Canon PowerShot SX530 HS Review - Tom's Guide
Our Verdict
The Catechism PowerShot SX offers a powerful 50x zoom in a lightweight, DSLR-like torso, but don't expect many frills.
For
- Powerful 50x zoom with footling distortion
- Seamless wireless sharing options
- All-twenty-four hour period bombardment life.
Confronting
- Plastic body feels inexpensive
- Relatively small-scale maximum aperture limits depression-light shooting
- No touch screen, fixed LCD.
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Catechism PowerShot SX offers a powerful 50x zoom in a lightweight, DSLR-similar torso, but don't look many frills.
Pros
- +
Powerful 50x zoom with little distortion
- +
Seamless wireless sharing options
- +
All-twenty-four hours battery life.
Cons
- -
Plastic body feels cheap
- -
Relatively small-scale maximum aperture limits low-light shooting
- -
No touch screen, fixed LCD.
Who it's for: Bird watchers or journalists who need to get shut to their subjects without scaring them; Sports fans and parents who need to zoom in on subjects in big stadiums or theaters.
Your smartphone photographic camera might accept great photos, merely just as wide shots. If you want to go in for a close-up, the Canon PowerShot SX530 HS, with its 50X zoom lens, is a compelling option. With a lightweight, DSLR-like body, the SX530 HS ($430 list toll) is a handy companion for your travels, nature hikes and family unit vacations. It as well has manual controls for the more advanced photographer, and Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities for easier photo sharing.
Image Quality: Better than smartphones, especially at night
At sixteen megapixels, the PowerShot SX530 HS matches the resolution of cameras on flagship smartphones similar the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the LG G4. Those smartphones even offering wider apertures — f/1.9 and f/one.viii, respectively — compared to the Catechism's mere f/3.4 maximum, which ways it can let less light in than those phone cameras can. Apertures are a challenge for high-zoom cameras: The $250 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 offers a 20x optical zoom and an f/3.3 maximum aperture, substantially the same every bit the Canon's.
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In optimal light, the SX530 HS took pictures that were slightly better than those snapped by leading smartphones. My snapshots of colorful springtime blossoms showed accurate colors; xanthous, orange and purple petals were clearly delineated.
Similar pictures taken (albeit on a different 24-hour interval) with the Milky way S6 and the LG G4 using each phone'due south motorcar mode were not as defined, with the petals looking dirty when you zoomed in on them. Merely in other aspects, such as color, the smartphones' photos were near on par with the $300 Canon's.
A shut-up shot of one of these flowers was richly detailed, and the subtle striations and grains of clay on the petal were tack sharp. The purple petals and green grass around it were accurately rendered. I was hoping to set a shallow depth of field (blurred background) for a more pleasant-looking picture, merely the camera'southward limited aperture and small sensor don't allow this.
The SX530 HS captured skin tones well, accurately rendering the ruddy complexion of my colleague continuing before the colorful reflection of Manhattan buildings in a store window. Individual strands of facial hair were tack sharp every bit well.
Low Lite/Nighttime Results: Attractive
In low light, the SX530 HS was capable of capturing rich detail and vivid colors, such every bit windows on buildings, also equally bluish sky and cherry-red neon lights, in my night shot of the Manhattan cityscape.
Using Aperture Priority mode, I set the aperture to f/iii.iv — the widest it could go. The camera put ISO at 1600 and shutter speed at 1/8 second, which resulted in a bright, abrupt and clear image. I steadied the camera by leaning information technology on the railing to conform the slow shutter speed.
When I set the SX530 to Auto, the photographic camera picked ISO 4000, f/3.4 and a shutter speed of i/xx second to minimize movement blur, leading to a slightly darker photo that was covered with noise (colored specks).
I don't recommend going beyond ISO 1600 if you desire to avoid graininess in your shots. (None was visible when the images were viewed at up to about 25 pct of total size.) The level of racket reduction is not adjustable, as it is with more-sophisticated cameras such as DSLRs.
My close-up of chocolate boxes in a nighttime showcase was detailed enough to show the wood patterns on the shelf, and the blue text on the labels looked truthful.
