Features
Playback, Editing and Print
Functions
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software
Recording Features
LCD Monitor: The Canon PowerShot SX260 HS has a 3" TFT LCD monitor, featuring 230,000 dots with approximately 100% picture coverage.
The LCD display's
brightness can be adjusted to one of five levels. The LCD display also
features a Night Display feature that when shooting in dark conditions, the
camera automatically brightens the LCD monitor to suit the brightness of the
subject, making it easier to frame the subject.
Note: There is no separate viewfinder on this camera.
Image Sensor: The camera is equipped with a 1/2.3" CMOS image sensor
with 12.8-million total pixels, and 12.1-million effective pixels. Along with the
new DIGIC 5
Image Processor, the SX260 HS gives you clear photos with accurate colors and
less noise.
Face Detection Technology: The DIGIC 5 chip's Face Detection
Technology finds and tracks the faces of moving subjects until you're ready to
shoot, then delivers perfect focus. In addition, exposure, flash, and white
balance are compensated, so that faces exhibit natural skin tones and
backgrounds are properly exposed.
Smart Shutter: Smart Shutter technology automatically takes
a picture a short time after the camera detects a specific change in the scene.
There are three Smart Shutter functions:
- Face Self-Timer: The Face Self-Timer automatically
detects an increase in the number of faces, and makes the appropriate
adjustments. When the Face Detection Self-Timer is set, the camera waits for
the photographer's face to get on-camera before it takes the shot. The
camera will shoot, two seconds after the new face is detected.
- Smile Self-Timer: The Smile Self-Timer captures smiles
by tracking your subject's face and automatically releases the shutter as smiles are detected.
- Wink Self-Timer: The Wink Self-Timer lets you set the camera in a
"shooting standby" mode after the shot is composed. When a designated person
in the frame winks, the camera takes a picture, two
seconds after the wink is detected.
Optics and Stabilization: The SX260 HS has a
20x optical
zoom lens with a 4.5-90mm focal length (35mm equivalent is 25-500mm). The built-in
lens shift-type Image Stabilizer helps control camera shake to give you clear images
when you're zoomed way in. Image Stabilization can be set to Continuous, Shoot
Only, or Panning.
Zoom: In addition to the 20x optical zoom, the camera
features a 4x digital zoom. When used in combination, the total zoom is
approximately 80x.
Digital Tele-Converter: The focal length of the lens can be
increased by an equivalent of 1.5x or 2.0x through the use of the Digital Tele-Converter. The equivalent focal lengths of the lens (35mm equivalent) are
30-750mm when using the 1.5x digital tele-converter, and 40-1000mm with the 2.0x tele-converter. The digital zoom and digital tele-converter cannot be used
simultaneously.
Recording Media:
The camera records still images or moving images with stereo audio on SD Memory
Cards (2GB or less), SDHC Memory Cards (4GB to 32GB), and SDXC Memory Cards
(32GB and higher). Still images are recorded in JPEG
format, and the
movies are recorded in MOV format (Image data: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio data: Linear PCM
(stereo)). The camera has no built-in memory, and no memory card is included with the camera.
Still Image Resolution/Compression:
The SX260 HS can record still images in 4 different sizes (Large, Medium 1,
Medium 2, and Small) and 4 aspect ratios (4:3, 16:9, 3:2, and 1:1). For each
resolution, you can set the compression to Fine or Normal. You can choose from
the following resolutions:
| |
4:3 |
16:9 |
3:2 |
1:1 |
| Large |
4000 x 3000 |
4000 x 2248 |
4000 x 2664 |
2992 x 2992 |
| Medium 1 |
2816 x 2112 |
2816 x 1584 |
2816 x 1880 |
2112 x 2112 |
| Medium 2 |
1600 x 1200 |
1920 x 1080 |
1600 x 1064 |
1200 x 1200 |
| Small |
640 x 480 |
640 x 360 |
640 x 424 |
480 x 480 |
Movies: Movies can be shot in High Definition at
1920 x 1080 at 24 fps, and 1280 x 720
at 30 fps with stereo audio. Standard definition movies can
be recorded at 640 x 480 pixels, with a frame rate of 30 frames per second and stereo audio. Recording will automatically stop when either
the clip file size reaches 4 GB or the recording time reaches approximately 30
minutes for HD, and 1 hour for SD. SD Speed Class 6 or higher memory cards are recommended.
