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Canon SX30 IS Review

Name: Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Brand: Canon

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Main Features

14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7" Fully Articulated Screen

Electronic viewfinder

1.0fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video

601g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm

Replaced Canon SX20 IS

Replaced by Canon SX40 HS

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Canon SX30 IS Overview

Launched in September 2010 , Canon PowerShot SX30 IS is a 14.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, Fully articulated screen and 35.0x zoom 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 lens. Canon replaced the older Canon SX20 IS with this model and later SX30 IS was replaced with Canon SX40 HS. Follow the links to compare these cameras in detail:
Compare Canon PowerShot SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS
Compare Canon PowerShot SX30 IS vs Canon SX40 HS

Canon SX30 IS Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Canon SX30 IS is a member of Canon's Small Sensor Superzoom class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Canon Small Sensor Superzoom Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Canon SX70 HS Compare	2018	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	10.0 fps	127 x 91 x 117mm	608g
Canon SX740 HS Compare	2018	21.0MP - 1/2.3"	10.0 fps	110 x 64 x 40mm	299g
Canon SX730 HS Compare	2017	20.3MP - 1/2.3"	5.9 fps	110 x 64 x 40mm	300g
Canon SX620 HS Compare	2016	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	2.5 fps	97 x 57 x 28mm	182g
Canon SX720 HS Compare	2016	20.3MP - 1/2.3"	5.9 fps	110 x 64 x 36mm	270g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Canon SX70 HS vs SX740 HS vs SX730 HS vs SX620 HS vs SX720 HS

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Canon SX30 IS PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Canon SX30 IS review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

Articulating Screen

External Flash Shoe

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

1/3200s High Shutter Speed

Manual Focusing

Manual Exposure

24mm Wide Angle Lens

840mm Good Tele Lens

35.0X Optical Zoom

Fast 2.70 Lens at Wide

Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen

Report a correction

Buy Canon SX30 IS from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No RAW Shooting

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Only 9 Focus Points

Small LCD Screen ( 2.7")

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps

Heavy Body: 601

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80

Report a correction

Canon SX30 IS Physical Specs

Canon SX30 IS weighs 601 g (1.32 lb / 21.20 oz) and has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR-Like type cameras is 591g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 108mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

DSLR-Like Cameras

Canon SX30 IS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR-Like Cameras

Canon SX30 IS

Min

Average

Max

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Canon SX30 IS, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Canon SX30 IS Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Now let's compare Canon SX30 IS size with the camera that it replaced: Canon SX20 IS. Canon SX20 IS is 4mm shorter and 21mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS but it is also 5mm wider.

Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Canon SX30 IS with its main competitors:

Canon SX30 IS Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs SX30 IS	Thickness	vs SX30 IS
Canon SX40 HS Compare	600g	1g lighter	108mm	equal thickness
Canon SX20 IS Compare	600g	1g lighter	87mm	21mm thinner
Canon SX50 HS Compare	595g	6g lighter	106mm	2mm thinner
Canon SX70 HS Compare	608g	7g heavier	117mm	9mm thicker
Canon SX60 HS Compare	650g	49g heavier	114mm	6mm thicker
Canon SX420 IS Compare	325g	276g lighter	85mm	23mm thinner
Canon SX400 IS Compare	313g	288g lighter	80mm	28mm thinner
Canon SX540 HS Compare	442g	159g lighter	92mm	16mm thinner

Weather Sealing

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Canon SX30 IS doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Canon SX30 IS Lens

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 24mm focal length on the wide end and remarkable super telephoto reach at 840mm.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS

Longest - Nikon P1000

Average

With a max aperture of f2.70, this lens is fast on wide end, but max aperture of f5.80 at tele end makes is really slow at longer focal lengths.

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

SX30 IS is equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Canon SX30 IS's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Canon SX30 IS Sensor and Photography Features

Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4320 x 3240 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. SX30 IS has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600 but unfortunately, Canon SX30 IS doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Canon SX30 IS is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero9 Black with its 23.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Canon SX30 IS vs GoPro Hero9 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Bridge cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Canon SX30 IS's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Canon SX30 IS LCD and Viewfinder

Canon SX30 IS has a Fully Articulated 2.70-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Articulated screens are more video oriented compared to only tilting or fixed screens. On the other hand, photography oriented users generally prefer tilting screens. At only 2.7", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Canon SX30 IS will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of SX30 IS's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.

SX30 IS has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor.

