Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Product Tour

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Review

Canon SX30IS Review

Canon SX30IS digital camera is a nifty gadget giving you enough features so that you can maximize your picture taking potential in terms of creativity. The Canon SX30IS sports a 35X optical zoom, a 4X digital zoom, a 14.1 CCD sensor, a 24mm wide angled lens, and amazing advances over the Canon SX20IS. The SX30IS unifies remarkable optics with supreme technologies so that photographers everywhere are granted access to a superior camera for creative endeavors of all kinds. What's more, this all in one camera comes with the most impressive price tag too.

Canon SX30IS is an EVF camera with a max resolution equivalent to 4320p x 3240p. This device has a CCD sensor inside, an image ratio of 16 to 9 or 4 to 3, and an ISO setting range between 80 and 1600. You get manual focus features with the SX30IS digital camera, an excellent macro and micro focus range, a variety of white balance settings, a great shutter speed, and a superior flash range with the SX30IS digital camera as well. This device has hot shoe external flash options, and it comes with fill in, slow sync, red eye, on/off, and automated flash modes.

Canon SX30IS has a -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps exposure compensation, and spot, center and evaluative metering. The device offers shutter and aperture priority functions, a lens thread, a focal length multiplier, and you can capture high definition movies with the Canon SX30IS digital camera too. This camera comes with a charger and a lithium ion battery, it allows you to shoot continuous pictures at a rate of.6 frames each second, it has HDMi connectivity, and the LCD display is generous in size as it measures at 2.7 inches. While the device does not have live view, the LCD display does offer up 230,000 pixels for clear and precise image viewing.

Canon SX30IS is outfitted with an orientation sensor, a self timer, and on board memory. It is also compatible with SD storage cards. This device is absent of a remote control, it does not have time lapse features, and it does not offer in an uncompressed format. The SX30IS digital camera has an electronic viewfinder, movie audio capturing functions, a top quality lens, image stabilizing features, Dynamic IS® for improved image quality, and 21 different scene modes to choose from when it is in use.

Canon SX30IS is definitely a superior device, one that can give you the best of all features for capturing video and stills. From a superior lens to optical image stabilization, from dynamic IS® to stereo sound, this device is clearly versatile. Stills and videos are captured in excellent resolution and all captures possess sharp contrasts, colors, hues, and lines. You can literally imitate real life when you use the Canon SX30IS: this device allows you to capture images and videos in an ultra-realistic fashion.

What do others have to say about their experiences with the Canon SX30IS?

Excellent camera that has surpassed expectations

"I bought the SX30IS just over a week ago and it is an upgrade from a S3IS. I was particularly attracted by the superzoom and the 14mp. The camera has surpassed all my expectations so far. While it is larger and noticeably heavier than the S3, the quality and features are great. I've not taken lots of photos as yet but have taken some shots of the moon. The detail in the photos at full zoom are quite remarkable and I've only seen that level of detail with moon shots taken using a telescope. The flash and battery life are very good and the HD video is also an excellent and welcome feature. I have found the menu access and structure easier to use than the S3. All round, this is a great compact digital with many features exceeding those of a DSLR, without the price and the inconvenience of multiple lens."

 

Pros: Good battery life, Excellent image quality, Durable, Simple controls/menu, Easy to use

 

Cons: Heavy/Bulky

 

BY:GORDON

Great quality camera

"My first canon camera and I am extremly pleased with the quality of camera and images produced. The zoom is amazing, and even at high zoom images are clear. All of the photo editing features allow for a different style of photo and all in all a great camera and qould recommend it to anyone looking for a great camera."

Pros: Good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, Excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Simple controls/menu, Easy to use

 

Cons: Heavy/Bulky

 

BY:Emily

Super Corrected Lens system

I inquired with Canon USA regarding the issue of chromatic aberration with the SX30IS and here is an excerpt from their prompt response.

“Lateral Chromatic Aberration (LCA) or more commonly known as fringing results in loss of sharpness and white light objects or areas having
colored halos (commonly a reddish or purple cast) around the edges.

