The Canon PowerShot SX500 IS is one of the smallest cameras on the market to feature a massive 30x optical zoom. Despite possessing such diminutive dimensions, the compact still features full manual control and a host of other features that look to assert it as a serious shooter.

Compact design despite large zoom; full manual control; good image quality

Body doesn't feel particularly solid; no viewfinder; would be nice to feature Raw capture

Canon's entirely new SX500 IS adds a solid entry-level superzoom to the brand's already substantial PowerShot line. One of the company's more interesting point-and-shoots, the SX500 IS offers considerable versatility but is simple enough to satisfy novices, and even some enthusiasts looking for a...

Very reasonable $300 price for a generous feature set; 16-megapixel sensor and 30x zoom in a compact body

Reflective LCD screen and no electronic viewfinder; Somewhat awkward handling

With prices constantly coming down in the digital camera market, Canon's range was crying out for a low-cost camera with a very powerful zoom, as already proffered by the likes of Olympus and Nikon.

Practical to handle; clear interface; Quick zoom-out button to find a subject that's moved out of view at telephoto settings; Good sharpness levels in the middle of the frame at all focal lengths

Very plasticky build / Screen looks dark when viewed from below; Photo-to-photo turnaround is too slow; Sensitivity isn't great; chromatic aberration visible on 4" x 6" photos; Video mode could be better (contrast; noise; audio; etc.

If you need a long zoom in a compact body, then you won't get much lengthier or smaller than the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS. The 30x lens is truly impressive in so compact a device. With enough pixels to allow serious crops in post-production and still have sufficient resolution to print at fairly...

Long zoom; Low price; Accurate colour reproduction

Image noise at conservative sensitivities; Colour fringing; Wind noise on movies

The Canon PowerShot SX500 IS represents something of an anomaly in that it straddles the gap somewhere between ultracompact and superzoom. The first thing that strikes you about it is the size; it's a very small camera, and yet within its diminutive body Canon has somehow managed to engineer a 30x...

Compact design despite large zoom; Full manual controls; Good image quality

Body doesn't feel particularly solid; No electronic viewfinder; No Raw capture

The SX500 IS caters to photographers who want a lot of zoom for little cash. It succeeds well at this task, though image-quality purists will bemoan the lack of RAW and visible fringing issues on photos.

Small and lightweight; 60x Zoom Plus feature works well for low-res shots; Simple to use

Video-only 720p; Screen is difficult to see in sunlight; Average video quality

This compact camera with a 16-megapixel sensor is fitted with a 30x optical zoom and the boast of a 60x zoom when moved into the digital enlargement zone. In 35-millimetre film terms, this is a 24mm-720mm optical range. The lens is image-stabilised, which it needs to be.

A problem with all super-zooms is finding the subject in the viewfinder when the lens is at its longest focal length; This camera has a button on the side of the lens that, when pressed, gives a wider view.

Apart from the absurd zoom range and far too many pixels

This compact camera with a 16 megapixel sensor is fitted with a 30X optical zoom and the boast of a 60X zoom when moved into the digital enlargement zone. In 35mm film terms this is a 24–720mm optical range. The lens is image stabilised, which it needs to be.

Canon's PowerShot SX500 IS joins the company's range of cameras with a fixed zoom, sized larger than the very slim, fit-in-the-back-pocket–style compact, yet smaller and lighter than an SLR.

Image stabilization works well; Good autofocus; Light; with long zoom range

Reflective LCD screen; Flash lid not fluid to lift; Adjustment dial can activate unwanted options

The SX500 is still a chunky model, measuring almost 5 inches in thickness when the lens is fully extended. But unlike most large zoom fixed-lens models, you shouldn't have much of a problem operating this camera one-handed.

Nice to find 30x zoom in such a lightweight camera; Lens moves quickly through its zoom range in still image mode; Good mix of manual and automatic shooting controls; Popup flash gives better performance than many built-in flash units; Mode dial makes it easy to pick shooting modes; Images look OK...

Camera has a cheap feel to it because of all of the lightweight plastic in the design; Images have quite a bit of noise when printed at large sizes; Shot to shot delays are very poor; especially when using the flash; Shutter lag should be better when the lens is at its widest angle setting; Burst...