Powerful 20x optical zoom and 25mm wide-angle lens with Optical Image Stabilizer
Color:Black Super-Charged, Ready to Share
The PowerShot SX280 HS is a super-charged SX-series model featuring Canon’s very latest proprietary processor, the DIGIC 6 Image Processor, for improved performance and exceptional clarity in low-light scenarios. The camera makes it easy to show off your high quality images and video wherever you are, with enhanced built-in Wi-Fi® technology that lets you share photos with comments on social networking sites – even within specific groups. Capture everything from quick snaps to artistic images with a powerful 20x Optical Zoom and 25mm Wide-Angle lens, with Optical Image Stabilizer to reduce blur throughout the zoom range. Even low-light images impress with the Canon HS SYSTEM: a combination of a 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor and the new DIGIC 6 Image Processor. Preserve memories in ultra-smooth 1080p/60p Full HD video with the amazing processing power of the DIGIC 6 Image Processor, which also enables enhanced Dynamic IS for reduced blur, plus video recording in the easy-to-share MP4 format. The camera also gives you access to extraordinary imaging capabilities with Smart AUTO that recognizes 58 predefined scenes, Face ID that adjusts focus and exposure for your loved ones, and Intelligent IS that dramatically reduces camera shake. New Hybrid Auto creates an optimized “highlight reel” of your day, while built-in GPS## records the location and local time, making the PowerShot SX280 HS a perfect travel camera, ready to share the spectacular images you’ll capture!
##In certain countries and regions, the use of GPS may be restricted. Therefore, be sure to use GPS in accordance with the laws and regulations of your country or region. Be particularly careful when traveling outside your home country. As a signal is received from GPS satellites, take sufficient measures when using in locations where the use of electronics is regulated.
Share Simply From Wherever You Are
Built-in Wi-Fi® technology allows you to wirelessly transfer your images to social networking sites through CANON iMAGE GATEWAY#; to a PC or upload virtually anywhere on your iOS® or Android™ device* with the free download of the Canon CameraWindow app** The PowerShot SX280 HS is equipped with enhanced built-in Wi-Fi® technology for on-the-go convenience when you want to share what you’ve recorded with friends, family and the whole world. The camera can connect directly to both iOS® and Android™ devices*, and upload images via the free Canon CameraWindow app** without a computer. Easily post your images to your favorite social networking sites through CANON iMAGE GATEWAY# or save them to the online photo album to share anytime, anywhere. The camera’s built-in Wi-Fi® technology also lets you transfer images and video directly to your computer to update friends and family while you’re traveling or out and about. Enhanced Wi-Fi® technology makes posting in real time possible, so you can keep everyone up to date with photos even as events unfold. Easily control the destination of your uploads to social networking sites; share with everyone, or send photos to selected groups. Post to groups, add comments, and edit and upload MOV video files from both iOS® and Android™ devices*. Frequently used devices and accounts are stored in the camera’s Wi-Fi® history menu, so you can immediately connect with a simple touch. Share with other Wi-Fi® equipped PowerShot cameras, send images to your computer, and print your photos to Wi-Fi® compatible printers^. Built-in Wi-Fi® technology on the PowerShot SX280 HS makes it easier than ever for you to express your creative flair, and share it with the entire world!
** This software enables you to upload images to social network services. Before uploading images, please be aware that image files may contain privacy related information such as people and places. If necessary, please delete such information. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images through this software.
^ Wireless PictBridge certified printer is required.
Capture The World as You See It
Powerful 20x Optical Zoom with 25mm Wide-Angle Lens The PowerShot SX280 HS features a powerful 20x Optical Zoom Lens that delivers outstanding optical performance and versatility. It does not have rear facing picture capability.The camera’s lens embodies the quality and legacy of Genuine Canon Optics with advantages that go far beyond making the camera slim enough to slip in your pocket and carry anywhere. With a range of 25–500mm (35mm equivalent), the lens gives you the power to capture the full breadth of scenes, with details you’ve never captured before. Images are bright and vivid with spectacular clarity thanks to Optical Image Stabilization.
Optical Image Stabilizer Handheld shooting can often lead to camera shake, making photos and videos blurry. Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer is a sophisticated system that uses lens-shift technology to correct for unwanted camera movement. It makes handheld photography more practical, providing excellent image quality in many difficult shooting situations: outdoors at dusk, inside without a flash, and even at the telephoto end of the zoom range without a tripod. For photos, it enables shooting at slower shutter speeds, accommodating more low-light shooting situations than ever before without having to boost ISO sensitivity. With camera shake and vibration reduced, you get a sharper, steadier image. And because it is an optical system, there is none of the image degradation typical with electronic image stabilizers.
Beautiful Images and Fast Performance Start Here 12.1 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor The PowerShot SX280 HS employs a Canon 12.1 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, which delivers state-of-the-art imaging performance and is optimized for use in compact cameras. Utilizing a sophisticated light-capturing design, it provides high sensitivity for improved high ISO capture with reduced noise. It is also a high-speed design, capable of rapidly capturing and moving image data to the processor, enabling faster continuous shooting and faster autofocus.
Canon DIGIC 6 Image Processor The PowerShot SX280 HS is equipped with Canon’s very latest proprietary processor, the DIGIC 6 Image Processor. The DIGIC 6 Image Processor makes several important advancements, including improved sensitivity that allows for higher resolution with less noise when shooting in dark conditions. Dynamic IS now detects and compensates for tilt and parallel movement (shift blur) to create video that’s exceptionally free of distortion. In addition, the DIGIC 6 Image Processor enables video recording in MP4 format. Highly compressed MP4 video not only preserves space on your memory card but also improves playback on mobile devices.
Canon HS SYSTEM for exceptional low-light performance up to ISO 6400 The PowerShot SX280 HS gives you the power to create images with spectacular depth, detail and emotional resonance. The 12.1 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor works in concert with Canon’s latest-generation DIGIC 6 Image Processor to create the renowned Canon HS SYSTEM. With the Canon HS SYSTEM, you’ll experience excellent tracking performance even in low light, and achieve gorgeous still image quality even at high ISO speeds all the way up to ISO 6400; beautiful low-light shots are possible with maximum detail in highlight and shadow areas. The Canon HS SYSTEM lets you use higher shutter speeds to capture clearer images with reduced noise and blur in a variety of situations for incredible photos and videos.
Full HD Video That’s Better Than Ever
1080p/60p Full HD video With the camera’s advanced DIGIC 6 Image Processor enabling MP4 format recording, the PowerShot SX280 HS lets you shoot video at a selectable frame rate of 60 fps or 30 fps. 1080p/60p Full HD video is extraordinarily smooth and rich in playback, ensuring that your important memories and creative film clips look their absolute best. Video recorded at 30 fps has also been improved through the combination of the DIGIC 6 Image Processor and Fine Movie Detail Processing, with reduced noise and high resolution.
A Smarter Camera Means Better Photos and Videos Smart AUTO Smart AUTO for the PowerShot SX280 HS has been significantly expanded, making it easier than ever to capture the sharp, bright, colorful images – and videos – you’re looking for. By assessing various factors in both the background and the subject, the system recognizes 58 predefined shooting situations and automatically selects the camera settings that will yield the best possible results. Simply frame the shot you want, and in dozens of common or challenging scenarios the camera takes care of the rest. Hard-to-capture shots such as moving subjects, night scenes, backlit subjects, and landscapes at evening or on a bright snowy day are instantly and effortlessly captured as “keeper” shots. Smart AUTO makes the PowerShot SX280 HS ideal for capturing excellent quality still images and video on the go.
