Canon SX260 HS, am close to keeping.

[Bob Buchanan]

    Have been considering a walk around that would give me better images than my Samsung Charge smartphone. The phone is OK under ideal conditions and though some adjustments can be made - I find I am losing some good stuff because I don't carry my Canon 50D with me all the time.

I wanted a compact vs. a bridge that would allow me to tuck it into my fanny pack or it's own belt carried case - or my pocket. Image quality was high on my list -- actually, at the top of my list. Wasn't sure what I could get in telephoto or low light ability. But I did want the lens to disappear into the camera when stowed.

By the time I got to QZ I had narrowed it down a bit - then while at QZ I was down to the Canon S100 and their SX260. Tough trade off there. The S100 has a 2.0 lens, whereas the SX260 has a 20x zoom. And then decided the zoom was more important, "if" it was a good zoom lens. Low light or portraits didn't seem as important for this camera vs. my Canon 50D DSLR. However, the SX260 does have Canon's HS technology for low light enhancement - but not a factor either way with me. Both have Canon's Digic5 processors which supposedly are 6 times faster than the Digic4 with 75% less noise. The S100 has a raw file, whereas the SX260 only has a "fine" jpeg. So far that has not been a problem. Also, my first DSLR had 2.5mp whereas this camera has 12.1 - so that is more than enough for me. As a long time film photographer, I learned to fill the VF with what I ultimately want - and would never print larger than a 16x20.

I since found that by going to other modes such as shutter and aperture priority and by adjusting either, I can easily get the f-stop to a higher number or stop action over the Auto mode just as I do with my 50D.

Reviews are OK, but before I purchase, I want to shoot images myself. HERE are a few test shots I have placed on my Flickr portfolio. Three test the zoom and one is a point and shoot in Auto mode at about 25mm taken in Laughlin. Click each thumbnail, or click the Slideshow button to enlarge -- plus, click F11 for full screen.

Am close to keeping this puppy -- and am amazed at the zoom they built into this camera that fits in the palm of my hand. The images are not what I can get with my DSLR, but for what I want when out and about, am very pleased.

 

[Gord N.]

Those are nice shots Bob.  Very clear focus on eyes.
I'd keep it!

Gord

 

[SeilerBird]

Those are some nice shots Bob. I think you should keep it. I am looking forward to the day when a little point and shoot puts my DSLR/SLT to shame and I can put them to rest. It is so much easier carrying a P&S around.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Have added a few more images to the test shot album.

First I took a picture of the iHop from the McDonald's parking lot. Standing in the same spot, I did a full zoom of the farthest iHop sign on the iHop building -- not the larger one in front.

Then a shot of the moat fish iround the Dixie Belle Casino in Laughlin -- from the entrance bridge at full zoom.

To show relative size, I took a shot with my 50D of the SX260 beside my Samsung Charge smartphone.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bob-bluecanon/sets/72157632876767918/

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Thank you, Gord. I most likely will keep it. Was actually surprised that I could get such sharp images. Note also the claws on the brown bird.

TomS, thanks for the feedback!! Have two questions,

1. What is the brown bird? They seem to flock in the palms beside the river.

2. Is 5.5 inches above ground considered a BIF shot?   

 

[SeilerBird]

I think the brown bird is a juvenile Common Grackle. They are very noisy birds.

Yes, 5.5 inches above the ground qualifies for a BIF shot. 8)

 

[Bob Buchanan]

I think the brown bird is a juvenile Common Grackle. They are very noisy birds.

Yes, 5.5 inches above the ground qualifies for a BIF shot. 8)

Thanks, Tom. Will change the verbiage on my Flickr album.

Uploaded another little bird shot - plus another cropped Ring Billed Gull shot atop a street light.

After these two plus the others have decided to keep this little compact. It doesn't have the range of my DSLR system, but for a super small compact I am pleased I can get shots this sharp.

I think the Little Bird shot caused me to finalize my decision.

Am getting through the manual now and am finding the nooks and crannies of what I would want to do with this camera. For example, I found yesterday that I can spot focus on a critter or whatever anywhere in the frame, then move the camera to keep that focus with a different composition.

BTW, can you help me with what the little bird is???

Thanks again for your feedback here . . .

 

[SeilerBird]

The little brown bird is a House Finch.

 

[mamestra]

One other thing that we like about this camera is the GPS, we just came back from an 8 month RV trip and no longer have to look at a picture and wonder where it was taken. That alone was worth the price of the camera.

 

[SeilerBird]

One other thing that we like about this camera is the GPS, we just came back from an 8 month RV trip and no longer have to look at a picture and wonder where it was taken. That alone was worth the price of the camera.

Three of my four cameras have GPS and it is a must have option in my book. I got my first GPS equipped camera two and a half years ago. I was so impressed I went through my entire 2500 photo collection and manually added the GPS coordinates. I found I really had to do a lot of thinking to figure out where they were all taken.

 

[parmm]

I am very happy with my Canon SX260!!  Have had it two years now.  Have gotten some fantastic wildlife long shots down on the St. James River in Florida with that little camera.  In fact, I can not believe some of the pics I've taken with it.  Would have said at one time, it could not be done with a pocket camera!  I've been using it more than any other camera since I purchased it.  Looked at this and the Nikon S9000, and picked the Canon over the Nikon.  One of the reviews I read before buying the camera called it the Best Digital Travel Camera.  Another said:  "Among Travel Zoom digital cameras, the Canon SX260 HS stands out not just for its 20x zoom lens, but for its quite complete range of controls and impressive image quality, allowing output of 16 x 20-inch prints with ease."  This sold me.  These comments come from a guy who use to do long and close range, covert, surveillance photography for Uncle Sam.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

The sharpness of the Gull on a Lampost impressed me - as that bird was probably 15 yards or so away from the camera. However, THIS shot has put this camera in my pocket for keeps now. The subject is a bit  farther away and also acceptably sharp.

The Spot setting has to be set each time it is used after changing modes which is a bit inconvenient. However, I enjoy the fact that once I press the shutter release half way - the focusing square follows the subject (moon in this case) even though I am not on a tripod and naturally move a bit.

If you left click the image from the link you will be back in my Flickr SX260 HS test shot album - if you haven't as yet seen the rest of the shots. You can then do an F11 for full screen and/or Next/Previous for the other shots.

Not bad for a less than $200 compact camera . . .

 

[Larry N.]

Nice moon shot, Bob.

 

[SeilerBird]

Bob you have been preaching how critical it is to buy the most expensive lenses if you want to get sharp photos and now you are posting photos of the moon taken with a $200 camera and bragging about how sharp they are. Thank you for proving my point. The lens is only one factor in how sharp a photo is. The image stabilization system, the way the camera is held, the settings on the camera and the skill of the person post processing are all very important factors in the sharpness of a photo. If you take the most expensive lens in the world and shake the camera the photo will never be as sharp as what you are getting out of a dirt cheap lens.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Bob you have been preaching how critical it is to buy the most expensive lenses if you want to get sharp photos and now you are posting photos of the moon taken with a $200 camera and bragging about how sharp they are. Thank you for proving my point. The lens is only one factor in how sharp a photo is. The image stabilization system, the way the camera is held, the settings on the camera and the skill of the person post processing are all very important factors in the sharpness of a photo. If you take the most expensive lens in the world and shake the camera the photo will never be as sharp as what you are getting out of a dirt cheap lens.

The way you've stated this here I am in total agreement, Tom. Forgive me if I misunderstood the premise of this discussion previously. For some reason, I was thinking your point was that all glass is the same regardless. And that didn't make any sense to me. Adding the many factors involved in sharpness or whatever by the shooter can definitely even the quality playing field between lenses.

THIS image from my smart phone album should further make your point. It was taken with my smart phone - but not just a point and shoot shot. I milked every setting that few with the same phone knew even existed to get this and other smart phone images in this album. I paid $49 for the phone, so the cost of the lens therein would certainly be considered a cheap lens.

The first shots I took last month of the moon w/the SX260 were very bad and I at first assumed that would be a limitation to the camera. But then after figuring how to get the other stuff I've posted so sharp, I went back to the moon shot and figured out how to improve it. For one thing, the SX260 does not remember previous metering settings as my 50D does. Several reviews I read and talking w/another user of the camera was told to forget the end of the zoom because the images will always be soft. If that were true I wouldn't want the camera in the first place - so this moon shot has figured every setting available and what is should be for the sharpest moon possbile. I like it now on Flickr so doubters can see that it "was" taken w/the SX260 and view the EXIF data.

 

[SeilerBird]

Of course a more expensive lens has abilities cheap lenses do not have. For example with a more expensive lens you can generally crop much more severely. Better lens have less CA and sharper edges. My point was that for 99% of the applications, i.e. less than professionals looking at snapshots on a computer monitor there is for all purposes no real difference. This is why I objected to telling beginners they need to get the most expensive glass they can get. I don't own any expensive glass and I get pretty good sharpness out of my photos. You are forgiven ;D

 

[parmm]

Its funny that you are talking about those expensive lenses.  When I was researching the Canon SX260 HS, I was comparing it to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 with the "Leica lens", and the Nikon Coolpix S9300.  I've always wanted a Leica 35 mm rangefinder, but never got one.  And I've worked with the Nikon SLR, which never impressed me.  Now I could have chosen the Panasonic, but was way to impressed with the Canon.

 

[SeilerBird]

Bob - You talked me into it. I just ordered myself a Canon SX260 HS in black. I scored a ticket for a Paul McCartney concert in Orlando next month and I realized I did not have a camera that would work at a concert. It has to be a small point and shoot with a long lens. The 260 fits the bill and it has Bob's stamp of approval.

The first time I saw Sir Paul in concert was 48 years ago. The second time I saw him in concert was 47 years ago. The last time I saw him in concert was 37 years ago. I have two copies of Paul's bass hanging on my living room wall. Can you imagine how excited I am?

 

[Pierat]

Tom - Congrats! We will expect concert photos!

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Bob - You talked me into it. I just ordered myself a Canon SX260 HS in black.

Great, Tom. It works for me and hope it will be OK for your needs. Once you go through the manual and see just how this little puppy get things done vs. a DSLR, it captures surprisingly good images. And it fits in your shirt pocket!!

BTW, I purchased THIS little case at Walmart in Bullhead City for $7.00. It just fits plus has a neat little pocket that I keep an extra battery and extra SC card. I took the hook thingy off and then loop it through my belt.

There are a few other things I will list for you to check out in terms of settings that may save you some time - but am having a busy day here in Sunny NCal . . .