Canon PowerShot SX30 IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera - Black

The SX30 (shouldn't that be SX35?) powers up from cold in an instant. Starting at a wide 24mm, the Canon's focal range extends up to a mind-blowing 840mm in 35mm-film terms. It's therefore the classic all-in-one option for those who want extreme flexibility when it comes to framing -- grab candid close-ups and broad landscapes without the inconvenience and expense of swapping specialist lenses. Of course, cynics would argue you don't get the same quality of a specialist lens, either. It's an argument Canon meets head on by virtue of the SX30's optics, said to have gone through the exact production processes as its interchangeable EF-series lenses.




Plastic, yet fantastic
Like the FinePix HS10, the SX30 has taken its design cues from a digital SLR, and in that respect looks like any other conventional 'bridge' camera at first glance. Though solidly built, it doesn't feel quite as robust as the HS10, and there is more obvious plastic on show.

Still, the proof is in the pudding -- or, rather, the zooming. It's controlled via a large and obvious chrome lever that encircles the equally large and obvious shutter-release button, both located at the top of the handgrip. Give the lever a nudge and the zoom travels from maximum wide-angle to extreme telephoto setting in three to four seconds. Although there is a low grinding noise as it moves, this isn't off-putting.

To save you zooming back and forth when you're fully zoomed in and your subject drifts out of frame, Canon has implemented a 'zoom framing assist' button in the top right-hand corner of the back plate, where a zoom-rocker switch might otherwise be found. Press this and the zoom backtracks to a preset distance so you can find your subject again. Release it, and it pings back to your original framing. It's a neat idea in principle, yet out of force of habit, we found ourselves zooming in and out in small increments anway.

Most of the controls here are similarly large and obvious -- Canon does like its buttons on the chunky side. They include a shooting-mode dial crammed with the usual creative and pre-optimised settings, like subject-recognising 'smart auto', which looks like someone's pressed down very hard on it with their thumb. The dial itself has the right amount of give, so the desired setting can be reached quickly and not jogged accidentally in the heat of the action.

The SX30 is furnished with various digital-effects filters, including the fun and surprisingly effective miniature mode first seen on the SX210 IS. It also features a record button for filming 720p high-definition video. This is found alongside the electronic viewfinder, just above the 230k-resolution LCD screen. To make the most of its video facility, HDMI output is provided alongside regular AV and USB connectivity. Twin microphones sitting just below the pop-up flash at the front back this up with stereo sound.

LCD, a sound system
At 2.7 inches, the SX30's LCD is smaller than expected, given the relative bulk of the rest of the camera, but this allows for its handy tilt-and-swivel mechanism. It's nothing we haven't seen before on bridge cameras, of course. Like the EOS 60D, the screen can be flipped out at right angles to the body, or rotated around so it's facing inwards for added protection when the camera's not in use.

I must stress i am not by any means a professional, but, i have enjoyed taking pictures/snaps/photographs for many years...This camera is quite new to me, therefore i have to admit to 'pilot error' at times. Im still struggling to get macro to focus in on close up shots. Apart from this issue, which im sure i will eventually sort out, the picture quality is excellent.

In very other aspect of useage i give to this camera, i have found this one produces above and beyond all expectations. The many features are at times a little complex for my limited brain to unscramble, but! even i have managed to sort most of them.

Night shooting is good (a first for me), zoom brilliant, though the camera is a little on the heavy side when you are poised and waiting for a subject to be in that all important 'right place'.

On the whole, i personally find the SX30 IS to be excellent value for money.

On the whole this is a pretty good piece of kit. Colours and sharpness are good at low end of zoom range. Its good for scenery, people and general family photography.Video sound is good and video is ok. Macro is good. At high end of zoom range sharpness is a challenge and high ISO tends to lead to rather flat, dull images, bit lifeless. That's comparing it to SLR images but all the same a bit disappointing. Auto focusing hunts quite a bit and doesn't much like skies etc, the manual focusing is ok. However, exposures are generally accurate. Lack of RAW is a disappointment. Night photography using manual settings is good, having full manual is an advantage, but juggling between exposure and focusing is clumsy.

Having had a very good Panasonic x18 zoom camera for 2 years, I wanted to upgrade to a better zoom. I mostly use auto cause I can't be bothered to wade through manual. I find this camera very easy to use although just a little heavier than my last one. The 35 zoom is just what I want and the quality of the pics is excellent. All in all fantastic value and I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to produce high quality pix. This gives you so much more than just a compact digital.

unbeleivable zoom power
picture quality excellent
have used a 35mm slr for years, now i do not need a multitude of lenses
i cannot believe you can get a digital camera with this performance
so cheap
would highly recommend to anyone
my forte is bird pictures
now i dont have to stand on their feet to get an outstanding shot
get to a shop to try AND THEN BUY