Face ID Face ID on the PowerShot SX280 HS gives you an easy way to improve every shot of the people you love. Simply take a picture of up to 12 faces you would like the camera to register, then enter names and ages. Once a person is registered, the camera will pick him or her out of a group (even against a busy background) and adjust focus and exposure to his or her face, even recognizing faces in profile. Face ID is particularly great for shots of babies and children. The system can pick your baby out of a group of children, focus on your baby when pictured with an adult, and capture the best smile by taking three successive images when the smile is detected. The flash is even disabled so as not to startle the baby and interrupt the moment. Older children in motion are tracked, with focus and exposure continually adjusted with Servo AF; with one shutter press three successive images are captured so the best shot is never missed. And because you’ll identify each face you register, Face ID makes it easy to search images by name.
Shooting Modes/Special Scene Modes Manual You have complete control of exposure, selecting both aperture and shutter speed manually. Aperture-priority You set the aperture, controlling depth-of-field. The camera automatically selects the shutter speed. Shutter-priority You select the shutter speed, and the camera automatically selects the appropriate aperture. Program The camera automatically and intelligently selects the aperture/shutter speed combination based on the shooting conditions. Live View Control Enables Brightness, Color, and Tone adjustments to your images using easy-to-understand controls. Movie Digest & Hybrid Auto Automatically selects shooting settings for optimal quality and records a video clip every time you capture a still image. One day’s worth of clips are then combined into a single video. Smart AUTO The camera automatically selects the best shooting settings for optimal quality based on subjects and environmental factors to provide point-and-shoot simplicity. Sports The camera uses high shutter speeds to capture fast-moving subjects. Portrait Brings the subject into focus while beautifully blurring the background. Smart Shutter The camera automatically takes the photo when people smile, wink, or get into frame. High-Speed Burst HQ Captures fast-action shots at full resolution, providing continuous shooting when the shutter button is held down. Handheld Night Scene Take clear and steady pictures at night without the use of a tripod. Underwater Capture underwater images with reduced backscatter effect. Optional Underwater Case required. Snow Shoot clear snow scenes without darkened subjects or an unnatural bluish tint. Fireworks Create brilliant images of skyrocketing fireworks. Fisheye Effect Now you can get the fisheye effect – a classic photographic distortion – without a fisheye lens. Miniature Effect Give images a miniature look with an effect that emphasizes perspective by blurring the top and bottom of the image. Toy Camera Effect Simulates photos taken with “toy” or pinhole cameras, darkening the image at the edges to create a vignette effect. Soft Focus Creates a hazy ambiance that’s perfect for portraits and wedding photos. Monochrome Choose from three single-tone effects: Black-and-White, Sepia, or Blue. Super Vivid Super Vivid intensifies existing hues, saturating the scene with bright colors. Poster Effect Poster Effect combines several similar shades into one color, turning subtle gradations into eye-catching, scene-popping contrasts. Discreet Mode Disables flash, AF assist beam, and all camera sounds with one mode dial setting – so you can capture images in quiet areas. Movie Record video; unwanted scenes can be deleted in playback mode. Super Slow Motion Movie Record your clips in high speed (approx. 240 fps), and then watch your videos in slow motion. Actual results may vary from examples shown above. Final image may vary depending on picture composition.
Remember the Day in Crisp HD New Hybrid Auto utilizes a combination of Smart AUTO and Intelligent IS to create a beautiful and steady 720p HD video clip in Movie Digest mode every time you shoot a still image New Hybrid Auto on the PowerShot SX280 HS brings enhanced image quality to the popular Movie Digest feature on PowerShot digital cameras. Movie Digest records up to four seconds of video every time you shoot a still image, then automatically joins the clips into a video that captures the essence of special days: vacations, important occasions, any time you’re shooting many shots in a day. With Hybrid Auto, this “highlight reel” is more beautiful than ever. Hybrid Auto automatically recognizes the scene and optimizes camera settings to capture the highest possible image quality. The resulting 720p HD video is properly exposed, crisp and steady.