Movie Modes: There are 3 Movie Modes to choose from:
- Standard: Shoots standard movies
- iFrame: Shoots movies that can be edited with iFrame
compatible software or devices
- Super Slow Motion: Shoots fast moving subjects and
plays them back in slow motion:
- 240 fps; 320 x 240 resolution
- 120 fps; 640 x 480 resolution
Continuous Shooting
Mode: You can use the continuous shooting mode to shoot successive
frames while the shutter button is fully pressed. You can shoot continuously at
approximately 2.4 images per second. In the High Speed Burst HQ mode, you can
shoot up to 10 continuous shots at a maximum speed of approximately 10.3 images
per second.
Global Positioning System (GPS): The camera has a built-in
GPS receiver. Camera location information (latitude, longitude, and elevation)
can be added to your images and movies as your shoot. This information can be
used with the supplied software to see the shooting location on a map.
Focusing Range: The camera features the following focus
ranges (from the end of the lens):
- Normal: 2.0" to infinity (W),
3.3' to infinity (T)
- Macro AF: 2.0" to 1.6' (wide)
Shooting Modes: Using the mode dial on
the back panel, you can switch between the following
shooting modes:
- Auto: The camera will
automatically select the best settings for the scene.
- Program: The camera sets both the aperture value and
shutter speed.
- Aperture Priority: You can set the aperture to a value
at which you want to shoot, and the camera sets the appropriate shutter
speed for the aperture you set. Aperture values can be set between F3.5 to
F8.0 at wide angle and F6.8 to F8.0 at telephoto.
- Shutter Priority: You can set the shutter speed to a
value at which you want to shoot, and the camera sets the appropriate
aperture value for the shutter speed you set. Shutter speeds can be set
between 15 and 1/3200 seconds.
- Manual: You can manually set the shutter
speed and aperture.
- Live View Control: Image brightness, colors, and tone
can be easily customized while shooting.
- Easy Mode: On-screen instructions help you shoot. All
controls except zoom and some buttons are deactivated.
- Creative Filters: You can add various effects to images
when shooting, such as Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Fish-eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect,
Soft Focus,
Monochrome, Color Accent, or Color Swap.
- Special Scene:
Select from the following, according to the
scene or effects desired: Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, Low Light,
Underwater (required optional waterproof case), Snow,
and Fireworks.
- Discreet Mode: Lets
you shoot without the flash or camera sounds.
- Movies: Record movies in High Definition or Standard
Definition in Standard Mode, iFrame Movie, and Super Slow Motion Movie
modes.
- Movie Digest: The camera automatically compiles clips
captured before each shot that day into a short movie.
Metering Modes: You can select from the following metering modes:
-
Evaluative
Light Metering: used for standard
conditions. The area within the frame is divided into several zones and
light is measured based on subject position, brightness, direct light and
backlighting.
-
Center-Weighted
Averaging: averages the exposure from the entire image, but places more
weight on the subject at the center
-
Spot: meters
the area within the spot AE point at the center of the LCD monitor or
viewfinder.
Exposure Compensation:
If you are shooting against a bright background or strong backlight, you may
need to correct the exposure so that the subject doesn't come out too dark. You
can set the adjustments from -2 to +2 in 1/3-step increments.
Locking the
Exposure Setting (AE Lock): You can set
the exposure and focus separately. This is effective when the contrast is too
strong between the subject and background, or when a subject is backlit. Flash
Exposure Lock (FE Lock), just as with the AE lock, lets you lock the exposure
for shooting with the flash.
White Balance: You
can choose from the following white balance settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy,
Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Underwater, and Custom.
Flash Modes: The PowerShot SX260 HS has a built-in
pop-up flash.
You can select Auto (flash fires in low light),
Slow-synchro, On (flash always fires), or Off (flash doesn't fire). The
built-in flash has a range of 1.6' to 11' in Wide Angle and 3.3' to 6.6' in
Telephoto. In the menu, you can turn on the Red-Eye Reduction lamp for the
flash, and apply Red-Eye Correction to the images that have been taken.
ISO Speed: The ISO speed can be set
Automatically (ISO Auto), or manually to ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 or
3200. Lowering the ISO speed results in sharper images but there's a
greater chance of subject or image blurring in certain shooting conditions.
Raising the ISO speed results in a faster shutter speed, reducing blurred
images. The images, however, will appear more coarse.
My Colors: You
can choose the look and feel of the photos you take by using My Colors to add
the following effects to the image you are currently recording or have already
recorded: Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B/W, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker
Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, and Custom Color.
Display Overlay: You can customize the display with the
following overlays:
-
Shooting Info: A wide range of information on the shooting
conditions and settings will display on the viewfinder or LCD monitor.
