Canon PowerShot SD300 Review

Along with its “little brother,” the Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital ELPH, the Canon PowerShot SD300 Digital ELPH burst onto the scene just in time for the holiday season of 2004. Together, they replace the SD110 in the series of well-liked, compact digital cameras produced by Canon. The teeny-tiny, high-style Canon ELPH models have been incredibly successful in film and digital photography.

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Canon Powershot SD300 4MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Last update was on: January 18, 2024 9:27 pm

Beginning with the PowerShot S100, Canon’s Digital ELPH cameras introduced the compact size and stylish design to digital photography. Canon has been a well-known name for APS film cameras for a long time. The new Canon SD300 maintains the usage of the SD memory card format introduced in the first generation of Canon SD cameras (the SD100), and it enhances the excellent printer compatibility of the range by providing complete support for the PictBridge standard.

The Canon SD300 and SD200 are also updated to the line. These updates include a redesigned design, a thinner profile, a variety of resolutions, a large 2-inch LCD, and the usage of the (speedy) Digic II processor. In general, we have seen one of the most attractive subcompact digital cameras to this point: Continue reading to get every last detail!

Essential Attributes

  • 4.0-megapixel CCD.
  • Optical viewfinder that displays the real image.
  • color TFT LCD monitor with a screen size of 2.0 inches.
  • 3x, 5.8-17.4mm lens, equal to a 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera.
  • Maximum 3.6x digital zoom.
  • Automatic control of the exposure, with a Long Shutter option available for shooting at greater shutter speeds.
  • speeds ranging from 1/1,500 to 15 seconds for the shutter.
  • The maximum aperture can range from f/2.8 to f/4.9, depending on the location of the lens zoom.
  • Integrated flash with a total of five different modes.
  • Storage on an SD memory card, with a 16 MB card provided.
  • 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 1.3, Canon Digital Camera Software, and USB drivers are all included, and they are compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
  • New button for printing and sharing.

The PowerShot SD300 is only a tad more compact than many of the Canon Digital ELPH models that came before it, but it retains the elegant appearance and sleek design that are the hallmarks of the ELPH line.

The PowerShot SD300 is a convenient point-and-shoot digital camera that is very compact and quick on the draw (thanks to a smoothly operating retractable lens design). In addition, this camera is a point-and-shoot digital camera with a handful of additional exposure features for added flexibility and a larger LCD than previous models of this size in Canon’s lineup.

When the lens is not extended, the front panel of the Canon SD300 is flush with the body, making it convenient to carry in a pocket, and the all-metal body is rigid and long-lasting. In addition, the SD300 comes with a CCD with a resolution of 4.0 megapixels, enabling it to capture photographs of such high quality that they may be printed as big as 11×14 inches or 8×10 inches with a bit of cropping.

There is also a movie mode that may capture short video clips with sound, as well as smaller image sizes that are suitable for transmission through email or use in web applications.

The Canon SD300 boasts a new 3x, 5.8-17.4mm zoom lens that uses Canon’s sophisticated “high index” lens technology. This lens equals a 35-105mm zoom on a 35mm camera (previous ELPH cameras of this size were limited to 2x optical zoom).

The aperture is adjusted automatically. However, the maximum setting varies depending on the focal length of the lens, going from f/2.8 at full wide-angle to f/4.9 at full telephoto. The SD300 has an 11x optical zoom capacity, which may be increased to 11x with the maximum 3.6x digital zoom option. However, it is essential to remember that digital zoom degrades the overall image quality because it merely crops off the image and enlarges the center pixels of the CCD.

When using digital zoom, image details are likely to, become less distinct. The conventional AF mode’s focus range is from 1.0 feet (30 centimeters) to Infinity. When using the macro AF mode, the content is from 1.2 inches to 1.6 feet (3 to 50 centimeters). A new Digital Macro mode allows users to zoom in on their macro objects, essentially cropping the digital image to preserve only the most critical center part of the picture.

