Need to buy a camera under 300$. SX230 HS or SX260 HS

Hi,

i don't know if you can Wait till you get to London to buy one but over here the SX330hs is £119 & the SX220hs is £99. I don't know what the converts to in your money but could be an option for you & the 220/230 is a very good camera.

Darren.

SX220/SX230 and SX240/260 have the same 12mp BSI-CMOS sensor, so the IQ should be very similar. The biggest difference is that SX240/SX260 have a both wider and longer lens (28-392mm vs. 25-500mm equivalent). The only difference between SX240 and SX260 is that the SX260 has GPS. I'd get the SX240.

Thanks Darren.  I've no problem waiting till I arrive there, but the problem will be with warranty, I  guess?  Canon UK and Canon  India,  would their warranty match?  I don't think so.

Steen Bay wrote:

SX220/SX230 and SX240/260 have the same 12mp BSI-CMOS sensor, so the IQ should be very similar. The biggest difference is that SX240/SX260 have a both wider and longer lens (28-392mm vs. 25-500mm equivalent). The only difference between SX240 and SX260 is that the SX260 has GPS. I'd get the SX240.

So the IQ of SX240  will match of SX230?  If yes, then I've no problem buying it.

And thanks for your response sir.

On Ebay US recently SX260 (new) has been selling for $190 to $200. New Sony HX20V (same 20x zoom as sx260) has been selling for $250-$260.

Used SX230 go for $90 to $120, used HX20V $160 to $190

Listen to the market...wisdom of crowds.

How important is size ? If you can compromise on size (not pocketable) then you have a wide array of options that will invariably give you better image quality and a lot more options (view finder, flash options, zoom, fast lens .. etc) under $300.

However if pocketability is must, then you are right, a generation behind gives 90% the same performance without having to pay a premium

bellcurve wrote:

On Ebay US recently SX260 (new) has been selling for $190 to $200. New Sony HX20V (same 20x zoom as sx260) has been selling for $250-$260.

Used SX230 go for $90 to $120, used HX20V $160 to $190

Listen to the market...wisdom of crowds.

Why would you buy from one of those sketchy ebay sellers and pay $200, when you can buy new from Amazon(a trusted seller) for $215?

SX260

Derek Oregon wrote:

bellcurve wrote:

On Ebay US recently SX260 (new) has been selling for $190 to $200. New Sony HX20V (same 20x zoom as sx260) has been selling for $250-$260.

Used SX230 go for $90 to $120, used HX20V $160 to $190

Listen to the market...wisdom of crowds.

Why would you buy from one of those sketchy ebay sellers and pay $200, when you can buy new from Amazon(a trusted seller) for $215?

SX260

I brought up Ebay just to show what the market is paying for the Canon vs the comparable Sony.  It thinks there's a difference.

neoofmatrix wrote:

How important is size ? If you can compromise on size (not pocketable) then you have a wide array of options that will invariably give you better image quality and a lot more options (view finder, flash options, zoom, fast lens .. etc) under $300.

However if pocketability is must, then you are right, a generation behind gives 90% the same performance without having to pay a premium

Hmm, well size is important, I'd really like it to be a pocketable unit. But said that, I also can't give up on IQ, as I said many times already. Actually I am in kind of a dilemma here, confused.

I owned three P&S Canon's so far, S5 IS, Ixus 900 and another one which I can't remember atm. Ixus 900 was pocket friendly, but yes it didn't have IQ like S5 IS!

Say if I forget about pocketability atm, then which one could be my option/s?

Thanks in advance.

Derek Oregon wrote:

bellcurve wrote:

On Ebay US recently SX260 (new) has been selling for $190 to $200. New Sony HX20V (same 20x zoom as sx260) has been selling for $250-$260.

Used SX230 go for $90 to $120, used HX20V $160 to $190

Listen to the market...wisdom of crowds.

Why would you buy from one of those sketchy ebay sellers and pay $200, when you can buy new from Amazon(a trusted seller) for $215?

SX260

Well sir that's eBay US. You will be utterly shocked if you see the pricing of SX260 on eBay India. The lowest I have just seen is 16K INR, that means 290 US$. So you get the point. Frankly buying online here is NEVER an option (exceptional case about some PC peripherals or those stuffs which are not available on stores). So I will buy it from a local stores, their prices are at least 8-10% lower than on online.

One more try....

The marketplace is paying more for the equivalent Sony than the Canon, significantly more.  Why do you think that is?  While you may be uncertain as to what to get, other people in the market are voting with their $, might be worth listening to them.

The sx230 has by default more sharpening, so when you compare to sx260 remember that, but that said the sx230 lens is slightly better/sharper at most lengths.

But the sx230 widest is 28mm equiv, the sx260 is 25mm, which can make a diff in city areas or landscapes. The 20x is nice on sx260, but slow.

Continuous mode shooting on sx260 is nice, about 9fps, so a moving target can be caught usually, I 'think' the sx230 has this but ?

Video: The canon are only 'ok', the slower 24/25fps is not great, but ok for many types of video, here Sony and others are superior!!

Sony/Nikon P&S have too many mp's in their sensors, but the Sony's are nice looking pictures & one could argue that their 18mp sensor has about 12mp resolution so it is of/near equality of the arguably best 12mp sensor Canon uses.

Thos Sony's are nice cams, just expensive and too many mp's!!

I think the longer zoom will server you best, city or general pictures, GOOD Luck, and enjoy your stay in super city London!!

PS: Remember that CHDK can be put on either camera and it gives you RAW and scripts amongst many other great features!!

JJ Rodin wrote:

The sx230 has by default more sharpening, so when you compare to sx260 remember that, but that said the sx230 lens is slightly better/sharper at most lengths.

