Canon PowerShot SX730 HS vs SX740 HS: Which Compact Superzoom Reigns Supreme?

When Canon announced the PowerShot SX730 HS in early 2017 and followed up with the SX740 HS just a year later, they were clearly targeting enthusiasts and travelers craving a powerful, pocketable superzoom camera. Both pack a 24-960mm equivalent 40x zoom lens in a compact body, but the SX740 HS brings tangible updates. Having personally tested both models extensively in diverse shooting scenarios, I’m here to walk you through their strengths, quirks, and which might suit your photography style better.

So, is upgrading from the SX730 worth your time and money, or does the older model still punch above its weight? Let’s dig in.

A Tale of Two Models: First Impressions and Body Design

At a glance, the Canon SX730 HS and SX740 HS look nearly identical. Both feature a small, compact form factor designed for travel friendliness without compromising a telephoto reach rarely found in similarly sized cameras.

The dimensions: 110 x 64 x 40 mm with weights hovering around 299-300 grams - remarkably light for carrying around all day. Handling both, I found the grip comfortable for casual shooting, though extended sessions can get a bit cramped, given the petite frame and untextured grip surfaces.

Take a peek at the top view layout:

Here, both are minimalist. The mode dial offers PASM and a handful of automated options, plus a zoom lever and shutter button. No customizable buttons or joysticks, so navigation can feel somewhat limited if you prefer quick control tweaks. Unlike DSLRs or more advanced mirrorless models, manual adjustments here aren’t as tactile or speedy.

The tilting 3-inch screens (no touchscreen functionality, mind you) both provide decent resolution at 922k dots. They tilt upward nearly 180 degrees, great for selfies or vlogging - yes, both cameras are selfie-friendly. The SX740 adds minimal improvements in screen articulation, but generally, the rear interface remains the same.

No electronic viewfinder on either, so composing in bright sunlight means relying on the rear LCD, which can be tricky outdoors. If you’re accustomed to viewfinders, these models might feel limiting, but for street or casual travel photography, I often found the bright LCD adequate.

Sensor and Image Quality: Tiny Sensor, Big Expectations?

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor - a small sensor by advanced photography standards, measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with roughly 20-21 megapixels resolution.

For compact superzoom cameras, this sensor size is typical. It won’t compete with APS-C or full-frame sensors on dynamic range or noise performance but balances zoom range and portability.

Technically, the SX730 HS packs 20.3 MP, while the SX740 HS edges slightly higher at 21 MP. Both include an anti-aliasing filter and max native ISO rated at 3200. In my side-by-side image tests (see gallery below), image resolution and detail fidelity are very close. The SX740's newer DIGIC 8 processor theoretically helps noise reduction and color reproduction, especially in low light, but the difference is subtle unless you pixel-peep.

Canon SX730 HS front Canon SX730 HS screen back Canon SX740 HS front Canon SX740 HS screen back

Wide-open at f/3.3 at the 24mm equivalent end, they deliver sharp details, and the 40x zoom lens maintains decent sharpness up to about 600mm equivalent at full telephoto. After that, diffraction and lens softness become noticeable.

Regarding color and skin tones for portraits, both produce pleasing, natural skin rendering typical of Canon’s color science - warm but not oversaturated. However, keep in mind the limited aperture range (f/3.3-6.9) restricts shallow depth-of-field effects - so don’t expect buttery bokeh when shooting portraits wide open.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking Moving Subjects

Autofocus systems in both rely on contrast-detection rather than more sophisticated phase detection autofocus (PDAF). This means speed and accuracy under tricky conditions (dim light, fast action) lag behind more advanced cameras.

That said, the SX740 HS stepped up shooting speed with continuous burst rates hitting 10fps, versus the SX730 HS’s 5.9fps. In real-world wildlife and sports tests, this means the SX740 is better equipped to catch decisive moments - say a bird taking flight or a soccer player dashing past.

Both offer face detection AF, which works well for portraits, though neither includes specialized eye detection or animal eye AF - disappointing for wildlife photographers. Tracking moving subjects can be a hit or miss depending on contrast and lighting, but the SX740 HS consistently showed a more reliable focus lock.

Ergonomics and User Experience: Controls and Interface

Both models offer manual exposure modes (shutter and aperture priority, and full manual), but the interface can be clunky due to the simplified control scheme. The lack of touchscreen mandates navigating menus with buttons only, and with no customizable buttons, you might spend extra time digging through submenus.

Personally, I learned to live with the limitations because these cameras excel at offering an all-in-one travel solution without the heft of bigger systems. If you’re used to finger control dials or customizable keys on higher-end gear, this might feel like a step backwards, but for beginners or casual users, the simplicity is manageable.

Battery life is typical for small sensor compacts, rated at 250 shots for the SX730 and improved slightly to 265 shots on the SX740 HS. Real-world use during travel shot days matched these specs closely - pack a spare battery if you plan to shoot extensively.

Lens and Zoom Performance: That Incredible 40x Reach

The headline here: both pack the same 24-960mm equivalent 40x zoom with maximum apertures f/3.3 to f/6.9 - quite versatile for everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife.

The close focusing distance goes down to 1cm in macro, allowing for some surprisingly detailed close-ups for a compact. Image stabilization is optical on both, crucial for handholding at long focal lengths and in low light.

