General
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Image Stabilized Zoom 25mm Wide-Angle Lens and 1080p Full-HD Video (Black) Reviews
Compact Digital Camera
- 12.1 effective megapixel, 1/2.3-inch high-sensitivity CMOS sensor
- 3-inch TFT color LCD with wide viewing angle
- 25mm wide-angle lens with optical image stabilizer
- 20x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom and 80x combined zoom
- Full 1080p HD video with stereo sound
The Canon 5900B100 PowerShot SX260 HS 12.1 MP Compact Digital Camera, in black, is an ultra-slim camera with a powerful 20x Optical Zoom, Optical Image Stabilization and 25mm Wide-Angle lens but that is only the beginning of its attractions. You will see detail you never thought possible through the huge zoom and wide-angle lens, while the camera’s 12.1 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor and DIGIC 5 Image Processor deliver the rich, clear low-light performance that is the hallmark of Canon’s
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K. S. Bowen "KS Bowen"
December 5, 2013 at 9:55 am
This Could Be the One,
I am an experienced amateur photographer and I’ve owned many cameras over the past 40 years. I’ve had some photos published but photography has always been strictly a hobby, though a serious one. I shoot with a Canon 7D, Rebel backup, various ‘L’ lenses, and I also use an Olympus E-P1 occasionally as well as a Canon S90 and Powershot 1100S (kept in my glovebox for ’emergencies’). I enjoy taking pictures.
I also enjoy traveling and have traveled around the states as well as visited many foreign countries. I’m sure I echo the frustrations of every photographer out there when I say that choosing which photo equipment to take on a vacation is the most agonizing process in planning a trip.
Let me share two experiences–one pleasant, another frustrating. In 2003, I visited New Zealand and took one of Canon’s first digital Powershots. It was very small, fit in my pocket, and I could easily whip it out for quick photos. Even though the pictures were not pristine SLR quality, it was easy and fun using that camera and I still enjoy viewing those photos today. I had a pleasant and memorable trip. Second experience: a 10-day tour of China in 2007. I took a DSLR and 3 lenses as well as an HD camcorder, all in the same shoulder bag. It turned out to be total frustration. Instead of being able to enjoy the moment of seeing all that glorious ancient history and the people of China, I was overly concerned with ‘getting the shot’ — all the time. Also, HD video was new in those days and I thought I could record the ‘trip of a lifetime’ with the latest technology. But switching between video and still photography simply added to my frustration. Although I got quite a few good pictures and videos, I did not enjoy that trip as much as I should have because I let my photo-taking desires get in the way of my vacation needs and cultural immersion. As a matter of fact, my wife used a point-and-shoot to get some great candid photos of people and children that totally outshone my efforts.
OK, fast forward to 2012. Like so many other photographers out there, when traveling I need a camera that’s pocketable but can do everything. Impossible. It doesn’t exist. But I remember the lessons learned from the experiences described above. Concessions must be made. With experience, I’ve learned what is a necessity, and what ‘would be nice to have’ when traveling. I have concluded that for me, a camera that takes ‘very good’ pictures, that is small and lightweight, is a NECESSITY. Anything else would be ‘nice to have’ but is not worth the enormous hassle.
I’ve had the Powershot SX260 HS for about a week now and I think I may have found the camera that will adequately meet my travel needs. I’ve shot a couple hundred photos and I’m surprised at the results. They are sharp, contrasty, colorful, noiseless, and good enough to use as desktop pictures on my 24-inch monitor without editing. The 20x lens is coupled to a shake-free technology that is very, very good. It’s pocketable and has easy to use buttons that are logically placed. Canon has done their homework in finding the right balance between sharpness and noise, as far as I am concerned. Although it doesn’t shoot RAW (that’s a debate for another time), I am very happy with the JPEGs and I use the included highlight-taming technology built in to the camera and it works very well.
What I like:
1) Pocketable. Pocketable. Did I say pocketable?
2) Turns on quickly to get the shot.
3) 20x lens — 25mm to 500mm. The 25mm shots are corrected internally for distortion and the 500mm shots are sharp thanks to the IS technology.
4) Very good noise control — I haven’t tested it at 1600 or 3200 but several other review sites reveal surprising, low noise photos at those ISO levels.
5) My copy is very sharp — no need to sharpen the photos it produces.
6) Color accuracy is on par with my Olympus E-P1, which I consider to be the paragon of color accuracy.
7) Full manual when desired.
8) Takes very good HD video — though that doesn’t interest me so much these days. IS corrects for camera shake in video mode and zooming works well.
What I don’t like:
Nothing yet, though I will update this review if anything comes up.
Does this camera take pictures comparable to my 7D? No. My E-P1? Very close. My S90? Superior to the S90 in my view.
The 20x zooming feature of this camera can’t be overstated — it’s wonderful.
So many reviewers nitpick about technical matters. Sure, I could do that with any camera, including this one. But the point is–what need does the camera serve? All I know is this: If this camera had existed at the time, the SX260 would be the camera I would have taken to China.
Highly recommended.
[UPDATE: Many people have asked me about the so-called ‘squeal’ in video mode. When ambient sounds are low, the condenser mic (as in all cameras) boosts…
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|E. Tam
December 5, 2013 at 9:24 am
Another winner from Canon,
I received my SX260 last Wednesday and have taken about 700 shots and a few quick 5 minute video. Without writing a novel, here are the high/low points of this unit. In addition to this unit, I also purchased a couple of aftermarket batteries (and after market A/C adapters for about $5.00 each) for about $5.00 each and the batteries work fine. With the battery (original and aftermarket) I was able to get over 300 shots (50% flash) with zooming and playback and the battery meter still showed about 25% charge remaining.
Pro’s
Zoom – very long for a subcompact camera 20x optical, total 81x combined (yes 81 times!)
Image Stabilizer – Excellent (far superior than the DSC-HX9V); Even at 81x the picture did not come out of focus, but of course not as sharp. I think it’s still acceptable
Scenes – A few scenes; I think the portrait, sepia, B/W works real well (the Portrait+ suppose to blur the picture a bit, but it’s not to my liking) It has a few effects (fish eye, toy, miniature) that’s very effective and can be fun for creative shots.
Auto Mode – was able to pick the correct type of scene almost all the time; it has an easy mode, and smart auto. Not sure why they have an easy mode, but the smart auto works great
Size/Weight – very compact and weigh’s 8.2 oz. I would have prefer if the lens was flushed with the unit, but at 20x it may not have been possible
Uniformity – the unit does not feel cheap, and beautifully curved; no sharp jagged corners
Grip – the right side of the camera has a nice plastic strip for easier grip
Controls – Dial extremely easy to use with one hand. The other buttons, if you’re a previous Canon user, it’s a no brainer; the menu and setup are practically the same across all their models.
Screen – 3 inch TFT LCD screen very beautiful; nuff said
Processor – Didn’t notice that much difference between the DIGIC 4/DIGIC 5, but compared to the DSC-HX9V, this camera is like a Ferrari.
GPS – Camera has it, but I never used it and probably won’t; at least for the time being. Am more interested in a camera that takes excellent picture
Con’s
Video – compared to the Sony DSC-HX9V this Canon comes in a distant second; if you plan on using this primarily as a video recorder, look elsewhere. I think Sony has excellent lens on their camera but their processing technology is clumsy, painfully slow and unacceptable; whereas with taking videos, the Sony does not do any processing (not to mention it captures at 60fps compared to Canon’s 24/25 fps) This is one thing I will miss dearly.
Flash – not sure if there is a good place but I had to change my grip as the flash is on the top left corner. Couple of times, I had my left index finger on the flash and the camera gave some flash error message and had to power off and power on the camera to reset the flash.
If you’re a casual or intermittent photographer (or a professional wanting an everyday point and shoot camera without carrying a luggage everywhere) that is interested in looking for a well refined point and shoot camera, yet has manual controls usually found on higher end DSLR (or higher end point and shoot camera), this is it!
UPDATE 04/14/2012 – I paid $349 and today I noticed it’s selling for $299, a 15% price drop in less than a month! I thought cars depreciate quick …
UPDATE 04/18/2012 – The Live Mode works great! For those hard shots (for example, taking indoor picture with fluorescent lighting and without a flash), you can view the screen and make the adjustment right then and there. You look at what you plan to take, compare it to the SX260 LCD screen and press the shutter button.
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