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PowerShot SX620 HS

Canon powershot sx 620 hs prosumer 25x zoom
Manufacturer
Canon

Item details

Summary

The PowerShot SX620 HS is a compact travel zoom with a 20.2MP BSI CMOS sensor and 25X, 25-625mm equivalent lens. It has Canon's 'Intelligent Image Stabilizer' which picks the right 'mode' depending on the situation, an Auto Zoom feature for adjusting the focal length as subject depth changes, and numerous special effects. It also features a 3" LCD and Wi-Fi with NFC.

Specs
Body type
Body type Compact
Sensor
Max resolution 5184 x 3888
Other resolutions 4:3 (5184 x 3888, 3648 x 2736, 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480), 16:9 (5184 x 2912, 3648 x 2048, 1920 x 1080, 640 x 360), 3:2 (5184 x 3456, 3648 x 2432, 2048 x 1368, 640 x 424), 1:1 (3888 x 3888, 2736 x 2736, 1536 x 1536, 480 x 480)
Image ratio w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 20 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 21 megapixels
Sensor size 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Sensor type BSI-CMOS
Processor DIGIC 4+
Image
ISO Auto, 80-3200
White balance presets 5
Custom white balance Yes
Image stabilization Optical
Image stabilization notes Intelligent IS
Uncompressed format No
JPEG quality levels Superfine, fine
Optics & Focus
Focal length (equiv.) 25625 mm
Optical zoom 25
Maximum aperture F3.26.6
Autofocus
Contrast Detect (sensor)
Multi-area
Center
Selective single-point
Tracking
Single
Continuous
Face Detection
Live View
Digital zoom Yes (4X)
Manual focus Yes
Normal focus range 5 cm (1.97″)
Macro focus range 1 cm (0.39″)
Number of focus points 9
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Fixed
Screen size 3″
Screen dots 922,000
Touch screen No
Screen type TFT LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type None
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 15 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 sec
Aperture priority No
Shutter priority No
Manual exposure mode No
Subject / scene modes Yes
Built-in flash Yes
Flash range 4.00 m (with Auto ISO)
External flash No
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off
Continuous drive 2.5 fps
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Metering modes
Multi
Center-weighted
Spot
Exposure compensation 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Format MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Mono
Speaker Mono
Storage
Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port No
Headphone port No
Wireless Built-In
Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n with NFC
Remote control Yes (via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description NB-13L lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 295
Weight (inc. batteries) 182 g (0.40 lb / 6.42 oz)
Dimensions 97 x 57 x 28 mm (3.81 x 2.24 x 1.1″)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
GPS None

Latest reviews

Recommended
Yes
Price
80$
Pros
  • Lightweight, Compact, 120x digital zoom, Burst mode with dozens of pics in 5Mpix
Cons
  • 25x zoom is a bit small for birding, Only 5mpix in Burst mode, No digital zoom in Burst mode
I have a DSLR with number of lenses but I felt that I need a camera that I can carry with myself everyday in my pocket or in my waist back. It must be as compact as possible and must have the biggest zoom as possible. I need it to make pics of rare and interesting birds if I met them occasionally when I don't have my DSLR with myself. I do not need quality pics. Just pictures that can proove the observation of this bird species. So the pics can not be of high IQ but they need to be sutable for the fine ID of the bird to species level. With such thoughts I was thinking about buying one of those cameras in December 2019:

Canon SX 700, 710, 720, 730, 740
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50, HX60, HX90V, HX90, WX500
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60/TZ80
Nikon Coolpix S9900, A1000, A900

In December 2019 found used copy of Canon Powershot sx620 hs in a new condition with all the documents and even working warranty just for 80$. Had the opportunity to try it in different birding conditions during a week. Here are my impressions:

1. Lightweight but not very small. Probably if Canon used micro Sd and smaller screen it could be smaller. But still it is the smallest point and shoot camera with 25x zoom.

2. It has only 2 frames per second in continuous shooting mode which is very bad for birds!!! But! It also have the Burst mode with dozens of frames per second but in 5 megapixel size. But in this mode you can not use digital zoom. I found that this mode fits me. I can get lot of pics of bird in this mode that are sutable for ID. Most of them are sharp even in bad light. In normal mode most of the pics of the bird in dark condition are blurry.

3. 25x zoom is very nice! It is 625 mm in 35mm equivalent. Also I like the 4x digital zoom. With the help of it you can get 2500 mm in 35 mm equivalent. And the dimentions of the image will be the same as on max optical zoom. But you need to have very firm hands to get sharp image on that zoom range.

4. Max iso 3200 is not enouth at all in bad light conditions. Wish it had much more.

Overal. I like this camera. It partly suits my needs as everyday pocket camera just for birds ID pics when I don't have my dslr with myself.

BUT!!! Wish it could be more smaller, more lighter, could have more zoom, could have more frames per sec in normal mode and could have more ISO. But there is no such a camera on the market. Much lighter, faster per sec., sharper and a bit smaller in size is Sony wx350. But it has only 20x zoom. If some camera making company could make the same camera with same size and weight but with 40x zoom it will be the superb camera!

The Update:
A bit disappoined by its zoom :( Now I think that 25x zoom is not enougth for birding :( So I will probably get Canon SX720 or SX730 or SX740 with its 40x zoom despite its heavy weight :(

The Update #2:
Sold Canon SX620 and bought Canon SX720 with 40x zoom and good burst mode that can be used with digital zoom also. Very happy with this camera!
One member found this helpful.

Item information

Category
Prosumer Digital Cameras
Added by
andrewins
Views
15,916
Reviews
1
Last update
Rating
4.00 star(s) 1 ratings

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