There is also a fixed-focus mode called Infinity that may be used. The SD300 utilizes a sophisticated, nine-point AiAF (Artificial Intelligence Autofocus) system to determine focus. This system uses a broad active area in the center of the image to calculate the focal distance, which is a feature that I’ve been impressed with on many ELPH models and have been happy to see continued on the SD300.

Special Features

  • A movie mode that includes sound. (Up to 640×480 pixels, at up to 30 frames/second.)
  • Fast Frame Rate video mode with sound, for 60 frames/second capture at 320×240 pixels, one-minute maximum recording time.)
  • Modes for continuously taking pictures
  • Panorama mode with stitching assistance.
  • Focusing modes include infinity and macro.
  • Customizable “My Camera” settings.
  • Self-Timer options of two or ten seconds for delaying the release of the shutter.
  • There is a choice to record captions using Sound Memo.
  • There are three types of exposure metering: spot, center-weighted, and evaluative.
  • 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.

You can disable AiAF by going into the Record menu on your camera, which will then set the focusing area to the middle of the frame by default. In addition, the SD300 features an autofocus (AF) assist light that can be turned on via a menu option and serves to help the focus mechanism when shooting in low light. A real-image optical viewfinder and a large color LCD panel measuring 2.0 inches are provided by the SD300 so that users can easily compose their photographs.

The LCDs a lot of camera information; nevertheless, exposure information, such as aperture and shutter speed, is not one of those things. When in Playback mode, a histogram display will indicate the tonal distribution of a picture that has been shot. This helps detect whether or not the image has been over-or under-exposed.

Recommendation

The Canon ELPH line of digital cameras continues to be a popular choice for many customers due to the smasmall size of these cameras and Canon’s well-deserved reputation for producing high-quality photographs. The PowerShot SD300 Digital ELPH is an upgrade to the range. It boasts a 4.0-megapixel CCD for creating high-resolution pictures and has additional capabilities meant to make it easier to print directly from the camera.

Even though most of the control over exposure is handled automatically, the fact that exposure lengths of up to 15 seconds may be selected and that the ISO can be adjusted dramatically boosts the camera’s exposure adaptability. In addition, the user interface is not overly sophisticated, making it easy for beginners and more experienced amateurs to feel at ease when using the camera.

Additionally, sufficient control over the variable exposure satisfies both groups. The Canon SD300 is an excellent choice for anybody looking for a solid “all-around” camera, and it would also be an excellent “second camera” for photography enthusiasts to have for those occasions when they don’t want to tote about their full-sized camera with all of the bells and whistles.

Body Design

Even though it has more rounded corners, a little thinner size, and a considerably bigger LCD than its predecessors in the ELPH line, the SD300 retains the signature ELPH style that is so appealing to customers. This is because the SD300 is a digital camera.

If you want to save that exquisite finish from scratching, you’ll want to put it in a protective case first because it can get damaged. But, on the other hand, the tiny size is excellent for swiftly stowing away in a pocket or handbag without worrying about destroying the durable, all-metal body.

Because the lens retracts when the camera is turned off, the front remains flat, highlighting the pocket-friendly form of the camera. Additionally, an automatic lens cover ensures you do not have to worry about smearing the lens or losing a lens cap.

The SD300, which has dimensions of 3.4 by 2.1 by 0.82 inches (86 by 53 by 20.7 millimeters), should have little trouble fitting into the pocket of the typical shirt. When combined, the battery and memory card adds 5.26 ounces (149 grams) to the overall weight of the camera.

The front of the SD300 is easily identifiable as an ELPH camera thanks to several distinguishing design elements, including the viewfinder and flash located directly above the lens, which is slightly off-center and angled toward the right. Next to the optical viewfinder is a light emitter that serves various purposes. These include helping with focusing, reducing the appearance of red eyes, and providing a countdown for the self-timer.

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 time needed to get started a lightning-fast 1.5 seconds.) A small microphone is housed in the camera, and its port may be found to the left of the lens. Unfortunately, because there is no actual finger grip available, you will need to fasten the wrist strap that comes with it.

