Canon has released a pair of new budget superzoom cameras, the PowerShot SX520 HS and PowerShot SX400 IS.
The SX520 HS features a 16MP CMOS sensor, while the SX400 IS sports a lower-caliber 16MP CCD sensor. Both cameras have a massive optical zoom range – with the SX520 HS coming out on top at 24-1008mm equivalent zoom range.
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Key Features
- 16MP 1/2.3″ High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC 4+ Image Processor
- 42x Optical Zoom f/3.4-6.0 Lens
- 24-1,008mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Intelligent IS with Eight Modes
- Full HD 1920 x 1080p Video Recording
- 3.0″ 461k-Dot TFT-LCD Screen
- Smart AUTO, Hybrid Auto, & Creative Shot
- Zoom Framing Assist
- High Speed Autofocus System
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Key Features
- 16MP 1/2.3″ CCD Sensor
- DIGIC 4+ Image Processor
- 30x Optical Zoom f/3.4-5.8 Lens
- 24-720mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Intelligent IS with Eight Modes
- HD 1280 x 720p Video Recording
- 3.0″ 260k-Dot TFT-LCD Screen
- Smart AUTO Shooting Mode
- Continuous Shooting up to 3.2 fps
- Built-In Flash
The Canon PowerShot SX520 HS should be available in August for $399. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS should be available in August for $249. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Oberoth says
i am really not sure who is going to buy these.
They don’t seem to have made any significant improvements in the budget orientated super zoom market for years, every now and then they increase the zoom but at significant cost to optical performance and often with ever decreasing f-stops.
I think anyone who was going to buy one of these would have already and most of the attention is on the new breed of larger sensor super zooms like the fz100 and rx10.
Eric Reagan says
Yeah, these are definitely oriented toward the consumer/novice audience. Canon (and other manufacturers) continue to recycle the same consumer-grade models with nominal improvements year after year. I think this has more to do with the power of the brand than it does real innovation in this arena.
I think enthusiasts and pros are definitely looking at the FZ100 and RX10-style of cameras over something like these Canon PowerShots. They are also prepared to pay the premium asking price for the advanced technology.
Oberoth says
It just seem such a step in the wrong direction, the FZ-38 produced fantastic images and with every generation after they seem to have made backward steps!
I really loved the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 for its manual zoom ring and image quality was so so but i thought maybe the HS20 would be perfect, we are on the HS50 going into the HS60 and they are still no where near resolving the oil painting image quality, really bad ISO handling and jerky video.
I really don’t think its as hard as these manufacturers are making it look, i think they are just worried if they get everything right how would they possibly sell the next model!