Canon PowerShot SX100 IS Reviews | CHIP Magazine

Canon PowerShot SX100 IS By:

Affordable mega zoom

The “compact mega-zoom” segment is a new breed that has recently emerged in the digital camera market. Sporting a mega-zoom lens in a compact form factor, these cameras usually offer greater value for money, making the investment worthwhile. In an attempt to lure the masses with such a camera, Canon has recently introduced the PowerShot SX100 IS which belongs to the new SX series. Let’s find out how well the Canon fared in the CHIP Test Center.

Features

The PowerShot SX100 IS comes with a 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor and a resolution of 8 mega pixels. Its lens has a focal range of 6 mm to 60 mm which translates into a 10x optical zoom. This makes the SX100 IS an excellent candidate for getting good close up shots or capturing images from greater distances. The maximum apertures at the wide angle and telephoto ends are 2.8 mm and 4.3 mm respectively, which deliver a fairly shallow depth of field. Like the PowerShot A-series cameras, the SX100 IS features both automatic and manual exposure controls. So if you wish to break free from the automatic mode and get creative, you can use the full manual mode or the ‘Av’ and ‘Tv’ modes. For those who don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty of exposure controls, there are 19 scene and shooting modes to shoot hassle-free shots in various lighting conditions. These include portrait, landscape, night snapshot, indoor, kids and pets, and so on. Featuring the Digic III imaging processor, the SX100 IS can even detect faces in scenes and keep them in focus. A new feature that come we came across is the auto ISO shift mode which automatically boosts the ISO sensitivity to compensate for low shutter speeds—although the pictures will be noisy, it can come in handy for taking steady shots in low-light conditions.

Design

The SX100 IS is fashioned to retain the box design of like it’s predecessors the PowerShot A-series except that it’s a bit bulky. However, the extra bulk balances the camera well. The control panel is very well designed and suited for single-handed operation thanks to the jog dial which is also a 4-way button. There are a also couple of hotkeys for instant access to controls such as ISO, face-detection, and auto ISO shift.

Performance

The SX100 IS performs quite well with good reproduction of colors and details. Although purple fringing is present, it is acceptable. However, much like most digital cameras, it struggles to keep the noise levels low with high ISO sensitivity—anything beyond ISO 400 is not quite worth the effort unless it is an absolute emergency.

Verdict

The SX100 IS is a good deal for those on a tight budget looking for a mega-zoom digital camera. The quality of pictures produced given the price makes it great value for money. If you’re planning to buy a digital camera, go right ahead even if have to stretch your budget by a few thousand rupees to buy this one.

For: Well designed control panel, good detail and color reproduction.

Against: No wide angle, minor purple fringing, useless ISO 1600.

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