On top of the camera is where you’ll find the Shutter button, the Zoom Ring, and the Power button. The Shutter button and the Zoom ring protrude significantly from the camera’s surface.

The AV Out and the USB port are hidden behind a chrome-coated, soft plastic door on the right side of the camera when viewed from the back. Just below it is the eyelet used to connect the wrist strap.

The opposing side of the camera is barren.

The rear panel of the camera has all of the camera’s remaining controls, as well as the optical and LCD viewfinders. The diagonal measurement of the LCD monitor on such a small camera is shockingly large at 2.0 inches. All controls have been relocated to the right side of the screen because it is so huge.

Playback, movie, and record modes may be selected with a switch with three positions. The button for the menu and the speaker holes may be found below this. Most of the fast settings are included in an improved multi-functional Five-Way Arrow pad, and the buttons on the sides of the place are responsible for both navigation and items such as macro and flash modes.

The Function button has been relocated to the center of the Five-way, where it also performs the function of the Set button for selecting items from the menu. The Display and Print/Share buttons may be found directly below this configuration. The Display button illuminates in blue when the camera is linked to a computer or a PictBridge printer. Two LED lamps located next to the viewfinder display the camera’s status. These lamps show when the focus has been adjusted or the flash has been ultimately charged.

The bottom panel of the SD300 is smooth and flat, and it houses the metal tripod mount and the compartment for the battery and memory card. It is a beautiful choice for those who want to take panoramas, as the tripod socket is almost directly below the lens barrel. Additionally, it is close enough to be centered on the body as a whole that the camera should be set level on most tripod mounts.

The slots for the battery and the SD memory card are aligned inside the container. The cover for the locking compartment may be opened and then moved outward, and it has a little rubber flap in the middle. This flap conceals a hole in the compartment lid that provides access to the connection jack contained within the “dummy battery” part of the AC converter kit.

(The AC adapter method for the Canon SD300 digital camera, like that of many other Canon digital cameras, utilizes a fake battery that fits into the battery compartment and offers a connector for the cable of the AC power converter.)

Camera Operation

The user interface of the SD300 is easy and reasonably simplistic, with a menu configuration and basic control principles comparable to those of the other models in the current ELPH series.

The majority of the camera’s operations are handled via buttons located on the top and back panels. At the same time, the LCD-based Record menu is used for controlling a select few of the camera’s settings.

Without requiring the user to navigate the many menu screens, a Function menu allows for more practical access to fundamental parameters such as picture size, quality, and exposure correction. In addition, because the menu items are shown in tabs on the LCD screen rather than sequentially on a series of pages, the LCD menu system in and of itself is highly efficient.

In addition, the menus for Setup and My Camera are always accessible, notwithstanding the mode in which the camera operates. If you have the user manual available, becoming familiar with the camera shouldn’t take more than half an hour to an hour.

Display for the Recording Mode In any recording mode, the LCD will either show the image area with no information, the picture with a limited information display, or it will not show anything at all. When you press the Display button, the available collections will cycle through individually.

When the information display is activated, it will report the current resolution and image quality settings, the number of photographs that are currently accessible, the orientation, the Record mode, and a few exposure parameters (although not aperture or shutter speed).

Display in Playback Mode The playback mode offers three options: the picture only, the image with information, and the photo with comprehensive knowledge and a histogram. These modes may be accessed by clicking the corresponding buttons.

You may also zoom in on taken photographs to check for fine details, focus, or framing, and the index display mode allows you to see as many as nine thumbnail images at once on the screen.

This button, which can be found on the top panel, adjusts the focus and exposure when it is pressed halfway and triggers the shutter when it is pushed all the way. If the Self-Timer is turned on, fully depressing the Shutter button will start the countdown for the timer.

This lever, located on the top panel of the camera and adjacent to the shutter button, is used to regulate the optical and digital zoom in any recording mode. When in Playback mode, the wide-angle option brings up an index display, but the telephoto setting zooms in on previously shot photographs so that you may examine their finer elements in greater depth.

