== == Delivery
The camera comes with the usual accessories. This includes a shoulder strap, charger and battery, but no SD card. The software and a detailed manual are available on CD, printed also a Quick Start Guide. Overall, that's okay.
== == Facility
A simple task, because apart from the software not be installed. But even that does not have to be, because the camera can also be used without the software. However, a look at the handbook may be useful, so the CD should be used at least for this part. The strap and the lens cap should be attached, the battery is charged (and used) and then the camera is ready for use.
== == Features
The camera equipment is good. As key elements, the resolution of 16 megapixels, the 30-times optical zoom and optical image stabilization to fall. Nice feature as a withdrawal of the zoom by pressing only for scouting life easier. Helping hand are features such as face detection and other "goodies". Numerous shooting modes are also available that are not to my taste but because I prefer fiddling with software on a PC.
Not very bright, but quite common is an initial aperture of 1: 3.4. An additional viewfinder does not exist.
A video function is integrated. It should be noted in particular that maximum resolution is "only" 1280 x 720 pixels. That's less than the commonly held so-called Full HD.
== Operation ==
The operation is easy, especially if one already knows Canon cameras. The basic things are built into the menu, the rest comes with the set function (FUNC). Especially with the strong zoom button is left of the lens to emphasize (Frame Assist) that it almost times just allow to take back the push for scouting.
The programs and automatic options extend beyond the possibility, found in SLR in bridge cameras (like the SX500 IS) and also in some compact cameras. To take a picture are certainly the most important programs the time (Av), aperture (Tv) and speed / aperture-priority (P) and in addition the fully automatic. When setting there is no problem, but a significant, adverse conspicuousness. While you can at the time, aperture and shutter speed / aperture automatic so-called Super Fine mode (instead of the fine mode) Select the JPEG images, this is apparently not possible with the fully automatic. This automatically leads to poorer images in full automatic mode. It is hoped that with a firmware update, the option is to be added. A RAW format is the way not possible, an alternative, better than JPEG not.
The default is the digital zoom, which however only provides a detail. The quality of the images suffers, so refrain from use. The camera has two special digital zoom modes namely by a fixed factor (1.6x or 2.0x). Thus it can be hooked up over the entire zoom range, a Digital Zoom, but delivers a better quality than the conventional digital zoom.
== == Use
The photo function is available for a camera in the foreground. Maybe I would not want to test the camera in the evening living room first. Lighting conditions indoors are always difficult, it is relatively dark. A glance at the display reveals a strong noise that disrupts the impression. The image on the display is thus very restless. The made under these lighting conditions recording itself, however, is quite acceptable. Because of the visible noise is also here to hope for a firmware update.
Daytime images when there is sufficient light to show a calm display. The images show no adverse distortion of the image, however, toward the edge blurring. The fringing on motive edges (chromatic aberration) are not to be overlooked. With 16 megapixels, the falls, however, only important if you want to make big enlargements of the picture. But you expect any more.
== Conclusion ==
This bridge camera is not a high-end device, but should not be it. Since there are others in the Canon program. It is a reliable companion in everyday life and even on vacation. The versatility is there and overall better than a compact camera definitely. The image quality is not optimal, the compression of JPEG images absolutely especially in fully automatic mode is not flexible enough. Because of the ways they should be assessed as well, who wants more, however, perhaps we should take a look at the Canon SX40 HS (or the Canon SX50 HS).
