Review on 📷 Canon PowerShot SX230HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera: HS SYSTEM & DIGIC 4 Image Processor | Red by James Trapkin

I love this camera. A few years ago I took my DSLR along with my lenses on a trip to Scotland. Made a lot of great shots. Now we're going to Germany and I'll be damned if I'm carrying all this gear. I bought this camera after a long search. I wanted the best camera I could get in a small form factor. There are high-end cameras, but they're bigger than I wanted: thin, light, small. The SX230 fits the bill perfectly. Image quality is good - better than I expected; not as good as my DSLR with a lens that itself costs twice as much as this camera but still very good. Very low distortion even at the extreme ends. No chrome oddities. No purple streaks in the telephoto range with fine details. Powerful - Beginners can take good pictures, more experienced users can make decisions, experienced photographers can access many controls. The SX230 is a descendant of the good old Canon Powershot 95 via the SX 210, which is a pretty good pedigree - the 95 was and still is the backup workhorse for many DSLRs. For that reason, the 95 is still a solid choice and worth a look. PROS: Small, lightweight, excellent image quality, HD video, easy menu access. You don't need to learn the camera to use it. (I partially ruled out my second option because it offered a "cheat sheet".) Automatic, program, and manual modes are very good. It fits easily in a Lowepro class 30 case that can be worn on a belt. (Someone recommended class 10, don't believe it.) CONS: Some reviews complain about battery life. So what. If you are a regular shooter, one battery will do. If you want to do more, take a spare. If you plan to shoot and film all day, buy two spares. End of the story. There is no RAW mode. This camera comes in a little under the price that RAW/TIFF format offers, but if that's an issue you'll have to look further up the food chain anyway. The flash pops up automatically when you turn the camera on, which seems to really bother some people. The flash is weak. As they say, no matter what turns up. What's up with that Canon? Everything else the camera does well on its own, but it just needs to pop up the flash no matter what. Maybe it's important. Who knows? Presumably the back-illuminated CMOS sensor and firmware allow for low-light shooting without a flash in many cases. I don't often take pictures like this, so I don't know. The few shots I took in low light were nothing special. Get a monopod or maybe a tripod if you plan on shooting the long end, be it image or video. CONCLUSION: I'm happy with it, more than I expected - the build quality is good but not heavy and the camera does what it's designed to do very well. A big grip on the right is welcome. If you want more, pay more. If you want less, you pay less.FEU