The Canon PowerShot SX30 IS leaves other super-zooms trailing in its wake in terms of sheer focal length, with the 24mm wide-angle and 840mm telephoto settings providing more than enough versatility to meet most people’s needs. Thankfully Canon’s engineers have also implemented a very effective image-stabilisation system, which along with respectably bright maximum apertures helps to keep the majority of your shots sharp.
Being able to shoot 720p high-definition video complete with image stabilisation, stereo sound and the ability to make full use of that incredible 35x zoom is a real attraction and something that no other compact camera can currently match.
So while the 35x lens is a real headline-grabber that lives up to most of its promise, the SX30 as a whole still suffers from a few notable problems - less than stellar still images, lack of RAW shooting, a significant price increase on launch and few real upgrades over the previous model. Ultimately the SX30 proves the old adage that there’s no such thing as the perfect camera, despite featuring the most versatile focal range ever seen on a compact