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Canon SX740 Comparison Review

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is a fixed lens compact camera that was announced in July 2018 and is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 20.2 megapixel.

camera

Is the Canon SX740 a good camera? The SX740 has a Camera Elo of 2202. This rating puts the SX740 among the top 30 percent of all superzoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the SX740 ranks among the top 20 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4.5-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Canon SX740
Fixed lens compact camera
24-960mm f/3.3-6.9
20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
4K/30p Video
ISO 100 - 3 200
no viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 922k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
10 shutter flaps per second
265 shots per battery charge
110 x 64 x 40 mm, 299 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Canon SX740 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Canon SX740 vs credit card front
SX740 versus credit card top view
SX740 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon SX740 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX740 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 299 g 265 n Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
2.
 
Canon SX70 127 mm 91 mm 117 mm 608 g 325 n Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon SX430 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 323 g 195 n Jan 2017 299 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 n Apr 2017 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX720 110 mm 64 mm 36 mm 270 g 250 n Feb 2016 379ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX710 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 230 n Jan 2015 349ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic ZS80 112 mm 69 mm 42 mm 327 g 380 n Feb 2019 449 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic TS7 117 mm 76 mm 37 mm 319 g 300 Y May 2018 449ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic ZS70 112 mm 67 mm 41 mm 322 g 380 n Apr 2017 449ebay.com
10.
 
Sony HX99 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 242 g 370 n Aug 2018 449ebay.com
11.
 
Sony HX95 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 242 g 370 n Aug 2018 429ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon SX740 was launched in the US market at a price of $399. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Check SX740 price at
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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Canon SX740 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon SX740 among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.

Canon SX740 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of alternative cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon SX740 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1105051
2.
 
Canon SX70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1106351
3.
 
Canon SX430 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.511.990049
4.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
5.
 
Canon SX720 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.881748
6.
 
Canon SX710 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.211.671247
7.
 
Panasonic ZS80 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.712.2110352
8.
 
Panasonic TS7 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1102851
9.
 
Panasonic ZS70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p19.110.610636
10.
 
Sony HX99 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.612.1105851
11.
 
Sony HX95 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.612.1105751
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The SX740 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the SX740 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX740 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon SX740none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 10.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon SX702360 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX430none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX730none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon SX720none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX710none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 6.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Panasonic ZS802330 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Panasonic TS71170 n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/1300s 10.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Panasonic ZS701166 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Sony HX99638 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Sony HX95638 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the SX740

One convenient feature of the SX740 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon SX740-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
2.
 
Canon SX70-stereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Canon SX430-mono / mono---2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon SX730-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon SX720-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon SX710-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Panasonic ZS80-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
8.
 
Panasonic TS7-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Panasonic ZS70-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
10.
 
Sony HX99-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
11.
 
Sony HX95-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
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It is notable that the SX740 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

The SX740 has a zoom lens built in (4.3-172mm f/3.3-6.9), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24 to 960mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the SX740 can be found in the free online Canon SX740 Manual or on the Canon support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX740 handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX740..+3.5/5..4/54/5 Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
2.
 
Canon SX70..+ +3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon SX430........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2017 299 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX720..+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2016 379ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX710..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2015 349ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic ZS80..+ +....4.5/5.. Feb 2019 449 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic TS7..+......3.5/5 May 2018 449ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic ZS70..+ +....4/54/5 Apr 2017 449ebay.com
10.
 
Sony HX99........4/54.5/5 Aug 2018 449ebay.com
11.
 
Sony HX95............ Aug 2018 429ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Check SX740 price at
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Canon SX740 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the SX740.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Canon SX740?

The camera features a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Canon SX740 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Canon equipped the SX740 with the DIGIC 8 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon SX740?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200.

Does the Canon SX740 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the SX740 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Canon SX740?

No, the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Does the Canon SX740 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

Does the Canon SX740 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Canon SX740 use?

The camera gets its power from the NB-13L (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Canon SX740
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-960mm f/3.3-6.9
    Launch Date July 2018
    Launch Price USD 399
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5 184 x 3 888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.18 μm
    Pixel Density 71.80 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3 200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 8
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type No viewfinder
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/3200s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type NB-13L power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)265 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 110 x 64 x 40 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.6 in)
    Camera Weight 299 g (10.5 oz)

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