Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Canon Powershot SX430 IS features a 45x optical zoom lens, in a compact bridge style camera. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC makes it easy to transfer images, and there's a 20-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilisation and 720p video recording.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS Features
The Canon Powershot SX430 IS features a 20 megapixel CCD sensor, and a 45x optical zoom lens. The 45x optical zoom lens is equivalent to 24mm at the wide-angle end of the lens, zooming to 1080mm at the telephoto end of the lens (in 35mm equivalent terms). There is built-in optical image stabilisation, which is why the camera's name ends in IS, and this gives approximately 2.5 stops of stabilisation.
A 3inch screen (230K dots) can be found on the back. The mode is switched using a button (also on the back). There are a number of scene modes available, as well as an Auto mode to make it easy for beginners and when in the P mode, you can also select different colour options. On the front is a focus assist lamp to help the camera focus in low-light.
The camera records 720p video, with mono sound, and optical zoom is available whilst recording.
Wi-Fi and NFC are built-in - this lets you remotely control the camera from your smartphone or tablet, as well as transfer images, or add GPS location information to your photos.
Key Features
- 20 megapixel CCD sensor
- 45x optical zoom lens, f/3.5-6.8,
- Lens zoom equivalent to 24-1080mm in 35mm terms
- Optical Image Stabilisation
- 3inch screen, 230K dots
- 0.5 shots / second
- Wi-Fi / NFC built-in
- 720p video at 25fps
- ISO100 to ISO1600
- 0cm macro focus
- Creative filters
Canon Powershot SX430 IS Handling
The camera has a mostly plastic body, wiith a metal tripod socket, and a metal ring around the front of the lens. There's a rubber area on the front part of the hand grip. This makes it fairly easy to hold securely, although it's likely that some people may find the camera too small. Despite the compact size, the buttons are a good size, and well laid out.
The pop-up flash is manual, meaning you'll need to open it and close it yourself. The zoom control surrounds the shutter release button, and this lets you control the lens zoom - press it hard and it will zoom quickly, press it more lightly and the zoom will move more slowly.
On the side is an A/V out / USB socket, but no HDMI out connection.
The Canon menus are clearly laid out and easy to understand with built-in help. You can also change settings on the rear screen, without having to go into the menus, by pressing the read FUNC/Set button.
The screen is not "gapless" and this means that viewing angles aren't as good, and in bright light, it might be difficult to view outdoors (depending on where you're using it).
Wi-Fi features - Entering the Wireless connection menu on the camera, you can transfer images between cameras, connect to a smartphone, connect to a computer, print from a Wi-Fi printer, or upload to a Web service. Setting up the connection to the camera from a smartphone is quite straightforward, with Canon Camera Connect featuring a built-in guide. If your device supports NFC, then this can be a quicker way of connecting. You can use the app on your phone to send location data to the camera so that images will have GPS tagging.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 195 shots according to Canon / CIPA test results, which is quite low, but if you switch to the Eco mode then you can extend this to 260 shots, which is also quite low, but slightly better. Because of this, we'd recommend a spare battery.
Speed - The camera is quick to switch on and off. The camera has a slow continuous shooting speed of 0.5 shots per second so that you can take one shot every 2 seconds, or you can switch to the low light mode which reduces the resolution to 5mp, and lets you shoot at 2.2fps. Shutter response is excellent (<0.05s), and focus speeds are reasonably good, at 0.25-0.35s at the wide-angle end of the lens, and a similar speed at the telephoto end of the lens if you let the camera pre-focus on your subject.
Just as a guide to how small the SX430 is, we thought we'd show it next to the Canon EOS 77D.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS Performance
The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS Sample Photos
Camera Performance - The camera lens performs quite well, at both the wide-angle and telephoto ends of the lens, with no obvious problems. There is some purple fringing and chromatic aberration when shooting subjects with high levels of contrast (such as chrome lettering). The camera can focus on subjects 0cm away from the front of the lens in macro mode, making impressive macro shots possible, as long as you can still get light to your subject.
Exposure is reliable, with the camera giving good results, with very good colour performance. The flash performs well, with good colour, and no signs of red-eye. There is no automatic HDR or Backlighting scene mode to expand the dynamic range captured, however, there is an iContrast setting, which will increase the dynamic range captured.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS ISO test images
ISO Noise Performance - Noise is acceptable at the lowest ISO speed of ISO100, however, if you view images at 100% (actual size), you can quite clearly see noise in darker colours. Noise becomes more noticeable at ISO200 but is still acceptable. Noise becomes stronger at ISO400, but should still provide useful images, particularly if sharing them on the internet. At ISO800 noise becomes stronger still, and this ISO speed and above is best avoided, as detail and colour saturation is reduced.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS White-balance test images
White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) gives warm results under tungsten lighting and excellent results under fluorescent lighting. Using the tungsten preset under tungsten lighting gives a much more accurate result. The fluorescent preset under fluorescent lighting gives a slight colour cast. The camera gives reasonably good results under mixed light.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS Digital filters
Digital Filters - There are a number of effects available, as well as "My Colors" options. We've shown examples above. There is no Panoramic mode.
Video - The camera records 720p video at 25fps with mono sound, and optical zoom is available. Results are reasonably good, with video appearing sharp and detailed. Audio quality is okay, although only recording in mono. Optical image stabilisation does a good job of keeping video steady when using optical zoom.
Value For Money
The Canon Powershot SX430 IS is available for around £249, which seems a little high, compared to the SX420, which is available for around £129-149. Other ultra zoom bridge cameras to look at, with FullHD video, include the Nikon Coolpix B500, available for around £219, and the Panasonic Lumix FZ72 (with 60x zoom), available for around £267.
Have a look at more ultra-zoom / bridge cameras in our Top 10 Best Ultra Zoom Cameras. You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Canon Powershot SX430 IS Verdict
The Canon Powershot SX430 IS offers a long 45x optical zoom lens, with optical image stabilisation helping keep images steady when using lots of zoom. Unfortunately, the use of a 20 megapixel CCD sensor has meant that images show higher levels of noise than competitors, continuous shooting is slow, and the camera can only record 720p at its highest resolution video. The compact size of the camera is appealing, and if you're likely to be shooting in sunny bright conditions, then the ease of use and good colour saturation should satisfy most casual shooters, however, the price seems quite high at the moment.