LCA is caused by light which is made up bands of different wavelengths (as seen when light passes through a prism). These bands focus at different points and different magnifications. Since a camera lens can only focus light at a single point, wavelengths falling on either side of that point will be slightly more diffuse and less focused. Only through the use of specially ground lens optics which are generally found only in professional grade lenses can LCA be controlled.

LCA is most often seen in areas of high contrast or areas with a great difference in exposure levels. You may wish to try switching your Photo

Effects setting to NEUTRAL, this setting will help in such settings.

Another cause of LCA can be that a lens has an optic that is out of alignment and would require servicing.  I have included service information if you would like to have your camera checked out.”

Based upon what this Canon service tech is saying, the issue is either the result of the limitation of the lenses themselves or it is the alignment of the lenses.

It may be the unavoidable limitation of the super wide angle/super telephoto setup that results in a trade off of quality vs. versatility.

Because it was a service tech who responded and not one of the engineers, it is hard to say what the real issue is.  Suffice it to say that the aberration is a lens issue.  Either it is an issue in the quality of the manufacturing (grinding) of the lenses themselves, or in the assembly of the lenses, or in the limitation of the high powered telephoto configuration, or any combination of the above.

Since the fabrication and grinding of lenses is computer controlled, the quality is probably not as much an issue as the assembly itself.  Beyond that, the configuration of the lenses may have certain limitations that are unavoidable.

Afer reviewing “Digital Camera Review” online review of the SX30IS, they had this to say about chromatic aberration and image sharpness.

“When light rays pass through a camera lens they separate into various color waves and dispersion (all colors don’t focus at exactly the same point) can become a problem. Dispersion causes axial chromatic aberration - the fuzzy colored edge blurring image degrading phenomenon popularly known as purple fringing. The SX30’s f/2.7-5.8 4.3-150.5mm (24-840mm equivalent) zoom is constructed of 13 elements in 10 groups and includes one Hi-UD element, one UD element (to reduce chromatic aberration), and one double-sided aspherical element.

A 35x zoom designed for a DSLR would be so long that you’d need a pick-up truck to transport it and so heavy that it would require three men and a boy to carry it. Canon’s technical folks did a remarkable job - this lens is amazingly compact and astonishingly light-weight. But this is a super corrected lens, and as optical complexity increases, lens faults and optical aberrations are magnified exponentially. Images do show some visible corner softness and barrel distortion (straight lines bow in toward the center of the frame) at the wide-angle end of the zoom range is noticeably above average. Pincushion distortion (straight lines bow in toward the center of the frame) is (as expected) above average at the telephoto end of the zoom. Chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is also above average, but not as much above average as expected.”

I think this last comment should answer my above question.  The SX30IS appears to be at its own design limitation with a super corrected lens system.  Apparently, the chromatic aberration is less than expected (“not as much above average as expected”) for that much lens correction.

So this seems to be my answer.  It is apparently a legitimate trade off between image quality and extreme versatility.  That being confirmed, I can now go and purchase this camera knowing that it is not an exercise in smoke and mirrors.  For this much versatility, there is a bit of an image quality trade off under certain circumstances.

A larger CCD might get rid of some of the high resolution noise but there is no certainty of that given the very highly corrected lens system.  In other words, there is no guarantee that a larger CCD would make any affective difference in low light high resolution noise in this camera.  This appears to be as good as it gets.

BY:GORDON

I’d Appreciate Suggestions

I recently bought a SX30IS to replace a SX120IS. As I liked some of the features it had to offer. I have been a Canon fan for years. Point and shoot is basically where I’m at. Anyway, the camera went back fairly quickly as the pictures were so bad as to be unusable.Maybe I just got a bad Camera. Can anyone recommend a suitable all-in-one camera. A viewfinder is a must, 10-12 Mp, 15x zoom more than enough. Two features on the SX30 I really liked were the one button to video and the zoom back-off for following moving objects. I don’t want to get into DSLR or changable lenses. I’d appreciate suggestions. Thanks

BY: CHUCK

I liked it so much!!

