Canon PowerShot SX220 HS Digital Camera - Grey (12.1MP, 14x Optical Zoom) 3.0 inch LCD

The ideal flexible travel compact with HD recording

The PowerShot SX220 HS has a sleek, compact design and is packed with useful technology like HD movie recording making it the ideal travel companion.

Features include:

• Canon’s unique HS System for excellent low light performance
• 12.1 Megapixels capture every scene in dazzling colour and brilliant detail
• 14x optical zoom (28mm wide-angle with Optical Image Stabilizer)
• Full HD movies (1080p) with optical zoom, stereo sound, Dynamic IS and HDMI
• Compact metal body with wide 3” LCD screen
• New HD CMOS Pro sensor
• Smart Auto with new Advanced Scene Detection for great results in 32 different default situations
• High-speed Burst and Super Slow Motion Movie help capture fast action scenes
• Movie Digest records before each shot to create a bonus movie
• New iFrame movie recording format for additional editing options
• Manual, Av and Tv modes for full creative control
• Face Detection technologies can simultaneously detect the faces of up to 35 individuals in a single frame with high speed auto focusing

Record full High Definition movies with optical zoom

Record fast-paced, full High Definition movies with stereo sound

For moments that are better caught on video, the PowerShot SX220 HS offers advanced video performance with the capability to record HD movies at 1080p with HDMI-CEC compatibility. Optical zoom is available during shooting - and stereo sound guarantees clear, CD-quality audio every time. The PowerShot SX220 HS now supports a new format for recording its HD movies too - iFrame Movie. This Apple™ format is designed to speed up the editing and importing process by keeping the content in its original recorded format. Of course, if you have a PC with Microsoft® Windows you can still upload your movies onto that as well.

Improved shots in tricky lighting conditions with HS System

The PowerShot SX220 HS features the powerful Canon HS System, which ensures excellent high image quality, especially in low light conditions, plus high speed stills and movie shooting. Capturing well exposed subjects inside, against dark backgrounds, or outside in low light can be difficult - the flash range is often not sufficient to light up the background but turning it off can cause blurring from the instability of hand-held shooting. With the Canon HS System, background illumination is improved, dark areas are reduced, and camera shake is controlled – maintaining complete image clarity and eliminating blur.

Canon's i-Contrast feature automatically adjusts contrast for the best image

Meanwhile Canon's i-Contrast feature also offers improved contrast and greater detail also in tricky lighting conditions. Available in either shooting or playback mode, i-Contrast analyses the exposure, dynamic range and other image characteristics of a shot then adaptively increases the contrast in dark areas to produce heightened detail in those regions. It does this without over exposing correctly exposed parts of the image, while the camera's noise reduction technology ensures minimal noise in the adjusted areas.

The 14x optical zoom is ideal for capturing the detail of the moment
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Get closer to the action with a 14x optical zoom

You can get up close and personal, even with faraway subjects, with the PowerShot SX220 HS’s 14x optical zoom. Its versatility means you can really explore your creative options and it’s perfect for capturing the action whether you’re on safari or at a concert. Meanwhile a bright, bold 3" PureColor II G LCD with toughened scratch resistant glass and wide aspect ratio (16:9) makes HD recording, shooting and playback a breeze.

Canon's Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer compensates for almost every kind of movement from the gentle murmurs of your breathing to the vibrations of a car ride, so your movies will always have a smooth, professional look. Easily switch from Standard Mode to Dynamic Range when you want to stabilise heavy hand shake on the move e.g. when walking, shooting from a moving car or even when shooting at maximum zoom.

Effortless shooting - superb results

When you're taking pictures, the only thing you want to think about is your subject so, the effortless PowerShot SX220 HS offers two simple shooting modes - Smart Auto and Easy Mode.

Advanced Scene Detection Technology gets the best from difficult shooting conditions
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Smart Auto mode allows the camera to intelligently select the appropriate settings so you can concentrate on your subject. Advanced Scene Detection Technology automatically analyses shooting conditions – detecting people, distance, brightness, colour and movement information – then selects the perfect setting from 32 specially defined scenes. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset or friends in the park you can be confident you're getting the perfect image. Smart Auto is also more than just scene detection. Moving subjects are also detected to ensure focus and exposure is always correct. For close-ups the camera automatically switches to Macro mode for sharp shots while Smart Flash Exposure optimises exposure and flash controls to ensure your subject is perfectly lit whilst dark and light areas are accurately reproduced.

