With Canon’s unique Creative Shot Mode, Canon SX530 HS features a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor and 1080p full HD movie shooting.

Despite not being a proper Digital SLE camera, DX530 is fairly capable of performing all Canon’s DSLRs’ signature features.

Canon SX530 HS Review

Canon SX350 HS PowerShot is a compact, lightweight digital camera with one of the most powerful entry-level zoom lenses with zoom up to 50x.

It also has several built-in features to enhance your overall experience with a digital camera.

The highlight of these features are optical image stabilization, 9-points autofocus system, Live View, vibrant 461,000 dots LCD screen, Intelligent IS, scene modes, metering modes, 16MP effective pixels, HF system, and Wi-Fi with NFC.

It has a few drawbacks, i.e., 16MP resolution is now commonly found in smartphones too, but it is still one of the best available compact zoom cameras if you are on a budget.

Design and Built

Size and design are a matter of great importance whenever it comes to zoom lens digital cameras.

In fact, this aspect of the zoom lens camera can make or break overall results.

In terms of design, SX350 has pretty nifty aspects. It is a well-engineered camera to ensure user-friendly experiences every time.

Despite not being a proper DSLR, there are some clearly noticeable features SX530 borrowed from Canon’s other DSLR camera, especially the EOS rebel series.

Its physical dimensions are 120 x 82 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.23 x 3.62″), whereas it weighs only 442 grams, including the weight of removable batteries.

SX530 HS PowerShot is one of the lightest weight zoom lens cameras with zooming capabilities as much as 50x.

It is available in only standard Black color.

Overall the design of the camera is pretty traditional like other Canon DSLR and mirrorless cameras with pretty comfortable user-interference.

At the very top sits a mode selection dial to select from the scene modes of Auto, Scene, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, Manual, Fish-Eye, et cetera.

There is also a scrolling dial at the top for easy access to features like the exposure modes and aperture priority.

On the rare side, there are many well-placed buttons on the rights side of 3 inches LCD screen.

The screen has 461,000 screen dots. Considering that SX530 was released in 2015 when touchscreen was not a very insignificant feature and the camera’s price, the absence of a touch screen is very disappointing.

Sensor, Lens, and Processor

SX530 HS features 1/2.3″ BSI-CMOS sensor covering a 24-1,200mm (full-frame equivalent) field view.

BSI (back illuminating sensor) was designed to produce better results in low-light situations.

It added greater sensitivity in SX350, making results pretty vivid in all sorts of lightning. BSI-CMOS sensor also significantly lowers the image noise, a common issue when dealing with a zoom lens.

The lens of the camera is 24-1200 mm F3.4-6.5 Zoom Lens. It also has a DIGIC 4+ processor.

Canon designs these processors. Though camera processing speed is good but still SX530 featuring DIGIC 4+ is not very impressive in 2021, we can commonly find DIGIC 6, 7, and even 8 in Canon cameras.

Zoom Capabilities

Canon SX530 lens offers up to 50x zoom. Its broad coverage is 24mm, tele zoom is 1200mm, maximum aperture at tele is F6.50, and maximum aperture at wide is f3.40.

This camera is one of the smallest and compact camera, offering zoom up to 50x.

Overall the zoom performance is good. BSI-CMOS sensor adds fair up a fair share in eliminating graininess and noise as much as possible.

The only con associated with zoom is the loss of focus at higher zoom levels.

Video performance

Canon SX530 can shoot full HD video at 1080p 30fps. To avoid any blur, it has intelligent image stabilization and a built-in optical image stabilization system.

(Resolutions are mentioned in detail in the specifications section).

Zoom Framing Assist

The feature of Zoom Framing Assist (ZFA) comes in handy in movie recording.

Just press a single button, and SX530 will automatically start zooming out to focus the subject.

As soon as you attain the required focus, release the buttons, and the camera zooms back as it was before pressing the ZFA button.

Smart Auto

Smart Auto is a feature in SX530 HS PowerShot that analyzes the shooting situations and subject and chooses the best settings for the camera from multiple pre-defined filters.

If you are not good with setting the camera manually, this feature helps achieve optimal results.

Still Images

The 16 megapixels still images produced by SX530 has the right color, details, and saturation.

Results are pretty impressive, especially when shooting in the wide-angles. While using the zoom, image quality remains good, and details aren’t lost usually.

