Canon PowerShot S330 Review

In addition to the elegant lines, ultra-compact dimensions, and pure elegance that have come to be associated with Canon’s famous IXY (rhymes with Dixie) DIGITAL series, the Canon PowerShot S330 incorporates new features.

The IXY DIGITAL 300a incorporates cutting-edge optical technology to produce exceptional quality and clarity images. The 300a is equipped with a 1/2.7-inch CCD sensor with 2 million effective pixels of resolution, an RGB primary color filter, and Canon’s proprietary high-speed Imaging Engine digital signal-processing IC, which allows it to produce images with a high signal-to-noise ratio, high definition, and accurate color reproduction, among other things.

With the Intelligent Orientation Sensor, Canon PowerShot S330 is the first camera in the IXY DIGITAL or PowerShot compact digital lineup to automatically detect the camera’s orientation while also ensuring optimal Auto-Focus, Auto-Exposure, and Auto-White Balance performance. The Intelligent Orientation Sensor is found in all IXY DIGITAL and PowerShot compact digital lineups.

More: Best Memory Cards for Canon PowerShot S330 | Best Point and Shoot Camera | Best Point and Shoot Camera for Travel | Best Point and Shoot Camera Under 300

Essential Attributes

• 2.0-megapixel (effective) CCD for photos up to1600 x 1200 pixels.
• Optical viewfinder that displays the real image.
• a color TFT LCD monitor with a 1.5-inch display.
• Glass, 3x, 5.4-16.2mm lens, equal to a 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera.
• Maximum 2.5x digital zoom.
• Automatic control of the exposure, with only a few manual adjustments available.
• speeds ranging from 1/1,500 to 15 seconds for the shutter.
• The maximum aperture ranges from f/2.7 to f/4.7, depending on the location of the lens zoom.
• Integrated flash with a total of five different modes.
• Memory card storage of the CompactFlash Type I kind is supplied (8 MB card).
• Power is provided either by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (the charger is included) or by an AC adapter, which may be purchased separately.
• ArcSoft Camera Suite 1.1, software for Canon digital cameras, and USB drivers are all included, and they are compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Special Features

• A movie mode that includes sound.
• Mode for taking pictures continuously.
• Panorama mode with stitching assistance.
• Focusing modes include infinity and macro.
• Settings for “My Camera” that may be customized.
• Self-Timer options of two or ten seconds for delaying the release of the shutter.
• There is a feature called Sound Memo for recording audio captions for photographs.
• Metering techniques include both spot and evaluative exposure.
• Adjustment of the white balance (color), with seven different settings and a Custom option available.
• Adjusting the colors may be done using the Photo Effects menu.
• Adjustable ISO setting.
• compatible with the DPOF format (Digital Print Order Format).
• A USB cable that may be used to connect to a computer (driver software included).
• A video and audio cable that may be connected to a television set.

Several high-end features are also included, including five widespread Photo Effects that allow for greater creativity at the touch of a button; Intelligent AE that ensures optimal exposure performance; five white balance presets; noise reduction; a wide shutter speed range of 15 seconds to 1/1500 second; and a histogram display that allows the user to check the overall exposure for each photo on the LCD monitor.

Aside from that, the IXY DIGITAL 300a uses innovative ultra-high-density mounting technology, resulting in a slimmer camera body. Additionally, the “Camera Direct Print” function, when used in conjunction with compact digital picture printers, will give the user a great deal of pleasure.

Design

The PowerShot S330 is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor, the PowerShot S300, in terms of its dimensions, weight, and overall design. However, it keeps the sleek, discreet appearance and sturdy construction that have been trademarks of the ELPH series.

The sturdy body of the S330 can handle more than its fair share of knocks, and the retractable lens with a built-in lens cover enables it to be swiftly stowed away in a pocket or handbag without the worry that it will be damaged. In addition, the S330 has dimensions of 3.7 by 2.5 by 1.2 inches (94.8 by 62.5 by 29.9 millimeters) and a weight of just 8.6 ounces (245 grams) when neither the battery nor the media are included.

The front of the S330 has the characteristic ELPH style, with the lens somewhat off-center and angled toward the right. Above the lens are windows for the viewfinder, flash, and focus-assist illuminator. When the camera is turned on, the telescopic lens swiftly slides into position and then retracts entirely within the camera so that it may keep its flat profile.