This button, which can be found on the top panel of the camera to the left of the Shutter button, is used to turn the camera on and off.

This dial, which can be found on the back panel just below the shutter button, regulates the operating mode of the camera and provides the following options to choose from:

The user may replay collected photographs and videos, and there are also options for image management and printing.

Captures moving pictures along with sound; practically all recording modes will continue to do so for as long as there is enough storage space on the card (the exception is the 320 x 240 at 60 frames per second mode, which will only record 60 seconds of video at a time).

For the taking of still images. The Function menu is where you’ll find all the different modes, such as Automatic, Manual, etc.

Function / Set Button

This control, located in the middle of the Five-way arrow pad, brings up the Function menu in any recording mode and verifies selections once any menu has been brought up. The following choices are available when you press and hold the Function button to activate it:

Shooting Mode

Choose from eight shooting modes: Auto, Manual, Digital Macro, Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, and Underwater. Other options include Night Snapshot, Indoor, and Kids & Pets. Standard, Fast Frame (60 fps), and Compact are the three modes available in Movie Mode.

Exposure Compensation

Adjusts the level of exposure in one-third-step increments, ranging from minus two exposure equivalents (EV) to plus two EVs.

Long Shutter

It is possible to access more extensive shutter durations, ranging from one to fifteen seconds. (This option is only displayed after it has been activated through the Record menu; to access it, click the Menu button when the Exposure Compensation option is selected.)

A Perfect White Balance

The color balance of photographs may be controlled using this setting. In addition, you can choose Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H. Custom is also an option (manual set).

ISO Speed

Adjusts the camera’s sensitivity to either the automatic setting or to 50, 100, 200, or 400 ISO equivalents.

Resolution

The resolution of the image is specified here. Still, image resolutions include 2,272 x 1,704 pixels, 1,600 x 1,200 pixels, 1,024 x 768 pixels, and 640 x 480 pixels. In addition, a Postcard mode takes the resolution to 1600 x 1200 and locks the resolution to Fine for smaller file sizes. This mode also allows a date stamp to be printed on the image. Movie resolutions are 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 pixels.

Options and Menus for the Camera

Playback Mode: This mode allows you to navigate through taken photos and videos, write-protect images, examine a nine-image index display, zoom into a captured image, remove undesirable images, rotate images, and prepare images for printing on DPOF-compatible devices.

Movie Mode

Recordings may be made in either 640 x 480, 320 x 240, or 160 x 120 pixels with sound, depending on the resolution chosen. The only thing that can restrict the recording time in any mode other than Fast Frame Rate is the amount of storage space available on the camera’s SD card (and, of course, the relative battery life). (There is a maximum recording time of sixty seconds for each clip when using the Fast Frame Rate option.) In this mode, you can access a small selection of exposure parameters; however, functions such as Continuous Shooting, digital zoom, and flash mode are disabled.

The Recording Mode

Places the camera into the still image capture mode; other record modes can be selected from the Function Menu.

Recording Method and Menu System

You may access this feature in the Automatic, Manual, Stitch Assist, and Movie modes by pressing the Menu button (some options are not available in all ways). In addition, the Record, Setup, and My Camera sub-menus each has its tab in the menu that appears.

Menu to Record

Turns on the autofocus system for the AiAF camera. When turned off, the focusing mode of the camera centers its attention on the middle of the picture.

Self-Timer

Adjusts the countdown duration of the Self-Timer to either two or ten seconds.

AF Assist Beam

Controls whether or not the AF assist light is illuminated. When there is insufficient light, the light will turn on itself if it is on.

Digital Zoom

Activates the digital zoom function, which is activated when the zoom level is increased beyond the optical zoom range. It also disables digital zoom.

Review

Adjusts the amount of time that the shot image is displayed on the screen, giving you the option between two and ten seconds. You may turn the primary review function on or off. (Only photographs, please.)

Long Shutter

Enables the Long Shutter mode and places it in the available options in the Function menu.

