Rankings
The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is a compact travel superzoom that packs a 40× optical lens, 4K video and a flip-up screen into a lightweight body, making it ideal for vacations and casual vlogging. It delivers solid zoom performance and stabilization but falls short on low-light image quality and lacks RAW support.
The Canon PowerShot SX520 HS is a bridge-style point-and-shoot offering a 16 MP sensor, 42× optical zoom and full-HD video, aimed at users who need long reach without interchangeable lenses.
The Canon Sure Shot series offers fully automatic 35 mm film cameras with solid infrared autofocus, bright lenses and rugged builds. While they excel for casual shooters and niche uses like underwater shooting, they lack manual controls and can be bulky.
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS is a pocket-sized travel companion that delivers a solid 12× optical zoom, optical image stabilization and Full HD video. It excels in daylight and ease-of-use but struggles in low-light, lacks RAW, and its battery life is modest.
The Canon PowerShot A4000 IS is a slim, lightweight 16 MP compact camera offering 8× optical zoom, optical image stabilization and 720p HD video, targeting casual users who value portability and ease of use.
The Canon PowerShot A3400 IS is a beginner-friendly 16 MP compact with a 5× optical zoom, touch-screen LCD and optical image stabilization. It lacks modern connectivity and high-resolution video, making it best suited for casual daylight photography.
The Canon AF35M (Autoboy) is a vintage 35 mm point-and-shoot with a fixed 38 mm f/2.8 lens, passive infrared autofocus and a unique pre-focus self-timer. It offers fully automatic operation and compact size, but lacks manual controls and can be challenged in low-light situations.
The Canon PowerShot SX30 IS is a bridge-style superzoom with a massive 35× optical zoom, optical IS and DSLR-like ergonomics, but its CCD sensor, limited video resolution and lack of modern connectivity feel dated.
The Canon Sure Shot Zoom-S is a fully automatic 35 mm film point-and-shoot with a 38-60 mm zoom lens, infrared-assist autofocus and built-in flash, offering solid image quality and a nostalgic shooting experience. Its drawbacks include noisy operation, reliance on hard-to-find batteries and lack of manual controls.
| Attribute | | Canon PowerShot SX520 HS | Canon SX30 IS | Canon Sure Shot | Canon Sure Shot Zoom-S | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21.1 MPbest | 16 MP | 14.1 MP | — | — | 16 MP | — | 16 MP | 20.3 MP | |
0.43 inches | 0.435 inchesbest | 0.43 inches | — | — | 0.435 inchesbest | — | 0.435 inchesbest | 0.43 inches | |
12 x | 42 xbest | 35 x | — | — | 8 x | — | 5 x | 40 x | |
| ↓ lower better | 3.6 f | 3.4 f | 2.7 fbest | 2.8 f | 3.8 f | 3 f | 2.8 f | 2.8 f | 3.3 f |
3,200 ISO | 3,200 ISO | 1,600 ISO | 3,200 ISO | 3,200 ISO | 1,600 ISO | 400 ISO | 1,600 ISO | 6,400 ISObest | |
1,080 p | 1,080 p | 720 p | — | — | 720 p | — | 720 p | 2,160 pbest | |
7.2 fps | 1.6 fps | 3.6 fps | — | — | 2.8 fps | 1 fps | 1 fps | 10 fpsbest | |
180 shots | 210 shots | 400 shotsbest | — | — | 175 shots | — | 180 shots | 265 shots |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | Canon PowerShot SX520 HS | Canon SX30 IS | Canon Sure Shot | Canon Sure Shot Zoom-S | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image Quality(5) | |||||||||
Megapixels (MP) | 21.1 MP | 16.0 MP | 14.1 MP | — | — | 16.0 MP | — | 16.0 MP | 20.3 MP |
Sensor Size (inches) | 0.43 inches | 0.435 inches | 0.43 inches | — | — | 0.435 inches | — | 0.435 inches | 0.43 inches |
Optical Zoom (x) | 12 x | 42 x | 35 x | — | — | 8 x | — | 5 x | 40 x |
Maximum Aperture (f) | 3.6 f | 3.4 f | 2.7 f | 2.8 f | 3.8 f | 3.0 f | 2.8 f | 2.8 f | 3.3 f |
Maximum ISO (ISO) | 3200 ISO | 3200 ISO | 1600 ISO | 3200 ISO | 3200 ISO | 1600 ISO | 400 ISO | 1600 ISO | 6400 ISO |
Video(2) | |||||||||
Video Resolution (p) | 1080 p | 1080 p | 720 p | — | — | 720 p | — | 720 p | 2160 p |
Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) | 7.2 fps | 1.6 fps | 3.6 fps | — | — | 2.8 fps | 1 fps | 1.0 fps | 10.0 fps |
Battery & Power(1) | |||||||||
Battery Life (shots) (shots) | 180 shots | 210 shots | 400 shots | — | — | 175 shots | — | 180 shots | 265 shots |
Build & Design(1) | |||||||||
