Viewfinder (0.0)
While the camera is modeled much like Canon’s budget A-series, the SX100 IS ditches the viewfinder. Users must use the LCD to frame photos.
LCD (6.0)
The PowerShot SX100 IS features a 2.5-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD with a monitor resolution of 172,000 pixels. The size is average for a point-and-shoot, but its resolution is less than desirable.
The LCD is flexible in terms of viewing, but does not rotate like many older A-series offerings. Unlike the majority of point-and-shoots, viewing photos at extreme angles is possible on the SX100's monitor. The wide viewing angle prevents solarization, which is like the effect you see on laptops when the screen is pushed back too far. This wide view allows users to shoot from varied angles, as well as show photos to a group of people. The LCD has 100 percent coverage, allowing users to accurately frame photos so people won’t be cut out of group shots. For outdoor use, users can adjust the LCD brightness in 15 steps via the Setup menu to adjust for brighter or darker situations.
Flash (7.0)
While its body closely resembles the entry-level A-series cameras, the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS utilizes a flash more similar to the higher-end S-series. The SX100 IS uses a manual pull-up instead of a pop-up flash. When the flash is closed, the camera disables the flash option.
Users can choose from the standard options for automatic flash: Auto, Auto with Red-Eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On with Red-Eye Reduction, Flash Off, FE Lock, Safety FE, and Slow Synchro. Red-Eye can be turned on or off in the menu.
Flash illumination ranges from 1.6 to 9.8 feet in wide shooting and 1.6 to 6.6 feet in telephoto shooting. The flash takes a reported 12 seconds to recharge, but we found it only takes about 7 seconds to recharge between shots.
Users can also manually change flash functions. Adjusting the flash takes a few steps due to the wealth of control options. Users can choose Flash Adjust through the menu to control flash (Manual) or let the camera decide (Auto). The Flash Adjust setting is accessed via the Record menu and is only permitted in Shutter Priority or Aperture Priority.
There is no “soft flash” option like on some point-and-shoots, but using the Flash Output feature, the flash can be adjusted three stops. Users can change how much illumination the flash puts out to avoid harshly lit photos. Flash Output is selectable in Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual shooting mode.
In addition, users can change Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3-stop steps. Working with the overall image exposure compensation, Flash Exposure Compensation allows users to control the foreground and background illumination for even lighting. Users are only permitted to select the function in Stitch Assist, Program, Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority modes.
Overall, the Canon SX100 IS flash has a limited range, but offers more control than most point-and-shoots with the Flash Output and Flash Exposure Compensation options. It would have been nice to include manual flash control in some of the Scene presets and the Auto mode, but the number of flash options is enough for a good score in the flash department.
Zoom Lens (8.25)
The Canon SX100 IS is one of an increasing number of point-and-shoot cameras with a long zoom lens. The SX100 IS isn’t quite the tiny point-and-shoot with a 3x optical zoom lens, but it’s also not the chunkier compact with up to 18x optical zoom. It’s a hybrid that mixes mid-range zoom with a small frame. The new PowerShot SX series has a 10x optical zoom lens on a relatively small point-and-shoot body, like its rivals the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 and Nikon Coolpix S10.
The SX100 IS is fitted with optical image stabilization to compensate for blur, associated with camera shake when the lens is extended for close-up photos. At that long of a zoom range, optical image stabilization is most certainly a necessity.
The lens extends from 6.0-60mm, equivalent to 36-360mm in 35mm film terms. 4x digital zoom is also available, but at reduced resolution. Because reducing the number of pixels can deteriorate image quality, users can disable digital zoom through the Record menu. Digital zoom is not possible in Stitch Assist or Movie mode.
The lens focuses at 1.6 feet to infinity in normal wide shooting and 3.3 feet to infinity in normal telephoto shooting. When the camera is set to Macro, the lens focuses at a closer range of 0.39 inches to 1.6 feet.
Users can zoom in and out using the zoom lever that surrounds the shutter button. Zooming is smooth, but makes a noisy humming sound that can be distracting to the shooter. Users can zoom when in Movie Standard mode and luckily the noise isn’t picked up during video recording. In still capture, users may notice slight barrel distortion in images where the frame appears bowed at the corners.
The SX100 IS has a decent aperture range. When the lens is zoomed out, the maximum aperture is f/2.8. When it is zoomed in, it is f/4.3. The minimum aperture if f/8.
A “Lens Error” warning appears if the lens is blocked. Users simply need to restart the camera to correct the occasional lens error. Users can also set when the lens retracts with the Lens Retract menu listing. When users switch from Shooting to Playback mode, the lens can retract after either one minute or immediately.
The lens on the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS has its pros and cons. Its 10x optically stabilized zoom lens offers an expansive focal range. That said, the lens could be improved with a wider view, quieter zoom, and less barrel distortion.
