Canon PowerShot ELPH · on sale spring 2013
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS (IXUS 255 HS): twice the zoom, fewer pixels, and a price reviewers fought over
Also sold as the Digital IXUS 255 HS and the IXY 610F.
In early 2013 Canon cut its midrange ELPH from 16.1 to 12.1 megapixels, doubled the zoom to 10x and asked a suggested US$229.99. Expert Reviews gave it five stars and PCMag an Editors' Choice award. Reviewed.com called the update uninspiring and found it hard not to think the camera overpriced.
- Launched
- February 2013
- Sensor
- 12.1 MP CMOS
- Lens
- 24–240 mm, 10×
- Card
- SD, SDHC, SDXC
- Battery
- NB-4L
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS specs: sensor, lens, battery, memory card and cable
Launched in February 2013 at US$229.99, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS (also sold as the IXUS 255 HS and IXY 610F) is a 12.1 MP CMOS compact with a 24–240 mm (35 mm equivalent) 10× zoom lens. Inside: it takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards and runs on the NB-4L battery. Sources
- Sensor
- CMOS, 1/2.3", 12.1 MP source
- Lens
- 24–240 mm equivalent, 10× zoom source
- Memory card
- SD, SDHC, SDXC source
- Battery
- NB-4L source
- Also sold as
- IXUS 255 HS · IXY 610F
- USB / A/V cable
- IFC-400PCU, AVC-DC400ST Confirmed · all Canon cables
Meet the camera
It is a slim pocket compact, 97.2 by 56.4 by 22.5 millimetres and about 144 grams with battery and card by Canon's CIPA figures.1 Digital Trends likened it to a deck of playing cards and said it slips into a clothing pocket without dragging;7 there is no viewfinder, only the rear screen.3 Reviewers disagree on the material: Digital Trends called the plastic sturdy, Reviewed.com described slick plastic, PCMag an all-metal exterior and TechRadar a metal housing.7469 We have not held one.
Canon's museum lists the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS in the Americas, the IXUS 255 HS in Europe, Asia and Oceania and the IXY 610F in Japan, marketed from February 2013 (the museum gives no region for the date).1 Imaging Resource's January preview expected US shipping in March at US$229.99, in black, silver and pink, and its specification table gives 15 March 2013 as the availability date.3 Reviewed.com gave $229.99 as the MSRP.4
Why this one was interesting
Fewer pixels, with a theory attached
Imaging Resource noted that the sensor fell from 16.1 to 12.1 megapixels at the same 1/2.3-inch size and suggested the roomier pixels might give better pictures.3 PhotographyBLOG offered the same logic: fewer pixels leave more space on the sensor, which helps avoid some colour noise.8 The test results below were strong, but none of the test reports we read compared the 330 HS with the 320 HS, so we cannot say the lower pixel count was the cause.
Twice the reach
The zoom doubled from 5x to 10x (table below), and at the long end the aperture closes to f/6.9;1 PCMag listed the small aperture among its cons. It also argued that the Samsung DV150F's f/2.5 start, roughly 50 percent more light at the wide end, is cancelled by weaker high-ISO results and an f/6.3 long end.6
Wi-Fi as the headline
The 320 HS already had wireless transfer.2 Imaging Resource reported Canon's view that the biggest difference was a larger Wi-Fi feature set: a one-time pairing with a phone through the CameraWindow app, direct uploads to social sites with typed captions, and wireless printing to Canon inkjets.3 Reviewed.com, writing from the CP+ 2013 show, said there was precious little new apart from slightly better Wi-Fi.4
What changed from the ELPH 320 HS
| ELPH 320 HS (March 2012) | ELPH 330 HS (February 2013) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 16.1 MP CMOS2 | 12.1 MP CMOS1 |
| Zoom | 5x, 24–120 mm2 | 10x, 24–240 mm1 |
| Screen | 3.2-inch touch panel, 461,000 pixels2 | 3.0-inch, 461,000 dots, not touch17 |
| ISO | 100 to 32003 | 80 to 64003 |
| Battery | NB-11L2 | NB-4L1 |
| Size and weight | 93.5 x 56.8 x 20.8 mm, about 145 g2 | 97.2 x 56.4 x 22.5 mm, about 144 g1 |
| US list price | $249.994 | $229.9943 |
Related reviews of the same line: the ELPH 320 HS, the ELPH 300 HS, the ELPH 100 HS and the later ELPH 360 HS.
