X

Photos and image samples: Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

CNET Reviews staff
1 of 7 CNET Networks
The SX100's scroll dial seems nicer in theory than in practice; frequently, when trying to change the shutter speed, I would accidentally click and end up changing the focus or ISO settings. It takes a while to get accustomed to the feel to prevent that from happening.
2 of 7 CNET Networks
The top-mounted zoom switch and a relatively large mode dial keep the SX100's body from shrinking too much, but the camera is slim enough to fit comfortably in a jacket pocket.
32471277-SIC1-440.jpg
3 of 7 Lori Grunin
Although the SX100 has some color reproduction issues with reds--these flowers are a completely different shade in reality--it nevertheless produces vivid, saturated colors without going overboard. In general, photos looked evenly and correctly exposed.
32471277-SIC2-440.jpg
4 of 7 Lori Grunin
At its widest angle, the SX100 displays some--but not a lot--of barrel distortion. Because the distortion is reasonably symmetrical, it's less disturbing as a lens artifact. (Lines overlaid in Photoshop.)
32471277-SIC3-440.jpg
5 of 7 Lori Grunin
Fringing doesn't seem to pose a significant problem for the SX100, but there is some and what's there is colorful: In addition to purple and yellow, my photos also display magenta halos on high-contrast borders.
32471277-SIC4-440.jpg
6 of 7 Lori Grunin
Overall, the SX100's lens renders sharp images, on the edges as well as in the center.
32471277-SIC5-440.jpg
7 of 7 Lori Grunin
For a comparatively inexpensive camera, the SX100 displays a pretty good noise profile. Detail only begins to degrade at ISO 400 and is still usable at ISO 800. At ISO 1,600, though there's quite a bit of smeariness, there's still very little color noise (for the camera's price class).

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos