Canon PowerShot SX220 HS Review

With the Canon SX220 HS you are well prepared for the next holiday. The camera is small enough to disappear while inside your jacket pocket. Due to the slip surface, the rounded corners of the case and large buttons, it can be handled well. The lens of the SX220 with 14x magnification covers a lush focal length range (28-392 mm, corresponding small image). The convincing optical image stabilizer keeps especially in telephoto blurry photos safe from camera shake.

Unusually, the flash appears that nibbles at every turn from the left upper corner cabinet. Who cares that forces the flash back into the case and closes it again if necessary. Our proposal for the successor to Canon: The automatic unfold should be possible to disable the default settings.

The image quality of the Canon has convinced us - just a tad bit better succeed in the travel photos zoom camera class, only the Olympus SZ-30MR. From the 12-megapixel CMOS sensor brings the SX220 HS a maximum resolution of 1,245 line pairs per picture height (at ISO 100). The sharp drop at the edge of the picture remains to ISO 800 at 15 percent - good. Has convinced us the detail at the lowest light sensitivity at higher ISO levels, but after she leaves quickly. 

At the presentation there is nothing wrong color, 800 even at dynamic range up to ISO. A higher light sensitivity, you should avoid because of noise: in the A3-term it goes up to ISO 800 in order on the screen appear Störpixel visible from ISO 400 produced. Photos from the lab and practice, you can look at the photo shoot in full resolution.

The range of functions satisfying comfort-seeking and demanding photographers. Mode dial on the grip at the rear can be time-(Av) and shutter priority (Tv) as well as select the manual mode (M) and various scene modes. Practical: The "miniature" effect which gives a subject a fun "toy-railroad-appearance", is also accessible via the mode dial. Eleven additional scene modes including panorama mode, a wizard can be found in the camera menu. As usual with Canon, like this straight away by fancy design and a smooth operation.

The large 3-inch display in 16:9 format takes up a large part of the back. It also provides a high contrast and sharp image. However, it remains a part of the unused display area when you are shooting in the popular 4:3 or 3:2 (a fourth possibility is the square format 1:1). At the movies you see your subject, however full size on the display, as the SX220 HS filmed in 16:9 format with full HD resolution and stereo sound. During the recording controls the autofocus, the focus slowly, but after precise. You can also zoom in, but you hear the same thing on the soundtrack.

At wide angle focal length the SX220 HS dissolves quickly enough for snapshots. In the telephoto focusing with 0.78 seconds, but takes too long. Series pictures are not a specialty of the Canon: Only 2.1 photos per second access to the SD memory card. That it also goes much faster, shows such as the Casio Exilim EX-ZR100. When the battery power, the SX220 offers a satisfactory performance HS: without recharging, you can take 140-490 photos or just under 90 minutes of video.