Canon SX30 IS Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect SX30 IS to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Canon SX30 IS Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Canon SX40 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	380shots	No	No	No
Canon SX20 IS Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Canon SX50 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	315shots	No	No	No
Canon SX70 HS Compare	3840 x 2160	325shots	Yes	Yes	No
Canon SX60 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	340shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon SX420 IS Compare	1280 x 720	195shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon SX400 IS Compare	1280 x 720	190shots	No	No	No
Canon SX540 HS Compare	1920 x 1080	205shots	Yes	No	Yes

Canon SX30 IS Video Features

With Canon SX30 IS, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

SX30 IS has a built-in Stereo microphone but no speaker. On the other hand, Canon SX30 IS doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a DSLR-Like camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

Canon SX30 IS Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Canon SX30 IS can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/3200 sec.

Flash

SX30 IS has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

Focusing

Canon SX30 IS features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

What type of Photography is Canon SX30 IS Good for?

In this section, we review and score Canon SX30 IS in 5 different photography areas.

Canon SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

Canon SX30 IS has a score of 42 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode

Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

Canon SX30 IS has a score of 67 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Bridge Cameras for Street Photography list.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Image Stabilization

Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

Canon SX30 IS has a score of 48 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
External Flash Shoe
Image Stabilization
840 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s

Average Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

Canon SX30 IS has a score of 52 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Daily Photography list.

35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
601g

Body Thickness 108mm
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

Canon SX30 IS has a score of 28 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Bridge Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSX30 IS.

Manual Exposure Mode
Manual Focus Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

Canon SX30 IS Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Canon SX30 IS compares with other DSLR-Like cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Canon SX30 IS alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Canon SX30 IS

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Canon SX30 IS amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Canon SX30 IS Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Canon SX30 IS with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Canon SX30 IS's price range.

Canon SX30 IS Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Canon SX30 IS has an Overall Score of 44/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Canon PowerShot SX30 IS is ranked #68 out of 113 in DSLR-Like cameras (Top 20 Bridge), and ranked #643 out of 1235 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#643 out of 1235 in Top Ranking Cameras
#68 out of 113 in Top Ranking Bridge Cameras
#98 out of 244 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras
#198 out of 738 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#164 out of 175 in Top Ranking Cameras with Selfie friendly Screen
#72 out of 104 in Lightest Bridge Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(601g)
#124 out of 130 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fully Articulated Screen

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Canon SX30 IS

Does the Canon SX30 IS have Image Stabilization?
Does the Canon SX30 IS have RAW support?
Does the Canon SX30 IS have Weather Sealing?
Does the Canon SX30 IS have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Canon SX30 IS?
What is the Sensor Size of Canon SX30 IS?
is the Canon SX30 IS a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Canon SX30 IS have Touch Screen?
Does the Canon SX30 IS have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Canon SX30 IS?
What is the Weight of Canon SX30 IS?
What are the Dimensions of Canon SX30 IS?

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Canon
Model	Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Announced	2010-09-14
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Number of Lenses
Lens Focal Range	24-840 mm (35×)
Max Aperture	F2.7-5.8
Macro Focus Range	0cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fully Articulated
Screen Size	2.7"
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	n/a
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	15s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/3200s
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.80 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.3-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	14 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4320 x 3240
Max Native ISO	1,600
Min Native ISO	80
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	601g
Physical Dimensions	123 x 92 x 108mm
Battery Model	NB-7L
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Storage Slots	1

Most Popular Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras

Canon SX540 HS
20 MP | 1/2.3' Sensor| 24-1200 mm

Panasonic FZ300
12 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 25-600 mm

Canon SX620 HS
20 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 25-625 mm

Nikon B500
16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 23-900 mm

Panasonic ZS70
20 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor| 24-720 mm

Nikon P1000
16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor| 24-3000 mm

Panasonic FZ80
18 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor| 20-1200 mm

Sony H300
20 MP | 1/2.3-inch Sensor| 25-875 mm

Latest Bridge Cameras

Leica V-Lux 5
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 25-400 mm

Nikon P950
16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 24-2000 mm

Panasonic FZ1000 II
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 25-400 mm

Nikon B600
16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 24-1440 mm

Canon SX70 HS
20 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 21-1365 mm

Nikon P1000
16 MP | 1/2.3" Sensor | 24-3000 mm

Sony RX10 IV
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-600 mm

Panasonic FZ80
18 MP | 1/2.3 Sensor | 20-1200 mm