Canon SX220 HS Review

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS Overview

Posted: 02/07/2011

The Canon PowerShot SX220 HS is a European camera model that is closely related to the SX230 HS, but lacks a GPS receiver. The design features a 1/2.3"-type, twelve-megapixel, backside-illuminated CMOS image sensor and a powerful 14x optical zoom lens that yields 35mm-equivalent focal lengths ranging from a useful 28mm wide-angle to a whopping 392mm telephoto. Maximum aperture varies from f/3.1 to f/5.9 across the zoom range. As you'd expect with this much telephoto reach, Canon has included a true optical image stabilization system in the PowerShot SX220 HS, which combats blur from camera shake.

The PowerShot SX220 HS lacks any form of optical or electronic viewfinder, with all interaction taking place through its rear-panel PureColor II G LCD display. The Canon SX220 HS's display has a 3.0-inch diagonal, and offers 461,000 dot resolution. LCD coverage is said to be approximately 100%. As well as still images at resolutions up to 4,000 x 3,000 pixels, the Canon SX220HS can record high definition movie clips at up to Full HD (aka 1080p, or 1,920 x 1,080 pixels) resolution, with a rate of 24 frames per second at the highest resolution, and 30 frames per second at 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) or below. Movies are stored with H.264 compression in a .MOV container, and include stereo Linear PCM audio.

Exposures are calculated using the Canon PowerShot SX220HS's evaluative metering system, which also offers center-weighted average and spot modes. As well as providing a choice of Smart Auto, Program Auto, and a selection of Scene modes, manual control over the look of images is provided, with the SX220HS including both aperture- and shutter-priority modes, and a full manual mode. Eight white balance settings are available, including Auto, six presets (one underwater, for use with an optionally available housing), and manual. The PowerShot SX220 HS has a four-mode flash with a range of 75cm to 3.5m at wide-angle, or 1.0 to 2.0m at telephoto.

The Canon SX220HS stores images and movies on Secure Digital, SDHC, or SDXC cards. Connectivity options include mini-HDMI high definition or NTSC / PAL standard definition composite video and USB 2.0 High Speed data. Power comes courtesy of a proprietary NB-5L lithium-ion rechargeable battery, rated as good for a battery life of 210 shots.

The PowerShot SX220 HS hasn't currently been announced in the US market, and pricing information for overseas markets was not available at press time.

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