Optical stabilization effectively tamed camera shake during my handheld zoom shots, especially beyond 600mm equivalent. Be aware that at the longest zoom, image quality softens quite noticeably - unavoidable for such an extreme zoom range in a compact design.

If you prioritize telephoto reach in a travel-friendly camera, both deliver solidly, with near-identical gear. Just don’t expect razor-sharp images at 960mm.

Video Capabilities: 4K Tips the Scale

Here the SX740 HS gains a meaningful upgrade - 4K video recording (3840 x 2160p at 30fps), compared to the SX730 HS maxing out at Full HD 1080p 60fps.

For casual videographers or vloggers, that’s a major difference. The SX740’s 4K video quality presents crisper footage with more flexibility for cropping or stabilizing in post. Both record in MP4 using H.264 codec but note neither camera offers microphone or headphone jacks for advanced audio.

Built-in stabilization smooths handheld video, but at 4K, slight rolling shutter artifacts can appear if panning quickly. For the novice aiming for simple travel videos, this 4K feature alone justifies leaning towards the SX740 HS.

Specialized Photography Genres: Where Do They Shine?

Portraits

Skin tones look natural on both; however, the lack of raw capture and limited aperture range hinder creative control over depth of field and retouching flexibility. Eye detection autofocus is absent, so you need to be patient for tack-sharp portraits. Still, the tilt screen aids framing for self-portraits or groups.

Landscapes

Dynamic range is limited by the tiny sensor, so shooting in RAW (which neither camera supports) would have helped but is unavailable. You’ll want to stick to scenes with even lighting or bracket exposures manually. Weather sealing is absent, so take care in harsh environments. The 24mm wide end and decent resolution allow respectable landscape shots.

Wildlife

The 40x zoom lens shines here, especially on the SX740 with faster burst shooting (10fps). Autofocus tracking isn’t cutting-edge, nor is animal eye AF, but it’s adequate for casual wildlife. The compact size is a boon for walking through trails.

Sports

Similar story as wildlife - 10fps on the SX740 is competitive for a compact superzoom, yet its AF lag and limited continuous autofocus modalities constrain performance during fast action scenes.

Street

Compact size and tiltable LCD make both good fits for street photography, though conspicuous lens zooming can attract some attention. Low light performance is middling, so you’ll often crank ISO and sacrifice image quality.

Macro

Close focusing down to 1cm is impressive here, allowing you to capture small details with ease. The stabilization helps keep shots steady, but max aperture limits background blur.

Night/Astro

Small sensor noise and limited ISO max out at 3200, so you get noisy images in dark scenes compared to larger-sensor cameras. No bulb mode or advanced exposure features reduce astrophotography potential.

Travel

Both are fantastic travel companions, offering extreme zoom in pocket-sized designs. Light weight and wireless features help. The SX740’s slightly better battery life and 4K video are nice pluses.

Professional Use

Neither are designed for professional workflows. Absence of raw, limited manual controls, and no weather sealing make them better suited as secondary or casual cameras.

Connectivity and Storage: Seamless Sharing

Both cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC for easy pairing to smartphones. During testing, connectivity was reliable and simple to set up via Canon’s app, enabling quick image transfer or remote camera control.

Storage comes via a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot in both, with the SX740 supporting UHS-I cards for faster write speeds. USB 2.0 and HDMI ports are present but basic - no USB-C or microphone input for video upgrades, regrettably.

Pricing and Value: Budget-Friendly All-Rounders

Now, let’s address the elephant - value. At launch, both carried similar price points around $399, making them affordable superzoom options.

While neither scores high in raw imaging power or professional features, their blend of zoom reach, compactness, and ease-of-use is appealing for casual enthusiasts and travelers.

Given the SX740 HS’s modest but meaningful improvements in processor, burst shooting, video capabilities, and battery life, it presents slightly better value for a small premium.

The Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS if:

• You want a lightweight, travel-friendly camera with extensive telephoto reach but are content shooting Full HD video only.
• Budget-conscious buyers who find the slightly older SX730 at discounts attractive.
• You prioritize simplicity over the fastest continuous shooting speeds.

Opt for the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS if:

• 4K video recording is important (vloggers, casual filmmakers).
• You want improved burst rates (up to 10fps) for wildlife or sports shooting.
• Battery life and slightly enhanced processing bring benefit to your shooting style.
• Wireless connectivity with quick transfer speeds via UHS-I SD cards is a priority.

To Wrap Up: A Compact Zoom for the Enthusiast on the Go

Neither Canon PowerShot SX730 HS nor SX740 HS will rival the power of bigger sensor systems or advanced mirrorless cameras, but they carve out a unique, practical niche. Portability, extreme zoom, and approachable controls make them ideal for travel, everyday snapshots, and casual video.

Personally, I lean toward the SX740 HS as the better all-arounder - the upgrade in speed and video is just too good to overlook for such a small body and price bracket. However, if you stumble on an SX730 HS with a killer deal, it’s still a reliable companion.

Dear Canon, if you’re listening - a touchscreen, raw support, and improved autofocus would make future SX models irresistible. Meanwhile, these cameras remain solid choices if you want superzoom versatility without the bulk or complexity.

Happy shooting!

All photo samples and technical analyses are results derived from my firsthand in-field testing and comparisons. For detailed image galleries and side-by-side pixel peeks, see the included galleries above.