Help With the Stitching

Activates the Stitch Assist mode, which is the panoramic shooting mode of the SD300, and provides the option to select a shooting direction (to the right or the left). After you have started the sequence by pressing the Set button and have taken the first shot, blue grid lines will emerge in the LCD panel to assist you in lining up each successive photo. When you push the Menu button, the exposure will be fixed in place for the duration of the sequence. Using the software with the product, the completed series of photographs may be combined into a single picture on a computer.

Setup Menu

  • Mute
  • Controls whether or not the camera makes beeping noises.
  • Volume
  • Adjusts volumes independently for the Startup, Operation, Self Timer, and Shutter modes, as well as Playback.
  • The brightness of the LCD
  • You may adjust how bright the LCD backlight is by using the slider.

In the Discrete

The following products are included in the box with your purchase of a PowerShot SD300

  • Strap for the wrist.
  • Video cable.
  • USB cable.
  • Memory card with 16 megabytes SD.
  • lithium-ion battery pack designated as NB-4L.
  • Charger for a battery
  • CDs including software from ArcSoft and Canon’s Digital Camera Solution Disk.
  • Operating instructions and registration card.

Accessories Highly Recommended

  • Memory card with a large capacity for the SD format.
  • An additional lithium-ion battery pack for the NB-4L.
  • AC adapter kit.
  • Small camera case.
  • Specifications

The Quality of the Picture

Color

Very good to great color and very good to exceptional performance about white balance. Throughout my testing, I found that the general color of the SD300 was perfect, and the white balancing mechanism also functioned very well. Most of the time, each of the evaluated white balance settings yielded satisfactory outcomes, with just very few color casts.

Notably, the Auto white balance setting generated adequate results in virtually all tests. It even gave a decent result in the Indoor Portrait test, which was lit by very warm-toned domestic incandescent lighting. The skin tones were spot on, and the blue flowers in the bouquet, which are notoriously tricky to get right, were almost perfect. Overall, it’s a hue that’s easy on the eyes.

Exposure

The exposure accuracy is around average (which is fine), but the contrast is relatively high. The exposure mechanism of the SD300 did an excellent job of handling the test lighting I gave it and exposed most of the images correctly. In the highly high-key outdoor picture that you took, the default exposure setting resulted in a minor underexposure. Still, a smaller-than-average amount of positive exposure compensation (+0.7 EV) brought out the necessary level of brightness in the mid tones.

The SD300, on the other hand, responded with solid contrast and lost highlight detail in response to the purposefully intense lighting of that subject. (It does not feature the contrast adjustment found on many of Canon’s full-sized models, which would have been helpful in this situation.) The camera needed around an average amount of positive exposure correction when used inside, even though the default setting for the flash exposure was relatively low.

However, the SD300 could quickly differentiate between the faint pastel tones on the Q60 target of the Davebox, and the shadow detail was typically good.

Resolution/Sharpness

High resolution, with 1,200 lines of what is described as “great detail.” The SD300 performance was approximately average compared to other cameras in its 4-megapixel class on the “laboratory” resolution test chart. At resolutions as low as 1,000 lines per image height vertically and around 800 lines horizontally, it displayed artifacts in the test patterns. I counted at least 1,200 lines of “strong detail” in the document. The target patterns’ ” extinction ” did not occur until around 1,500 lines had been traversed.

Image Noise

An excellent compromise between the amount of picture noise and the amount of topic detail. The developers at Canon performed an outstanding job with the SD300’s noise management, establishing a nearly ideal balance between subject detail and noise suppression. As a result, when the ISO was low, the amount of noise was minimal, and there was almost no loss of subject information.

Its photos became softer at ISO 200, but the degree of noise remained within acceptable standards. So muchough the noise was more noticeable at ISO 400 and the subject detail was even less distinct, the overall result was far better than I would have ordinarily anticipated from a subcompact digital camera at ISO 400.

Closeups

A relatively small macro-region that has an impressive amount of detail. However, Flash has difficulty working in close quarters. The SD300 did quite well in the macro category, capturing an area that was just 1.22 × 0.92 inches in size (31 x 23 millimeters).

