The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS has a built-in 65x optical zoom, running from 21mm to 1,365mm in 35mm equivalent terms. When it launched in 2014, that was one of the longest zooms on any camera. At 21mm you can fit in a whole room or landscape, and at full zoom you can fill the frame with a bird across a field.
Highlights:
CMOS BSI sensor, 16.1 megapixel resolution
65x optical zoom lens, 21-1.365mm conversion focal length, f / 3.4-6.5 aperture
Equipped with image stabilization features
Screen folding, size 3 inches, 921,000 pixels
Electronic viewfinder (EVF), 922,000 pixels
Connect to Wi-Fi and NFC
Full HD movie recording at 60 fps
ISO 100 – ISO 3200
Continuous shooting speed reaches 6.4 fps
Equipped with face detection and AF tracking
Take close-up macro shots at a distance of 0-50cm
Supports PASM / RAW format
External flash slot
The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS does not have much to impress on Test Lab as it focuses too much on focus without improving image quality and processing capabilities.
Pros: Large zoom range; LCD flexible; Support for RAW format.
Cons: Focus in slow light conditions; Image quality is not high at ISO 800 or higher.
Design
Like most cameras of this type, the SX60 HS is designed as a miniature DSLR with handles and viewfinder quite prominent, all keys or control ring are arranged properly. A shortcut button on the top of the machine can be customized to be flexible to the user; This feature can help set functions such as AF lock or exposure lock. One notable feature in the SX60 HS’s design is that it’s part of a metal-clad lens, but this does not make it any more impressive than the high-end camera.
Viewfinder and screen
The SX60 HS is equipped with an EVF electronic viewfinder with a 100% field of view and it is a big improvement over the previous generation Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. 922,000 pixel viewfinder is not really high quality, color saturation is not good and difficult to use in low light conditions. The SX60 HS is also equipped with a sensor to help convert LCD to EVF when users turn their eyes to the viewfinder. The high-quality LCD monitor with 921,000 pixels and flexible rotating capabilities, unfortunately not support touch.
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Efficiency to use
The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS starts up quickly, and the zoom is fast too. Going from wide angle to the full 65x takes about two seconds, quicker than you’d expect from a lens that long. Burst shooting reaches 6.4 frames per second in JPEG, but it drops to 3.4 fps with continuous autofocus on. That’s enough for kids and pets, not for sports or birds in flight.
Speed in daylight conditions is fine, but at the telephoto focus is relatively difficult to use and in low light conditions it is slow to operate, taking 2-3 seconds to focus. This AF speed may cause you to miss exciting moments.
Battery performance has improved in the Canon SX60 HS, Test Lab can capture about 300 shots and a few short videos after a full charge. It also supports Wi-Fi, NFC for wireless file transfer and remote capture control.
Image quality
Image quality is commensurate with what Test Lab expects from a 1 / 2.3inch sensor, which is the same size used in low end compacts and is quite similar in size to some phones at the top.
Overall, the picture was good but the pixel quality was not high. Exposure and white balance automatically work well, color is quite good under normal lighting conditions but in high contrast situations, the ability to handle bright areas is not good. In terms of noise efficiency, the PowerShot SX60 HS does not do too bad, the image is clean at ISO 100 and the best image quality comes with an ISO sensitivity of up to 400, but the image starts to lose detail ISO 800 rating.
User Experience
Ease of use
The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS works fine in full auto for beginners, but it also has enough buttons and manual control to keep more experienced shooters happy. The menus are clearly labeled and quick to learn.
The screen flips out to the side and rotates, which helps more than you’d expect on a camera like this. Shooting at full zoom, from the ground or over a crowd is much easier when you can tilt the screen toward you.
Image review and playback
Photos show on a 3-inch screen. You can zoom in, check the histogram and see the shooting settings for each shot. You can also rate images and run a slideshow in camera. It’s enough to check shots on the spot, but serious sorting is better done on a computer.
Portability and travel
The SX60 HS is a bridge camera, with a DSLR style grip and a weight of around 650g. You’ll need a bag for it, not a pocket.
The size comes from the 65x zoom lens, which reaches from wide angle shots out to birds and other distant subjects, so you won’t need to carry extra lenses. On a trip, most people will happily carry the extra weight for that.
Pros and cons
Pros:
65x optical zoom covers almost any subject in one lens
16.1-megapixel sensor and DIGIC 6 processor give sharp images in good light
Clear controls and a fully articulating screen
Full HD 1080p video
Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for sending photos to a phone and remote shooting
Cons:
Small 1/2.3-inch sensor, so images get noisy in low light
Contrast detection autofocus, slower than the phase detection systems in DSLRs
Plastic body
Large and heavy for a “compact” camera
No touchscreen
Final thoughts
The SX60 HS is for people who want a huge zoom without buying and carrying extra lenses. In daylight the images are sharp, and the articulating screen is a real help at full zoom, when holding the camera at eye level gets tiring. Wi-Fi is handy for getting photos onto a phone.
The small sensor holds it back indoors and at night, and the autofocus can lag with fast subjects. For travel and distant wildlife in good light, it’s good value. If most of your shooting happens in dim light, look at something with a larger sensor instead.
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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.