In the dark: where it earned its praise
Low light was where this camera earned its praise, with limits at the top of the range. Expert Reviews found low-light shots better than both the Ixus 230 HS and Sony's WX200, with smoother colours and better detail from ISO 400 up and usable results to ISO 3200.5 PCMag measured noise under 1.5 percent through ISO 1600 and 1.9 percent at ISO 3200, and advised avoiding ISO 6400.6 Digital Trends said many night photos were usable even at ISO 1600 with even noise.7 PhotographyBLOG saw faint colour blobs at 100 percent from ISO 400, grain in the shadows at 1600, and at ISO 6400 coloured blobs and drained colour.8 TechRadar's resolution-chart scores fell from 20 at ISO 80 to 12 at ISO 1600, with no score given at ISO 3200 and 6400.9
Three photographs taken with this camera in dim light: India Gate lit at night (ISO 1600), a string-light tunnel without flash (ISO 1600) and a museum hall (ISO 1000). The ISO values come from the file metadata on Commons. Credited under each picture.
The flash was a smaller story: Reviewed.com called it weak, with a recycle time of ten seconds or less.4
On eBay right now
Live listings for this camera, supplied by eBay and updated automatically. We earn a commission if you buy through them.
The little wins
A sharp lens
PCMag's Imatest score was 2,069 lines per picture height against the 1,800 it says a sharp photo needs, and 1,563 for Panasonic's SZ7.6
Close focus
Canon lists macro focus from 1 cm at the wide end, and Expert Reviews called the results superb.15 PhotographyBLOG saw a lot of lens distortion at that range, with sharpness falling off quite near the centre of the frame.8
Stabilised long end
TechRadar said the stabilisation kept the view steady at the far end of the zoom and that long-zoom shots stayed as sharp as wide ones.9
How it drew the picture
PhotographyBLOG scored image quality 4.5 out of 5, with faithful colours that are not over-saturated, and noted barrel distortion at 24 mm that fades as you zoom.8 Expert Reviews said the Canon beat the 230 HS in a studio scene with sharper, more contrasted details, and against the Sony WX200 called it sharper at 100 percent but gave the Sony's 18 megapixels credit for redressing the balance.5 TechRadar called colours vibrant and accurate, said exposure occasionally leaned towards over-exposure (its example was a sky) and found metering could struggle when the lens faced windows.9 Digital Trends found its pictures crisp and natural, with a few underexposed and dull.7
Photos taken with this camera, from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture. The first photo (a fox) and the last (a cow) were shot at the longest zoom setting, 43 mm (240 mm equivalent), according to their metadata. About a third of the free photos of this camera come from one uploader (our count, 140 of 418 files in the Commons category on 27 October 2026).
Where it let you down
Expert Reviews, TechRadar and PCMag all noted that Wi-Fi stops at transferring pictures: you cannot use a phone as a remote control. Expert Reviews named Panasonic's SZ9 and Sony's WX200 as cameras that allow it, and PCMag named two Samsungs.596 PhotographyBLOG's review speaks of connecting the phone for "wireless control" without describing a remote shutter, so we follow the other three.8 Manual control is thin. PCMag found no full manual, shutter-priority or aperture-priority mode, and Reviewed.com and Digital Trends agreed the camera leaves little to adjust.647 Burst shooting was slow: Expert Reviews and PCMag put it at about 2 frames per second, and PhotographyBLOG at 2.1, though a 3-megapixel scene mode reached 5.3 for Expert Reviews.568 The 3-inch screen is not touch and is smaller than the 3.2-inch touch panel of the 320 HS.723 PhotographyBLOG called the battery door flimsy plastic with no lock, and TechRadar found the battery and card flap tricky to slide open.89
Hybrid Auto, which builds the Movie Digest clips, drew lukewarm remarks. Canon's museum says Movie Digest records clips of up to about four seconds before each still picture;1 Expert Reviews found its films were mostly fumbling, with the camera pointed at the floor, and Digital Trends called Hybrid Auto neat but not something to watch daily.57 Video is capped at ten minutes for HD in Canon's table, and Expert Reviews and PCMag both heard the zoom motor on the soundtrack.856
Where the reviewers disagreed
