Canon PowerShot SX400 IS digital camera review

If you’re looking for a camera that takes better pictures than your smartphone but without the bulk of an SLR then the Canon PowerShot SX400 IS fits the bill.

The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS is a fairly compact camera with 30x optical zoom lens that’s capable of 60x ZoomPlus.

On the back is a 3-inch LCD screen that makes it easy to frame your pictures and review the pictures you’ve already taken.

The right side of the device has a grip that allows users to hold the camera securely with one hand while still having easy access to the zoom controls, the shutter and dedicated video recording button.

There’s also a pop-up flash on the top of the camera above the lens.

The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS has a Digic 4+ image processor with a 16-megapixel sensor so image quality is excellent with rich natural colours and clarity.

What’s also handy is the rapid autofocus when taking regular images.

This camera is aimed at the point-and-shoot customer so there are no manual modes but Live View control does allow the user to change things like the brightness, colour tone and colour temperature.

From here you can also access specific modes like portrait, low-light and even adjust for shooting in the snow and capturing fireworks.

There are also filters like fish-eye, miniature effect, toy camera and monochrome to have even more fun with your images.

But what’s really impressive about the PowerShot SX400IS is the zoom lens.

You can make the subject 30 times larger just with the optics of the lens (that’s why it’s called 30x optical zoom).

But you can get even tighter with the 60x ZoomPlus and if you want to take things even further, the camera is also capable of getting up to 120 times closer.

And even at 120x zoom the images still have a surprising quality.

You can also shoot high definition videos with the PowerShot SX400IS at a resolution of 1280 x 720 although the latest smartphones can shoot full high definition 1920 x 1080.

Battery life was also quite impressive and it hung in there for more than 300 images before we needed a recharge.

VERDICT

The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS is a handy camera that produces great results and that’s really easy to use.

If offers enough versatility without being too confusing but if you’re after more manual control you better look elsewhere.

Canon PowerShot SX400 IS

Price: $289.99