Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Review

Review posted 4/19/2011

Quick Take

Pros

Well built body that is also stylish with several color choice options Excellent outdoor image quality Versatile 14x optical zoom with a 28mm - 392mm equivalent range Upgraded 3.0-inch LCD is a welcomed addition Excellent High ISO performance up to the maximum 3200 setting. Speedy shooting performance for a compact camera Cool GPS functionality for geotagging and tracking Records nice HD video Optical zoom is available while video is recorded

Cons

Pop-up flash not in the greatest position; easily blocked by your left index finger Flash Pops up automatically in all modes, which is not always wanted Non-existent labeling on the 4-way controller Indoor image quality not up to par with other Canon PowerShot models GPS system drains the battery fast, even while the camera is off Microphones pic up a good amount of background noise when recording video Auto White Balance has some issues indoors under mixed incandescent lighting

Bottom Line

The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS offers some very appealing options stuffed inside its petite frame. We were pleased with the camera's overall image quality and shooting performance, with only a few annoyances, many of which have been carried over from its predecessors. Overall the camera offers a great value if full HD video, long telephoto reach, and built-in GPS are among the features you desire. Read more in our Full Conclusion.

In addition to the ELPH lineup of HS enabled cameras, Canon has also released the PowerShot SX230 HS; their first GPS enabled camera. Highly useful for travel heavy vacations or trips, the SX230 HS uses a dedicated receiver to record latitude, longitude and altitude for each one of your photos. This information is stored within the EXIF data of each picture, and the included Map Utility software allows you to view where you captured photos using maps supplied by Google Maps. There's also a Logger feature that allows you to track your trip, then display an outline on the map when you upload your photos to your PC later.

Beyond the GPS functions, the PowerShot SX230 HS offers 1080p HD recording, a 12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor and a 14x optical zoom with image stabilization.  The camera also comes equipped with a 3.0 inch LCD screen, Smart Auto functionality and Canon's HS system for higher quality low-light photos.
 
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS key features include:  

• Slek and stylish body available in 3 colors (Black, Blue and Pink)
• 12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor
• 14x optical zoom with 28-392mm equivalent zoom range
• 3.0-inch  LCD screen with 461K pixels and 100% frame coverage
• Canon's HS (High Sensitivity) system
• ISO settings from 100 - 3200
  
• Optical Image stabilization
• 1080p HD Video recording with stereo sound
  
• Smart AUTO (Face detection, focus, exposure)
• 21 different exposure settings, from Manual to various Scene modes
• Built-in, auto pop-up flash unit
  
• New Movie Digest and Super Slow Motion Movie options
  
• Li-ion battery pack (up to 210 shots per charge)
  
• Memory card slot for SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards (Eye-Fi compatible)
• Built-in GPS functionality for Geotagging and logging
  

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