Canon SX30IS Bridge Camera
The Canon SX30IS is the latest in the impressive range of easy to use bridge cameras from Canon. Whilst it has an impressive set of functions, there are only a few upgrades when compared to the previous model-the SX20IS.
The processors can shoot photographs of up to 14.1 megapixels, which is enough for printing photos up to poster size. There is an inbuilt flash that works ok, but the flash hot shoe allows you to connect a separate flash-the SpeedLite range from Canon works with through the lens metering. This model retains the incredibly useful flip out screen, that allows you to see what you are taking when shooting a self portrait.
For a user of a previous Powershot camera, the SX30IS is familiar and easy to use. All of the settings and buttons remain basically the same, allowing an easy transition to the newer model. However for a person who is not so familiar with the Powershot family of cameras, there may be a few more problems.
The biggest problem is the fact that the included instruction book is incredibly tiny-just a few pages in fact that tell you how to get started. There is no coverage of the more important functions, because these are only covered by the PDF version of the manual, that comes on the software CD.
The software that comes with the camera for importing photos off the camera and onto the computer are good. They run smoothly and are easy to use-and the stitch-assist software that helps you to create perfect panoramic photos from a number of photos that you take as you pan is intuitive and fast.
Movie mode works well, shooting 720HD movies and stereo sound. They can be output via a HDMI cable or downloaded onto your computer for viewing. On camera editing allows you to crop the videos by length, or cut them into smaller chunks of movie. One of the nicest video features is the inclusion of a button to start shooting video instantly in whatever camera mode you happen to be in. This helps to prevent you missing opportunities.
Better still though is the fact that you can take photographs during movies! A click of the shutter button during filming takes a single photograph, and pauses the video momentarily whilst it takes the picture.
Image stabilization works impressively well. Even long distance zoom shots stand a chance of coming out clearly with its help, though a tripod will be needed for longer exposures. The lens on this camera produces beautiful photographs, and an optical zoom of up to 35X, or the equivalent of 24-840mm focal length. Incredible for a single lens!
Storage can be to a number of formats, including MMC, and SD (with SDHC also being supported). Because of the speed of the camera, a fast media card is also needed, or else the camera has to pause for the write buffer to empty onto the card.
Experience with any of the Powershot cameras will help a user to be more familiar with this camera, but for someone who does not know them it may be a steep learning curve. The one major let down for a camera of this price, is that it does not allow you to shoot in RAW mode-something that gives you a far greater amount of control over editing of your images.
This is an incredibly complex camera with an auto shooting mode that more than adequately does the work for you. It also allows a more experienced user a fantastic amount of control-a winning situation for everyone.
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