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Product Description
Product Description
The ideal flexible travel compact with HD recording
The PowerShot SX220 HS has a sleek, compact design and is packed with useful technology like HD movie recording making it the ideal travel companion.
Features include:
- Canon’s unique HS System for excellent low light performance
- 12.1 Megapixels capture every scene in dazzling colour and brilliant detail
- 14x optical zoom (28mm wide-angle with Optical Image Stabilizer)
- Full HD movies (1080p) with optical zoom, stereo sound, Dynamic IS and HDMI
- Compact metal body with wide 3” LCD screen
- New HD CMOS Pro sensor
- Smart Auto with new Advanced Scene Detection for great results in 32 different default situations
- High-speed Burst and Super Slow Motion Movie help capture fast action scenes
- Movie Digest records before each shot to create a bonus movie
- New iFrame movie recording format for additional editing options
- Manual, Av and Tv modes for full creative control
- Face Detection technologies can simultaneously detect the faces of up to 35 individuals in a single frame with high speed auto focusing
Record fast-paced, full High Definition movies with stereo sound
For moments that are better caught on video, the PowerShot SX220 HS offers advanced video performance with the capability to record HD movies at 1080p with HDMI-CEC compatibility. Optical zoom is available during shooting - and stereo sound guarantees clear, CD-quality audio every time. The PowerShot SX220 HS now supports a new format for recording its HD movies too - iFrame Movie. This Apple™ format is designed to speed up the editing and importing process by keeping the content in its original recorded format. Of course, if you have a PC with Microsoft® Windows you can still upload your movies onto that as well.
Improved shots in tricky lighting conditions with HS System
The PowerShot SX220 HS features the powerful Canon HS System, which ensures excellent high image quality, especially in low light conditions, plus high speed stills and movie shooting. Capturing well exposed subjects inside, against dark backgrounds, or outside in low light can be difficult - the flash range is often not sufficient to light up the background but turning it off can cause blurring from the instability of hand-held shooting. With the Canon HS System, background illumination is improved, dark areas are reduced, and camera shake is controlled – maintaining complete image clarity and eliminating blur.
Meanwhile Canon's i-Contrast feature also offers improved contrast and greater detail also in tricky lighting conditions. Available in either shooting or playback mode, i-Contrast analyses the exposure, dynamic range and other image characteristics of a shot then adaptively increases the contrast in dark areas to produce heightened detail in those regions. It does this without over exposing correctly exposed parts of the image, while the camera's noise reduction technology ensures minimal noise in the adjusted areas.
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Get closer to the action with a 14x optical zoom
You can get up close and personal, even with faraway subjects, with the PowerShot SX220 HS’s 14x optical zoom. Its versatility means you can really explore your creative options and it’s perfect for capturing the action whether you’re on safari or at a concert. Meanwhile a bright, bold 3" PureColor II G LCD with toughened scratch resistant glass and wide aspect ratio (16:9) makes HD recording, shooting and playback a breeze.
Canon's Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer compensates for almost every kind of movement from the gentle murmurs of your breathing to the vibrations of a car ride, so your movies will always have a smooth, professional look. Easily switch from Standard Mode to Dynamic Range when you want to stabilise heavy hand shake on the move e.g. when walking, shooting from a moving car or even when shooting at maximum zoom.
Effortless shooting - superb results
When you're taking pictures, the only thing you want to think about is your subject so, the effortless PowerShot SX220 HS offers two simple shooting modes - Smart Auto and Easy Mode.
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Smart Auto mode allows the camera to intelligently select the appropriate settings so you can concentrate on your subject. Advanced Scene Detection Technology automatically analyses shooting conditions – detecting people, distance, brightness, colour and movement information – then selects the perfect setting from 32 specially defined scenes. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset or friends in the park you can be confident you're getting the perfect image. Smart Auto is also more than just scene detection. Moving subjects are also detected to ensure focus and exposure is always correct. For close-ups the camera automatically switches to Macro mode for sharp shots while Smart Flash Exposure optimises exposure and flash controls to ensure your subject is perfectly lit whilst dark and light areas are accurately reproduced.
In Easy mode the camera automatically selects all the camera settings, deactivating all buttons except those used for shooting – ideal for beginners.
High-speed Shooting
The HS System also offers the capability to shoot at super high speeds which provides excellent benefits in a range of situations.
High-speed Burst
In High-speed Burst mode the camera can take up to 3.7 shots per second at full 12.1 Megapixels resolution or 8.8 shots per second at 2.5 Megapixels resolution. The camera allows you to capture fast-moving subjects, so whether you’re shooting sports events or life in motion you will never miss a moment of the action.