The focus-assist light is a bright LED with a bluish-white color that assists the camera in focusing when there is not enough light. Although the included wrist strap and the recessed thumb grip on the camera’s rear assist in creating a more comfortable feel, the only finger grip supplied on the front of the camera is a small, square Canon logo.

On top of the camera is where you’ll find the Mode dial, the Shutter button, and the Power button. Each control has a buried location, contributing to the S330’s streamlined appearance. There is also a tiny microphone inside, which may record sound alongside videos or attach voice notes to still images you have taken.

The attachment for the wrist strap can be found on the right side of the camera (when viewed from the back), and the slot for the CompactFlash card can be found on the same side. The space is protected by a plastic lid that locks into place.

The plugs for the USB and A/V outputs, shielded by a rubber cover, are located on the side of the camera that faces away from the viewfinder. This cover seems to perform an excellent job of covering the ports. However, it protrudes a little on the otherwise highly streamlined casing, and I also have some concerns about flexible flaps like this one snapping over time. Nevertheless, it seems to be doing its job.

All of the remaining controls are located on the back panel of the camera, as well as the optical and LCD viewfinders. When shooting with one hand, a minor thumb grip is provided via a shallow indentation on the camera’s right side. This complements the existing finger grip on the front of the camera.

The S330 was surprisingly comfortable to use in my hands, which are on the larger side, despite its small size; nevertheless, users with giant fingers could find the controls to be a bit cramped. The four-way arrow pad may be located directly to the right of the LCD monitor’s set, menu, display, and exposure compensation / white balance/photo effect buttons. These buttons are arranged in a row below the LCD monitor.

The controls for the zoom are located in the top right corner, and the door to the CompactFlash slot may be opened by sliding a latch on the right side. When it comes to having plenty of external control buttons, the S330 does a decent job, which I always love having. It considerably minimizes the need to troll through LCD menu panels to alter settings.

The speaker for the camera is located just to the left of the optical viewfinder glass, and it plays both the camera’s noises and any audio captured. In addition, two light-emitting diodes (LED) lamps are adjacent to the viewfinder. These lamps light up to signal when the focus is set (or not set, depending on the circumstances) or when the flash is ultimately charged.

The battery compartment and the metal tripod mount are housed in the S330’s lovely, flat bottom panel, another standout feature of this camera. However, although I appreciate Canon for using metal for the tripod socket, I find it unfortunate that the tripod mount is positioned so far to one side of the camera.

Due to the camera’s off-center tripod mount, the socket is subjected to additional pressure, and some tripod heads cannot support the camera in a level position. Certainly not a significant issue, but I can’t help but point out this insignificant design flaw. (Of course, the silver lining to this is that most tripod heads won’t interfere with the battery compartment lid, which is crucial for utilizing the optional power adapter with the camera when it is attached to a tripod.)

The cover for the battery compartment can be opened with a click, then slides outwards. There is a little rubber flap in the middle of the entrance to the battery compartment. This flap conceals a hole in the battery compartment lid that was made to provide access to the connection jack included within the “dummy battery” utilized in the AC adapter kit.

(Similar to the AC adapter with many other Canon digital cameras, the one with the S330 goes into the battery compartment and serves as a plug for the cable with the AC power converter.)

Image Quality

Color: Throughout my tests, both outside and within the studio, the S330 provided perfect color. This was true regardless of the illumination. Additionally, the incandescent white balance option functioned quite well in the typical lighting conditions of the space, achieving high levels of color accuracy and saturation.

(However, the automatic white balance had significant issues there.) Additionally, skin tones appeared to be in excellent condition inside and outside. Under a diverse array of lighting circumstances, the color turned out well.

Exposure: In terms of exposure, the S330 did a fantastic job, doing an excellent job of exposing both the challenging outside shots and the house photo. The camera did an excellent job of capturing the mid-tones despite the strong lighting conditions of the outdoor portrait. It also did an excellent job of exposing the exterior photo of the home with a good dynamic range.

Additionally, it captured the subtle tone fluctuations of the Davebox well, which is something that many digital cameras struggle with. However, the interior portrait tests were a little more challenging. They required quite a bit of positive exposure adjustment for both the images taken with the flash and the ones taken with the available light.

Image Sharpness: The S330’s 2.1-megapixel CCD and lens provided great detail and definition for that resolution-level sensor, contributing to the camera’s overall good image sharpness in most situations.

