Canon announces new superzoom compact PowerShot SX400 IS and SX520 HS

Canon announces new superzoom compact PowerShot SX400 IS and PowerShot SX520 HS, with some feature in less than their elder sisters SX40 and SX50 but at a very competitive price.

Canon has just announced the PowerShot SX 400 IS and the PowerShot SX520 HS, two new compact superzoom that, at prices much attractive the lead in the hands of users with two excellent tools for photo and video quality.

Youngest daughter of the Canon SX40 HS, Canon SX400 IS is the new PowserShot an entry level camera with 16 MP CCD sensor, Digic 4 chip and 30x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 24-720 mm f/3.4-5.8. It mainly differs from the older sister in the shortest optical zoom (35x on the SX40) and weight: the new one is smaller and about half lighter (313 grams versus 600 grams).

Among other differences, include 1/1600 as maximum shutter speed (1/3200 on SX40), the presence of the single scene mode rather than the ability to choose between P, S, A, M and scene, in addition to the LCD monitor fixed rather than articulated and the video mode that captures video at 1280x720p at 30 FPS rather than the 1920x1080p 24 FPS SX40.

All these differences clearly facilitate the sale price, the new SX400 IS is sold at a price which is around $ 249, significantly lower compared to the Canon SX40 HS $ 345.

With the Canon SX520 HS, youngest daughter of the SX50 HS, mainly increased the pixels and the price comes down. With a 16 MP sensor and processor of the same Canon SX400 IS, the new Canon SX520 HS incorporates a 42x optical zoom (50x SX50 HS) equivalent to a 24-1008mm.

What makes it interesting is the function of Zoom Framing, which essentially allows the camera to keep the subject always framed within the frame of the same size preset: when it detects the subject is exiting the scene moves towards the wide-angle to bring it back inside.

To make some comparison with the older sister, the cheaper Canon SX520 HS is triggered only in JPEG rather than allowing the user to opt for the RAW format, is not equipped with electronic viewfinder and the LCD in this case is fixed and non-articulated, as well as size and weight slightly reduced. Increase megapixel camera but decreases the range of supported ISO, ISO 100-3200 for the new ISO 80-6400 against his older sister, as well as a flurry slightly slower (2 FPS compared to 2.2 FPS).

In its favor, we report the presence of the built-in flash and higher FPS while shooting video (30 rather than 24 of the SX50).