| Topic | What they said |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi set-up | Digital Trends found the Image Gateway account and computer set-up a hassle but connected an iPhone through the app more easily.7 PCMag called configuring web services through Image Gateway pretty painless;6 Expert Reviews called phone transfers simple and elegant;5 TechRadar called it relatively simple once the app was installed.9 |
| Video | Digital Trends found it decent but less clean and detailed than Canon's S110;7 Expert Reviews described rich colour and extremely sharp detail;5 TechRadar called it superb;9 PCMag said the footage looks very good, later calling the video mode a bit disappointing and listing the 24 fps limit among its cons.6 |
| Price | Digital Trends called it somewhat pricey and suggested the Canon S110 if the budget allows;7 Reviewed.com thought an older discounted model a better buy;4 PhotographyBLOG scored value for money 3.5 out of 5;8 PCMag called it an excellent value at its asking price, a figure its text puts under $200, below the launch list price.6 |
What the reviewers said
| Outlet | Date | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Imaging Resource (preview) | 28 Jan 2013 | Double the zoom, a bigger Wi-Fi set; no lab results.3 |
| Reviewed.com (first impressions) | 1 Feb 2013 | An uninspiring, iterative update; Wi-Fi improved but stilted; hard not to think it overpriced.4 |
| Expert Reviews | 27 Mar 2013 | Five stars and a Best Buy tag; image quality the highlight; narrowly ahead of the Sony WX200; no remote shooting.5 |
| PCMag | 16 Apr 2013 | 4.0 out of 5 and an Editors' Choice award: sharp lens, strong high-ISO results; no full manual modes, 24 fps video.6 |
| PhotographyBLOG | 19 Apr 2013 | Image quality 4.5 and value 3.5 out of 5; a joy to use; small buttons, flimsy battery door.8 |
| Digital Trends | 19 Apr 2013 | Good pictures, quick and stylish; Wi-Fi set-up and menus a chore; doubted such cameras can hold off smartphones.7 |
| TechRadar (hands-on) | 30 May 2013 | Early verdict: a good all-rounder that will not break the bank; no remote Wi-Fi, few manual controls.9 |
Should you buy one now?
It suits someone who wants a thin camera with a real 10x zoom and good results in dim rooms, and who will not miss manual modes or a remote shutter. It launched at US$229.99;3 what it sells for now is a question for the sold listings, not for us. Before you bid, check these:
- The name. Search the ELPH 330 HS, the IXUS 255 HS and the IXY 610F.1 See the glossary entry on regional names.
- The sensor. It is CMOS, not CCD.18 If you want a CCD, read our CCD entry.
- The battery and charger. Canon lists an NB-4L, and the camera shipped with a charger.167 Spare NB-4L batteries are on Amazon ↗. Canon's rating is about 220 shots.8
- The card. It takes SD, SDHC and SDXC; Canon's table asks for Speed Class 6 or faster to get the maximum full HD recording time.8 See our memory card guide.
- The cable. Canon's table lists a dedicated Mini-B-compatible connector;8 see the cable line near the top of this page.
- The Wi-Fi. Reviewers in 2013 set up phone transfer with Canon's CameraWindow app and used the Image Gateway site for web services.76 We did not check whether either still works with this camera.
- The lens. Check that it extends and retracts cleanly and that the screen shows no dead patches.
See recent sold prices on eBay ↗Shop on eBay ↗NB-4L battery ↗
Sources
- Canon Camera Museum: PowerShot ELPH 330 HS / IXUS 255 HS / IXY 610F (names, February 2013, specifications)
- Canon Camera Museum: PowerShot ELPH 320 HS / IXUS 240 HS / IXY 420F (March 2012, specifications)
- Imaging Resource, Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS preview by Roger Slavens (28 Jan 2013) and specification table (page shows no lab results)
- Reviewed.com, Canon PowerShot 330 HS first impressions by TJ Donegan (1 Feb 2013, from CP+ 2013)
- Expert Reviews, Canon Ixus 255 HS review by Ben Pitt (27 Mar 2013)
- PCMag, Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS review by Jim Fisher (page date 16 Apr 2013, also in its metadata; the prices shown on the page today are not used)
- Digital Trends, Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS review by Les Shu (page metadata date 19 Apr 2013; the page shows a 2023 update date)
- PhotographyBLOG, Canon IXUS 255 HS review by Matt Grayson (19 Apr 2013), including the specification table
- TechRadar, Hands on: Canon IXUS 255 HS review by Sarah Chong (30 May 2013; pages 1 to 5 read)
The product photograph and sample photographs are credited under each one, all via Wikimedia Commons. Links to eBay and Amazon are affiliate links.