (and SD700)and just about all the other cameras I've used lately. Simply too grainy, some out of focus, or under/over exposed. The 10X zoom was pretty cool - but did not make up for the poor picture quality.

The video was also pretty bad (except for the ability to use the zoom). I think the biggest problem was "focus hunting". This has happened in other cameras I've used, but not as bad as the TX-1. It did not do well indoors or shadowy areas outside. The camera just could not cope with lighting changes. Again, video looked grainy (like the pictures) and generally not clear. It was very hard to hold the camera still during zooming (although the IS worked as good as it could - IS is not a miracle option - just a help).

Bottom line - I'm keeping the G7 - returned the TX-1. Sorry Canon - I am a big supporter and generally love your products, but the TX-1 is not one that I can recommend!



->Best Price

This is certainly a nice little camera, but as a lefty, I found it extremely difficult to use. The camera's screen flips out to the left hand side of the unit and there is no optical viewfinder. It takes good pictures and shoots very nice video, but not recommended for lefties!


->Best Price

Motion JPEG is unheard of in consumer cameras. The advantage is the best quality in fast motion and faster editing because each frame can be decoded independantly of the others. The generated bitrate is 34Mbit just for the video.

Most consumers care about compression ratio and not quality, so they normally use temporal compression like MPEG-4 in consumer products.

This is a very short lived opportunity to capture living, breathing motion JPEG HD video in a consumer product. I expect Canon won't repeat the mistake and their next product will only support MPEG-4 at much lower quality.

The generated audio is uncompressed 16 bit, 2 channel, 44100, and the recording level can be set manually, another feature unheard of in consumer products. It's like semi-pro gear that slipped through the marketing department.

While sound can't be recorded from external sources, someone with enough balls could probably solder an external mic jack to this thing and make a killer bootlegging device.

Finally, Canon provided the exposure lock feature that was desperately lacking from Sanyo's HD cams. Now if only they made enough of them to meet consumer demands.