Canon PowerShot SX620 HS (White) Canon - Review 🏆

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS is a pocket-sized point-and-shoot digital camera that packs an impressive 25x optical zoom lens into a slim, lightweight body. This camera is geared towards photography enthusiasts who want an affordable, versatile compact camera that can capture wide-angle landscapes and distant subjects without compromising on image quality or portability.

Key features of the PowerShot SX620 HS include its 25x optical zoom lens with a 35mm focal length equivalent of 25-625mm, 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4+ image processor, built-in WiFi and NFC for easy photo sharing, and 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities. Its extensive zoom range, compact size, simple operation and wireless connectivity make it a great choice for travel, family events, and everyday photography.

Design & Build Quality

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS has a sleek and compact design, making it very portable and easy to carry around. It has a plastic body which is lightweight but still feels sturdy. The camera measures 4.1 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches and weighs only 7.3 ounces. Despite its small size, the textured grip on the right side provides a secure hold even for one-handed shooting.

The buttons are well-spaced out and easy to press. The PowerShot SX620 HS doesn't have a viewfinder but does have a 3-inch LCD screen. While not touch enabled, the screen tilts up 180 degrees for easy selfies and vlogging. Overall the camera has a simple layout with clearly marked buttons, making it intuitive even for beginners.

Durability wise, the plastic body may not be as resilient as metal cameras. However, the smooth rounded edges and lack of protruding lenses means it can easily slip into a pocket or bag without worrying about scratches. The camera isn't weather sealed but should hold up fine with careful use.

In contrast, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II offers a more advanced construction with a premium metal body, providing enhanced durability and a more professional feel. This model features a larger 1-inch sensor that improves image quality in low light conditions, making it ideal for nighttime photography. Its compact design also allows for easy portability, while the intuitive touchscreen interface simplifies operation. The G7 X Mark II is perfect for enthusiasts seeking a balance between performance and portability.

Image Quality

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS features a 20.2-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor, which produces high-resolution images with excellent detail and clarity. The camera's DIGIC 4+ image processor helps deliver vibrant, accurate colors and crisp image quality even in low light conditions.

The lens is sharp from edge to edge, providing good image sharpness across the frame. When shooting outdoors in good lighting, the level of detail captured is impressive for a compact camera in this class. Fine textures like foliage and intricate architectural details are rendered with precision.

At low ISOs up to 400, noise is very well controlled. Images have a clean look with minimal graininess. As the ISO increases, some loss of detail and luminance noise does start to become visible. However, colors remain accurate and pleasing up through ISO 1600. Anything above ISO 1600 shows more obvious noise and loss of finer details.

Overall, the image quality from the 20MP sensor is highly satisfying for a pocketable point-and-shoot camera. The PowerShot SX620 HS delivers vibrant, share-worthy photos and HD-quality prints. The combination of resolution, sharpness, and accurate color reproduction make this a very capable compact camera for casual photographers.

In addition to the SX620 HS, the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II offers advanced features such as a 20.1-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor and a fast f/1.8-2.8 lens, making it perfect for enthusiasts. Its larger sensor allows for superior low-light performance, while the built-in electronic viewfinder and tilt touchscreen enhance usability for creative shooting.

Zoom Capabilities

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS has a decent 25x optical zoom lens, which provides a 35mm equivalent focal range of 25-625mm. This gives you a very versatile zoom range, from wide-angle for landscapes and group shots, all the way up to super telephoto for getting closer to distant subjects.

The optical image stabilization helps keep shots steady at longer zoom lengths. There can be some loss of fine details when zooming all the way in, but image quality remains quite good through most of the zoom range.

For even more reach, the camera offers ZoomPlus technology which can digitally extend the zoom up to 100x. However, image quality deteriorates quickly when using the digital zoom, so it's best used sparingly. The powerful optical zoom alone will cover most shooting scenarios.

Overall, the 25x zoom lens provides excellent versatility in a slim point-and-shoot body. The wide-angle coverage is useful for landscapes and tight spaces, while the super telephoto reach lets you capture detailed shots of distant subjects.

Video Recording

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS can record full HD 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second. It supports both MP4 and AVCHD video formats.

Some of the key video capabilities include:

• 1920 x 1080 Full HD video recording at 60p/30p/24p
• 1280 x 720 HD recording at 30p
• 640 x 480 VGA recording at 30p
• High-quality stereo audio recording
• Optical zoom available while recording (up to 4x zoom)
• Intelligent IS stabilization provides steady videos even at full telephoto
• Manual exposure control available in video mode
• In-camera video trimming option

The video quality is quite good for a compact point and shoot camera, producing sharp and detailed 1080p footage. The digital IS stabilization works decently to reduce shakiness when handholding the camera. Overall, the SX620 HS handles the basics of HD video recording well, albeit without more advanced features like mic input or headphone jack. The optical zoom during recording is convenient but best used subtly due to the motor noise that gets picked up.