Weight (g) | 145.15 g | 441 g | 601 g | 400 g | 425 g | 130.5 g | 440 g | 141 g | 299 g |
Display(2) | |||||||||
Screen Size (in) | 3.0 in | 3.0 in | 2.7 in | — | — | 3.0 in | — | 3.0 in | 3.0 in |
Screen Resolution (dots) | 461000 dots | 461000 dots | 230000 dots | — | — | 230000 dots | — | 230000 dots | 922000 dots |
Connectivity(3) | |||||||||
Wi‑Fi | true | — | — | — | — | false | — | false | true |
Bluetooth | — | — | — | — | — | false | — | false | true |
USB Port Type | USB 2.0 | — | USB 2.0 | — | — | Mini-USB | — | USB 2.0 | Micro USB |
Features(2) | |||||||||
Autofocus System | — | TTL | TTL AF | Infrared triangulation | 3-point Smart Autofocus | TTL | Passive infrared | Autofocus | Contrast-Detect AF |
Warranty Period (years) | — | 1 years | — | 0.25 years | 0.25 years | 1 years | 0.25 years | — | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the ELPH 360 HS for its impressive zoom, vibrant daylight images and convenient Wi-Fi/NFC, while criticizing its low-light noise, slow burst speed and lack of manual controls.
Everyday users love the powerful zoom and pocketable size, but complain about unreliable Wi-Fi pairing, noisy low-light shots and short battery life.
Professional reviewers praise the SX520 HS for its exceptional zoom range and effective image stabilization, noting solid image quality for a bridge camera, but they point out the older DIGIC 4+ processor and lack of RAW support as drawbacks for demanding users.
“Love the 12x zoom, fits in my pocket!”
“Wi-Fi keeps dropping, frustrating.”
“Battery dies after a day of shooting.”
Everyday users appreciate the camera's ease of use, the ability to capture distant subjects, and the helpful scene modes, while recurring criticisms focus on low-light performance, bulkier handling, and the absence of advanced features like RAW capture.
Professional reviewers praised the SX30 IS for its extraordinary zoom and stabilization, yet criticized its outdated CCD sensor, lack of RAW, modest 720p video and heavy build.
Reviewers commend the series for its reliable infrared AF and solid optics, noting the A1's waterproof design as a standout, but point out battery-access difficulties and limited low-light performance on the Zoom XL.
Everyday users praise the ease of use, sharp images and rugged feel, especially the waterproof A1, while complaining about bulkiness and the lack of manual exposure options.
Professional reviewers commend the Sure Shot Zoom series for surprisingly sharp images and solid build, but note the Zoom-S's noisy operation and the inconvenience of sourcing 2CR5 batteries.
Everyday users appreciate the sharp results and automatic simplicity, yet frequently complain about the loud operation, difficulty finding batteries and the lack of manual controls.
Professional reviewers consider the A4000 IS a competent but unremarkable point-and-shoot, noting good image quality and stabilization but criticizing slow autofocus and limited connectivity.
Everyday users like the pocketable size, easy-auto modes and decent HD video, but often complain about the sluggish burst rate, lack of Wi-Fi and noisy images at higher ISOs.
Reviewers highlight the AF35M as a pioneering camera that introduced passive IR autofocus, praising its compactness and lens quality while noting the rudimentary AF and lack of manual exposure.
Users love the ease of use, sharp images and the quirky pre-focus timer, but complain about autofocus difficulty in dim light and rapid battery drain with flash.
Reviewers praised the A3400 IS for its attractive design, intuitive touch interface and solid image stabilization, but criticized the lack of manual controls, modest 720p video and low-resolution LCD.
Users rate the camera positively for value, touch screen and clear photos, while noting short battery life, missing accessories and the absence of a viewfinder.
Professional reviewers acknowledge the SX740 HS as a capable travel superzoom with solid zoom and 4K video, yet note that its image quality doesn't outshine modern smartphones and the lack of RAW and touchscreen limit its appeal to enthusiasts.
Everyday users love the extreme zoom, one-hand operation and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, but complain about shutter lag, soft images at max zoom, poor low-light performance and short battery life under heavy use.
