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 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

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

Joshua Waller reviews Canon's latest ultra zoom bridge camera, this time the Canon Powershot SX500 is even more compact than the previous model, yet features a 30x optical zoom lens. Find out how it performs in our review.

Compact size; Good colour; Manual controls; Easy to use with built in help; Excellent macro performance; Side zoom button for recomposing shots when zoomed in

High noise; Lacks panoramic mode; ZoomPlus 60x zoom is just another marketing name for digital zoom

The Canon PowerShot SX500 IS is a pocket-sized super-zoom camera with a 30x optical range. Announced in August 2012, Canon claims it's the World's smallest 30x optical zoom camera, with a range that extends from 24-720mm with Intelligent image stabilisation to iron-out the wobbles.

30x stabilised optical zoom; Compact lightweight body; Frame assist helps locate subjects at long focal lengths; Versatile Creative filters

Very poor continuous shooting; Lens suffers from Chromatic aberration; Poor battery life; Vertical streaking on highlights in video (due to CCD