Super Slow Motion
Super Slow Motion Movie mode captures movies at a staggering 240 frames per second (fps) and plays them back at normal speed for a spectacular slow motion effect. It’s now possible to shoot VGA quality at 120fps in addition to QVGA at 240fps. The free software included with the camera supports multi-speed playback, allowing for your footage to be viewed both at real or slow motion speed, so you won’t miss a moment.
Handheld Night Scene
Capture blur-free night scenes with the Handheld Night Scene mode. With this mode selected the camera takes consecutive high speed shots and combines them into one blur-free image.
Choice of manual shooting modes
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With the PowerShot SX220 HS, you also have the option of selecting from a full range of manual shooting modes, shutter or aperture priority that you can count on for exact focus no matter where your subject is in the frame. Simply select the mode you require and let the camera take care of everything else, ensuring breathtaking, exhilarating pictures even when shooting conditions are tough.
New scene modes allow you to easily expand your photographic results. These include Miniature effect, which reproduces the effect of a very narrow depth of field transforming normal landscapes into miniature lookalikes, Fisheye which reproduces the effect of a Fisheye lens in three different levels of intensity and there are also two new photo effect modes: Super Vivid and Poster Effect. Super Vivid adds vibrant colours to photos for a dramatic result and Poster Effect gives a retro feel to photos by creating a poster-like effect.
Power efficient with quick recharge
The PowerShot SX220 HS runs off an intelligent rechargeable Li-ion battery that will give you hours of shooting pleasure and is quick and easy to recharge.
Shoot with confidence
Easy Hints & Tips provide onscreen guidance so even beginners can operate the camera with confidence, straight from the box. Menu explanations are always easy to understand and when settings are changed the relevant icon displays in an easy-to-see orange colour delivering a sophisticated and pleasant operating experience.
Fast, intelligent processing and superb image quality
Face Detection
With Face Detection up to 35 faces can be detected in each shot and focus, exposure, flash setting and white balance are all automatically adjusted for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones.
Face Select & Track
Face Select & Track allows a single face in a crowd to be selected and tracked as the main subject.
Smile and Wink Detection Self-Timer
A Smile and Wink Detection Self-Timer also makes group photos and self-portraits easy. Once the shot has been set up, the shutter pressed and the self-timer starts, the camera records the number of faces detected in the frame.
It then waits for an extra face to get in the frame and once the main subject smiles or winks it adjusts focus and exposure before taking the picture. You can set the camera to take the shot anytime from 2-10 seconds after the wink or smile for the perfect picture every time.
Motion Detection Technology
Motion Detection Technology uses changes in scene information and scene brightness to accurately identify subject motion. The optimal ISO level is then set automatically to minimise blur and maximise image quality.
Automatic Red-Eye Correction
Automatic Red-Eye Correction is available in both shooting and playback mode and accurately removes the red-eye effect caused by the flash.
Rich razor-sharp images - every time
The lens is the most important part of any imaging device and all Canon cameras incorporate lenses designed and manufactured by Canon to the most exacting standards - lenses based on over 70 years of experience for outstanding results.
Underwater accessories
The IXUS 220 HS is compatible with two optional waterproof cases. The Canon WP-DC320L is a slim waterproof case that provides water-resistance up to 3 metres making it the perfect photography accessory for taking photos whilst snorkelling or just for the additional protection it offers against the elements. Alternatively, for deeper underwater photography, the Canon WP-DC41 offers protection up to 40 metres whilst still allowing you to shoot fantastic photos and movies making it ideal for scuba diving.
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Customer Reviews
I've spent 30 years in photography, since buying my first Russian Zenit E around 1979, including being a semi-pro at one point. I know all about aperture/shutter speed/ISO ratios, exposure values, incident light metering, parallax error, Hurter & Driffield scales, flash guide numbers, the difference between depth of field and depth of focus, Ansel Adams's zone system, blah blah blah. When I'm taking a photo, I don't want to think about any of that stuff, I want to be enchanted by a scene and have a decent reproduction of it when I get home. With this camera, I get that. When I pull it out, I know I'm almost certain to get the picture I want. Canon have done an amazing job with it.
The video is astounding. When I upload it, I view it on a large screen, not a little laptop, so any flaws would be immediately apparent. I uploaded a few to Youtube for a friend to see, and she emailed me back, 'They are so clear!'
