Canon PowerShot SX130 IS camera review.
Introduction
Canon has released the new Canon PowerShot SX130 IS 12 Megapixel camera. Equipping it with a 12x zoom lens with optical image stabilization. This camera replaces the beloved Canon PowerShot SX120 with an extended focal length range, a 3 ”LCD screen and a powerful new DIGIC 4 processor for photo processing. In addition to this, there are twenty-eight shooting modes, light sensitivity up to 1600 units, support for high-speed SDXC memory cards, video recording in HD resolution (1280x720) and stereo sound recording. The camera is available in two colors: black and silver.
Design
Externally, the SX130 is very similar to its ancestor SX120, but there are still some changes. So the camera has become a little larger and now weighs 308g batteries. Thanks to the increased weight and size, the camera sits comfortably in the hand and adds extra confidence. The lens has undergone noticeable changes, now it has a 12-fold increase, the minimum focal length is 28 mm, and the maximum focal length has increased by 36 mm compared to the SX120 and is now 336 mm. I was very pleased with the maximum aperture value of f / 3.4-5.6, quite good aperture for a superzoom lens. The camera also has a "hot shoe" connector for attaching an additional flash. And only the plastic case (quite successfully disguised as a matte black finish) still reminds us that the model is budgetary.
On the front panel, most of the lens is occupied, most of which is hidden in the body. When turned on, for which the camera spends only half a second, the lens moves out a little. Changing the focal length to the maximum occurs very quickly in just three seconds. Another positive feature of the lens is that the zoom lens has thirty-eight zoom positions that are evenly spaced throughout the entire stroke length. At the top you will see a power button and two small holes, one of which is a microphone for recording sound, and the other is an autofocus window. There is also a self-timer indicator. The disadvantage of this camera is the lack of a viewfinder. Its place, as before, is taken by a folding flash.
On the side there is a fastener for a shoulder strap, which is used to transport the camera, and a cover under which there is a USB and a power connector, on the right side there is a connector for a CR1220 battery.
At the top there is a convenient circle for switching modes. With this circle, you can switch modes with one thumb. In this case, switching is carried out with a click, that is, you clearly switch between modes. On / off button and start button In order to focus on the object you need to press the trigger button halfway and the camera will focus on the object even if the focal length is changed, you will not need to focus the second time the camera will remember the object and tune in to it. When you wait for the start button, the shutter will work, and very quickly, a good DIGIC 4 processor will help you quickly process the image, and you will see it on the screen. Let's take a closer look at the mode dial, the first is the SA mode (the choice of standard shooting scenes, it should be noted that the camera has 28 preset scenes). Next comes the auto mode for automatic shooting. Two modes of semi-automatic settings for shutter priority, aperture priority. And the mode of completely manual tinctures. The next in the circle is the video recording mode. It was mentioned earlier that the camera can shoot video in HD quality with a resolution of 1280X720 pixels at a speed of 30 frames per second. At the same time, it records stereo sound, for this there are two microphones on the front side.It should also be noted that the speed of the zoom when recording video is sharply reduced, this is done so that the camera always has time to bring focus to the subject. The video mode is followed by the scene modes. The last one here is the beginner mode, which removes all the unnecessary and is ideal for the first days of shooting.
The rear panel houses a 3 '' LCD screen. To the right, from which the control buttons are located. The playback function received a separate button located at the very top, below there are buttons for exposure compensation, access to the menu, the DISP button, as well as a circular button with which you can change the ISO value, macro mode, delay, and change the flash modes. Pressing the menu key while taking a photo will display two tabs on the screen, in one of which you can select modes, and the other for setting these modes. When you press the same button in the video recording mode, the video itself, the location for saving and settings, appears on the screen. So as you can see, the menu is pretty standard for this manufacturer, and if you already had a Canon camera, you can easily figure it out. There is also a new button on the back of the camera that enables the face recognition function. Thanks to the new processor, the recognition function can do incredible things, the camera is able to recognize thirty-five faces in the frame and focus so that each of them is sharp. Another advantage of the new function is the automatic recognition of a new face in the frame, that is, the camera will not take a frame until a new face appears in the frame.
At the bottom of this camera, as expected, there is a tripod mount and a cover that protects the battery compartment and memory card slot from moisture and dust.
From the description of the camera, it is clear that the camera turned out to be quite good, got a wider lens with increased zoom and HD video recording with stereo sound.