The resolution was exceptionally high, which enabled the dollar bill, coins, and brooch to display a great deal of minute detail. The close shooting range caused some of the details on the coins and brooch to be more blurry, but the dust particles that were sitting on top of the coins came out looking incredibly sharp. Details became more blurry as one moved nearer the frame’s edges, but the dollar note retained a good degree of clarity.

(When shooting in their macro modes, the vast majority of digital cameras create photos with rounded edges.) When used at such a close distance, the flash on the SD300 struggled, causing the top of the picture to become overexposed while the bottom remained in the dark. (If you want to get the best close-up macro images with the SD300, you should definitely plan on utilizing external illumination.)

Night Photographs

Outstanding performance in low-light conditions. At the lowest light levels of this test, the image maintained good color and exposure, with a low closeup amount of image noise. Excellent autofocus performance even in dim light. Photographs that were crisp, bright, and useable were generated by the SD300 down to the limit of my test, which was 1/16 foot-candle (0.67 lux), and it produced images with good color at the 100, 200, and 400 ISO levels.

Even at the lowest light level of the test, the target was still able to be seen when ISO 50 was used. The pictures were brilliant down to the 1/8 foot-candle (1.3 lux) light level. Much with an ISO setting of 400, the majority of my images had a rather low level of noise, which was even better than I had anticipated.

Autofocus

The autofocus performance was also good, with the camera being able to focus down to 1/4 foot-candle without any AF assist and in full darkness with the AF-assist light on. Both of these results are impressive. Since the average light level of city street lighting at night is around 1 foot-candle, the SD300 should perform quite well for after-dark photography in normal outdoor settings with artificial illumination.

Accuracy of the Viewfinder

A limited field of vision in the optical viewfinder, but a virtually precise display on the LCD monitor. The optical viewfinder of the SD300 was extremely small, displaying around 82 percent of the final image area when shooting at wide-angle and approximately 80 percent while shooting at telephoto. Despite the fact that the findings were very close to being accurate one hundred percent of the time, the LCD display actually proved to be very little off, showing just a touch more than what made it into the final frame.

In light of the fact that I prefer LCD monitors to have an accuracy that is as near to one hundred percent as is humanly feasible, the LCD monitor on the SD300 did rather well in this regard; but, its optical viewfinder might need some improvement.

Distortion of the Optical Field

When seen at wide angles, there is a moderate amount of barrel distortion, very little chromatic aberration, but a significant lack of sharpness in the frame’s four corners. At the wide-angle end of the zoom range, the SD300 had geometric distortion that was slightly lower than the industry standard. I measured roughly 0.7 percent barrel distortion. I detected roughly 0.09 percent pincushion distortion at the telephoto end, which corresponds to about two pixels’ worth of error. This is a significant improvement over the initial situation.

Chromatic aberration was nearly nonexistent since I was unable to locate any pixels that had a prominent coloring in the image. (On the resolution target, you can see this distortion as a very faint colored fringe surrounding the items that are located on the outside limits of the field of vision.) The significant issue with the photographs captured by the SD300 was a significant amount of blurring in the four corners of the frame. This issue was most pronounced when using a wide-angle lens, but it was present regardless of the lens’ focal length.

This severe corner softness was the one notable defect in an otherwise outstanding digicam, which was otherwise perfect in every other way. (When I checked sample photographs from the SD300 that were uploaded on other websites, I did not observe nearly as much softness in the corners as was shown in the test shots that we took. I would still say that there was more than the normal amount, but it was not to the magnitude that we discovered in our own studies. – Therefore, it is probable that the sample unit we obtained did not perform completely to specifications.)

Lag in the Shutter and Cycle Time

both the shutter reaction and cycle times are significantly faster than normal. The shutter delays of the SD300 range from 0.57 to 0.78 seconds when using full autofocus, but they drop to an astoundingly low 0.073 seconds when the camera is “prefocused” by half-pressing and holding down the shutter button before the actual shot is taken. This makes the SD300 surprisingly quick for a camera with a compact model.

