Just bought a cheap Canon SX280 HS

[gahenty]

Is it worth keeping in 2023 or just don't bother and give it to the kids? Thanks.

 

[Icee258]

Is it worth keeping in 2023 or just don't bother and give it to the kids? Thanks.

The sensor in that camera is decent (BSI CMOS), but probably worse than the sensor in your phone. However, the 20x zoom is something your phone can't do. Assuming it's in good working order, you can get some very nice pictures from that camera.

If it's your only camera with a meaningful zoom lens, and if you think you'll make use of that, keep it and use it. If you don't need what it can do, give it to your kids for them to enjoy.

 

[Howard V]

The colors look good. Compared to your other images on Flickr they appear less sharp. Might it be the AF?

 

[gahenty]

Is it worth keeping in 2023 or just don't bother and give it to the kids? Thanks.

The sensor in that camera is decent (BSI CMOS), but probably worse than the sensor in your phone. However, the 20x zoom is something your phone can't do. Assuming it's in good working order, you can get some very nice pictures from that camera.

If it's your only camera with a meaningful zoom lens, and if you think you'll make use of that, keep it and use it. If you don't need what it can do, give it to your kids for them to enjoy.

Thanks. Yes, the sensor seems decent. I've uploaded 2 photos straight out of camera. I find default settings to overexpose so I've adjusted to -1 exposure compensation. As well, ISO is only good to 400 and acceptable to 800. Colors are good too.

 

[gahenty]

The colors look good. Compared to your other images on Flickr they appear less sharp. Might it be the AF?

I've uploaded a couple more photos but processed in DxO Photo editor. I limited ISO to 400 as higher than 400 doesn't look good. I wish it outputs RAW as well.

gahenty

Explore gahenty’s 4,403 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Supisiche]

The colors look good. Compared to your other images on Flickr they appear less sharp. Might it be the AF?

I've uploaded a couple more photos but processed in DxO Photo editor. I limited ISO to 400 as higher than 400 doesn't look good. I wish it outputs RAW as well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gahenty

Use CHDK to output DNG files.

 

[Jack Tingle]

It's a great little camera.

Two caveats.

• The GPS eats battery life faster than normal.
• Buy extra batteries (like 4) because even with GPS off, it eats batteries. Especially zooming while taking videos. Canon botched the battery sensor and it shuts the camera off when there's plenty of charge.

If you only take photos, it's great. I say keep the GPS on and get the extra EXIF info. Just be prepared to change batteries every 200 shots or so.

 

[gahenty]

The colors look good. Compared to your other images on Flickr they appear less sharp. Might it be the AF?

I've uploaded a couple more photos but processed in DxO Photo editor. I limited ISO to 400 as higher than 400 doesn't look good. I wish it outputs RAW as well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gahenty

Use CHDK to output DNG files.

Thanks. I'll look into that.

 

[gahenty]

It's a great little camera.

Two caveats.

• The GPS eats battery life faster than normal.
• Buy extra batteries (like 4) because even with GPS off, it eats batteries. Especially zooming while taking videos. Canon botched the battery sensor and it shuts the camera off when there's plenty of charge.

If you only take photos, it's great. I say keep the GPS on and get the extra EXIF info. Just be prepared to change batteries every 200 shots or so.

Thanks for the positive comments, Jack. I actually don't use the GPS but I still bought a couple of spare batteries just in case. I find that the images are good enough as long as you don't go beyond ISO 400 and watch out for your exposure as it tends to overexpose.