Canon PowerShot SX150 IS First Look Review: Big Zoom Without a Big Price

There seems to be an almost inexhaustible supply of new digital camera models available these days and photographers (at every experience level) have more choices than they've ever had before. At first glance, the Canon PowerShot SX150 IS appears to be a brand new P&S digicam, however, it is actually a pretty impressive collection of last year's imaging components in a shiny new package.

Canon is the most modular of the major digicam manufacturers and they have an extensive catalog of consumer tested components to draw from when creating new models. Re-utilizing proven components to create new digicam models allows Canon to skip the expensive R&D phase of product development and produce new models at bargain prices designed to entice consumers.

Canon's new SX150 IS budget compact ultrazoom is a DIGIC IV processor driven, 14 megapixel (1/ 2.3" CCD sensor) digital camera with a 12x (28mm-336mm equivalent) zoom, 720p at 30 fps HD video, a 3.0-inch (230k) LCD screen and a full complement of shooting modes including Smart Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and full Manual exposure. Canon also includes its "Intelligent IS" image stabilization system (first seen on the SX230 HS) which automatically selects the best option (based on matching the composition with the most effective IS mode for that type of image) from seven available IS options.

The Canon PowerShot SX150 IS is a fairly typical looking P&S digicam, so if you're looking to make a style statement, the SX150 IS is a bit too bulky and a little too heavy to be really cool. Fit and finish are first rate and all controls are logically placed and easily accessed by right handed shooters. The SX150 IS's polycarbonate body shell over a metal alloy frame construction seems tough enough for just about anything and the camera's weather/moisture and dust seals appear to be more than adequate.