Shot-to-shot cycle timings are 1.32 seconds for large/fine photos or 1.28 seconds for small/basic ones with no apparent restriction owing to buffer-memory capacity when using a sufficiently fast SD memory card (I tried with a 32x Lexar SD card). In the continuous shooting mode, it may take up to 17 shots in a row at intervals of 0.42 seconds, but after that, the intervals will decrease down to 0.50 seconds. Extremely remarkable for such a portable version.

Battery Capacity

Although the battery life is slightly longer than typical for a tiny model, you should still consider purchasing a second battery just in case. The SD300, much like the majority of other small digital cameras, has a battery life that is a touch on the short side. According to our measurements, the SD300 has a worst-case run duration (capture mode, with the LCD, switched on) of 99 minutes.

Despite the fact that this is superior to many tiny and subcompact versions, I would still recommend getting a second battery when you buy the camera and having it charged as a backup. (The batteries on my digital camera usually fail at the most inopportune moments.)

Canon PowerShot SD300 Review Specifications

Camera Effective PixelsApprox. 4.0 million
Image Sensor1/2.5″ CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 4.2 million)
Lens5.8 (W)-17.4 (T) mm
(35 mm film equivalent: 35 (W)-105 (T) mm)
f/2.8 (W)-f/4.9 (T)
Digital ZoomApprox. 3.6x (Up to approx. 11x in combination with the optical zoom)
Optical ViewfinderReal-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor2.0″ TFT color LCD, approx. 118,000 dots (Picture coverage 100%)
AF SystemTTL autofocus Focusing frame: 9-point AiAF/1-point AF (center)
Shooting DistanceNormal: 30 cm (1.0 ft.)- Infinity
Macro: 3-50 cm (W)/30-50 cm (T) (1.2 in.-1.6 ft. (W)/1.0-1.6 ft. (T))
Digital Macro: 3-10 cm (1.2-3.9 in.)* From the front of the lens
ShutterMechanical shutter + electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds15-1/1500 sec.*15-1 sec. possible in long shutter mode.
*Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.
Light Metering SystemEvaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (Center)
Exposure Control SystemProgram AE
Exposure Compensation±2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments
SensitivityAuto, ISO 50/100/200/400 equivalent
White BalanceTTL auto, pre-set (available settings: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or custom
Built-in FlashAuto, auto with red-eye reduction, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash off, slow synchro
Flash RangeNormal: 50 cm-3.5 m (1.6-11.5 ft.) (W), 50 cm-2.0 m (1.6-6.6 ft.) (T)
Macro: 30-50 cm (1.0-1.6 ft.) (W/T)*When sensitivity is set to auto.
Shooting ModesAuto, Manual*, Digital macro, Portrait, Night snapshot, Kids & pets, Indoor, Underwater, Stitch assist**, Movie*Long shutter mode available
** Selectable from the Rec. menu
Continuous ShootingApprox. 2.4 shots/sec.**Large/Fine mode with LCD monitor off
Self-timerActivates shutter after an approx. 2-sec./approx. 10-sec. delay
Recording MediaSD Memory Card
File FormatDesign rule for camera file system and DPOF compliant
Image Recording FormatStill images: JPEG (Exif 2.2)
Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))* This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called “Exif Print”. Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera’s image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.
CompressionSuperfine, Fine, Normal
Number of Recording PixelsStill Images:Large: 2272 x 1704 pixels
Medium1: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Medium2: 1024 x 768 pixels
Small: 640 x 480 pixels
Movies :Standard: 640 x 480/320 x 240 pixels
Fast Frame Rate: 320 x 240 pixels
Compact: 160 x 120 pixels
The maximum length of a movie clip
– Standard: Until the SD card becomes full.
– Fast Frame Rate: Maximum of 1 min.
– Compact: Maximum of 3 min.
Playback ModesSingle (histogram displayable)
Index (9 thumbnail images)
Magnified*(approx. 10x (max.) in LCD monitor)
Sound memos (up to 60 sec.) or Slide show.*Advance or reverse through magnified image is available.
Direct PrintCanon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible, and PictBridge compliant
Display Languages21 languages available for menus and messages (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese)
My Camera SettingsThe start-up image, start-up sound, shutter sound, operation sound and self-timer sound can be customized using the following methods
– Using the images and sounds recorded on a camera.
– Using the downloaded data from your computer using the supplied software.
Interface– USB (mini-B, PTP [Picture Transfer Protocol])
– Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Power Source– Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (type: NB-4L)
– AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC10 (Sold Separately)
Operating Temperatures0 – 40 °C (32 – 104 °F)
Operating Humidity10 – 90 %
Dimensions
(w x h x d)
86.0 x 53.0 x 20.7 mm (3.39 x 2.09 x 0.82 in.)
(excluding protrusions)
WeightApprox. 130 g (4.59 oz) (camera body only)

