Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

12.10 Megapixels	20.00x zoom	3.0 inch LCD

Canon SX260 HS Preview

Packing more than the usual long zoom lens, the Canon SX260 HS is one pocketable digital camera that's ready to join you on your next vacation. The Canon SX260's 20x optical zoom ranges from 25-500mm equivalent, an amazing range that will capture impressively wide vistas or carefully pinpoint the most interesting detail, then slip right back into your pocket until you need it again.

Measuring just 1.29 inches thick, the Canon SX260 HS really is designed for your pocket. Canon calls it the slimmest 20x zoom on the market, and it's smaller than its predecessor to boot.

Sporting a 12.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, the Canon SX260 is tuned to take pictures in low light. Canon's HS system is a combination of image stabilization and low light sensitivity that aims to help you in common low light situations. Its DIGIC 5 processor allows the camera to easily achieve ISO 3,200 with good control over noise, according to Canon. If it performs as well as we've seen in other HS cameras to date, that should make for a good combination with such a long lens.

The Canon SX230 HS also captures Full HD movies at 1080p. Videos are recorded with stereo sound, and you can even zoom optically as you're recording. For stills, its Smart Auto mode can select a Scene mode for you, or you can choose from 58 Scene modes, plus face identification. The Canon SX230 HS's built-in GPS can also tag your images with GPS data, allowing you to see where you took each shot as you review your vacation pictures later. As if that weren't enough, the Canon SX230 can capture 10 high-resolution stills at a blazing 10.3 frames per second, as fast as a pro camera.

Available in black, green, and red, the Canon SX260 is expected to ship in March 2012 for an estimated price of US$350.