In Easy mode the camera automatically selects all the camera settings, deactivating all buttons except those used for shooting – ideal for beginners.

High-speed Shooting

The HS System also offers the capability to shoot at super high speeds which provides excellent benefits in a range of situations.

High-speed Burst

In High-speed Burst mode the camera can take up to 3.7 shots per second at full 12.1 Megapixels resolution or 8.8 shots per second at 2.5 Megapixels resolution. The camera allows you to capture fast-moving subjects, so whether you’re shooting sports events or life in motion you will never miss a moment of the action.

Super Slow Motion

Super Slow Motion Movie mode captures movies at a staggering 240 frames per second (fps) and plays them back at normal speed for a spectacular slow motion effect. It’s now possible to shoot VGA quality at 120fps in addition to QVGA at 240fps. The free software included with the camera supports multi-speed playback, allowing for your footage to be viewed both at real or slow motion speed, so you won’t miss a moment.

Handheld Night Scene

Capture blur-free night scenes with the Handheld Night Scene mode. With this mode selected the camera takes consecutive high speed shots and combines them into one blur-free image.

Choice of manual shooting modes

Miniature effect transforms normal landscapes into miniature lookalikes
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With the PowerShot SX220 HS, you also have the option of selecting from a full range of manual shooting modes, shutter or aperture priority that you can count on for exact focus no matter where your subject is in the frame. Simply select the mode you require and let the camera take care of everything else, ensuring breathtaking, exhilarating pictures even when shooting conditions are tough.

New scene modes allow you to easily expand your photographic results. These include Miniature effect, which reproduces the effect of a very narrow depth of field transforming normal landscapes into miniature lookalikes, Fisheye which reproduces the effect of a Fisheye lens in three different levels of intensity and there are also two new photo effect modes: Super Vivid and Poster Effect. Super Vivid adds vibrant colours to photos for a dramatic result and Poster Effect gives a retro feel to photos by creating a poster-like effect.

Power efficient with quick recharge

The PowerShot SX220 HS runs off an intelligent rechargeable Li-ion battery that will give you hours of shooting pleasure and is quick and easy to recharge.

Shoot with confidence

Easy Hints & Tips provide onscreen guidance so even beginners can operate the camera with confidence, straight from the box. Menu explanations are always easy to understand and when settings are changed the relevant icon displays in an easy-to-see orange colour delivering a sophisticated and pleasant operating experience.

Fast, intelligent processing and superb image quality

Face Detection Technology locates faces in a shot and automatically adjusts for natural skin tones

Face Detection

With Face Detection up to 35 faces can be detected in each shot and focus, exposure, flash setting and white balance are all automatically adjusted for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones.

Face Select & Track

Face Select & Track allows a single face in a crowd to be selected and tracked as the main subject.

Smile and Wink Detection Self-Timer

A Smile and Wink Detection Self-Timer also makes group photos and self-portraits easy. Once the shot has been set up, the shutter pressed and the self-timer starts, the camera records the number of faces detected in the frame.

It then waits for an extra face to get in the frame and once the main subject smiles or winks it adjusts focus and exposure before taking the picture. You can set the camera to take the shot anytime from 2-10 seconds after the wink or smile for the perfect picture every time.

Motion Detection Technology

Motion Detection Technology uses changes in scene information and scene brightness to accurately identify subject motion. The optimal ISO level is then set automatically to minimise blur and maximise image quality.

Automatic Red-Eye Correction

Automatic Red-Eye Correction is available in both shooting and playback mode and accurately removes the red-eye effect caused by the flash.

Rich razor-sharp images - every time

The lens is the most important part of any imaging device and all Canon cameras incorporate lenses designed and manufactured by Canon to the most exacting standards - lenses based on over 70 years of experience for outstanding results.

Underwater accessories

The IXUS 220 HS is compatible with two optional waterproof cases. The Canon WP-DC320L is a slim waterproof case that provides water-resistance up to 3 metres making it the perfect photography accessory for taking photos whilst snorkelling or just for the additional protection it offers against the elements. Alternatively, for deeper underwater photography, the Canon WP-DC41 offers protection up to 40 metres whilst still allowing you to shoot fantastic photos and movies making it ideal for scuba diving.