ProductCritic: Canon PowerShot TX1 Reviews

Digital Trends (85)

I highly recommend the TX1 for people looking for a pocket-sized camcorder that records surprisingly good quality video, snaps crisp and clean stills, gets decent battery life and won’t cost an arm and a leg.

PC Authority (83)

Even though we do love it, it does suffer from first generation syndrome; it’s about $100 too expensive, and comes bundled with a laughably inadequate 32MB SD card. However with so many other points in its favour, the discerning gadgeteer won’t care about these minor shortcomings.

Akihabara News (82)

The TX1 is a nice step toward an all-in-one video and photo product, with the ability to take HD videos in a very acceptable quality for this kind of product. We loved the feel and the quality of the materials used on this camera, but we really hated having to deal with that photo button. That’s the only thing we hated, really.

PC World (76)

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 and comes at a high price.

Camcorderinfo.com (75)

The Canon TX1 is a great still camera that happens to function as a “kind-of” HD camcorder for limited usage. It’s built like a camera and handles like a camera, and is likely going to see a lot of action if purchased.

Digital Photography Review (75)

There is undoubtedly a market for this kind of product, but I think Canon needs to go back to the drawing board before it launches the TX2.

Computer Shopper (72)

Overall, though, the camera is a solid choice. You can find models that shoot better stills, and dedicated HD camcorders will beat the TX1’s video quality. But the TX1’s pocketable design and under-$500 price put it in a class by itself.

Steve's Digicams (70)

Canon’s Powershot TX1 is an interesting 7-megapixel model. While it’s not as comfortable to hold in your hands as Sanyo’s Xacti series models, the TX1 offers better image quality, performance, a more durable exterior and movie quality.

The Globe & Mail (70)

The Canon’s high-def video is a different story. It’s razor-sharp and the colors pop, but any movement, either by you or by your subject, results in a weird, frame-skipping sort of jitter.

Good Gear Guide (70)

If you’re after a hybrid HD video and still camera, then the PowerShot TX1 is a fairly decent choice, but a few image quality issues and an irritating control layout stop it from reaching its full potential.

Digital Camera Resource Page (69)

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 recommending it, when other options are available for much less.

DigitalCameraInfo (63)

Canon’s concept is good – a solid digital camera with awesome high definition video that can record just as well and as long as a camcorder and still snap album-worthy photos – but that’s not what the TX1 is. It’s an average camera coupled with an underdeveloped movie mode, stuck in a body that’s too small.

CNET (60)

The TX1’s unique design is sure to turn heads, but it’s also quite awkward to use, and its still image quality isn’t up to Canon’s usual standards.

NeoCamera (20)

Despite, or perhaps because of, an impressive feature set for such a small camera, the Canon Powershot TX1 is a poor digital camera. Although the photo quality in bright light is acceptable, the TX1 falls short photographically in several areas. This camera’s most significant problem is its ergonomics which make it difficult to use, particularly for portrait shots. The camera is also underpowered with very short battery life and a weak flash.