Canon PowerShot SX130 IS review

The Powershot compact with a powerful zoom? We find out…

For a compact camera there is nothing really compact about the Canon Powershot SX130 IS. Firstly its body shape resembles something closer to a superzoom however this is for good reason. The SX130 IS accompanies a 12x optical zoom on a 28mm lens, this means it has the capabilities of extending to 336mm which for a camera of its calibre is rather impressive. On location it was quick to respond and extend making it ideal for action photography. In order to support such a large size lens the SX130 IS has compromised on its looks build and even its weight, which is substantially heavier then, many of its rivals however it is worth it.

The Canon Powershot SX130 IS does not immediately appear to be overflowing with all the latest technology however on closer inspection it does support some high spec features. There is something quite traditional in its build and design and firstly what it appears it should be used for is to take photographs, which is refreshing to see. One of its more gimmicky features that does work well is its smile shutter mode. Situated on the top dial this feature is easy to source and managed to detect a smile in less than 10 seconds nearly every time. The camera will struggle if the face is turned too far to the side but for those that enjoy this up to date technology the smile detection is a fun selling feature. Going one step further the SX130 also accompanies a wink shutter mode which will fire the shutter two seconds after the subject matter has winked. However this mode is harder to source as it is hidden deep in the menu and was only around 70% effective.

The Canon SX130 IS does support some more useful modes such as full manual controls, which is ideal for the more advanced photographer looking for a back up compact although the it will not shoot in RAW. The SX130 IS is also ideal for the amateur just starting out who eventually wants to progress up to a DSLR and could be an excellent first camera. For these users the Powershot SX130 IS accompanies short explanations for help on the spot which does save time reading boring manuals and is easy to understand.

One of its least favourable selling points is its lowlight capabilities and results were rather poor in little light and noise is very noticeable. At ISO 1600 the images are unusable and really users should not extend it past ISO 400 for optimum quality. However despite the lowlight problems image quality generally performs at an excellent level. Colours are well balanced for a compact camera and if you are shooting on the manual mode the white balance is easy to source in the menu, which is handy for trickier lighting scenarios. Metering across the scene was recorded to an average level although in bright conditions the highlights had blown. Overall for those wanting a point and shoot compact camera the Powershot SX130 IS produces excellent images and the large size lens teamed with 12 megapixel sensor is responsible for this.   

For those who require a video mode they won’t be disappointed with the Canon Powershot SX130. Supporting HD video that will shoot at a 720p format with stereo sound and optical zoom this camera produces decent quality moving pictures. In test runs the focus does struggle if the point of interest moves dramatically however for the most part the videos were produced to a high quality. The large 3” LCD screen also makes it easier to shoot decent home movies.

At full retail value the SX130 IS will set you back £250 however with some shopping around on the internet it can be purchased for a very reasonable £150. This is excellent value for money and you will be hard stretched to find something better on the market at this price.