If it weren’t for zoom and few other aspects, this camera wouldn’t be an excellent buy in terms of resolution.

The sensor and processor inside the camera are known for producing good low-light results, but that’s not always the case.

Macro shots without enough light and one at the high shutter speed and beyond ISO 1600 show some visible grains in the background.

Battery

A standard NB-6LH lithium-ion battery powers this camera. Both battery and charger come with the package.

As per CIPA ratings, the battery life of SX530 HS is 210 shots in ideal shooting conditions, which is not very impressive.

We recommend keeping some extra batteries with you while shooting outdoors better safe than sorry!

Connectivity Features

Canon SX530 has built-in Wi-Fi with an NFC sensor. You can easily connect the camera with your smartphone with Canon Camera Connect App for easy and quick sharing.

Canon SX530 Specs:

• Camera Type: Digital camera (SLR type)
• Max resolution: 4608 x 3456
• Other resolutions: 4:3 (3264 x 2448, 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480), 16:9 (4608 x 2592, 3264 x 1832, 1920 x 1080, 640 x 360), 3:2 (4608 x 3072, 3264 x 2176, 2048 x 1368, 640 x 424), 1:1 (3456 x 3456, 2448 x 2448, 1536 x 1536,
• Image ratio (w:h):1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• Effective pixels: 16 megapixels (Sensor photodetectors: 17 megapixels)
• Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS sensor {1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm)}
• Processor: DIGIC 4+
• ISO: Auto, 100-3200
• Custom white balance: Yes (besides 5 white balance presets)
• Image stabilization: Optical
• JPEG quality levels: Superfine, fine (No RAW format)
• Focal length (Equiv.): 24–1200 mm
• Optical zoom: 50×
• Maximum aperture: F3.4–6.5
• Autofocus: Contrast Detect (sensor), Phase Detect, Multi-area, Center, Tracking, Single, Continuous, Face Detection, Live View
• Digital zoom: Yes (4X)
• Normal focus range: 5 cm (1.97″)
• Macro focus range: 0 cm (0″)
• Number of focus points: 9
• Screen type: Articulated fixed 3” TFT LCD with 461,000 screen dots (No touch)
• Live view: Yes
• Minimum shutter speed: 15 sec
• Maximum shutter speed: 1/2000 sec
• Subject/scene modes: Yes
• Built-in flash: Yes (Flash range: 5.50 m)
• Flash modes: Auto, on, off, slow synchro
• Self-timer: Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
• Metering modes: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
• Exposure compensation: ±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
• Videography: Resolutions: 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
• Video Format: MPEG-4, H.264
• Microphone: Stereo
• Storage types: SD/SDHC/SDXC
• USB: USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
• Remote control: Yes (via smartphone)
• Environmentally sealed: No
• Battery description: NB-6LH lithium-ion battery & charger
• Battery Life (CIPA): 210 shots
• Weight (with batteries): 442 g (0.97 lbs. / 15.59 oz.)
• Dimensions: 120 x 82 x 92 mm (4.72 x 3.23 x 3.62″)
• Orientation sensor: Yes
• GPS: None

Pros:

• Full true 1080p HD videos
• 50x optical zoom lens equivalent to 24-1200mm
• A compact digital camera with a user-friendly layout
• Powerful 16MP CMOS sensor
• Creative Shot Mode
• Optical Image Stabilization
• Wi-Fi and NFC
• Zooming Framing Assist feature

Cons:

• 16MP is very low compared to many other Digital cameras available in a similar piece range
• 1080p resolution is limited to 30p
• Unimpressive low light performance
• The higher level of zoom affects focus

Conclusion

Compact size Canon SX530 is packed with some excellent features. Despite not being a true DSLR, many Canon DSLR camera features are a bonus.

With a 50x Optical Zoom lens (equivalent to 24-1200mm) and optical image stabilization, this camera produces great close-ups and wide-angle shots.

In an intelligent IS system, a 9-point autofocus system, numerous filters act as a gateway to additional creativity in your footages.

16 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor with Canon’s DIGIC 4+ Image Processor makes SX350 a fast as well a reliable partner in your photography adventures

If you are on a budget, want a super-zoom digital camera that is easy to carry around, especially outdoors, or looking for a reliable camera with a zoom lens and enough beginners’ features, we recommend considering buying Canon SX530 HS PowerShot.<-Affiliate link 🙂