Optimal Image Stabilization in Any Situation Intelligent IS automatically chooses from six different modes to optimize image stabilization for the shooting condition It’s easy to capture clear, steady images with the PowerShot SX280 HS, even in low light without using a tripod. That’s because the camera is equipped with Canon’s innovative Intelligent IS. The system analyzes camera movement and applies the best shake correction method for the shooting situation – allowing you to focus on framing and capturing your shot. For stills, the system automatically selects among Normal, Panning, Macro (Hybrid) and Tripod IS modes. When shooting video, the system automatically selects among Dynamic, Powered, Macro and Tripod IS modes.
Normal Corrects for a wide range of camera movement when shooting stills. Panning Panning motion is detected so that IS does not interfere with desired camera movement. Macro (Hybrid) Corrects for shift-type camera shake, which typically occurs in macro (close-up) shooting. Dynamic Effective for video shooting at wide-angle focal lengths, eliminating the unwanted shaking that typically occurs while walking. Powered Compensates for hand movement when shooting video at the telephoto end of the zoom range, where camera shake is magnified. Tripod When tripod use is detected, the Image Stabilizer is stopped because it is not needed. The Ideal Traveling Companion GPS Technology The PowerShot SX280 HS digital camera is equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS)## technology. Now you can travel the world and let the camera automatically record the location and local time of your stills and videos. The camera can also use the GPS unit to automatically set the exact time. You can maximize the usefulness of the GPS feature by using the special bundled Map Utility software that makes it fun to share the memories of your world adventures. In addition to displaying all your photos’ locations on a world map, the camera’s GPS system can also track your route from photo to photo – a great way to visualize each trip! You can also create and share custom maps and personal mini-travel guides with friends and family members.
Additional Features ECO Mode The PowerShot SX280 HS takes energy conservation to the next level with ECO Mode, which provides more shots per single charge through LCD monitor and camera power management. ECO Mode can be activated for easy power preservation when an outlet is unavailable or the moment is too exciting to put the camera down. ECO Mode quickly wakes the camera from sleep when a button is pressed. With ECO Mode activated to conserve power, you can even stay connected for longer with the built-in Wi-Fi® feature on the PowerShot SX280 HS. When the fun with family and friends runs late into the night, you can be assured your camera can keep up.
I’ve had a number of PowerShot cameras. Really impressed with the picture quality of the camera and the overall speed. Colors and picture quality are quite good and the low-light performance is superior. The previous review focuses nicely on the picture quality, so I wil stick with the human factors.Manual control and adjustment are simple to master, so you won’t need to rely on the automatic settings. My only concern with the camera is hat the wifi settings are difficult to set up. I’m pretty good with wireless technologies and it took me quite awhile to figure it out. Make sure you run the set up disk. Unlike many other consumer wireless gadgets, this one requires that you run the setup software. Couldn’t just turn on the camera and connect it to the router. As much as it pains me to say this, I should’ve read the directions prior to jumping in to try to set it up! :-)Once it’s setup, it works great. I’ve been transferring files to iphone, ipad, and laptop; and transferring to the Canon Image site. All directly from the camera. Even emailed my wife a link to a photo directly from the camera. Camera IS a bit of a battery hog, but I was expecting it.Update: Since I concentrated on human factors in my review, I thought I would weigh in on flash location interfering with handholdposition. Personally, I didn’t notice it until I read the other reviews. I’ve had other cameras with pop up flashes, so I think I just automatically adjusted to it. That said, I can see how it would annoy some people. The flash is located in the front left-hand corner of the camera, but there IS sufficient space behind the flash to place your finger. Could be a problem if you have large hands, I suppose.. Motor is also strong enough to remind me to move it when it pops up.—————————-Update 20 May:: There is a glitch that’s been widely reported that shows that the battery is drained when in video mode. This is a glitch in the indicator, not the actual battery life. Cannon has acknowledged the problem and is working on a fix. Expect the next firmware update to address the issue.—————————–Update 5 June: New Firmware Released Today!! Details Firmware Version 1.0.2.0 incorporates the following fixes and improvements:1. Increases the duration of movie shooting by 20% in cases where the optical zoom is used compared to cameras running Firmware Version 1.0.0.0 or Firmware Version 1.0.1.0 through a reduction in the power consumption of the optical zoom.*Time under default camera settings, when normal operations are performed, such as shooting, pausing, turning the camera on and off, and zooming. (based on conditions established by Canon).-Under some shooting conditions, the recording time may be shorter than mentioned above.-Recording time with a fully charged battery.2. Fixes a phenomenon with cameras running firmware version 1.0.0.0, in which the low battery level warning is prematurely displayed while shooting in movie mode.Firmware Version 1.0.2.0 is for cameras with firmware Version 1.0.1.0 or Version 1.0.0.0. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.0.2.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware. Please note that, once the camera is updated to the latest version, it cannot be restored to a previousI installed it with no problems.
