The PowerShot SX240 HS is the SX260 HS without GPS, and it costs less as a result.
The look has changed a little. The SX240 HS comes in black or silver, and a rubber strip on the right-hand grip gives you a firmer hold.
Everything else carries over from the SX260 HS: the 20x optical zoom (4.5–90mm) with optical image stabilization, the 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and the DIGIC 5 processor. Stills go up to 4000 x 3000 pixels (4:3). Video tops out at 1080p and 24 fps, and there’s a pop-up flash.
Canon Powershot SX240 HS Digital Camera – Silver (12.1 MP, 20x Optical Zoom) 3.2 Inch LCD: Buy it now
Canon Powershot SX240 HS Digital Camera – Red(12.1 MP, 20x Optical Zoom) 3.2 Inch LCD: Buy it now
The back of the Canon PowerShot SX240 HS is also designed to look exactly like the PowerShot SX260 HS brother. Still a 3-inch LCD monitor (with a wide viewing angle of 461,000 pixels) occupies almost the entire rear of the machine. The control system on the PowerShot SX240 HS also includes a function wheel, stand-alone button, image review button, navigation button cluster, on / off information display on the screen and Menu button.
On the same machine is a pop up flash, stereo microphone and built-in speaker, snapshot button with zoom ring and power button.
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS is also equipped with USB / AV Out and mini HDMI port as brother PowerShot SX260 HS.
The Canon PowerShot SX240 HS supports SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card formats. The NB-6L rechargeable battery comes with a 230-shot unit (information from the company). Other accessories included with the strap include strap, battery charger, software CD and user manual.
Key features
You buy this camera for the zoom. It’s 20x, which works out to 25–500mm in 35mm terms: wide enough for a landscape at one end, and long enough to fill the frame with something far away at the other. Canon’s Intelligent IS handles stabilization.
Behind the lens sit a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 5 processor. Canon sells the pairing as its HS (High Sensitivity) System, which in practice means cleaner pictures when the light drops.
On the mode dial you’ll find Auto, Program, Shutter Priority (Tv), Aperture Priority (Av) and Manual, plus scene presets like Portrait, Landscape and Night Scene. Full manual control is rare on something this small, and it makes the camera a good way to learn how exposure works.
For video, a dedicated button starts 1080p recording at 24 fps, and you can zoom while filming.
Performance
Focus locks on quickly and reliably, and face detection does a good job with portraits.
Photos come out detailed, with good color. ISO goes from 100 to 3200. I’d keep it at 1600 or below; 3200 works in a pinch, but the noise shows.
At full zoom the stabilization keeps up, and macro mode will focus down to 5cm.
Video is smooth and detailed, with clear audio from the stereo mic. For holiday clips and family events, that’s plenty.
Start-up is quick, and burst mode runs at 10.3 frames per second. The catch is that it stops after 10 frames to save them. That’s enough for someone blowing out birthday candles, but a kid’s football match will outlast it.
Handling
The SX240 HS doesn’t take long to learn. Menu items sit where you’d expect them, and with the mode dial and a few dedicated buttons, you’ll rarely need to open the menus anyway.
The 3-inch, 460,000-dot LCD is bright, and on playback you can zoom in far enough to check focus. There’s no touchscreen. The buttons are quick, though, so you probably won’t miss it much.
Canon rates the NB-6L battery at around 230 shots per charge. That’s typical for this class of camera, and typical isn’t much. On a long day out you’ll likely run out before the day does, so pack a second battery.
Connectivity and flash
There’s USB 2.0 for transfers and HDMI out for viewing on a TV. There’s no Wi-Fi. A wireless SD card can fill that gap, at the cost of extra money and setup.
The built-in flash has Auto, On, Slow Sync and Off modes. It lights low-light scenes adequately and includes red-eye reduction.
Against the competition
The closest rivals are the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. Both also have 20x zooms and good image quality, so the zoom alone doesn’t set the Canon apart. The Sony is fast and adds 3D shooting modes, which most buyers will treat as a novelty.
What’s good
20x zoom with effective stabilization
Good low-light results for a small sensor
Full manual exposure modes
1080p video with zoom and stereo sound
Simple, quick controls
Small and light
What’s not
No Wi-Fi
Around 230 shots per charge
No touchscreen
Burst mode stops after 10 frames
Verdict
The SX240 HS gives you a long zoom that stays steady at full stretch, plus manual control and good video, in a camera that fits in a jacket pocket. The biggest thing holding it back is the lack of Wi-Fi. Battery life is only average, and burst mode runs out of frames quickly. Still, if you want a lot of reach in a small body and don’t mind moving photos over by cable, I’d recommend it.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.