sbansban wrote:
brianj wrote:
sbansban wrote:
brianj wrote:
sbansban wrote:
brianj wrote:
The ELPH 330 /IXUS 255 is an amazing little camera, I own two of them.
Take a look at the daylight and night photos in these albums:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5128303546/albums/ixus-255
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5128303546/albums/cruising
You can't go wrong considering the low price of these.
Brian
Hi Brian, I love how crisp these shots are with the ELPH 330 and would like to pick one up soon. I have one question though. I noticed that the photos are not 12 MP and that makes me think that you probably cropped or downsampled them. If it's the latter then is it because the photos don't look as good at 100%? Would you be able to post at least some full-rez pictures SOOC?
The images are taken with default in camera sharpening then reduced to 1280x853, and slightly sharpened for web viewing.
I have just uploaded two OOC shots (IMG_5606 OOC full res) and (IMG_5545 OOC full res) with default sharpening at full resolution for you to view. To see them click Original from the available sizes.
Album: http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5128303546/albums/ixus-255
I never view them at 100%, but you are welcome. Probably in camera sharpening of +1 would give a better OOC result for viewing at 100% but then they would be too sharp when prepared for web viewing.
Brian
Thanks, Brian. There are so many images in your gallery and the image names (IMG_5606, IMG_5545) don't seem to be visible to me. Also, even if they were visible, one would need to click on each one to find out. Could you please post the direct links?
These will download the OOC full size images:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5128303546/download/3122956
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5128303546/download/3122955
I see that you do not currently own the Panasonic ZS20. Just in case you've had any experience with it, do you think it makes sense for a ZS20 owner to get the ELPH 330? Would the 330 offer anything that the ZS20 does not in terms of IQ (not specs or features)?
I don't own any panasonics as I have not liked the accuracy of their color, so I cannot say much about the comparison, except that the pana has more zoom that the canon if that matters to you.
The thing that has impressed me about the small sensor pocket ELPH is its clean high ISO images, there is four hand held night shots that have been reduced and sharpened at the beginning of this album: http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5128303546/albums/cruising
Brian
Downloaded them and also ordered a "like new" 330 for around US $110. On closer examination though, the 100% images, while still pretty decent, are not as quite sharp and crisp - but I guess that's only to be expected.
I think if you set in camera sharpness to +1 you will get closer to what you are wanting. The lens exhibits very low CA even in the corners and at both end of the zoom, and the registration of Red, Green and Blue is very accurate even in the edges, which is why a very sharp image can be created at any size if the sharpness is appropriate. The default sharpness is a little low to allow for post resizing and sharpening. I think at wide angle and zoom it is a remarkably good lens for such a low buying price.
The colors are lovely, almost National Geographic-like - and to me it seems that it has to do, at least in part, with your choice of colorful subjects. That said, the images do sport a somewhat over-processed glossy look typical of point-and-shoots - especially the slick ones from Canon. I have a Canon SD1100 (and an SD880 bought on the basis of Ken Rockwell's strong recommendation and sample pictures), both still very functional, that I used A LOT till a few years back when I was less experienced.
Some of the images in those sets including all the cruising album ones are taken with in camera saturation set to +1. Recently I have set that back to default which is still quite colorful by some peoples standard, but I do like plenty of color.
The ELPH 330 seems to me to be a new, improved version of my ultra-compact, dirt cheap SD1100 that has served me so well in the past, with the added bonus of a 10X zoom and hopefully at-least as decent high-ISO images as your photos suggest. I am also hoping that when zoomed in to its full focal length, the IQ still remains decent - that's another aspect I plan to examine in your collection of over 500 images till I have the 330 in my hand.
I have been impressed by the full zoom sharpness, it is slightly better than the SX260 I owned but it had twice the zoom. I know you want to look at them at 100%, but I don't see much use in doing that as the output from such a cheap small camera should never be used at such a large size, probably any print up to say 8x11" should be a more realistic expectation.
Brian
