Available in four cool colours for the PowerShot SX260 HS and three for the PowerShot SX240 HS, the new models are the world's slimmest in their class and offer Canon's signature high image quality thanks to the DIGIC 5-powered HS System and new Intelligent IS technology, in a compact, pocket-friendly body. The PowerShot SX260 HS also features integrated GPS, making it even easier to record your travels and retrace your route on a map from the comfort of your armchair when you return home.

Super zoom, super quality

Whether it's the holiday of a lifetime or a precious family moment, the PowerShot SX260 HS and PowerShot SX240 HS are designed to bring you closer to the action than ever before thanks to the enhanced 25mm wide-angle 20x optical zoom Canon lens with 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer (IS). New ZoomPlus technology further extends the reach of the zoom to 39x by harnessing the processing power of DIGIC 5 and the high resolution sensor to produce a more accurate and detailed digital zoom.

Complementing the impressive optical zoom, Canon's new Intelligent IS technology ensures crisp, detailed images and smooth footage in a range of shooting situations. By identifying the scene and subject to be captured, the camera selects the most appropriate IS settings from seven modes for steady, blur-free shots. For example, Macro IS is great for capturing those crystal clear close-up shots of exotic plants or insects, whilst Powered IS makes it easier to film distant subjects with the powerful zoom - perfect for recording wildlife on safari.

The HS System, which pairs Canon's next-generation DIGIC 5 image processor with the 12.1 Megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, has been further augmented to ensure outstanding, low-noise images in all conditions, particularly in low light. Whether on a beach in the moonlight or at a party, pictures are well-exposed with up to 75% less noise than the models' predecessors, without the need to use a flash or tripod.

Point-and-shoot ease of use

The PowerShot SX260 HS and PowerShot SX240 HS provide total freedom, offering Canon's acclaimed Smart Auto mode which now detects up to 58 different scenes to determine the most appropriate settings to achieve the best possible result.

Advanced Multi-area White Balance technology detects multiple light sources and corrects the colour balance for each, removing unsightly colour casts to give more natural results.

With new Face Identification (Face ID), your friends and family will always look their best in your photos, even if they are in a large group or at the edge of the frame. Simply register up to 12 faces in the camera and include their birthdays to enable some of the new age-related scenes added to Smart Auto. For example, when taking a shot of a sleeping baby, the camera will disengage the flash and audio cues in order to avoid disturbing its sleep and apply specific exposure settings to produce a similar result to the bright "high-key effect" portraits favoured by professional photographers. Similarly, in the case of a child over the age of two playing outdoors, the camera will anticipate more movement and engages servo AF to ensure focus, then shoots a short high-speed burst to increase the chances of capturing a perfect moment. Face ID will also tag your images with the names of your subjects, allowing you to search your image library by name for swifter browsing, both on the camera and on your computer using the supplied ImageBrowser EX software.

Explore your creative side with confidence

For maximum flexibility, the PowerShot SX260 HS and PowerShot SX240 HS both offer full manual control, allowing users to stamp their own creativity on their shots and explore the impact of individual changes to ISO, shutter speed or aperture on their images.

The sensor and image processor combination not only provide superior image quality but also support high-speed shooting functions. Freeze fast-paced action with High-speed Burst HQ, shooting full-resolution images at 10.3 shots/sec, or slow the pace right down with 240fps Super Slow Motion Movie. Alternatively, give your low-light photography an added boost with Handheld Night Scene which combines a high-speed sequence of shots into one image offering the least possible blur and best possible exposure.

The enhanced Creative Filters in the PowerShot SX260 HS and PowerShot SX240 HS mean you can add a new level of creative fun with eight effects to make your photos and videos stand out. Add a romantic touch with the new Soft Focus, and produce perfect portraits with the Smooth Skin setting which evens out skin tone for a more flattering effect. Alternatively, change the way you look at landscapes with Miniature Effect making the scene resemble a scale model.

Remember every step

Build a unique travel journal and relive each moment by tagging each picture with the local time and location it was taken automatically with the built-in GPS in the PowerShot SX260 HS. The integrated GPS Logger function has been enhanced compared with its predecessor, logging the location of the camera at regular intervals more rapidly and offering more than 48 hours tracking on a single charge. Using the Map Utility software included, you can then view your journey on Google Maps or share it with friends and family across the world through applications such as Google Earth.

Both models allow you to create a 'behind the scenes' mini-film of the day's images with the improved Movie Digest feature, which records the last four seconds of action before each shot is taken and combines them into a single movie - a great alternative way to tell the story behind your perfect pictures in HD (720p) quality.

PowerShot SX260 HS - key features:

• 20x zoom, 25mm wide-angle lens; compact body
• HS System: 12.1 MP CMOS and DIGIC 5
• GPS
• Intelligent IS
• Full HD movies
• 7.5 cm (3.0") PureColor II G LCD
• Smart Auto (58 scenes); Face ID
• Manual, Av and Tv modes
• High-speed shooting
• Optional 40m Waterproof Case

PowerShot SX240 HS - key features:

• 20x zoom, 25mm wide-angle lens; compact body
• HS System: 12.1 MP CMOS and DIGIC 5
• Intelligent IS
• Full HD movies
• 7.5 cm (3.0") PureColor II G LCD
• Smart Auto (58 scenes)
• Face ID
• Manual, Av and Tv modes
• High-speed shooting
• Optional 40m Waterproof Case