Connectivity & Sharing

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS has a range of connectivity options for sharing your images and videos. It has built-in WiFi and NFC which allows for quick and easy connection to smartphones and tablets. You can use the free Canon Camera Connect app for iOS and Android to transfer images, remotely control the camera, and add GPS data to your photos and videos.

The WiFi connection is relatively simple to setup. You can connect the camera directly to your mobile device, to a wireless router, or make use of Canon's cloud services to share content. Transfer speeds are decent but not the fastest, so transferring a lot of full resolution images may take some time.

The camera also has Bluetooth connectivity to maintain a constant low-power connection to your smartphone. This allows quick startup of the Wi-Fi when you want to transfer images.

The PowerShot SX620 HS can also be connected directly to PictBridge compatible printers using USB to print photos without a computer. Overall the wireless connectivity options provide flexibility for sharing your photos from the camera while on the go.

Battery Life

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS is powered by an NB-13L lithium-ion battery that provides enough juice for 295 shots per charge based on CIPA standards. This is decent battery life for a compact camera of this size and should get most users through a full day of casual shooting.

The battery rating itself is 1000mAh at 3.6V which is fairly standard for this camera class. As with any camera, battery life will decrease over time so make sure to pick up a spare battery for longer shoots or vacations. Overall the battery performance is solid if unremarkable.

Charging is done via USB which makes it easy to top up from a computer, portable battery or using the included charger. One minor downside is that the battery is charged in-camera vs having an external charger.

For a compact point and shoot, the PowerShot SX620 HS delivers satisfactory battery life. Just be sure to pack a spare battery for all-day events or trips.

Ease of Use

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS is designed to be very simple and intuitive to use, even for beginner photographers. The controls and menus are straightforward with easy to understand options.

The camera has a mode dial on the top to select between different shooting modes like Auto, Program AE, Hybrid Auto, and Scene modes. The Auto mode takes care of most settings so you can just point and shoot. The Program AE mode allows more control over settings like ISO, white balance, etc. The Hybrid Auto mode captures a short video clip before each shot. Scene modes optimize settings for different situations like portraits, night scenes, etc.

Navigating the menus is easy with the directional pad and set button on the back. The menus are clean and minimalistic without too many complicated options. Settings like image quality, ISO, white balance, metering and more can be quickly adjusted.

There are also some direct access buttons on the back like a dedicated video record button, play button, and Wi-Fi button. The camera provides a simple interface that doesn't overwhelm beginners but offers enough manual controls for those that want more creative freedom.

Overall, the PowerShot SX620 HS has an intuitive design with straightforward controls and menus that make it very easy to use for all levels of photographers. The auto mode provides point-and-shoot simplicity while the manual modes offer settings for more advanced users.

Pros & Cons

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS has a number of advantages and disadvantages to consider:

Pros

• Compact, portable size makes it very convenient for travel and everyday use
• Powerful 25x optical zoom lens provides versatility from wide-angle to telephoto
• Decent image quality and performance for a budget point-and-shoot camera
• Easy to use with simple controls and interface
• Built-in WiFi and NFC allow wireless transfer of images and remote control
• Good value for money

Cons

• Small 1/2.3" sensor struggles in low light conditions
• Lens is slow with a maximum aperture range of f/3.2-6.6
• No RAW shooting mode limits editing flexibility
• Mediocre battery life of around 295 shots per charge
• No hot shoe for attaching external flash
• No electronic viewfinder, only rear LCD screen
• Lacks manual exposure controls and other advanced options
• Video quality limited to 1080p at 30fps, no 4K

Overall, the SX620 HS is a handy and affordable long zoom camera for casual photographers. It excels in good lighting conditions but struggles in low light due to its small sensor. Best for those seeking an easy-to-use pocket camera with powerful zoom, though more advanced users may be frustrated by its limitations.

Conclusion

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS is a solid choice for those looking for an easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera with good image quality and a powerful zoom lens. It produces pleasing images and video, has simple and intuitive controls, and offers useful connectivity options for sharing photos. The 25x optical zoom gives a ton of versatility, allowing you to capture everything from wide landscapes to distant details. Image stabilization helps reduce blur.

Overall, the PowerShot SX620 HS is a great option for travel, family events, and everyday photography. It packs a lot of zoom range into a slim, pocketable body. The camera is very easy to use, even for beginners, but still offers manual controls and settings for more advanced users. Downsides are limited battery life and lack of an electronic viewfinder. However, it's an excellent value given the image quality, zoom power, and simplicity it provides. For these reasons, the SX620 HS is highly recommended for anyone seeking an affordable, user-friendly superzoom camera.