Canon brought Wi-Fi to more of its point-and-shoot cameras on Tuesday. Both the Elph 530 HS and Elph 320 HS can both send media directly to Image Gateway, an in-between album that in turn lets users share to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. An iOS app, CameraWindow is coming in March that promises to keep compact cameras relevant: it will let owners send photos and videos directly to the Apple devices both for safekeeping and to upload to the same social sites.
As is often the case, an Android version is promised but won’t be ready until later, in May.
Actual photographic output varies sharply between the two. The 530 HS shoots at a low 10 megapixels, but it uses an especially sensitive CMOS sensor to help in low light and at the far end of the camera’s 12X zoom lens. A DIGIC 5 chip is good enough to record 1080p video, and a 3.2-inch touchscreen guides most of the interface.
Picking the 320 HS still nets a CMOS sensor, but at 16.1 megapixels won’t be as sensitive. Accordingly, it uses a more modest 5X lens but without sacrificing the 1080p video or touchscreen.
The 320 HS is scheduled first, for March, and will cost $280. Holding out until April will see the 530 HS on sale for $350. CameraWindow wasn’t priced, but is likely to be free.
Elph 530 HS