Conclusion

  • Product
  • Features
  • Photos

Canon Powershot SD300 4MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Last update was on: January 18, 2024 9:27 pm

The ELPH name has become synonymous with high image quality and a user-friendly design, which is the reason why the line is so popular with such a diverse group of customers. Members of the digital ELPH series have always impressed me with their quality and adaptability. This is an extension of the excellent reputation that the brand name has earned in the world of film.

The fact that the design of the SD300 is so tiny and has been made even more compact is undoubtedly a benefit, and the fact that it has such a wide variety of capabilities offers it an advantage over many of the other subcompact point-and-shoot digital cameras on the market. Despite the fact that the actual exposure management is still left to the camera’s automated settings, the shooting range of the camera has been greatly expanded thanks to the addition of manual controls for ISO, white balance, and longer shutter speeds.

It is also incredibly responsive for a subcompact digital camera because of its high-speed DIGIC-II processing chip and its video capabilities go much beyond what I am used to seeing from models of subcompact digital cameras. In general, each and every one of us here at IR found that it was an enjoyable camera to use, and we adored the gorgeous “Canon” color that it arrived in.

Canon PowerShot SD300 FAQs

Is a Canon PowerShot SD300 a professional camera?

It is not a professional camera; the Canon PowerShot SD300 does not have that designation. It’s a simple point-and-shoot camera that’s perfect for taking photos in your spare time.

How do I take good pictures with my Canon PowerShot SD300?

You can put the following suggestions to use on your Canon PowerShot SD300 to improve the quality of the photographs you take:

Utilize appropriate lighting: The PowerShot SD300 performs at its peak in well-lit environments; therefore, it is recommended that you attempt to take your photographs in brilliant natural light or make use of artificial lighting to improve the quality of your photographs.

Use the appropriate settings: Play around with the various shooting options on your camera to find the settings that work best with your subject and the surrounding surroundings. The camera, for instance, includes a portrait mode for taking pictures of people, a landscape mode for taking pictures of broad landscapes, and a closeup mode for taking pictures of things up close.

Hold the camera firmly: Because the PowerShot SD300 does not have image stabilization, it is essential to ensure that the camera is held stable whenever it is being used to take photographs. For example, you can stabilize the closeup era using a gimbal or bracing your wrists against a stable surface with your hands.

Compose your shots: Before you press the shutter button, give some thought to the positioning of your picture as well as the subject, the background, and the overall scene.

Does Canon PowerShot SD300 have night vision?

Unfortunately, the Canon PowerShot SD300 does not come equipped with a night vision mode. It functions most effectively in settings with ample illumination.

How many megapixels is Canon PowerShot SD300?

The Canon PowerShot SD300 is equipped with a CCD sensor that is capable of generating pictures with a maximum resolution of 2272 x 1704 pixels. This resolution is made possible by the camera’s 4 megapixels.

Although in comparison to the standards of today, this may seem like a low resolution, in 2004, when the SD300 was introduced, this was actually a reasonably high resolution for a compact camera.

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