Canon PowerShot SX130 IS Review

By Jim Keenan , DigitalCameraReview Staff | | 296815 Reads

Reviewer Rating:

Pros

Good image quality
Reasonable price
Nice 720p HD video

Cons

Short alkaline battery life
Slower lens for class
Lengthy flash recycle time

Quick Take:

The SX130 offers some logical upgrades to the SX120 like HD video, and despite weak battery life and a slower lens, it's a worthy competitor in the compact ultrazoom class.

Canon's Powershot SX130 IS joins the compact superzoom posse as the SX120 IS rides off into the sunset.

The new camera gets a bump in resolution from 10 to 12 megapixels on a slightly larger physically-sized sensor, and the lens focal range goes wider and shorter: 28 to 336mm versus 36 to 360mm in 35mm equivalents. Here's what the new range looks like.

Wide Angle, 28mm

Telephoto, 336mm

Both models share a close-but-not-quite-identical external look, with the SX130 being slightly larger and about a half-ounce heavier. The new camera is primarily an evolutionary step, sharing many features with the departing SX120 such as a Digic 4 processor, smart auto, intelligent contrast correction, face and motion detection technologies. The SX130 adds 720p HD video with stereo recording, blink technology, a few new shooting modes such as miniature and fisheye, and a narrower 80 to 1600 ISO sensitivity range. It can utilize SD/SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus and HC memory media. Canon provides two AA alkaline batteries, a wrist strap, printed "getting started" guide, USB and AV cables, and CD-ROM software.

Let's see what a modest makeover has produced in the new low-price leader of Canon's SX line.

Partner Resources

Shop Sony Deals!

Today's Promotions

Mobile Convergence Comes Home with Higher-Speed, Lower-Cost.
Click here to learn how Sony Business Store can help you increase your Business Productivity.
Uncompromising Gaming Performance
For a limited time save $100 on the award-winning MSI GT Series gaming notebooks. Redefine your gaming experience.
Countdown to COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2013
COMPUTEX TAIPEI joins the ICT greats who are out to set the trend. To make IT happen, this is the place to see and be seen.

ULTRA SMART. ULTRA AFFORDABLE. ULTRABOOK.
Lenovo Ultrabooks are a statement in style, mobility and productivity. Choose your favorite color and get going.
Improve Business Productivity
Make it easier to work remotely or from home. Click to learn more about Emerging Tech For SMB sponsored by Sony Business Store.
Rugged and reliable Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers.
Designing mission-critical tools for the mobile user is how we're engineering a better world.

MORE FEATURED Digital Camera CONTENT

Nikon D3100 Review
We take a look at Nikon's newest entry-level DSLR
Sony Alpha SLT-A55V Review
Sony's translucent-mirror A55 is put to the test
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Review
The G10 is Panasonic's low cost Micro Four Thirds model
Pentax K-x Review
Pentax offers a great value in the entry-level K-x
Samsung TL500 Review
Samsung's TL500 offers advanced shooting options

Canon EOS 60D Review
Canon's mid-range DSLR impresses with a flip-out LCD
Canon PowerShot S95 Review
Canon's robust S95 packs a punch
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
The versatile ZS7 offers in-camera geo-tagging via GPS
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Review
The NEX-5 is a compact ILC with a big sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Review
The LX5 packs great optics into a compact camera body

Nikon D7000 Review
The prosumer D7000 earns a DCR Editors' Choice
Olympus E-PL2 Review
Olympus refreshes its Micro Four Thirds lineup
Kodak PlaySport Review
The PlaySport is a compact, waterproof digital video camera
Canon PowerShot G12 Review
The G12 is the current advanced compact class leader
Fujifilm FinePix Z800EXR Review
The ultra-compact Z800EXR features a sleek build

TechTarget publishes more than 100 focused websites providing quick access to a deep store of news, advice and analysis about the technologies, products and processes crucial
to the jobs of IT pros.

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS Review

Our Most Popular Digital Camera Reviews

Canon PowerShot G15

Nikon D7100

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Nikon 1 S1

Partner Resources

Today's Promotions

MORE FEATURED Digital Camera CONTENT