Canon PowerShot SX230 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 14x Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Lens and 1080p Full-HD Video (Black) (OLD MODEL)

I needed a high zoom, compact camera, that I could slip into a jacket pocket. I own a Canon T2i DSLR so I was already comfortable with Canon's quality. I also own a Panasonic DMC-FH25, which is also a good quality, compact, high zoom camera (8x). What prompted me to purchase this camera was the CMOS sensor coupled with Canon's DIGIC 4 image processor (the same processor used in the T2i DSLR). My opinion; This is one fantastic little camera. When I do not want to haul out my DSLR and it's bag of associated lenses, this is my absolute favorite. The Panasonic FH25 has more pixels but, to me, it also has noticeably more noise. On a 4x6 print, I doubt that anyone could tell the difference (for daylight shots). This Canon excels at low light shots. I took a few test shots this morning, before sunrise, using the 'auto' mode with no flash. I pointed this at a store front and took a hand held 'auto mode' picture. It came out as f/3.1, 1/30 second, ISO1600 and was excellent quality. I then zoomed all the way in on the store's glass door and got another shot at the same settings. The picture quality amazed me. This little thing, at low light, equals or betters my older T2i for low noise. If you are thinking of purchasing a compact, hi zoom, camera, please consider this one. My Panasonic FH25 was priced (at the time of purchase) only about $50.00 less than this Canon. The extra $50 for this camera bought some very good features and extra performance. For the old school people (like me): The F stop has a good range of manual settings. You can do 'Program', 'Manual' or 'Tv/Av' settings as in a much higher priced camera. I did not buy this for videos, but, it will make a good quality HDTV video. Some nice things in that department; You can zoom while recording and this thing has two microphones on the front for that '2-channel' sound. It also has a dedicated 'record video' button. I am just super happy with the performance (for cost) of this thing. Ken

I hope I can get across to you how thrilled I am with this camera, it far exceeded my expectations. I appreciate how small it is, it is barely larger than my iPhone. This was a major factor to me, I wanted a camera that would fit easily into my pocket. Don't let the small size deter you, this camera takes excellent photos! I have used it primarily on Auto mode and have found it almost always does the job for me. If I need to go beyond that, it offers shutter and aperature priority modes. It can even do time exposures, those came in very handy for me when shooting Christmas lights. We have some small dogs at home. Whenever I use a flash to take their photo, they would have a very bad case of red-eye that I needed to compensate for. I can use this camera in Auto mode with the flash and the dogs' eyes come out perfrectly normal, no red eye at all! The 14X optical zoom is great! I attended a football game and took some photos of the people on the other side of the stadium from me. It was very easy to read what ti said on their shirts. I also took photos of the game: I was on the 45 yeard line and was able to get great close-ups of the action when they weree on the 10-yard line at the other end of the field. Need to do macro shots? If so, this is the camera for you. It does not have a Macro setting. Instead, it automatcially goes into Macro mode when you are taking a photo of a close-up object. I put a silver dollar on the table, put the camera into Auto mode, got within a few inches of the ooin and the camera automatically went into Macro mode. The photos I got were sharp and detailed. The camera shoots amazing HiDef video in stereo. It is so sharp I will no longer take my camcorder with me when I travel. Also, you can use the zoom while shooting video without hearing the noise of the camera zooming in. The worst thing I can say about the camera is that the flash is in a place where I would normally place my left hand to hold the camera; this however is a very small issue that I can work with. The overall excellence of this camera more than makes up for it.

Preforms the way I thought it would for a point and shoot camera.

Love the camera, foot pictures, right size, very impressed

Thankw

I am happy with my purchase of the Canon SX230 HS camera. The photos have excellent clarity and I get compliments when I attached a photo in an email. Also very user friendly!