As far as I’m concerned, you can tell when a review is nitpicking when the best pro and con disadvantage it can come up with is the lack of optical zooming when recording video. I don’t care whether a camera has it or not, and even if it did, it would be the first thing I would disable, along with digital zooming. Zooming during a video is just plain silly and amateurish. I’m much more concerned with the quality of the video and audio on the recording. Many compact digital cameras suffer from background hiss or hum that significantly detracts from any video they produce, irrespective of whether they zoom optically or not. I tried several cameras before I settled on the SX200 for that reason. It had the least amount of background audio noise.

So, what are you willing to pay? That’s what the choice comes down to. Digital cameras get outdated pretty quickly. For me, that definitely puts a limit on what I’m prepared to pay for one.

And by the way, CHDK works on the SX200, and it allows you to easily produce RAW files whenever you like. The easiest way to work with them is to set the RAW functions in CHDK to save as DNG files. It works great, for when you want to really work with raw output. It easily toggles on and off when running CHDK, and when on, it gives you both the raw file and the jpeg. DNG files are easily opened by UFRAW either as standalone or within GIMP. CHDK also has an option to display the focal length of the zoom (in 35 mm equivalent if you want). I love this, and this alone makes it worth using CHDK. You will need an inexpensive USB card reader to use it, though.

I’m trying to pry myself away from the Auto setting into the Manual or Scene selections. Can anyone comment on the differences on these or recommend one or the other. Other than the zoom factor and HD recording, is there anything noticeable different that makes one more attractive to a buyer.

summary:
- Look for DNG options in CHDK RAW settings. that might help your problem.
- my experience: the sx100is/110/200/similar seem to all have a 1/2.5″ sensor, which is around 10mm (I think), which is SMAll and hence poor in low light and high ISO.

details:
In the latest CHDK version and perhaps earlier (well, latest as of a couple of months ago) of CHDK for my SX100IS, I discovered that there is a seting to create DNG files, for RAW, instead of CRW. Those open natively in Photoshop and the open source RAW thing that plugs into gimp, etc, if i remember correctly. Without any need for dng4ps.

So, DNG seems the best approach for us to take, if we’re using ChDK.
it’s under the chdk menu’s “RAW” menu option, somewhere near the botttom of those RAW settings.

I don’t know about the CHDk version for other models, such as the sx200Is – but hopefully this same option might be there for Matt’s camera too. I hope my guess is correct and that you are thus able to enable DNG
If not, i too hope CHDK developers correct the problem soon.

**On a separate note (relevant to the main article)**
semi-amateur that I am, it is only recenttly that I have truly started to apprecaite the importance of SENSOR size. my sx100IS has a ’1/2.5 inch’ sensor, which i assume means 10milimetres diagonal. I have real;zied that 1/2, or 1/1.6 or 1/1.3 etc., are much better (bigger) sensors, and so for the same number of megapixels the larger sensor size is more likely to be less prone to noise – espeically at higher ISOs and low light. It seems the sx200IS also has such a small sensor. whereas, many other compacts often have 1/2 or 1/1.6 – e.g. I was looking at the fuji’s 200exr and 70exr fro my brother and they both ahve larger sensors than the sx200is/similar.

Nevertheless I am very happy with my sx100IS I just need to remind myself of its limitations. even without chDK, it’s pretty great. If the 200Is comes out on clearance sale — as happened with my 100IS (early this year i got my 100IS for less than AU$250 !) — then i might serioussly consider buying it for my brother (or upgrade and give him my 100IS).

good luck
Sohan

I purchased a Canon SX100IS (36-360mm equivalent) in February 2009, similar to but lower down in the series than the sx200IS. I’ve been fairly happy with the sx100; I do also own a Nikon D70 with 35-105 lense (56 to 168 equivalent) so I can see the pros and cons.

While the above article is about the sx200IS, i think the foll. info might be useful to exisiting or potential users of a Sx200IS:

There is a 3rd party and free software called “CHDK”, which is usable on many/most PowerShot series cameras, which appears to be safer than firmware hacks; it is NOT a permanent firmware hack, but software only. Don’t take my word for it; I disclaim all responsibility! All I am doing here is reporting on my personal experience of using it, and hoping it will help some of you to get more out of ANY PowerShot camera: I was very happy with the camera especially once i started using CHDK, and was glad I didn’t spend on purchasing a DSLR instead. (The 2nd-hand D70 was later gifted to me.) Especially because, i DID want to have some RAW support.

There is NOT YET a version of CHDK for the SX200IS, and even the SX110IS version is only a “beta”; but the sx100IS version that i have been using for the past 6 months (updated version a few weeks ago) has given me great results; my only complaint is that seems to use up more power; and also that the proprietary .CRW format has to be converted into DNG format before Adobe software can use it; however I recently found that the camera seems to be able to directly save in DNG format too – I’m pretty sure this provide all the RAW-related needs for my needs.

Details:
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

Basically this software seems to make use of features that ARE present on the chipset but are simply not used on the PowerShot series. As I understand it, thisis because the chipset that is used is the same as that of the DSLRs; e.g., my SX100 using “Digic II” chipset (I think), which is also used on some DSLRs. the CHDK software simply harnesses the features that are already present on the chipset. (E.g., saving RAW image data; or bracketing; and even a clumsy on-camera “RAW-average” feature to get some kind of HDR-like effects! live histogram; zebra stripes; “scripting” support; etc.)

oh one more thing… the RAW saving takes time; if i switch off the RAW mode, then the camera takes continuous shots at highest JPG size and quality fairly fast; but if RAW mode is switched on, this slows down badly, to about 1 in 2 seconds or 1 in 3 seconds. (Whereas the real DSLR like my D70 – can take RAW images much faster. As I said, there are pros and cons: I’m still happy with my PowerShot with the chdk software.)

I am not involved with CHDK or Canon in any way! I’m just reporting on my experience! hopefully CHDK website will have a version for the SX200IS soon, for those of you who want the features like RAW, zooming during video shooting (but it adds the audio noise of the mechanism), bracketing – see the website for the dozens of features and the pros and cons.

And please read the FAQ on the CHDK site, for full details, and keep yourself informed and warned about whether or not this voids the warranty (my understanding is that it does NOT), whether it can damage the camera (my understanding is that for all practical purposes one is safe in assuming that it cannot damage), etc. Several online photo magazines have also reviewed CHDK, positively; just google it.

Good luck

The face detection was hit or miss much of the time, but a good feature. The zoom is huge plus, and the 12x optical zoom is a home run. I found little to no distortion.

One major highlight of this camera was the outdoor, daytime, walk-around shooting. It takes incredible images, with fantastic detail. However, even with adjusting the ISO, the low light shooting was a step above horrible! Our old Powershot A510 takes better indoor photos (I’m a Canon fan). This is unfortunate because I found that everything else about this camera was worth the money. The HD movie recording is also effected by low light pretty badly, but outdoor recording is brilliant and a huge selling point for this camera.

Overall, I am pleased with this purchase, although for the price I’m wondering why this camera seems like a step down in the low-light department? Even with that, though, I recommend it – esp. for those who will be taking a lot of outdoor shots on the go, and want to have a camera to partner with their DSLR.