The Canon PowerShot SX230HS: Canon CMOS Compact Megazoom Camera

The number of compact megazoom cameras in the market is steadily rising with powerful 14x optical zoom models such as the Canon PowerShot SX230HS filling up the shelves. Featuring a lot more than your average point-and-shoot, this compact digital camera offers a number of features which verge on a pseudo-DSLR, all from the comfort of an almost pocket sized chassis.

Design

Apart from the longer telescoping 14x optical lens in the center, the Canon PowerShot SX230HS looks just like its predecessors in the same ultra-compact line, just a bit larger. This includes a curved design for the front panel. It looks good overall, but even when closed up the lens still keeps it from becoming compact enough to fit comfortably into a shirt pocket. The flash pops up when you need it while the 3” LCD screen at the back is crystal clear. The controls are simple to use but most of the functions are menu driven.

Features and Specifications

The Canon PowerShot SX230HS has 12MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor which is faster than its 14MP CCD predecessor. However, it isn't as fast as other CMOS based cameras in the same class. On top of the 14x optical zoom the camera lens has an aperture of f3.1-5.9 and a focal length of 28-392mm (35mm equivalent).

The camera supports the usual range of SD, SDHC and SDXC flash memory along with Eye-fi media as well. What sets it apart from its other Canon megazoom compatriots is that it also has a built-in GPS for geotagging and creating a log of where you've been, one of the first in this range. While it has a ton of automatic modes it also has a ton of semi-manual and manual modes so you can set aperture or ISO and a whole bunch of other functions pretty much the same way you could in a pseudo-DSLR.

Performance

Offering top-notch photo quality even on higher ISOs, the Canon PowerShot SX230HS has very well balanced noise and noise reduction with exceptional colors. Due to this, the camera does even better in low light situations than most other digital cameras. The camera also takes full HD 1080p video at 24 frames per second and the zoom lens can work while recording video (although it does whir somewhat in the background).

It can handle very close macro shots, getting within 2 inches of the subject before the auto-focus stops working. If you must go for the point-and-shoot then you can turn on the Smart auto, but expect to wade through some menus first. This brings us to the GPS, another function which you have to activate or deactivate through several menus. The GPS does allow geotagging and creates a log of where you've been but it doesn't do much more than this. Unfortunately the GPS drains battery like nothing else and if you forget it, it won't turn off automatically.

Conclusion

Overall, the Canon PowerShot SX230HS is a very capable compact megazoom with its various functions and features, along with reasonable zoom and new CMOS technology backing it up. While it does pack in a GPS, the GPS functionality seems more like an add-on than something integrated but the camera performs very well regardless.