Canon PowerShot SX210 IS: Conclusions

CONCLUSIONS
There are plenty of reasons to justify spending an extra $20 on the PowerShot SX210 over the SX200. If you're shooting in great conditions, you won't have a problem snapping clean shots at the top end of the camera's generous 14x zoom range. The camera boasts eye-catching style, and build quality is as good as anything in its class.

Operation is easy in auto mode and the two-tiered menu system is easy to navigate and quick changes to shooting settings are a cinch. Using the controls for manual focus or manual exposure settings is trickier, though priority modes are pretty effortless.

For my money, the Panasonic ZS compact ultrazooms still hold their place at the top of the class in terms of image quality. Canon's SX210 outpaces the Panasonic cameras in terms of style, and if big zoom reach is your priority, it does offer an equivalent 392mm at telephoto compared to the ZS7's 300mm (though the ZS7 offers a wider angle).

Canon certainly upped the "fun factor" with the SX210, and I enjoyed toting the SX210 with me for spur-of-the-moment shooting. The ability to zoom in video recording is a handy feature. So is jumping into video mode by using the dedicated record button. I have my gripes with the pop-up flash, the tendency to overexpose and the limitations of the lens, but overall this is a good camera. If you're shopping for a Canon point-and-shoot, the SX210 is one of the strongest in a very strong lineup.

Pros:

• Good quality images
• HD video allows zoom
• Versatile lens

Cons:

• Overexposure
• Enlarged image shows noise at ISO 400

Individual Ratings: *

Image/Video Quality 
Features 
Design/Ease of Use 
Performance 
* Ratings averaged to produce final score