Canon Powershot SX100 IS Review

The Canon Powershot SX100 IS ultra-zoom compact camera went relatively unnoticed amongst the vast number of new products that Canon recently announced as part of their Autumn 2007 lineup. The first model in a brand new series of cameras, the Canon SX100 IS is intended to bridge the price gap between the cheaper Powershot A-series cameras and the more expensive Powershot S5 IS. The Canon Powershot SX100 IS relies on AA batteries, just like the A-series, and has an 8 megapixel sensor and optically stablised 10x zoom lens, just like the S5 IS. Canon are targeting the family market who want a compact camera that covers all eventualities, so does the SX100 IS deliver the goods? Read our in-depth review to find out.

Website: Canon Powershot SX100 IS Review

Published: Saturday, November 17, 2007

Reader Comments

1. Canon make the best cameras because they spend the most money on technology research however i would always opt for an SLR if you can stretch your budget.

   Wedding Photographer Manchester at 01:50am on Sunday, November 18, 2007

2. Hi,
   
   I was looking at two models for my camera.. canon s5 is and canon powershot sx100 is, the latter of which is reviewed here. I was almost going towards sx100 because of the price tag as well as not much difference of features between s5 is. On top of it, i felt it was quite light and handy than s5 is. But a visit to circuit city to look at the camera again before deciding helped me, because i realized the lcd screen of the sx100 is not a flip one! I am writing this because this is not mentioned in this review, if i have not missed it. I think its a quite important factor since getting a scratch or something like that is more easier in sx100 than s5 is, if one uses it little rougly. i think even keeping it in a bag always may also not help from getting scratches unless one is utmost careful. Please correct me if i am wrong. Now i am rethinking whether to buy sx100. my email address is padmanabhan dot palanivelu at gmail dot com
   
   Thanks,
   Padman

   Padmanabhan at 12:16am on Monday, November 26, 2007

3. Hey, i'm a salesman of digital cameras. my comment isn't about the review of the canon sx 100, but is more general.
   i use your site after checking the bigger sites like dpreview.i use it only to get another change to see some pictures of the camera i'm checking out at that time.a lot of customers use the same method.
   the thing i think is a little bit anoying is the fact that you put pictures in the gallery without mentioning the camera settings.
   so sometimes you see pictures with blur or a lot of noise and you dont know if the camera is bad ore you used for example a higher ISO setting. when checking the photo quality of a camera you really need to see wich settings were used.
   
   is it possible that u create an option to check the exif data used with a picture?
   
   i think there are more people that miss this.
   
   Good luck with youre site!!!
   
   menno bodt

   menno bodt at 04:15pm on Saturday, December 01, 2007

4. Hi menno,
   
   Thanks very much for your suggestion - it's on my list of things to add to the site...

   Mark Goldstein at 03:52pm on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

5. Overall, first impressions are a bit mixed. Great features and I think the picture quality is pretty good even at higher ISO (not into enlargements though so not a big consideration). Having fun with the zoom, was able to capture some good shots on the playground without being right in my daughters face and having her feel the need to pose. Should be a great camera for capturing "fun group moments".
   
   Here are some problems:
   
   The control dial for quick change ISO and features is a bit tricky and sensitive. My husband who has large fingers has a bit of a time scrolling around.
   
   This camera goes through batteries at an alarming rate. Buy extra rechargeables and use fresh batteries before attaching camera to tri-pod.

   Canon SX100 expert at 06:07pm on Thursday, December 20, 2007

6. Hi, I'm a young dentist in Chile, and in my country this model is just arriving at the moment, and one of my teachers at dental school told me about this camera and said it's a very good one for clinical photographs, I'd like to know if any one on this blog have any experience related to this topic, tank you .

   Juan Rebolledo at 05:51pm on Monday, June 09, 2008