Canon PowerShot SX 500 IS brags some of the dandy, hunky-dory features to appeal the photographic enthusiasts. It flaunts large optical zoom up to 30x to cover all eventualities as well as auto and manual controls to either let you express your inner artist or simply gives control over the camera...

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

Body doesn?t feel sturdy

The CanonPowerShotSX500-IS is another in the range from Canon, this one on a cursory glance could be confused with a small DSLR unit, it is however a digital unit with excellent zoom as well as other features making it almost a bridge unit.

Super-zoom cameras have traditionally occupied a position in the market in between compact cameras and more advanced cameras such as DSLRs and CSCs , but with advances in lens technology over the past few years, compact cameras have been getting ever more powerful zoom lenses, while CSCs and their

Size; Zoom range; Low-light AF performance; Manual exposure

Lens quality; Video mode

It wasn't so long ago that a 30x optical zoom was unheard of in a compact. Now it's quite the norm for superzooms to have such far-reaching lenses, but the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS manages to squeeze its 24-720mm (equivalent) lens into a small body and at a cut price too.

Big zoom; small body; decent image stabilisation; good close-up performance (at wide-angle); full manual controls; reasonable price for the feature set

Image quality not up there with other Canon compacts; lens has issues with purple and green fringes (chromatic aberrations)

The unique selling point of this camera has to be the ability to remain compact, while incorporating a fantastic built in zoom. In the past, bridge cameras were closer to the size, and price, of an entry level DSLR.

For the price this is an amazing Camera, it has great features still reading the manual and figuring all these out :-) amazing zoom which still delivers really clear pictures. Obviously not as sophisticated as a more expensive SLR Camera, but very good for the amateur / keen photographer.

I bought this camera to start taking some action pictures of my nieces and nephews playing sports and get some close up pictures of the Bald Eagles we have in the area.

Great shot; great Video; Very quick shots wonderful zoom most pics clear when max zoom 120x

doesnt take good motion pics

I gave this to my 85 year old father as a Christmas gift. It has barely left his hand. I did a lot of research and found the best ratings for this Cannon digital camera. It certainly lived up to the rating. The pictures are great, the camera is easy to use and the package was great deal.

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