Hi thereI’ve replied to a few reviews of this product before choosing to write my own, while keeping in mind everyone’s opinions (especially about the battery) thus far.Out of the way, I too noticed “problems” when shooting video on a not-fully charged battery. I put the word in quotes, because in my experience/view, it’s really a software problem that can be fixed with an upcoming firmware update. It just flashes red prematurely, and you can certainly repeat steps to have that happen consistently. Also, you’ll only get about 30 minutes or so of 1920/60fps HD video per charge (keep in mind the battery will likely be flashing red most of the time). But keep in mind, its really just a bug. When you power up your camera, the true charge is shown on the indicator.I took the camera with me today to shoot a typical days worth of exciting things with my kids. I took about 35 photos, and a combined 7 minutes of full HD/1920/60fps video. I also transferred a few images wirelessly to my Android phone. After all that, my battery is still showing as fully charged and does not do the ‘premature red battery’ even if i take it to video. So that seems like a decent day for me, and it doesn’t show a dent (and rightly so). I’ll just have to remember to charge the battery fully before I take it out.In the end, I do recommend the camera because of what I bought it for: excellent, truly best-in-class images from a camera under $400. This camera is my ‘2nd’ camera, for times when I don’t feel like dragging my DSLR around. The images aren’t as good as a DSLR (no surprise) but they are by far the best images I’ve taken with a point-and-shoot. The 20x optical zoom is truly incredible, and the true/natural Image Stabilization (not digital) is fantastic: you can actually take a 20x zoomed picture without it being blurry! Not only that, the IS during video shooting makes it smooth-as-silk on playback, especially in truly stunning 60fps mode. Shutter-lag isn’t as good as a DSLR (because the concept doesnt exist with mirrors), but it’s miles ahead of my last 2011 P&S and also faster than my 2013 smartphone camera.I can see why the video/battery issue is so frustrating: the video from this thing is truly amazing (stereo, Image Stabilization, and did I mention 1920 and 60fps yet??!) and you want to shoot a ton with it. It’s also in ultra-convenient mp4 format right out-of-the-camera. And it does a superb job of focusing as you zoom on video (my older p&s wouldn’t let me zoom in video mode at all). But if video is really your mojo, get a camcorder for the same price and be happy. If you’re after stills, or shooting video “shorts”, this is your bet. And hopefully the short-ish battery on video will make better videographers out of people by forcing them to cut down on the extra crap they shoot that nobody watches anyways :)Touching on a few remaining things: I love that the camera has a metal body, love its hefty weight (remember when cameras felt like cameras and not TV remotes?) and dig the wireless. I’m not a GPS guy because the privacy issue freaks me out, so I don’t run the GPS. As mentioned by other reviewers, the wireless is a bit tricky to set up if you want to go camera->computer wirelessly - you’ll have to run the software on the CD (it retrieves the latest version from the net automatically). The easiest set-up is camera->smartphone; as long as they’re on the same network, transfers are easy. If there’s no wireless where you’re shooting, you can actually use the camera as an access point itself and connect your smartphone/tablet to the camera’s network. Keep in mind that the wireless transfer is not eye-fi: you have to select the images you want to send, after they’ve been shot (photos aren’t automatically transferred wirelessly as you shoot). Believe it or not, you can actually tweet from the camera itself. That being said, I think the omission of Flickr is a drag, but perhaps that’s because they are pushing their own “Canon Image Gateway” service for photo sharing/storage.Also, I appreciate the restraint in megapixels… the filesizes and document sizes are realistic and appropriate for people who aren’t blowing photos up to large dimensions. Focusing on image