Canon PowerShot ZOOM
A pocket-sized super zoom monocular camera with 400mm-equivalent optical zoom and electronic viewfinder
Overview
The Canon PowerShot ZOOM is a compact digital monocular camera for handheld stills and video at long reach. Made in Japan, it works as a telephoto lens with a built-in electronic viewfinder. Optical zoom runs from 100mm to 400mm-equivalent, and digital zoom goes up to 800mm. It has a silent electronic shutter and 4-axis optical image stabilization, and it connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With battery and card it weighs just 5.1 oz (145 g). It's built for quick deployment on wildlife, fast-moving subjects, or casual surveillance during daylight. The box includes a SanDisk 16 GB micro SD card, an SD adapter, and an Anker USB-C PD charger.
Specifications
| Weight | 5.1 oz./145 g with internal battery and micro SD card |
| Close focus | 3.3-15'/1-4.5m |
| Original price | $269.99 |
| Still image capture rate | 10 FPS |
| Video resolution | 1080p/30 |
| Sensor crop factor | 7.2× crop-factor sensor |
| Focal length (actual) | 13.8mm and 55.5mm |
| Focal length (35mm equivalent) | 100mm equivalent and 400mm equivalent |
| Aperture | f/5.6 at 13.8mm, f/6.3 at 55.5mm |
| ISO range (observed) | Auto ISO 100, Auto ISO 125, Auto ISO 2,500 |
| Shutter speed (observed) | 1 / 8,000, 1 / 500, 1 / 200 |
| Zoom control | Push button that swaps among 100, 400 and 800mm settings |
| Digital zoom | 800mm-equivalent 2× digital zoom |
| Image stabilization | 4-axis optical Image Stabilization |
| Shutter type | Silent electronic shutter |
| Viewfinder | Electronic finder with eye sensor to save battery power |
| Microphone | Stereo microphone built in |
| Included accessories | Anker A2634 PowerPort PD Nano USB-C charger, SanDisk 16 GB Micro SD card & SD adapter |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Charging | Charges via USB-C PD (only) |
| Country of manufacture | Made in Japan |
| Support | 100% U.S.A.-based technical support at (800) OK-CANON |
Design
The lens takes no filters. The compact design switches optically between 100mm and 400mm equivalents. The body has an electronic viewfinder with an eye sensor that turns the finder on only when it's in use, which saves power.
Reception & Use
The PowerShot ZOOM turns on quickly and is easy to use. That makes it effective for fast-moving subjects like wildlife or dolphins. The electronic finder is sharp and bright, and reviewers praise its speed and simplicity, especially for non-photographers. Performance drops in low light. Image quality softens at higher ISOs because of noise reduction, and it's not suited for night or overcast use. Image quality is not comparable to professional cameras or even modern smartphones. It isn't optimized for vertical shots, and precise composition is difficult at this magnification. Rolling shutter may tilt vertical lines during panning. Ken Rockwell and DPReview TV have reviewed it, and it's described as useful for documenting suspicious activity or neighborhood animals during daylight.
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