Tried this camera in a store, and I liked it so much, I bought it. Now I have it home and have done some experimental shooting, I’m convinced this is a really nice point-shoot device, it’s not a DSLR despite the fact that it looks like one. The zoom feature is pretty nicely sorted, with a good usable range. Video quality is less than perfect, but hey, if you want good video, buy a video camera! Controls are simple, the ergonomics are reasonably good too. I like the wheel for manual focus, great for macro work. Incidentally, this lens is great for close picture taking, if that’s what you are into. There have been comments about noisy pictures at certain focal lengths. My only response to this is that no single lens can promise to do it all for every situation, and at this price range frankly you are not going to get the perfect picture all the time. Spend more money and get better camera and a selection of lenses!

I’d rate this as a decent camera, and consider my money well spent, as it’s now occupying the #2 slot in my stable. Perfect for someone who wants good versatility, at an affordable price.

GREAT SX20is!!!

 I just purchased the new SX30is a few days ago and put it up against my SX20is I’ve owned for 8 months now. I took dozens of shots with both cameras on the same subjects in various ranges and lighting conditions.

 With both cameras on equal settings (auto or programmable manual) the SX20is won in picture color reproduction quality and fine detail.  It seemed he SX30 is had trouble dealing with red / burgandy colors (making them look more light/dark brown) and greens (making them lighter in the pics than they really are).  Yes, the effective zoom is greater than the SX20is, BUT only slightly.  Surprisingly, photos from the SX20is at 80X digital zoom were croppped and enlarged to compare with anything the SX30is had to over from 35X-140X and STILL the color and detail quality was better in the SX20is shots. 

  Suffice to say, I didn’t have a chance to try out the HD video.  At that point, poorer image quality at a premium price had me itching to return the new SX30is for a full refund.

  The SX30is has since been returned and now I hold a greater appreciation for my SX20is!

So much potential

I had hoped this camera would complement my 50D as a super-zoom for outdoor shooting. The lens range on this camera is amazing. I wish the photos were better...especially in marginal (overcast sky) lighting...surprisingly grainy. I've had this camera for about a month and found the following flaws too hard to live with:
- Camera is somewhat hard to hold and some buttons are encumbered by the neck strap.
- No thread for filters...you have to buy an adapter.
- No remote control capability...I've not been able to find any such feature.
- Slow response time between shots.
- Does not produce 1080p video.
- CCD based...good for video but poor low light performance.
The differences in the 14+ Mpixel images between the SX30IS and the 50D are way too significant. I was hoping image quality would be somewhat close; thus, mixing similar photos between the cameras would result in marginal differences. I hope Canon fixes these problems in the next SX release. Again, the range of the lens is absolutely amazing.

UPDATE:
I took three cameras (all Canons...50D, SD940IS and SX30IS) to Italy and compared results. My tiny SD940IS worked wonders in all modes to include Auto...not true for SX30IS...great results all around for the 50D. In fact, the SD940IS performed incredibly well in low light conditions. Indoor photos taken inside the Duomo (cathedral next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa) on a snowy overcast day produced results on SD940IS that almost kept up with my 50D. The SX30IS' photos were darker, grainy and somewhat blurry. I tested the SX30IS and SD940IS in both Auto and P modes...great results almost all the time on SD940IS; not true for SX30IS. The SX30IS auto mode couldn't find a consistent shooting mode and were confused by the faces found on the statues and frescoes. I'm dropping the rating to 2 stars (from 3). If the zoom range wasn't there then I'd give it just 1 star.

BTW, another missing feature: GPS. The camera is pretty bulky; thus, I'm sure Canon could have included a small GPS receiver. In fact, carrying this camera was almost as much a challenge as carrying my SLR. In fact, this camera takes up almost all the space inside my Canon Rebel XTi case...surprisingly large.

One final note: I've been a Canon fan for some 25 years now. This camera along with the T80 were the only disappointing Canons I've purchased over the years.

BY:W. Joo