Retreated backto SX230HS

I've tried quite a few other "travel zooms" in the last 2-3 years.  The most recent was the Panasonic LF1.  Most disappointing with the result it went back today and yet another SX230HS is on order.

The SX230HS still has the fastest lens of the travel zooms (it is slower than the LF1, but beats the others) and is significantly sharper and shows more detail than even the LF1.  So does my S95.

To be sure, the SX230HS has it's ideosyncracies and draw backs; but they mostly have work arounds; and the image quality makes it all worthwhile.

Most reviews bitch about the flash popping up at turn on.  While you can push it back down; you can also hold it down at turn on, and it stays down without hurting the camera.  The rear screen is supposedly a 3" screen; but it has a 16:9 aspect ratio, so when the images are 4:3, you get a short top to bottom image with heavy bars on left and right.  Set the camera to 3:2, and the rear display fits better and prints take less cropping. (4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8,5 x 11 - but not 8 x 10).  I also hate the styling with the black front and back and the silver band around the middle.  IMHO, the best looking color scheme in that series is the gray body, only available in the very scarce SX220HS. The SX230HS also has no front grip and with the "used bar of soap" body shape, one is badly needed.  I modified a Flip-bac G2 stick on grip and it works very well.  The rear dial and keys is easy to move accidentally; so I use a Lensmate ring that was brought out for the S90.  Turns out to fit a lot of other models.  I also fit a neck cord as I don't like wrist straps.  For settings, I use Program with My Colors set to Custom and +1 sharpening.  I also use AWB outdoors in bright light.

Since I already have a spare NB-5L I'm all set to go when it arrives.  Wish me luck.

I agree with all your points. Didn't expect the SX230 to be better than the LF1, but it seems entirely possible. Because it is a Canon, you can put CHDK on it, and enjoy cool features such as very long or short shutter speeds, capturing lightning strikes etc. Video quality is not as good as Sony, no sweep panorama, pop-up flash, mediocre battery life. All minor complaints when the competitors can't get the main thing right: image quality. Now in 2014 the landscape has change a lot for compacts, but not really for superzooms. The Olympus stylus 1 would be much better than our Canon. But it costs way more. RX10 and FZ1000 destroy both, but that is a 800 euro investment.

After using my SX230 for 3 years, I do feel it is time for an upgrade. Still not decided yet, price is a big factor. Anything from compact to DSLR is possible.

The SX230HS is a great little camera.  Last summer in Alaska and along the AlCan HIghway, I wished for a bit more zoom to bring wildlife in a bit closer; but it is tack sharp and has an IQ only slightly less than my EOS 7D with the 17-55mm f2.8 lens.

In an attempt to get a bit more zoom, I tried one example of the SX700HS with very bad AF results.  Not only did it have a hard time locking in to focus, but it was often soft focused or out of focus to the point of being blurry.  I returned it as defective, at least I hope it was.

I have just received another SX700HS, and a few quick initial shots appear that it is better than the first one.  I need to do a series of comparisons with the SX230HS before I make a final decision about keeping it.

After using the SX230HS for a while, I decided to give the SX260HS another try.  This time a Canon refurb; and this time around, the SX260HS was just about as good as the SX230HS, even at ISO 1600.  Prior to going back to the SX230HS, I had a used SX240HS which is the same as the 260; but no GPS.  It had funky metering, and the highlights burned out way too easily.  This 260 seems to act a lot like a good SX230HS.

The inconsistency of the cameras these days is a major problem.  I never know from sample to sample, if it's going to be a winner, or a dog.  In some respects, a refurb may be a better deal, not only on price, but maybe the quality standards are higher, or maybe they just spend a little more time, or a have little more pride in their work.  In any case, I can honestly say I have had better luck with Canon factory refurbs in this model range than with new ones; and definitely better than used ones.

At least now, the flash doesn't pop up at turn on, there is auto correction of chromatic aberration, the LCD is a lot taller, and being less wide, leaves more room for controls and fingers on the right side.  I also prefer the cosmetics., and it's nice to have even a little finger grip on the front.

GeraldW wrote:

After using the SX230HS for a while, I decided to give the SX260HS another try. This time a Canon refurb; and this time around, the SX260HS was just about as good as the SX230HS, even at ISO 1600. Prior to going back to the SX230HS, I had a used SX240HS which is the same as the 260; but no GPS. It had funky metering, and the highlights burned out way too easily. This 260 seems to act a lot like a good SX230HS.

The inconsistency of the cameras these days is a major problem. I never know from sample to sample, if it's going to be a winner, or a dog. In some respects, a refurb may be a better deal, not only on price, but maybe the quality standards are higher, or maybe they just spend a little more time, or a have little more pride in their work. In any case, I can honestly say I have had better luck with Canon factory refurbs in this model range than with new ones; and definitely better than used ones.

At least now, the flash doesn't pop up at turn on, there is auto correction of chromatic aberration, the LCD is a lot taller, and being less wide, leaves more room for controls and fingers on the right side. I also prefer the cosmetics., and it's nice to have even a little finger grip on the front.

Never have any burned out highlights again with the SX240/260, or your 230, I also use it with my IXUS.

P mode

Icontrast = AUTO

metering = Centre Weighted Average

EV=-.3

My colors, contrast = +1

Give it a try, it is magic.

Brian

Brian,

Thank you, I will give it a try.  Good old Center Weighted Average (AKA: CWA).  I used that with great success for years with my Nikons and Pentaxes, and never think to use it anymore, except when using shoe mounted flash.

GeraldW wrote:

Brian,

Thank you, I will give it a try. Good old Center Weighted Average (AKA: CWA). I used that with great success for years with my Nikons and Pentaxes, and never think to use it anymore, except when using shoe mounted flash.

I use it because it reduces the exposure a little more than pattern when there is a very small bright potion in the scene, like a bright cloud.  This darkening is automatically adjusted by Icontrast to produce a well exposed image with no blown highlights.

Brian

So I started looking at some of the superzoom canon has to offer and found the sx510hs... And surprisingly, it has the same 12mp sensor and digic processor as the sx230! It has a 30x lens, which I think is slightly less good than the sx230 lens (slightly less bright, very slightly, much more CA) . But it does have wifi. One review said it doesn't have hand held night mode which is a shame if that is true. Oh and it also has chdk support! If it drops more in price, I might get one. Might, because the sx230 is still amazing.

I am now actually considering the SX700. What was your conclusion of the comparison between SX230 and SX700?

4everAnoob wrote:

I am now actually considering the SX700. What was your conclusion of the comparison between SX230 and SX700?

The longer zoom on the SX700HS is nice, but the SX230HS does produce sharper - better focused - photos.  The SX700HS photos, especially at zoom, are definitely softer; and not always focused where I want them to be.

The IQ of the SX230HS is definitely superior.

Thanks for the prompt response.
That is slightly disappointing.

So when you talk about focus, do you think the lens is of lower quality or is it the image processing you think?
When I compare images here and on imaging resource between sx230 and cameras with digic 5 and digic 6 processors, the sx230 always has more fine detail but a little bit more visible fine grain /noise. So I think the 16mp sensor is actually as good as the 12, but the processing is holding it back slightly.