Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera - Review

The Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS is considered one of a number of new compact digital cameras just lately released by Canon. The Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS is the latest model of the line of compact cameras whose earlier model was the SD1400 IS. Nevertheless, the Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS improves upon the SD1400 IS in a number of important ways.

Most importantly, it has a unique sensor, a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor in comparison with the 14.1 megapixel CCD sensor of the model before it. The brand new sensor is designed to provide the digital camera enhanced low light picture high quality and better speed. The new digital camera additionally has a lens with a wider angle of view, 24mm compared to 28mm, and more optical zoom, 5x in comparison with 4x.

Canon PowerShot SD1200IS

The Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS has the next quality video mode, 1920 x 1080 decision (full HD) at 24 frames per second, compared to 1280 x 720 (30 fps). It makes use of Canon's newest processor, the DIGIC 4. It also has several options which can be absent in the older cameras, together with a Super Sluggish Motion video mode, which might file video at up to 240 fps. With all these improvements I can't wait to try out Canon's new camera.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera - Review

BUILD AND DESIGN The ultra-compact Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS appears to be very similar to the earlier variations of the camera - very small and smooth with a metallic body. The digital camera feels stable and sturdy in the hand, regardless of its small size, 3.63 inches large, 2.2 inches tall and 0.77 inches thick (92.2mm x 55.9mm x 19.5mm) and lightweight weight, 4 oz. (141g) without battery or memory card.

The camera has surprisingly large buttons, which might be enormously appreciated by those with massive fingers. The digital camera I reviewed came in a beautiful silver color. According to Canon's web site, additionally it is available in pink and black.

Ergonomics and Controls The Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS has a rectangular form with subtly rounded corners. The front of the digital camera is dominated by the marginally off-middle telescoping zoom lens. In the upper corner is a skinny flash, beneath which is an auto focus help lamp that doubles as a self-timer indicator.

The placement of the flash is a problem, as it can be blocked by the fingers of the left hand used to steady the camera. The digital camera's prime plate incorporates two holes for its stereo microphones, an influence button, a shutter button with a zoom ring and a speaker. The buttons and zoom ring worked smoothly and efficiently.

One facet of the camera is featureless, the other aspect comprises the wrist strap mount and a covered compartment for the USB and HDMI ports. The cover is rubber with a precarious tether that may in all probability not survive a lot of use. At the camera's rear is a 2.7-inch diameter LCD monitor with a four:3 facet ratio. Subsequent to the monitor is a dedicated film button, which makes beginning and stopping film recording rather more convenient than looking for film mode in the camera's menu.

To the side of the film button is a change for selecting between Sensible Auto and a digital camera icon which is essentially Program AE. The change protrudes from the digital camera a bit and is a convenient place to place your thumb when holding the camera.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera - Review

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Digital Cameras and Megapixels

To begin with, you must understand the concept of a pixel. A digital photo is made up of millions of dots. Each dot is a pixel, and each pixel contains important information regarding the photo. For example, an eight megapixel image contains eight million pixels. Understanding megapixels involves much more than just knowing the number of pixels though. It seems like the more megapixels the better, right? This is not completely true.

A photo containing more megapixels will have a larger physical size. However, when viewed and printed at smaller sizes, a high megapixel photo and lower megapixel photo can be very difficult, if not impossible to tell apart. The main difference then is really the file size, the larger megapixel photo of course having a larger file size.

Canon PowerShot SD1200IS

The larger file size means:

Digital Cameras and Megapixels

These photos take longer to transfer form memory cards Fewer photos will fit onto memory cards Your computer will process the larger files more slowly when editing, etc. These photos must be drastically reduced in size to send by email Uploading these larger images to web sites takes longer

The main advantage of a high megapixel image is that it can be printed at a larger size and maintain its clarity while a low megapixel image will lose clarity and sharpness when printed at large sizes. In fact, when you exceed the recommended print size for a given number of megapixels, the larger the print, the less clear the print looks. These days most digital cameras are at least 6 megapixel, so this only becomes an issue when printing larger than 9 x 12 inches.

Here are recommended megapixel requirements for large prints:

6 megapixels for prints up to 9 x 12 inches 8 megapixels for prints up to 11 x 14 inches 10 megapixels for prints up to 12 x 16 inches 12 megapixels for prints up to 16 x 20 inches 14 megapixels for prints up to 18 x 24 inches

There is another important consideration regarding megapixels. You have more freedom to crop your photos when your photos are of higher megapixels. It is not really the cropping of the photos that is the concern, but rather enlarging the photos after they are cropped. When you crop a photo, you are eliminating megapixels. If you crop off 25% of an image, then you have eliminated 25% of the megapixels. Then, for example, your 8 megapixel photo is now a 6 megapixel photo,and you are more limited on how large you can make a nice, clear print.

Digital Cameras and Megapixels

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