Canon has done it again this year by not only adding some fresh improvements but also bringing back the “ELPH” name to their cameras without dropping the PowerShot name.
As a result, you get the Canon PowerShot ELPH series and the PowerShot ELPH 300HS will stay in the middle as a high performing ultracompact digital camera.
The Canon PowerShot brand of digital cameras have been developed and improved for more than a decade and it continues to be one of the most successful lineups in Canon’s portfolio.
Canon makes sure that new cameras roll out every year and they keep improving by addressing concerns that critics and consumers make on their predecessors and adding some innovative features.
Leave it to this PowerShot ELPH 300HS review to find out if the PowerShot ELPH 300HS has any chance in taking the $250 budget crown.
Design
The PowerShot ELPH 300HS succeeds the PowerShot SD1400 and it really shows just by looking at the design. It definitely stands out from the rest of the PowerShot models as it uses solid color designs to make them really look stylish.
The variety of colors is toned down, red design looks very attractive and the black and silver designs look sleek. It still retains the very slim profile that made the SD1400 successful.
This is why this PowerShot ELPH 300HS review deserves very high marks for the portability of this camera and it does not hold back on usability and features.
It even makes a few design improvements such as the addition of a wraparound zoom toggle. The body of the camera also feels a bit coarse so you get a better grip. The screen measures 2.7-inches which is a bit small compared to those cameras that have 3-inch displays but it is still adequate to get around the menu systems.
Usability
Despite its small size, the PowerShot ELPH 300HS is surprisingly simple to use especially if you are already familiar with Canon’s interface.
For ordinary users, your best bet is to switch the camera to auto mode and start snapping shots immediately.
It’s Smart Auto mode can recognize 32 scene presets which is far better than the SD1400′s ability to only recognize 22 scenes.
It features other enhancements such as face tracking and you do not have to fiddle with the camera settings very much to get a very good picture. It is even easy to shit in and out of macro mode.
Image Quality and Performance
The 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor sounds like a downgrade since the SD1400 which was released last year sported a 14.1-megapixel CCD.
Other than the fact that megapixels do not really matter that much when you get to double digits, it is important to note the new “HS System” that Canon implemented. This system makes use of larger pixels resulting to improved light gathering causing the low light performance to greatly exceed the SD1400′s capabilities.
It is now safe to shoot darker scenes at higher ISO levels without negatively affecting the sensitivity. It is best to switch on the Handheld Night Scene mode to appreciate the real benefits of its low light performance.
Another surprising plus for this camera is its speedy performance. The DIGIC 4 Image Processor takes a lot of credit in processing the images. It takes roughly 2 seconds to turn on the device and capture an image from there.
The recycle time takes around 2 seconds as well making this a reliable unit for taking sudden shots without worrying about the image quality.
Canon even threw in a wide 24mm 5x optical zoom lens which really puts this PowerShot ELPH 300HS review ahead of others.
Video Quality and Performance
Video features are not really features that people have high expectations with but it truly highlights one of the reasons why pocket-sized video camcorders are fading away.
To sum things up, the video quality is average overall but the 1080p support works nicely for bright light shooting and the 24 fps decent for its small size.
It also hides a few secrets such as the ability to use the optical zoom while you are recording. There is also a dedicated button for activating the video mode making it easier to shoot when needed. With its support for high-capacity SDXC memory card formats, you won’t have trouble with the space either.
Bottom Line
Canon hit a homerun here with this PowerShot ELPH 300HS review because it successfully improved a device that received so many positive reviews for its size and price. Costing about $20 more than the aging PowerShot SD1400 IS, the PowerShot ELPH 300HS is a must have for someone that wants a camera that is stylish, compact, and filled with great features.
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