Upgrading my P&S....SX260 or SX280?

So I'm torn. It's time (in fact, long overdue) for me to upgrade my P&S camera and I'm trying to decide between the SX260 and SX280.

Price difference right now is about $30 (SX260 at about $230 and SX280 at $260). The only real difference I can see between the two is a newer processor. So that begs the question, is the newer processor worth $30?

I've read about the battery indicator issues with the new SX280, which kinda turns me off a bit. Do any of you guys know of any other pressing issues I should consider?

tangers40 wrote in post #16095242
is the newer processor worth $30?

Yes. better ISO performance

There is a firmware update that fixes the battery issue in Videomode

Here is some more info on the 2 cameras:
http://snapsort.com …t-SX280-HS-vs-Canon-SX260

elfieh

Mikedie wrote in post #16096938
Yes. better ISO performance

There is a firmware update that fixes the battery issue in Videomode

Good to know. However, I read somewhere (may have been here?) that the firmware update DIDN'T fix the battery indicator issue. Somebody updated it and still had the same problem as before.

I guess now I'll wait to see if the price drops on the 280 a bit more. Thanks for your help!

Or spend $300 and get this instead:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …83304&is=REG&A=​details&Q=

Or if you can afford $350
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rless_Digital_C​amera.html

I might have bought one if I didn't just buy a used 50D.

Stanjk3 wrote in post #16097986
Or spend $300 and get this instead:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …83304&is=REG&A=​details&Q=

Or if you can afford $350
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rless_Digital_C​amera.html

I might have bought one if I didn't just buy a used 50D.

I debated on one of these. But the reason I have a P&S in the first place is so that I don't have to monkey around with changing lenses. And if I wanted a longer reach than 55mm, that leaves the EOS M out. Yes, granted, I could get the adapter and put my tammy zoom on it, but if I had to do that, why wouldn't I just use my 60D? See what I mean? My P&S is just around for taking quick snapshots and for taking places I wouldn't feel comfortable dragging around the DSLR, which usually means a small compact for stuffing in my purse. The EOS M with the 18-55 isn't stuff-in-a-purse small.

My dad has a (I believe) SX230 that he really likes, and I've played around with it and like the features also. The SX260 or 280 is the newer version of it.

I have the SX280. First off I want to tell you that the battery life is poor. But I am more than willing to sacrifice this for the video this camera is capable of. It shoots 1920x1080 at 60fps, I don't believe there is another camera out there that does this and the video is awesome to say the least. I carry 4 batteries (Amazon aftermarkets, $10 each and work as well as the stocks), they are smaller than a pack of matches, so putting a couple or 3 in your pocket is no issue. At 60fps speed you can run video non-stop maybe 150 minutes. The zoom works all the way through up to the equivalent of a 500mm lens, but once you transcend optical to digital it pixelates quite fast. But through the optical range it is awesome.

The pictures this camera takes are actually quite good for a point and shoot as well. Again the zoom is awesome for a point and shoot. The firmware update fixed my issue with the battery light and it even seems to have extended the battery life. Did I say the zoom is impressive>... I attached a couple pics to show detail. The jet ski's are about 400' away and this is on digital zoom and handheld. I tripod or mono does wonders, but the pics are also much clearer on optical zoom.

gug wrote in post #16100985
I have the SX280. First off I want to tell you that the battery life is poor. But I am more than willing to sacrifice this for the video this camera is capable of. It shoots 1920x1080 at 60fps, I don't believe there is another camera out there that does this and the video is awesome to say the least. I carry 4 batteries (Amazon aftermarkets, $10 each and work as well as the stocks), they are smaller than a pack of matches, so putting a couple or 3 in your pocket is no issue. At 60fps speed you can run video non-stop maybe 150 minutes. The zoom works all the way through up to the equivalent of a 500mm lens, but once you transcend optical to digital it pixelates quite fast. But through the optical range it is awesome.

The pictures this camera takes are actually quite good for a point and shoot as well. Again the zoom is awesome for a point and shoot. The firmware update fixed my issue with the battery light and it even seems to have extended the battery life. Did I say the zoom is impressive>... I attached a couple pics to show detail. The jet ski's are about 400' away and this is on digital zoom and handheld. I tripod or mono does wonders, but the pics are also much clearer on optical zoom.

Thank you! I'm not really worried about battery life as I probably won't be using it for extended lengths of time in one sitting, but it is something to keep in mind if I take it on trips. And lol, I'm very familiar with the zoom capability....my dad has the SX230 (I think), and he and I came across our very first Mountain Goat last summer that was really really far away. I had at the time a 250mm zoom lens on my SLR, and he had his SX230. I got some horrible, pixelated, CA'd tiny pics of the goat when I cropped with my SLR, he got some awesome, fully-zoomed, clear pics with his P&S. I was kinda jealous lol! Now that the prices have dropped and I've got more money available, I think it's time to upgrade my own P&S.

tangers40 wrote in post #16102471
Thank you! I'm not really worried about battery life as I probably won't be using it for extended lengths of time in one sitting, but it is something to keep in mind if I take it on trips. And lol, I'm very familiar with the zoom capability....my dad has the SX230 (I think), and he and I came across our very first Mountain Goat last summer that was really really far away. I had at the time a 250mm zoom lens on my SLR, and he had his SX230. I got some horrible, pixelated, CA'd tiny pics of the goat when I cropped with my SLR, he got some awesome, fully-zoomed, clear pics with his P&S. I was kinda jealous lol! Now that the prices have dropped and I've got more money available, I think it's time to upgrade my own P&S.

You won't regret it. I also want to point out an error on my review, it is 15 minutes of video not 150. But again the video is so awesome that there is really no good medium other than blue-ray to play it back on for its full capability. If you have a good LCD TV and a mini USB HDMI cable plugged into it, plug the camera into it and play any video you record if you get it. It is most impressive and the pics are not either (c: I have added a cpl more pics to show the zoom capability. Enjoy!!!

The SX280 also has wireless a connection that the SX260 doesn't have.
It's not the only camera to offer 1080/60p, but that's certainly a plus.

For that price difference - I say go for the SX280.

-eyalg