Our First Take
Rounding out the line of affordable PowerShot point-and-shoots, and highlighted by a more intuitive WiFi sharing feature, the PowerShot ELPH 340 HS is (at least on paper) a notable upgrade to Canon's entry-level armada. Setting up WiFi connections from camera to smartphone has been a sore spot for many manufacturers, so a new take on the process that sidesteps physically entering an SSID and password is a welcome change.
The camera itself offers a longer zoom, higher megapixel count, and more features than its predecessor, albeit at the cost of a somewhat compromised processor. Though we've yet to see performance results, this minor tradeoff means the 340 HS offers somewhat narrower range of ISO speeds. However, if you're a social media maven, the improvements in sharing should be more than worth the sacrifice.
Design & Usability
Familiar design, new buttons
With this new release, Canon may not have deviated from the PowerShot 330 HS look, but they definitely changed a lot under the hood. For only $20 more (MSRP $199.99), the new model packs in more zoom, more megapixels, and more sharing features than its older brother. The lens is a beefy 12x (25-300mm equivalent) f/3.6-7 zoom, placed in front of a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor that's paired with a DIGIC 4+ processor. The 330 HS used a DIGIC 5 processor, so it's a little surprising to see that step back in the follow-up.
As far as shooting goes, the similarities to the 330 HS are nothing but a good thing. Autofocus is acceptably fast even at full telephoto, and while there's a little shutter lag, it's not very noticeable. The zoom motor is acceptably fast, too, letting you frame shots quickly and easily. It may not be the slimmest camera out there, but the 340 HS will fit nicely in a pocket and can start snapping photos in short order.
The controls are laid out in a logical manner, just like PowerShots past. With the lone exception of a button marked with a smartphone icon, the control cluster, shutter release, and zoom control are virtually identical to every other entry-level PowerShot camera. The buttons don't have a lot of travel, but still provide a somewhat satisfying click when pressed.
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Quoted battery life specs are a bit disappointing. Though real-world results often differ from CIPA ratings, the 340 HS battery is only rated for about 190 shots, while the older 330 HS could manage 220. Neither is great, but we certainly would have preferred the higher number. If you plan on taking this little guy around for a full day of shooting, you may want to pick up additional NB-11L/NB-11LH batteries.
Features
A WiFi wonder
Canon has sunk a lot of energy into making its new cameras more smartphone-compatible, and it pays dividends on the 340 HS. For example, you can use Canon's CameraWindow app to share photos between the camera and your phone, as well as use your smartphone's GPS to tag location data, and even snap pictures remotely.
Diverging from older models a bit, Canon equipped the PowerShot 340 HS with an NFC pairing option, which will work with virtually any Android smartphone or tablet. Though it may sound like an unnecessary complication, it actually makes connecting devices over WiFi a lot simpler, especially since you no longer have to key in an SSID and password. Just hit the button with the smartphone icon, tap your phone to the camera, and the 340 HS will handle the rest. You can share photos, video, and even use the mobile device as a remote.
The reasonably fast DIGIC 4+ processor allows the 340 HS to use sensitivities up to ISO 3200, and should you get bored with taking simple photos, there are plenty of in-camera editing features and filters to play with. As on other PowerShot models, the menu system is very clear and easy to use.
If Canon made one intention clear with its PowerShot N100, it's to find more ways to tell stories using entry-level equipment. The 340 HS does its part in that campaign: Flicking on the Hybrid Auto mode will tell your camera to record up to four seconds of video before each shot, and the camera will then automatically compile the clips and pictures into a 720p HD highlight reel on export.
This is definitely a fun feature—just keep in mind that it'll chew up storage space if you use it a lot. Thankfully, this camera (like most others) has removable SD/SDHC/SDXC card storage, so keeping extra memory on hand is cheap and easy.
Conclusion
On paper, it's a considerable step up.
All of our first impressions reviews come with the caveat that we haven't put these show-floor cameras through their paces in the lab, but on features alone this model is a notable step up from the already excellent PowerShot ELPH 330 HS. A more effective wireless connectivity option is a welcome addition, and even iterative spec bumps are notable at a sub-$200 price point.
To keep point-and-shoots relevant in the smartphone camera age, it's critical that manufacturers combine attractive features and reasonable performance with this kind of pricing. The 340 HS appears to make a convincing case to keep a dedicated camera around, especially given its improved compatibility with your mobile gadgets. Particularly social shutterbugs, at least, will definitely enjoy the increased versatility this camera offers over their smartphone.
It'll be a couple months before we can properly test the 340 HS, but it will be available to the public sometime in March, in your choice of silver, black, or regal plum casings. Starting at $199.99, these cameras will definitely be considered entry-level point-and-shoots—but you might not guess it, just looking at the features list.
Meet the tester
A seasoned writer and professional photographer, Chris reviews cameras, headphones, smartphones, laptops, and lenses. Educated in Political Science and Linguistics, Chris can often be found building a robot army, snowboarding, or getting ink.
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