Canon Announces Two Affordable Superzoom Cameras: PowerShot SX520 HS and PowerShot SX400 IS

Canon has announced a pair of new low-end superzoom cameras. And while a true successor for the SX50 is still nowhere to be seen, the PowerShot SX520 HS and the PowerShot SX400 IS should serve for those who are looking for something that’s a little more affordable.

The SX520 HS packs a 42x 24-1008mm equivalent zoom with an aperture range of f/3.4-6.0. Under the hood, it has a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, can record 1080p video, and runs Canon’s DIGIC 4+ Image Processor. It’ll have an ISO range of 100-3200, and a 461,00 dot screen. Despite its size, the battery will be limited to just 210 shots on a charge, and its burst rate is a rather measly 2fps. Canon is also pushing a number of new features that home shooters might enjoy, such as a better auto scene mode, a method for taking a video everytime a still is captured and then combining them into a single highlight real for the day (called Hybrid Auto mode), and Creative Shot mode. The SX520 will be available in September for $399.99.

More affordable still is the $249.99 SX400, expected to land in August. It has a 30x zoom (24-720mm), with an aperture range of f/3.4-5.8 It has a 16-megapixel CCD sensor, uses the DIGIC 4+ Image Processor, but is limited to just 720p video. The SX400 lacks some of the features of the SX520—like it maxes out at ISO1600, only has a 230,000 dot screen, has no manual focus, only has a mono mic, and his hobbled to just 1fps continuous drive mode. Even the battery is lesser, with just 190 shots on charge. However, it does feature an updated, more comfortable grip, as well as boosted autofocus speeds from its predecessor.