Preview posted 01/05/2016 by Michael Palmer
Full review posted 07/05/2016 by Eric Butterfield

Quick Take

Pros

Lots of manual controls Powerful zoom with wide angle (24-1200mm) Effective image stabilization Auto focus is usually quick Lens can focus at 0cm in macro High image quality Fast burst shooting Full HD video at 60fps Dial quickens settings changes Filters produce attractive shots Tracking AF is accurate in bright light Extremely up-close macro AF

Cons

No RAW mode Dial operation could be better Tracking AF had difficulty in shadows Low light shots can be a little noisy No bulb function for long shutter release No viewfinder LCD is fixed, does not hinge outward No external flash shoe

Bottom Line

Lots of manual controls, a 50x zoom, speedy burst mode, accurate autofocus, and high overall image quality make the SX540 HS a great fit for intermediate shooters. Read more in our Full Conclusion.

Earlier this year, Canon introduced a new super-zoom member to their PowerShot SX lineup. The SX540 HS features a 20.3-megapixel "High Sensitivity" CMOS image sensor mated to the DIGIC 6 image processor, which makes for strong performance in low light conditions.

On top of that, the SX540 HS boasts a whopping 50x optical zoom lens, which covers a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 24-1200mm. With that level of reach, you're going to enjoy the built-in optical image stabilization in both still photography and video recording.

Speaking of which, this digicam shoots Full 1080p HD movies at 60 frames-per-second in stereo sound. A dedicated Movie Button allows you to shoot video without having to change modes. There's also a Story Highlights feature that captures video clips before taking each still image for assembling into a highlight reel.

Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Features:

• 20.3MP High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 6 Image Processor
• 50x optical zoom lens
• 24-1200mm
• Optical Image Stabilizer
• Zoom Framing Assist
• 3.0-inch LCD screen rear display (approx. 461,000 dots)
• Full 1080p HD Video Recording
• 60 frames-per-second
• Dedicated movie button
• Stereo Sound
• Hybrid Auto mode
• Built-in Wi-FI (with a dedicated button)
• NFC

The Canon PowerShot SX540 HS is available now with a $399.99 MSRP. See our best price box at the top right to see current online pricing at various retailers.

What's in the box?:

• PowerShot SX540 HS
• Battery Pack NB-6LH
• Battery Charger CB-2LY
• Neck Strap NS-DC11
• Lens Cap (with Strap)
• (USB Interface Cable and Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM are not included)