quality instead of megapixel count is a much welcomed approach in my opinion, and I hope the ridiculous megapixel race slows down in order to focus on the sensor quality/lenses that can be crammed into a P&S size camera.Also, coming from DSLR world, I’m actually pretty happy with the amount of customization offered. The manual (on the CD only) is chock full of information, including how to use the self-timer in “wink” mode (wink to take the shot!!). All modes I shoot on (M/AV/TV/P) offer center only focus. I haven’t seen that mentioned too often, but that is exactly what I like - in fact the first thing I do on my DSLRs/new cameras is turn off the ‘smart autofocus’ to use center-point only). It means you might have to take a moment to frame the shot you want (focus then frame), but to me it cuts down on silly camera “intelligent” errors when it focuses on things with contrast instead of the content that matters.I don’t find the position of the pop-up flash an issue; my finger fits behind it. Also, consider that the pop-up flash reduces red-eye quite significantly by being further away from the lens. Not only that, but this camera is great in low-light for a point-and-shoot - ease up on the flash and enjoy the great new processor!This camera does exactly what I want it to do, and does it really well, but if I was planning on a day of really heavy shooting with video, I’d buy a spare battery. And I’m looking forward to a firmware update!
I have had this only a week and I am returning it and replacing it with a Canon SX260 HS. I took the camera to Disney and went through 3 batteries and could only get 15 minutes max of video time on a fresh battery. Still images were not a problem. According to the Canon website if the camera has the sixth digit of 3 or higher in the serial number, the camera should not have the battery issue. I did the Firmware update prior to using the camera. The camera said the firmware was up to date and the Serial number is 3 in the sixth digit. From my recent experience the battery issue with this camera is not corrected. As soon as I zoomed the battery indicator went from full to red empty.I will say the the 1080p video that I was able to get is excellent when I viewed it on my 55” TV and the stills are great along with the long zoom it is in function a great camera. But the battery problem ruins the entire package. This is why I am moving to the Canon SX260HS. No battery problem. And the SX260 HS has the same zoom and other features but no Wi-Fi, which is no loss to me as.I have owned Canon cameras for 40+ years and am very disappointed that that Canon allowed a major flaw in a camera into the market. I have read reviews recently that there is an opinion that it is a hardware conflict problem not truly a software issue (I do not know this to be a fact). If it is truly a hardware conflict no amount of firmware updates will correct the battery problem.In conclusion, buy the Canon SX260 HS not the SX280 HS.
this is my second SX280. My first one was bought at Costco in 2014. Great camera but it had battery issues. I don’t know what firmware means,but it wasn’t the problem.
This camera has now been in use for 6 years. It still takes amazing pictures and the zoom quality is amazing.
great camera, great price
Before I bought this PowerShot, I ignored comments about short battery life (i mean really short like 5 minutes). But I’m telling you, you shouldn’t.
Very good productExcellent quality
The camera is great. I do wish it had a quick fash button to insure a flash when taking pictures quickly. I have had no problems with camera.
I guess it’s ok. I just really really liked my older point and shoot much better. That said, the lens shutter sticks often. Pictures not as clear and vivid as I’d like.
I did not buy this on Amazon but I want to raise a shout of praise to this camera and this is my way of doing so.
This little camera is very portable. It can be easily carried in my pocket. Yet, it take amazingly nice pictures. It can also take HD 1080 movies. So it is ideal for travelers.
comments powered by DisqusMy co-worker dropped my new camera in this exact model. After researching for weeks, it seemed cheaper to replace the camera.