Canon PowerShot SX1IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8-inch LCD

I have owned this camera for over 2 years now and I still can't get over the main strengths of this camera - the 1080P HD video and high-end audio quality. Since that time, I have tried numerous point and shoot cameras, as well as dedicated camcorders, for the primary use of recording HD video. To this date, I have still not found a camera that has surpassed the Canon SX1 IS in terms of both video (in good light) and audio quality (especially recording bass at concert-level volumes). This includes digital cameras such as the Panasonic DMC-TS3, Sony DSC-TX10 and the DSC-HX9V, and even the high-end Canon HV30 and HF G10 camcorders. The overall quality of the video and audio captures are so good that you forget that this is primarily a stills camera than a camcorder. I have never been impressed with either AVCHD or mp4 formats when compared to the less-compressed .mov format that this camera uses. The quality even exceeds that of my tape-based HV30, which is a feat in itself considering that this has been a reference-level camcorder for consumers. I think Canon primarily designed this camera to be used as an HD camcorder, considering that the fully-articulating LCD display is natively 16:9 aspect ratio like many HD camcorders. However, the big negatives about this camera that I've experienced over the years are its short battery life (uses 4-AA's) and its relatively heavy weight and large non-pocketable size (size does matter, especially for heavy traveling). I have tried to overcome the short battery life issue using high-capacity (up to 3000 mAH) rechargeable AA batteries, but still falls way short of a good high-capacity lithium battery. The other negative is its performance in low light compared to the newer cameras that I've used. I have tried to find a smaller and lighter replacement for this camera that improves upon these weaknesses, but I still have not found any to date that are equal or better than the strengths of the SX1 IS. One more thing about the audio - it's so good that when I play footage back on my high-end Yamaha home theater system using Definitive Technology tower speakers, it feels as if you really are there. No other camera that I've tried has been able to accomplish this to the same level of sonic accuracy. The built-in stereo mic's are so good that they rival some of the best external consumer microphones (I also own the Rode VideoMic for my camcorders). I suspect that the reason why dedicated HD camcorders today do not use the .mov format and use the highly compressed AVCHD and mp4 is to save on memory usage and battery consumption at the expense of image and sound quality. This camera records audio with uncompressed linear PCM stereo which is non-existent in the current crop of consumer camcorders (as of 2/2012). I have given many negative reviews on them because it appears that none of the consumer camcorder manufacturers (including Canon) seem to put any emphasis on sound quality as well as the SX1 IS did. When I spent over $1500 on the Canon HF G10, I never expected the audio to sound so poor in comparison with the SX1 IS. This has become a reference camera since that time. In addition, being able to record in full 1080P at 30 fps that is not available in the 1080P, 24 fps Canon SX40, is a definite plus. I still think this camera is the most underrated and best kept secret that Canon has ever manufactured, especially at the consumer level when it comes to outstanding audio reproduction. No need to even have a dedicated PCM recorder to record outstanding audio. It is just that good.Update: 4/26/14 - Over the years since I purchased this camera, the more I learned about succeeding codecs which I found to be inferior to the the .mov codec used in this camera. The AVCHD codec used in most video cameras today is a clearly inferior format due to the aggressive compression standards that are not used in the SX1 IS. In addition, the AVCHD codec does not allow for the use of LPCM audio, which results in poor quality audio. This camera was probably the biggest sleeper because it offered superior video and audio quality compared to many HD video cameras today. I own the Panasonic GH3, but the poor built-in mic's spoil the very good LPCM internal audio recorder which cannot be utilized without a good external mic like the Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro. This camera has great built-in mic's. If it were not for the poor low light performance and the inability to take still captures while shooting video without interruption, this would still be my go-to camera today.

After use it everyday for two months, I think I can say something.the good:1.- picture quality. CMOS sensor is realistic. The camera doesn't add any make up to the picture. Same quality than the G9, with it's 12.1MP CCD sensor. Noise appears at ISO 800 without flash. Personally, I never go that far in ISO selection. I prefer low ISO settings. This sensor do the job perfectly.2.- speed. pretty fast stat up and continuous up to 4pps.3.- impressive video quality. very good sound. No intrusion of zoom motor, neither in high speed zoom. Very precise and powerful zoom.4.- built in flash turn on and off is easy. Simply raise it to fire it or leave it hiden if you want your picture natural. The camera will do the precice adjust so your picture is always good. (shake warning if too dark)5.- wireless remote control is a must in entertainment cameras. this camera comes with one that can be used to control the player too. You can use it as a HDMI video player if you previously record the films in the card.6.- vary angle 2.8" LCD wide screen. very useful.THE BAD:1.- the lens cap: Easy to lost. It should have a small cord to hold it so you can let go right after take it off the lens. precious moments lost because you have to engage it to the neck strap. And if you don't use the neck strap?...2.- I almost always press accidentally the button "display" trying to open the screen. Need to be relocated.3.- Lack of poketability: Spontaneous pictures lost. You have to decide whether you prefer to take this camera with you or leave it in the car... because it's big and noticeable. My soon stop being itself when he notice the camera in my hands... you know.4.- remote control: Easy to lost. It should came with a holder attached to the neck strap.5.- have to set at one of the night modes to get more than one second of aperture. You can't get it on speed priority mode.6.- EVF is bad compared with the resolution in the main screen. but is useful if you want to capture the moment.Over all, I really like it. The picture out of the CMOS sensor is another thing. It feels like a DSLR, as it's the same sensor. Everybody likes it's pictures and videos quality, resolution and brightness.