DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Started Dec 31, 2013 | Discussions
Deeg67 New Member • Posts: 9
Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Hello all,

Just purchased the Elph 330 and so far, I'm quite happy with it.  I'm just wondering if anyone has advice on tweaking the settings in Program mode.  As I understand it, on this camera P is basically Smart Auto with the ability to adjust the individual settings, is that correct?

At this point I've upped the sharpness to +1, as the camera seems very good on noise and can probably take that, and changed the compression to superfine (which it seems is only available in Program mode).  It certainly increases the file size rather dramatically - I'm wondering if I'll see enough of a difference to justify that.

I'm certainly not a particularly experienced photographer so I'm really just looking to get Program tweaked optimally and use that 95% of the time.  Thanks in advance for your advice.

OP Deeg67 New Member • Posts: 9
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

No Elph owners out there, eh?

I'm still experimenting a bit with the setup.  I was a bit concerned with some of the reports of mediocre performance with Smart Auto on the Elph 300, but I wonder if Canon has improved things.  I can see a minute difference between the fine and superfine compression, but when I tried a few shots with Auto in poor light (overcast, very flat lighting) it seemed to manage pretty well.

brianj Forum Pro • Posts: 14,657
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Deeg67 wrote:

No Elph owners out there, eh?

I'm still experimenting a bit with the setup. I was a bit concerned with some of the reports of mediocre performance with Smart Auto on the Elph 300, but I wonder if Canon has improved things. I can see a minute difference between the fine and superfine compression, but when I tried a few shots with Auto in poor light (overcast, very flat lighting) it seemed to manage pretty well.

I have provided some info in this recent thread: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52717462

Brian

 brianj's gear list:brianj's gear list
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS
OP Deeg67 New Member • Posts: 9
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

brianj wrote:

Deeg67 wrote:

No Elph owners out there, eh?

I'm still experimenting a bit with the setup. I was a bit concerned with some of the reports of mediocre performance with Smart Auto on the Elph 300, but I wonder if Canon has improved things. I can see a minute difference between the fine and superfine compression, but when I tried a few shots with Auto in poor light (overcast, very flat lighting) it seemed to manage pretty well.

I have provided some info in this recent thread: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52717462

Brian

Thanks, Brian - I searched but somehow missed that post.  I've plugged those settings in and I'll give it a try tomorrow - contrast +1, EV -.3, metering on center weighted average, iContrast on (this camera only has "auto" and "off" - I assume auto works).  Very helpful indeed!

Do you have an opinion in fine vs. superfine compression - is it worth the size difference to keep it in superfine mode?

brianj Forum Pro • Posts: 14,657
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Deeg67 wrote:

brianj wrote:

Deeg67 wrote:

No Elph owners out there, eh?

I'm still experimenting a bit with the setup. I was a bit concerned with some of the reports of mediocre performance with Smart Auto on the Elph 300, but I wonder if Canon has improved things. I can see a minute difference between the fine and superfine compression, but when I tried a few shots with Auto in poor light (overcast, very flat lighting) it seemed to manage pretty well.

I have provided some info in this recent thread: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52717462

Brian

Thanks, Brian - I searched but somehow missed that post. I've plugged those settings in and I'll give it a try tomorrow - contrast +1, EV -.3, metering on center weighted average, iContrast on (this camera only has "auto" and "off" - I assume auto works). Very helpful indeed!

Do you have an opinion in fine vs. superfine compression - is it worth the size difference to keep it in superfine mode?

AUTO is also the same on the SX260, it means ON, but the AUTO actually applies the right amount of DR enhancement and raising of the shadows as the scene requires.  The price for this wonder is that ISO is raised a little to achieve it, therefore I guess ISO must be set to AUTO.

I have experimented with F and SF, and sometimes I can see a slightly better details with SF, and other times its hard to pick any difference, but memory is cheap so I am using SF.

Brian

 brianj's gear list:brianj's gear list
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS
OP Deeg67 New Member • Posts: 9
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Heh, indeed it is - I'm sticking with SF for the same reason.  It sounds from your prior post as if these settings will serve well under most conditions, which was exactly what I was looking for - a good general setting that I wouldn't have to do a lot of tampering with.  Thanks again.

OP Deeg67 New Member • Posts: 9
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Hi again, Brian (and all).  I thought it'd be interesting to get your input on the shots I took yesterday in Smart Auto vs. the ones I took today in Program using your suggested tweaks (plus I had the sharpness as +1 based on a review in Photography Blog).  All outdoor shots, similar lighting conditions - a mix of afternoon sun and overcast.

Here's an example from Auto:

And from Program:

Full album URLs:

Smart Auto

Program

brianj Forum Pro • Posts: 14,657
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Not much difference, it looks like smart auto is doing a very good job.  If you check the ISO used on each photo you can see how much the Icontrast lifted each one above the default (probably 100), the more it is lifted the more the Icontrast AUTO applied DR enhancement.  I am very impressed with the way the Smart AUTO mode protected the highlights and brought out the shadows automatically.  That is what I use P mode settings for, but I find on the SX260 that AUTO is a little bit overexposed.

To be shure you could compare the two modes on scenes that have very high dynamic range.

Brian

Deeg67 wrote:

Hi again, Brian (and all). I thought it'd be interesting to get your input on the shots I took yesterday in Smart Auto vs. the ones I took today in Program using your suggested tweaks (plus I had the sharpness as +1 based on a review in Photography Blog). All outdoor shots, similar lighting conditions - a mix of afternoon sun and overcast.

Here's an example from Auto:

And from Program:

Full album URLs:

Smart Auto

Program

 brianj's gear list:brianj's gear list
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS
OP Deeg67 New Member • Posts: 9
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Interesting, thanks.  On the two in the post, the ISO for the one in AUTO was 200, while the one in Program was 125.

brianj Forum Pro • Posts: 14,657
Re: Elph 330/Ixus 255 - Optimum Settings?

Deeg67 wrote:

Interesting, thanks. On the two in the post, the ISO for the one in AUTO was 200, while the one in Program was 125.

Maybe because it was set to EV-.3, so there would have been less highlight clipping to contol.  The Icontrast moves in mysterious ways. LOL

Brian

 brianj's gear list:brianj's gear list
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads