Canon PowerShot SX60 HS Digital Camera, Black {16.1MP}

Canon SX60 HS: 65x optical zoom in one fixed lens

The SX60 HS was the world's first 65x optical zoom compact when it launched, covering an equivalent 21-1365mm range on a 16.1MP BSI-CMOS sensor processed by the DIGIC 6 engine. That wide-to-ultra-tele span means a single camera handles sweeping landscapes at 21mm and pulls in birds on a distant power line at 1365mm. The lens holds to f/3.4 at wide end, and Canon's eight-mode Intelligent IS system works hard to keep shots steady at the long end where camera shake is brutal.

For a fixed-lens camera this deep into the zoom range, the SX60 HS gives serious manual control: RAW capture in CR2 format, aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual exposure, and a shutter range from 15 seconds down to 1/2000 sec. Burst shooting reaches 6.4 fps, and the 9-point AF system includes face detection and tracking. Both the 922,000-dot electronic viewfinder and the 3-inch fully articulated LCD give you options when shooting at awkward angles or in bright sun. Video records at 1080/60p in H.264, and the hot shoe accepts Canon EX-series Speedlites. At this zoom reach with RAW support and that articulating screen, the SX60 HS offers working-photographer capability without the weight of a multi-lens kit.

Who It's For

Wildlife and birding photographers working from fixed positions get the reach of a 1365mm equivalent lens without lugging a telephoto kit. Travel photographers covering a single destination in one day can go from 21mm street-level wide shots to distant architectural details on one camera and one memory card. Parents and sideline sports shooters who need to track moving subjects at youth events will find the 6.4 fps burst and tracking AF useful across the stands. Video shooters covering outdoor events on a budget get 1080/60p, Super Slow Motion modes, and hot shoe flash access in a body that weighs under 650 grams.

Key Features

• 65x optical zoom covering 21-1365mm equivalent range
• 16.1MP BSI-CMOS sensor with DIGIC 6 processor
• RAW capture in CR2 format with full manual exposure control
• Fully articulated 3-inch LCD and 922,000-dot electronic viewfinder
• Eight-mode Intelligent IS system for telephoto stabilization
• 1080/60p video with external microphone input and H.264 compression

FAQ

What's the actual reach of that 65x zoom?

21-1365mm equivalent, so you're shooting landscapes at 21mm and pulling in distant subjects at 1365mm without changing lenses. Add the 4x digital zoom and you can push further, though digital softens the image.

Can you shoot RAW on this?

Yes, 12-bit CR2 files. You get full manual control too: aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual, shutter range from 15 seconds to 1/2000 sec.

How does it handle low light?

The 16.1MP BSI-CMOS sensor pairs with the DIGIC 6 processor and Canon's HS system. ISO runs 100-3200 in standard modes, extends to 6400 in low light mode (at reduced resolution). At that zoom range, optical stabilization matters-the eight-mode Intelligent IS system keeps things steady when you're deep into the telephoto reach.

What about video?

Full HD at 1080/60p in H.264, plus 720/30p and 480/30p. There's an external microphone jack for better audio, and you get Super Slow Motion and Miniature Effect modes. Zoom works during recording.

Does the LCD articulate?

Fully articulated 3-inch LCD with 922,000 dots. Same resolution electronic viewfinder if you prefer that in bright sun. Both help when you're shooting at odd angles or holding the camera overhead.

How fast is the burst rate?

6.4 fps at full resolution with the 9-point AF system. Face detection and tracking AF are built in. The articulating screen and solid grip (borrowed from Canon's EOS DSLRs) keep the camera stable at longer focal lengths.