Many other cameras don't even let you zoom while filming, this one does and regains focus acceptably quickly when you do. I'm fairly picky about sound quality too, and the SX220HS produces good, clear, rich sound. Yes, if you zoom while filming, there's a little bit of zoom noise, but if you're shooting outside, there'll be plenty of other noise on the soundtrack too. If you care that much, buy a video camera and an external microphone. Otherwise you'll love the full HD video on this. The quality is incredible, especially surprising in a camera as small as this.
As has been mentioned, this camera is excellent in low light (very important in the UK), which is unusual for a camera with a long zoom, it has a pretty decent lens, colours are rich and glorious and the image stabilisation is also very good. Noise is virtually never an issue. If it were broken or stolen, would I buy another one? As fast as I could get on the internet.
I am absolutely delighted with this camera. Canon are usually not the cheapest of companies, but I chose this over their S95 (one and a half times the price) and Powershot G12 (double the price) after doing a lot of internet research, and I'm so glad I did. Those cameras have more manual functions, but a few weeks ago I spent 10 minutes in a camera shop comparing my SX220HS with a secondhand G12, and if someone had offered me a swap, I'd have laughed. I moved my SD card from one to the other, and took a few shots in low light, and the SX220HS focused quicker and more accurately and took better photos, despite having a slower lens. (Not to mention that neither of those other cameras do full HD video, only 720, and have a much smaller zoom range.) If you're that bothered, you can use manual focus on this camera, but I've never needed to yet.
We're lucky in the UK because this version doesn't exist in the US, there you can only get the more expensive SX230HS with built-in GPS, presumably on the basis that if you go on holiday and spend most of the time completely off your head and can't remember much about it, at least your camera will tell you where you were at the time. Don't really get it myself, but I guess that matters to some people.
The SX220HS is squat and ugly and drab, has a fairly short battery life, and the flash pops up every time you turn it on. Calamity!!!! Apparently this is a disaster. For goodness sake, so what? Nobody else has mentioned the looks, lots of people have mentioned the other two factors and marked the camera down as a result. To them I say: grow up. Buy a spare battery or two, they're cheap and small. I actually quite enjoy pushing the flash down each time I turn it on, strange as it may sound, it's like saying hello to the camera. I assume Canon did it this way because a bigger battery would have increased the size of the camera, and they had the flash pop up instantly on switch on so that you could guarantee some kind of picture in an emergency. I hardly ever use the flash, but that's the kind of thinking I like. The SX220HS (even the name is ugly) is the ugly baby you love even more. A camera that doesn't draw attention to itself is less likely to get stolen and makes it much easier to get natural shots of people.
If you know nothing about photography, this camera will lead you by the hand and give you great photos, and you won't even realise how lucky you are and how good it is compared to much of what's out there. If you know a lot about photography, you will continually marvel at the consistency and quality of this camera and the value for money it represents. It's a truly great camera at the price. I couldn't be happier with it.
UPDATE 10th May 2012
Yesterday, an apparent disaster. Saw a photo I wanted to take, reached down to my belt, pressed the familiar buttons, lens only half opened. I took a closer look and realised that there was a dent in the lens assembly, so that the shutter blades couldn't open fully. It must have got damaged a couple of days ago when it fell off my belt. I had visions of £100 repairs and checking to see whether Canon had come out with a newer model, but decided not to do anything until today. With the aid of a penknife and some needle-nose pliers, I managed to straighten the metal sufficiently so that there is only a tiny dent visible, and it's no longer fouling the blades. This does bring me to an important point, though. The physical weak point of this camera is around the lens. When I was looking around for one, I saw one advertised on Gumtree and went to have a look. It turned out to be damaged, probably beyond economical repair, so a wasted journey, but had evidently been bashed around the lens, only to a far worse extent than mine. I ended up buying a new one on Amazon.
I will still take the risk with my neoprene belt pouch and being more careful in future, but I would say preferably get a harder case if possible. I still carry the camera on my belt nearly every day and use it more than any other.
UPDATE 24th July 2012
This camera has now been superseded by the SX240HS and SX260HS (which has a GPS). The zoom on the new cameras is 20x as opposed to 14x on the SX220HS, but the lens aperture is slightly smaller. Battery life on the new ones is a bit better, and apparently the stabilisation is better too. Sensor size is the same, and for that reason I won't be upgrading. If I hadn't already got this camera, I would get the SX240HS, but I'll hang on for a year or two until there's a dramatic improvement over my SX220HS.