But the sx230 widest is 28mm equiv, the sx260 is 25mm, which can make a diff in city areas or landscapes. The 20x is nice on sx260, but slow.

Continuous mode shooting on sx260 is nice, about 9fps, so a moving target can be caught usually, I 'think' the sx230 has this but ?

Video: The canon are only 'ok', the slower 24/25fps is not great, but ok for many types of video, here Sony and others are superior!!

Sony/Nikon P&S have too many mp's in their sensors, but the Sony's are nice looking pictures & one could argue that their 18mp sensor has about 12mp resolution so it is of/near equality of the arguably best 12mp sensor Canon uses.

Thos Sony's are nice cams, just expensive and too many mp's!!

I think the longer zoom will server you best, city or general pictures, GOOD Luck, and enjoy your stay in super city London!!

PS: Remember that CHDK can be put on either camera and it gives you RAW and scripts amongst many other great features!!

Alright. Thanks for your information.

Actually pals, I am confused. As this a small budget cam, I really don't wanna go in too deep. So I just did a comparison of these three cameras, SX230, SX260 and HX20V and I clearly see that SX230 is better than SX260 in terms of IQ and low light performance, not by a huge margin but at least some, and they both are tad better than HX20V. So I don't see a point of getting the Sony here. The only two parts in which Sony outperforms the Canons are movie and speed. As I said I don't need a great video camera, a job doer will do, and I guess I will take IQ and LLP more than speed of the unit.

So again, it comes to SX230, but it might not be available over here, so in that case should I go for the SX240? I am asking this because I do not see a review of SX240 here. Yes, there are plenty other places where I can read a review about it but I don't like to see/read other places when I am familiar with this very lovely site.

So I think I will make it short, it's either SX240 or SX230 (if it is available), but what I'd like to know about the lens used in 240 and IQ, is it on par with 230, or better or lower?

Thanks in advance.

Remember the sx230hs (GPS) & sx220hs are the same cam, so are equiv, 220 was cheaper. GPS is NOT necessary if you have a memory of your good times, or can write down where the H&LL you are, LONDON !!

GPS uses lots of battery, I believe most ppl leave it off except in the rare locations, & besides the GPS by Canon is not as good/fast as the typ. nav system, so I hear marginal many times!

In US, you can not get the GPS-less cams, Euro seems they are available & cheaper.

Grip: I put a strip of fuzzy half 'velcro' on my cam (elph 300), and I suspect it would work nicely on 230hs and give you a better grip, sx260 has a small grip, no need to spend money, unless it really bugs you, besides use the strap and it can 'fall' safely (or easily stolen) !

I used the sx230hs for a few weeks and thought it a nice cam, its 14x lens was nice, not as nice as the 18x Nikon S9100 I played with but the pics MUCH better especially in low light.

Good Luck!!

Okay guys, thanks a lot for your replies, information and support. I've made my mind.  I'm going for the 230,  if I don't get it 240 then.

Just asking another thing additionally,  if I give up on the small size,  which one then would be my option?  If I add, say another 100$  to by budget.

Thanks once again guys.

The sx50hs has that fabulous 50x zoom, same sensor as the 230/260/etc, so a great city or landscape cam, great for zoos.

But the Canon G1X would be great too, pic far superior to any of the above, or the Sony Rx100, little better pic but not much better, pricey.

But from what you say, one of the cams you mention should be fine for your use! If JPEG is fine for you, then buy the cheapest it will serve you well.

Enjoy London, a great city, especially if the weather is fine!!  OR go to another Euro city, lots to choose from!!

Remember CHDK can be put on all the cams you mentioned, it gives you raw which will allow you to choose the JPEG output & allow for future proof for software in the future that could work wonders on that data!!

ithehappy wrote:

..

Just asking another thing additionally, if I give up on the small size, which one then would be my option? If I add, say another 100$ to by budget.

Thanks once again guys.

ithehappy wrote:

Okay guys, thanks a lot for your replies, information and support. I've made my mind. I'm going for the 230, if I don't get it 240 then.

Just asking another thing additionally, if I give up on the small size, which one then would be my option? If I add, say another 100$ to by budget.

Thanks once again guys.

From Photgraphyblog review for sx240:

Image quality is on a par with the previous SX230, that is to say very good.

The decision to go to 230 rather than 240 in my opinion is not the best.

The 240 starts at 25mm, whereas 230 starts at 28mm, even if you don't want to consider the telephoto end, while in London you will sure wish you had a bit more at the wide end.

I went to Lisbon recently and I had to buy a camera. I chose SX40. I could not have made a better decision. It is not pocket friendly and is not pleasant to carry, but a fantastic camera.

In India canon has stopped sx40, but you can sure get them in good camera shops for around $400. Amazon UK lists it for £290. A huge step ahead from either 230 or 240 only for a $100 more and a huge compromise on size.

The SX50 might just be out of your budget, retailing around 29K in India.

To sum up, IMHO, if size is important, 240, if IQ and versatility is important then sx40. I strongly recommend you look up for sx40 photos and make your mind.

Hi and welcome.

I can't comment on the SX230, but the Sony HX20V does out shoot the SX260. I tried them both, the speed of the HX20V really makes a huge difference. My friends had a SX260 at a wedding that we went to and could not stop complaining about it. I experienced the same at the store. I do think the IQ is better on the canon, but whats the point of IQ if your subject wont stand still long enough and comes out blurry?

Also, if you aren't overly concerned with zoom, have you looked at the canon S line, like an S95 and S100? You can get them on ebay for sub $300 and the IQ and speed are infinitely better than any camera discussed here. They are worth it.

my .0002.