At both the wide-angle and telephoto settings of the lens, the amount of optical distortion was minimal, and chromatic aberration in the image’s four corners was barely noticeable. The corner softness was the most noticeable occurrence of the distortion, and it was the most severe form of it. The macro test photo was taken.

Close-ups: Regarding close-ups, the S330 performed somewhere in the middle of the pack, capturing a big macro area that measured 6.25 x 4.68 inches (159 x 119 millimeters). While there was a lot of detail in the coins, the brooch, and the dollar note, the image’s corners were somewhat blurry in all four corners.

However, there was a tiny hint of a warm cast, despite the excellent color and exposure. In addition, there was a light loss in the four corners of the image while using the camera’s macro setting, which was dangerously close to being too restrictive.

Night Shots: The S330 has exceptional low-light shooting skills thanks to its maximum shutter speed of 15 seconds, allowing nighttime photography. At 100, 200, and 400 ISO, the S330 could record vivid and crisp photos even when the light levels were as low as 1/16 foot-candle (0.067 lux).

At the 50 ISO setting, the camera obtained satisfactory exposures with a light level as low as 1/8 foot-candle (1.3 lux). In addition, despite the lengthy directions, image noise was significantly reduced. As expected, the noise levels were lowest at ISO 50 and 100, then rapidly increased up to ISO 200 and 400.

The S330 should have no trouble shooting in low-light conditions, including those far darker than the typical city street lighting at night, especially considering that it has an autofocus assist illuminator built into it.

Battery Capacity

Because the optional power adapter cable was missing from the production sample sent to me, I could not do my typical laboratory-grade power tests on the S330.

Its tiny battery, however, means its life is significantly less than that of most bigger digital cameras. This is typical of compact digital cameras. It seems it can operate for roughly an hour even in the mode with the possible power consumption, which is record mode with the LCD switched on.

Therefore, I strongly recommend that readers obtain an additional battery, which they should maintain charged and ready to use as a backup. In addition, I have requested Canon for a power adapter cable, and I will measure and report on the amount of power used in further detail if and when they provide it to me.

Canon PowerShot S330 Specifications

Body type	Ultracompact
Max resolution	1600 x 1200
Other resolutions	1024 x 768, 640 x 480
Image ratio w:h	4:3
Effective pixels	2 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	2 megapixels
Sensor size	1/2.7″ (5.312 x 3.984 mm)
Sensor type	CCD
ISO	Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400
White balance presets	6
Custom white balance	Yes
Image stabilization	No
Uncompressed format	No
JPEG quality levels	Super-Fine, Fine, Normal
Focal length (Equiv.)	35–105 mm
Optical zoom	3×
Maximum aperture	F2.7–4.7
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSingleLive View
Digital zoom	Yes (2.5 x)
Manual focus	No
Normal focus range	76 cm (29.92″)
Macro focus range	16 cm (6.3″)
Number of focus points	3
Screen size	1.5″
Touch screen	No
Live view	No
Viewfinder type	Optical (tunnel)
Minimum shutter speed	15 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/1500 sec
Aperture priority	No
Shutter priority	No
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash Range	3.50 m
External flash	No
Flash modes	Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off
Continuous drive	2.5 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Exposure compensation	±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Resolutions	max 4/10/30 sec, audio
Storage types	Compact Flash (Type I)
Storage included	8 MB CompactFlash
USB	USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	No
Remote control	No
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	Canon NB-L1H 840 mAh Lithium-Ion
Weight (inc. batteries)	274 g (0.60 lb / 9.67 oz)
Dimensions	95 x 63 x 32 mm (3.74 x 2.48 x 1.26″)
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	No

Conclusion

The ELPH series has never failed to please me with its combination of high quality and adaptability, and the newly released S330 maintains this pattern. Its compact size makes it practical and suitable for traveling, and its adaptable features offer it an advantage over many point-and-shoot-style digital cameras now available.

The actual exposure management is still automated, but the user has the flexibility to alter the ISO and the white balance and access longer shutter times, significantly expanding the camera’s shooting range. I have grown to anticipate superb image quality and great color from items manufactured by Canon, and the 2.1-megapixel CCD and sharp lens deliver on those promises.

The S330 ought to have the same level of popularity as its predecessors, Digital ELPHs, given that it follows in the footsteps of its illustrious forebears and has several areas in which gradual but apparent improvements have been made.

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