The SX530'southward congenital-in flash did not overpower the picture, keeping my co-worker'southward skin tone and purple shirt accurate and not overexposing parts of his face. Details, such every bit items on shelves in the background, became articulate as well. One small nitpick: There isn't a push to make the flash pop upwards; you have to lift it manually.
In all of the situations I shot, the SX530's auto white balance proved good at figuring out the right colour cast to use.
Zoom Performance: Up close and steady
I had a lot of fun pretending I was Bradley Cooper in "American Sniper" (with less deadly intentions), thanks to the SX530'due south powerful 50x (24 - 1200mm) zoom. Poised at the corner of the rooftop of our 12-story office building, I narrowed in on unsuspecting passersby waiting to cross intersections a block abroad.
Pictures I shot at that distance were clear, and text such equally "three-hour metered parking" on a sign were tack sharp. At maximum zoom, though, I had to struggle to stay still to get images that were not blurry. Information technology was understandably more difficult than using a camera with a lesser zoom, such as the 20x Panasonic Lumix ZS45.
With the photographic camera'southward Intelligent IS (image stabilization) technology, my shaky hands didn't make it the way of snapping sharp pictures without a tripod. Canon packed a Framing Assist Lock feature to help reduce camera shake on the telephoto end. You hold down the lower button on the side of the lens to activate the feature, and and then depress the shutter push to start focusing on your subject. The camera will reduce motion to prevent slight drifting and help keep your discipline in the center of the frame. Although this did upshot in clearer pictures, information technology didn't always work, and I still shot some blurry pictures with the feature on.
With the 50x optical zoom, I was able to get close to passersby, simply with the additional 50x digital zoom (in-camera cropping), I got in their faces — literally. From the same vantage point, I surreptitiously snapped several shots of people walking across the street. With the digital zoom, I managed to become close plenty to clearly see a human being taking a sideways glance at a woman next to him. Digital zoom reduced the resulting image's file size to almost iii.7MB, as opposed to the gauge 5.5MB without digital zoom, then there might exist deposition in the epitome quality. Nevertheless, the pictures turned out sharp enough for posting online.
The zoom worked equally well at dark, letting me fill my screen with the Times Square Barclays building's logo from half a mile away.
Video Quality
Capable of recording 1080p video at upwardly to 30 frames per 2d, the SX530 lags behind some competitors that can go up to a smoother 60 fps. The frame rate is the same as the Panasonic ZS45's, though.
My 1080p footage of dogs running around in Madison Square Park was colorful and smooth, with no discernible stutter as my furry subjects moved across the frame. Passing vehicles in the background were similarly smooth. The video did stutter a little as I panned across a scene to follow a puppy scrambling toward a fellow canine.
The SX530 kept all of my adorable subjects in focus every bit they pranced around.
At night, however, my clip of traffic on Manhattan streets was covered with pixel noise and was and then dark that near buildings were completely lost in shadows. Individual cars and road markings were clear, though.
Autofocus and Speed
Capable of firing up to ten fps in flare-up manner (1.six fps with autofocus for each shot), the SX530 is fast plenty for most shooters. It offers face up detection, TTL (through-the-lens) ix-signal autofocus and transmission focus. During my testing, the camera was quick to find and lock on to subjects, typically doing so within a fraction of a second.
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The manual focus uses the up and down buttons next to the LCD to set how far away (in centimeters) you want your focal point to exist. You can set it to equally close every bit 1 cm (0.39 inches) away or as far as five meters (16.4 feet) away. (Beyond that, focus is considered to be at "infinity," with everything appearing sharp.) I plant this system imprecise and cumbersome, because each printing of the up or down button resulted in a different amount of distance moved.
Face up detection was effective in helping to proceed subjects in focus whether I zoomed in or out. Catechism's Framing Help Seek feature identifies the face of a person; lets yous cull whether to keep his or her face up, upper torso or whole body in the scene; and adjusts the zoom while you move to keep that person in the frame (for example, it zooms out if you pan to the side).
Design and Handling
It looks like a miniature DSLR, thank you to its protruding lens and grip, but choice up the PowerShot SX530 HS, and yous'll be surprised past how light information technology is. The 15.half dozen-ounce camera's light, plastic trunk doesn't feel as sturdy as it looks, but at least it won't burden your shoulders.
