Build, Handling & Performance
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS – Build and Handling
Like other bridge cameras, the SX30 IS is styled very much like a miniature DSLR. It also handles like an entry-level DSLR, with many of the controls in similar positions. The menu will also be familiar to Canon users.
With the SX30 IS being very light and small, it is an ideal travel camera. Although the DSLR-style design means that it isn’t pocketable, it is certainly a far smaller and lighter option than carrying a DSLR with a 800mm f/5.6 lens attached.
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS – Performance
Overall, the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS performs extremely well, which it should given its specification, and it is certainly on a par with other high-end Canon compacts. The camera takes just short of three seconds to zoom from 1x to 35x, which is respectable given the focal length.
The contrast-detection AF is good without being snappy, and while it does slow down at the maximum focal length, it is smooth and doesn’t hunt back and forth. For most casual photographers, the AF of the SX30 IS is more than adequate, particularly for social events, landscapes and holiday photographs.