The quality of photos and videos taken with the camera
When shooting test shots, the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS performed fairly well. However, a serious drawback of this model is the presence of noise, not sharpness of images at a sensitivity of more than 400. Moreover, the amount of noise increases noticeably if you set the value 800 or 1600. The sharpness in the images was not sufficient, that is, you will have to process photos in additional When processing chromatic aberration, the camera shows small purple edges in the image in areas where the contrast is very high. When shooting at night, you can use a slow shutter speed of 15 seconds with this camera, which will allow you to completely blur cars and other moving objects when shooting. In the macro test, the camera showed itself on a good side, the lens allows you to take pictures of an object at a distance of 1 cm. The image stabilizer and the built-in flash, which illuminate the subject at a distance of 3 meters in the dark, have also proven themselves well.
Here are some sample photos taken with this camera.
at a focal length of 28 mm.
at a focal length of 336 mm.
Technical specifications.
Matrix: size 1 / 2.3 '', type CCD;
Number of pixels: 12.1 million pixels;
Processor: DIGIC 4 (with ISAPS technology);
Lens:
Focal length: 28-336mm (35mm camera equivalent);
Zoom: optical 12x, digital 4x;
Aperture: f / 3.4 - f / 5.6;
Build: 11 lenses in 9 groups;
Stabilization: Matrix shift (optical);
Exposition:
Type: TTL;
Metering modes of the exposure meter: evaluative, center-weighted metering, spot;
Exposure change: 2 EV in 1/3-stop increments.
Autofocus: point-by-point autofocus with face detection;
Autofocus modes: single frame, continuous, manual;
Autofocus size: standard, reduced;
Autofocus distance: from 1 cm;
Light sensitivity: AUTO, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600;
Exposure time: 15 seconds - 1/2500 seconds;
WHITE BALANCE: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Custom;
Monitor: 3.0 "inches, 230 thousand points, 100% visibility;
Flash: auto, manual, red-eye removal,
Shooting Modes: Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Portrait, Landscape, Children, Smile Detection, Poster Mode, Fish Ey, Beach Mode, Snow Mode;
Image size: 4000 x 3000 pixels, 2816 x 2112 pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels, 4000 x 2248 pixels.
Video recording size: 1280 x 720 pixels 30 frames per second, 640 x 480 pixels 30 frames per second, 320 x 240 pixels 30 frames per second;
Photo file type: JPEG, DPOF;
Movie file type: MOV;
Direct printing: to Canon printers;
Additional functions: smart sensor, histogram;
Shooting Delay: 2 seconds to 10 seconds;
Computer connection: USB, Mini USB;
Video connection: AVI-out, stereo jack;
Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, MMC plus, HCMMC plus;
Power supply: two AA batteries;
Working environment parameters: from 00 to 40 ° C, from 10% to 90% humidity;
Dimensions: 113.3mm x 73.2mm x 45.8mm
Weight: 308g.
Conclusion:
The Canon PowerShot SX130 IS is a good zoom camera, offering ample scope for beginners, and the performance and image quality will delight even professionals. This camera, although similar to its predecessor, retains the main features of the model, nevertheless it has many improvements, such as a wide-angle 28 mm lens, video recording in HD quality with stereo sound and the use of a 12x lens at this time, although and in slow motion. At the same time, a good competitive price is maintained. The camera is suitable for beginners with its auto modes and for people who are looking for a replacement for DSLR cameras. It should also be noted that there are some drawbacks, the presence of noise at the values of photosensitivity over 400 and the fact that on ordinary AA batteries the camera works for about half a day. Therefore, you will need to purchase more powerful NiMH batteries. After comparing all the pros and cons, we were able to determine that the camera has a good value for money and can really compete with other camera models.
Here are the main competitors of the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS:
Casio EX-H15
The EX-H15 is the successor to last year's EX-H10. The Casio company offered in the new camera a lens with 10x magnification and a focal length range from 24mm to 240mm. Compared to last year's model, the camera has an improved processor, three-inch screen and HD video recording.
Nikon Coolpix S8000
The new Nikon Coolpix S8000 camera has an extensive arsenal of features. Lens with a focal length of 30mm-300mm., 10x optical zoom, a matrix with a resolution of 14 megapixels, a 3 "screen and video recording in HD format.
Olympus MJU 9010
New compact camera with zoom lens. Macro mode at a distance of just one centimeter, high-quality video recording. 2.7 ”LCD, 10x magnification, wide angle (28mm) to telephoto (280mm).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8
This camera has become very popular due to its small size and high magnification. With focal lengths ranging from 25mm to 300mm, this camera can easily fit in your pocket. All modern functions are also provided in this camera.