The comfy grip on the right side makes the photographic camera easy to hold (for right-handers). Most of the camera's controls — which consist of two dials, 13 buttons and a zoom toggle — are on the correct side, within easy reach.
On the acme right of the SX530 is its Mode dial, which lets you lot select from Automobile, Scene, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, Transmission and even a Fish-Eye mode. In front of the Way dial is a wheel that lets yous control settings such as aperture and shutter speed. On tiptop of the grip sits the zoom toggle and the shutter push button.
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The 3-inch 480 x 320 LCD doesn't tilt or rotate and is not a bear upon screen. At its default brightness setting, the LCD was difficult to come across in bright sunlight, just once I bumped that up to the maximum level, it was bright plenty.
Wireless Connections: Simple setup, limited functions
Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities, it'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to share pictures via the SX530 HS. After downloading the Canon Camera Connect app (for iOS and Android), I rapidly connected to the camera's Wi-Fi betoken on my Huawei phone running Android Lollipop. Once the two were linked, it was a breeze to download pictures from the camera and remotely control information technology through the app. I would accept preferred if the app had let me adjust settings such equally ISO, shutter speed and aperture remotely, but information technology only let me toggle wink, zoom and gear up the timer.
To connect to a unlike device — in this case, my iPhone 5s — I had to become into the camera's carte and tell the SX530 to "forget" the Huawei start, which was slightly abrasive. If ii or more people share this photographic camera, they will accept to become through this process with each handoff if they intend to use the wireless capability.
With its NFC compatibility, the SX530 besides works with Canon's Connect Station. You lot tin can simply place the camera on the station, touching the two devices' NFC tags to trigger a connectedness, then easily upload your files to the Connect Station and share them on your TV or over Wi-Fi to friends and family.
Battery Life: Good plenty for a day
The PowerShot SX530 HS' 1,060-mAh lithium-ion battery is rated for 210 shots (based on the CIPA measurement standards) and 290 shots on the ability-saving Eco mode, which shuts the LCD screen off after 10 seconds of inactivity. During my testing on regular manner, the SX530 lasted through 223 pictures, about 3 minutes of video and near 30 minutes of wireless control and transfer earlier giving out. That'due south proficient enough for a full day of shooting with medium use.
Bottom Line
If y'all're buying the Canon PowerShot SX530 HS, you're in it for the powerful 50x optical zoom. Sure, the SX530 HS is more versatile than a smartphone, giving you lot more manual and creative controls, ameliorate low-light performance than nigh phones and an all-day battery, just near shoppers volition not drop $300 only for that. The SX530, while lightweight, is also somewhat bulky and won't fit in your pocket, unlike the $250 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45, which offers a 20x optical zoom.
Journalists, sports fans, proud parents and nature watchers will, yet, appreciate the long zoom that lets them get close to finicky birds or a speaker on phase without scaring them off.
Key Specs
Model name: Catechism PowerShot SX530 HS
Megapixels: 16
Type: Point-and-shoot
Price: $300
Shots per second: 10 fps at 16 MP
Sensor type: 1/2.3-inch CMOS
Lens: 24-1200mm, f/3.4 (Due west) - vi.5 (T)
Autofocus: Face find, TTL Autofocus, Manual focus
Shutter-speed range: 1/2000 to fifteen seconds
ISO range: 100-3200
Master video resolutions/frame rates: 1920 ten 1080, 1280 ten 720, 640 x 480; 30 fps merely
Video file format: MP4
Born wink: Yep
Hot shoe: No
Card slot(s): 1 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Ports: miniHDMI, USB multi (AV), AV output
Shots per charge (CIPA standard mensurate): 210
Wireless: Wi-Fi, NFC
Epitome stabilization: Yes
Dimensions and weight: 4.72 x 3.22 ten iii.62 inches; 15.6 ounces
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When staff writer Cherlynn Low isn't writing about wearables, cameras and smartphones, she's devouring quondam episodes of Torchwood or The Ten-Files, or taking selfies. Follow her @cherlynnlow . Follow Tom'southward Guide at @tomsguide and on Facebook.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/canon-powershot-sx530-hs,review-2831.html
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