A return to the past, a retro moment

I still have my S90, and a few days ago, I had an urge to revisit the past.  So I bought a very clean SX220HS (same as the SX230HS, but no GPS), and then found a really clean ELPH 330HS.

Happily, both cameras arrived today, and both were perfect cosmetically, and both function perfectly and take very good shots, corner to corner.  No sign of shifted lens elements.

I've had the ELPH 330HS and the SX230HS before, so I'm very familiar with the cameras.  I sold both in a weak moment and then regretted it.  Nice to have them back!

If you're not familiar with those cameras, the ELPH 330HS was a 2013 model.  In Europe it was the IXUS 255, and won Camera of the Year in Europe.  It has a 1/2.3", 12 MP BSI-CMOS sensor and DIGIC V processor, a 3" LCD and is very small and light.  I'm pretty sure the sensor and processor are the same as in the SX50HS and SX260HS.  The ELPH 330HS is one of those cases where the parts all came together for an unusually good camera.  Its one drawback is a very slow aperture at 240 mm; but it's only f/3 at 24 mm and it stays pretty fast up to about 150 mm where it gets much slower rather quickly.

The SX220HS is a 2011 model; but also is listed as having a 12 MP BSI-CMOS sensor.  The lens covers 28-392 mm f/3.1-5.9, fairly fast for a Travel Zoom.  Processor is DIGIC IV, and unlike the SX240/260HS it is quite forgiving of bright highlights and resists blowing them out. The SX230HS has GPS and with it, a bump on top of the camera that I think is ugly, and for me, gets in the way.  The SX220/230HS pair definitely have a better lens than the 2012 SX240/260HS.  Probably less of a compromise because of the shorter focal length range.  SX220HS covers 28-392 mm f/3.1-5.9, the SX240HS covers 25-500 mm f/3.5-6.8.

I'm looking forward to having some fun with these older models, along with my S90.

Look forward to seeing some of your photos!

I picked up a 330 HS as a Canon refurb for $89 a few years ago and still use it a lot. Smaller than the smallest iPhones and 10x optical zoom. What's not to like?

I did add a Flipbac grip to it which makes handling much easier.

Yup!  I added a Flip-bac G3 to the ELPH  330HS and also to the SX220HS.  My venerable S90 has the Franiec aluminum grip.

It took the industry a long time to learn to put useful grips on film SLR's, and even longer to put them on small fixed lens cameras.  So I've been doing it on my own for several decades.

Some of them (Sony, Canon, Olympus) are even making their own add-on grips.

Yes.... Looking forward to seeing pictures 

GeraldW wrote:

Yup! I added a Flip-bac G3 to the ELPH 330HS and also to the SX220HS. My venerable S90 has the Franiec aluminum grip.

It took the industry a long time to learn to put useful grips on film SLR's, and even longer to put them on small fixed lens cameras. So I've been doing it on my own for several decades.

Some of them (Sony, Canon, Olympus) are even making their own add-on grips.

So far, just a few test shots to be sure I had good cameras.    Weather is pretty good right now; but time and opportunity is lacking.  So, patience please, they only came yesterday.

Not many pictures yet; but here's a test shot of Sher Khan, my mascot, indoor test subject, and acoustical absorber for my stereo system.  Taken with my new-to-me ELPH 330HS.

Hand held, ISO 1600, camera set to 3:2 aspect ratio, +1 sharpening, AWB, about 170 mm equivalent

Note the sharp resolution of the whiskers over the eye, the hair in the ear, and the black lines in the ruff.   Pretty good for a small sensor at ISO 1600.

As most of you know by now, the 330HS was one of those serendipitous cases where all the pieces came together to make a great combination.  After all, the ELPH line is a lower level in Canon's line up, and the sensor and processor in the 2013 vintage 330HS are left overs from the 2012 SX line and apparently used in the SX50HS and SX260HS.