With the widespread and varied availability of several different types of digital cameras, it can be hard to find the best digital camera for filmmaking and the best digital camera. The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS doesn’t quite stack up to our best pick for that, the Sony Alpha a7 III Mirorless digital camera, but it does have several great features at less than a quarter of the price. Feel free to compare it with other top-performing digital cameras.
Why We Like It – Canon Powershot SX740 Digital Camera
Pocket-size digital cameras are a dime a dozen, but they aren’t all created equal. The Canon PowerShot sx740 digital camera hosts several great features like video recording, time lapse video, and continuous shooting at 10fps.
- 40x optical image zoom makes it possible to capture sharp photos from far away
- Canon Camera Connect app so you can easily transfer photos via wi fi
- Small and compact body design great for travel
- Image quality is compromised at longer focal length
- Some darker images have visible noise reduction and over-sharpening
Image Quality
Image quality on the PowerShot SX740 HS is fairly good, in large parts thanks to the 40x optical zoom lens and the variety of shooting modes. Many reviewers found image quality to be fine in good lighting but did experience a drastic dip in quality in lower light, unlike the Sony A6100. The auto white balance setting can be rather inconsistent, so anyone trying to nail their photo should adjust it manually. The video recording quality on the SX740 HS digital camera is also somewhat hit-or-miss, especially in low light. Anyone looking for a digital camera that better produces 4K video should instead check out the Canon EOS Rebel SL3, or even the Canon PowerShot SX530.
Ease of Use
The Canon PowerShot SX740 digital camera is a user friendly point-and-shoot camera, though it does have some room for improvement. The Camera Connect app is a helpful tool for transferring images from the Canon SX740 to a phone via wi fi, but 4k video files must can only be transferred through a physical tether. Some users had issues with the button layout on this camera, particularly the location of the wi fi button: it’s easy to press accidentally, which automatically closes the shutter. The flip-up LCD screen is nice for review, but the lack of touchscreen definitely makes that more of a chore.
Related: For a camera that comes with both a front and a rear screen, go for the DJI Osmo Action model.
Battery Life
The battery life on the Canon SX740 is only slightly better than abysmal. On a single charge, a photographer can expect to get about 265 photos, but that doesn’t take into account the extra juice taken for video recording and wi fi connectivity. ECO mode does help extend battery life to about 370 images, and it is possible to charge the battery through the USB port. If either of these won’t do, spare batteries run for about $20, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to have one or two on hand in case they’re needed.
Durability
The combination metal and polycarbonate body of the PowerShot SX740 makes it a sturdy little camera with a very solid feel. It’s a small and lightweight option for photographers that want something for taking on the go. The PowerShot SX740 HS may not be as capable as more expensive models, but it’s small size and relatively good specs are enough for many buyers’ needs.
Value
At $370, the Canon SX740 manages to pack in several fun and useful features that are sure to make many photographers happy. It’s a solid enough device that can take great pictures in optimal conditions, but in any other conditions it fails to hold up to other similarly-priced models. The people that will get the best value out of the PowerShot SX740 HS are those most interested in the 40x optical zoom lens and wi fi connectivity.
Canon PowerShot SX740 Digital Camera Wrap Up
The Canon PowerShot SX740 Digital Camera can achieve wonderful image quality, that is, if the lighting is right. Video recording has similar issues, and any in-camera corrections like noise reduction or over-sharpening are visible in the final image. That being said, the size, wi fi functionality, and 40x optical image zoom are all handy features that at least make this camera worth checking out if it sounds like it will match your needs.