All this would be enough to give the Powershot SX 220HS five stars. However, what makes it truly outstanding is the remarkable quality of the 1080 HD video. Suffice to say that the results are startling for such a small, inexpensive camera. I use it for taking short movies of my young family and for skiing. The results approach broadcast quality when displayed on my 24" NEC computer DVI monitor or on my 37" Panasonic plasma TV. Even the stereo sound quality is far better than might be expected for the price. With a 32 Gig SD class 10 card fitted, I can shoot movies up to two hours. It won't replace a decent HD camcorder, but for recording family occasions it's ideal. No doubt due to the quality of the camera lens, the quality of the video recording is far superior to any of the small "Flip" type cameras.
The Powershot does not come with a memory card and has no internal memory. If you are going to take a lot of video, buy a 16 or 32 Gig SD card. I use class 10, but I understand that class 6+ should be ok. Also, get a spare NB5L battery. Whilst the battery life is reasonable, the massive display and fancy electronics do take their toll, especially if using a lot of video. I took the recommendation of one of the other users and got a LowePro Rezo 30 case which offers quick access; a lot of protection; hangs vertically from the belt loop, and provides a useful compartment for spare batteries and SD cards. I also purchased the smart "official" canon leather case which is good, but lacks additional storage and only fits on a belt horizontally, (which can be a little uncomfortable at times because of the width of the camera).
Amazon price was highly competative and delivery was the day after the order was placed.
Couldn't be better!
So far I like this camera a lot!
Previously I used my girlfriend's Canon IXUS 800 IS, which I liked very much. The battery life was amazing (it use to last weeks, and went through a whole 4 day trip without recharging), loads of features and took amazingly bright and sharp images. And I had a Sony DSC-P72 which was more than 7 years old and in desperate need for a replacement. (It still works! but gave it to my dad to play with it)
I first wanted to buy an entry-level DSLR but then I would splash out more than my budget and also you have the hassle of carrying half a kilo (or more) of weight around your neck which is not so nice on long walks.
Then I looked at the Fuji FinePix F550EXR, but that one has updatable firmware which points to the fact that it has loads of software bugs that need to be fixed and they ARE NOT YET fixed. The most annoying & funny at the same time, is the bug where you turn off the sounds the camera makes and you cannot fire the flash anymore (it prompts you to enable sounds again!!!) What were they thinking!?!
So I had to choose between the SX230HS(with GPS) and SX220HS(without GPS). Since I built my own GPS tracker using a microcontroler as a pet project I didn't need the GPS in my camera! Which people reviewed as just another battery eater, and they disable it anyway!
This is why I ended up buying the SX220HS!
I also bought along with the camera a Transcend 16Gb class 10 SD card which works perfectly. A LowePro Rezo 30 travel pouch, which is nice, snugly padded and has a pocket for batteries ;) cuz' you do need them !!!
Here are the pros & cons:
PROs:
* lens quality is quite good
* huge zoom (14x) with digital zoom you can go up to ~56x!!! WOW!
* very good picture quality in both stills and movies (although full HDMI movies get very big!)
* image stabiliser is very good to have
* fast image processor (the same DIGIC 4 processor Canon uses in DSLRs?!? Hmmm... it sure looks like it is!)
* creative picture manipulation options, just to have a bit of fun
* low price
CONs:
* VERY POOR BATTERY LIFE!
(I run out of juice in just a single day of shooting ~70 pictures and around 20 minutes of 720p movies) This camera is very hungry!!!
* manual is entangled and does not explain properly all the features of the camera's shooting modes and when to use them.
* very complicated restrictions on some shooting modes.
For example when you shoot at the longest exposure time (15" seconds) you are restricted to ISO100! WHY?!?
* cannot disable noise reduction
These last two disadvantages CAN be overcomed by using CHDK, google "CHDK Wiki" and upgrade the features of most Canon cameras!!! It is AWSOME!!!!
The manual is not that important to me since I usually just give it a quick look after a couple of weeks of actual usage of the camera, and after that the would gather dust (if they would be printed, but they are not! so we are saving the trees :)
So I am left with just one (but MAJOR) disadvantage which is the battery life!
However I ordered TWO batteries from eBay and they are on their way :) ! Hope they will work out!
4.5stars because of the battery life, but the manual shooting options are just amazing for me! Since I want to do astronomy photos, time-lapse and more. and the CHDK makes it happen!
I can definitely recommend this camera to the bit more technically minded people for its abilities! But can well do the job for the average user!
This is what I had to say about that!
Thanks for reading!
Picture quality is excellent. And it is so easy to use.
Brilliant
This camera has some lovely and very usable features. Read more
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