-
Grid Lines: Displays gridlines dividing the monitor into 9 areas, allowing you to check
the subject's horizontal and vertical alignment
-
Histogram: A graphic display that shows the distribution of
brightness in an image horizontally.
Self-Timer: The SX260 HS utilizes a 10-second, 2-second, and
a custom self-timer to allow
the photographer to be included in the shot, or to avoid camera shake when using
a tripod. The custom self-timer allows you to set the time delay to 1-15, 20, 25, or 30 seconds for up to 10 shots.
Playback,
Editing and Print Functions
Index Display:
This feature allows you to view 4, 9, 36, or 100 images at once on the LCD monitor so that
you can search for an image quickly. Movies cannot be played in the index
playback mode. You can view the index display by rotating the zoom lever toward wide angle while the camera is in playback
mode.
Filtered Playback: When there are many images on the memory
card, you can filter and display them by a specified filter. You can also
protect or delete all images at once while filtered. Available filters include:
Name (of registered person), Favorites, Date, Category Type, and Still
Image/Movie.
Playback Displays: You can choose from the following types of displays:
No Information, Simple Information, Detailed Information, and Focus Check.
Red-Eye Correction:
You can correct red eyes in already recorded images. However, red eyes may not
be automatically detected in some images such as faces near the screen edge,
faces that appear extremely small, larger dark or bright in relation to the
overall image and faces turned to the side or at a diagonal and faces with a
portion hidden which prevents the Red-Eye Correction from working. You can
choose to overwrite the file with the corrected image, or store the image as a
new file, retaining the original image.
PictBridge/Direct Print: Using
the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge-compatible
printer of any brand, or a Canon printer that
supports the Direct Print function. You can also connect the camera directly to
certain Canon SELPHY compact photo printers and PIXMA inkjet photo printers. In this way, you can make prints directly
from the camera without having to connect to a computer.
Battery Information
Power Requirements:
The
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS powered by the NB-6L Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. The camera includes the CB-2LY battery charger,
which can charge the NB-6L battery in approximately 1 hour 55 minutes. For long periods of continuous use, or when connected to a
computer, it is recommended that the camera be connected to the optional ACK-DC40
AC adapter kit. A fully-charged battery will last for approximately 230 shots, 40 minutes of movie shooting time,
1
hour 10 minutes of continuous shooting, and 5 hours of playback time.
Date/Time Battery: The camera uses a built-in backup battery
for maintaining the date and time data for about three weeks after the battery
pack has been removed. By inserting a charged battery or connecting an AC
adapter kit, the date/time battery can be charged in approximately 4 hours, even
if the camera is not turned on.
Power Saving Functions: The camera is equipped with the
following power saving functions:
- Auto Power Down for Shooting Mode: The screen will turn
off approximately 1 minute after the camera is last operated. You can "wake"
the camera at this point by pressing the shutter button halfway to turn on
the screen and continue shooting. After about 2 more minutes, if no buttons
are pressed, the lens will retract and the power will turn off.
- Auto Power Down for Playback Mode and Connection to a Printer:
The camera power down approximately 5 minutes after the last control is
accessed on the camera.
Note: The Power Saving Function will not activate during
a Slide-Show or while the camera is connected to a computer.
Inputs
and Outputs Notes
HDMI Output: The PowerShot SX260 HS is equipped with a
mini-HDMI (Type C) for connecting the camera to your HDTV. An optional
mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable, such as the Canon
HTC-100, is
required.
A/V Output/Digital Terminal: The camera has a
Mini-B Version 2.0 USB terminal to allow you to connect the camera to a
compatible computer or compatible Canon printer via the supplied USB cable. This
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed-compatible terminal allows you to rapidly download images to
your computer or printer. Through the same USB jack, you can connect the camera
to a TV or video monitor with stereo RCA audio and composite video input jacks
using the optional AVC-DC400ST Stereo AV Cable. You can set the video output to NTSC or
PAL.
Supplied
Software
Included Software: The PowerShot
SX260 HS comes supplied with the Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk Ver.112.0 CD-ROM. It contains the following programs:
- Canon Utilities:
- ImageBrowser EX 1.0: import images and change
camera settings; manage images (view, search, organize); print and edit
images
- CameraWindow DC 8.7: transfer images to and from camera, organize
images on the camera, and upload movies on the camera to web services
- PhotoStitch 3.1 (Windows) / 3.2 (Mac): use to merge still images to make
panoramas
- User Guides: Camera User Guide, Software Guide
Compatible Operating Systems:
- Windows 7 (SP1)
- Windows Vista (SP2)
- Windows XP (SP3)
- Mac OS X (v10.6)
Note: Check Canon's
website for software updates.
