Canon PowerShot SX740 HS vs Nikon Coolpix S32: A Hands-On, Expert Comparison for Every Photographer

When looking for a compact camera, it’s tempting to simply seek out the newest model or the flashiest zoom. But as someone who’s spent thousands of hours shooting with and testing cameras, I know that the “right” camera depends heavily on your personal photography needs and environment. Today, I’m diving deep into a head-to-head between two compact cameras from very different niches: the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS, a sleek superzoom packed with modern features, and the Nikon Coolpix S32, a rugged waterproof point-and-shoot geared toward active families and casual users.

This comparison isn’t just about specs on a sheet – I put both in my hands, tested performance across multiple photographic scenarios, and scrutinized every button and interface to provide you with an honest, nuanced perspective. Whether you’re a travel photographer craving versatility or a parent looking for a durable camera to snap family moments, this guide is designed to help you find clarity amidst the specs.

A Tale of Two Compacts: Size, Handling, and Controls

First impressions matter, and handling profoundly influences your shooting experience. The SX740 HS is styled with adult travel shooters in mind - compact enough to slip into a jacket pocket, but ergonomically shaped for confident grip and quick operation. The Nikon S32 is noticeably smaller and lighter yet feels chunkier - a deliberate choice, since it’s built for underwater use and robustness over refined ergonomics.

The Canon measures 110 x 64 x 40 mm and weighs 299 grams, while the Nikon is slightly slimmer at 108 x 66 x 40 mm but lighter at 175 grams. The weight difference is notable when carrying all day, with the Nikon’s lower mass giving it an edge for kids or casual users.

Looking from above, the SX740 sports more physical controls and a thoughtfully laid-out mode dial, shutter release, and zoom rocker that I found easy to locate blind - crucial for a shooter balancing a tripod or capturing a fleeting moment. The Nikon’s top plate feels minimalistic to the point of basic, with essential controls but fewer direct access options.

The CANON’s buttons aren’t illuminated, but the tactile feedback is crisp and satisfying; the Nikon’s controls are softer, less precise. For serious enthusiasts or pros who want quick dial-in of exposure modes, these differences matter dramatically.

Behind the Glass: Sensor Size and Image Quality Fundamentals

Arguably the heart of any camera is its sensor and how well it converts photons into pixels. Here, the Canon SX740 HS employs a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with 21 megapixels, whereas the Nikon S32 uses a smaller 1/3-inch CCD sensor with 13 megapixels. The Canon’s sensor area is approximately 28.07 mm², about 60% larger than Nikon’s 17.28 mm² sensor. This difference can dramatically affect image quality, especially in challenging light.

Larger sensors generally collect more light, support higher resolutions, and produce better dynamic range and noise control. The Canon’s BSI-CMOS architecture further improves light gathering efficiency compared to the Nikon’s older CCD design.

In testing across ISO ranges, the Canon SX740 maintained clean imagery up to ISO 800 with usable details even to ISO 1600, while the Nikon’s noisy output quickly descended beyond ISO 400. Dynamic range comparisons also favored the Canon, with shadow and highlight recovery more robust even in JPEGs. For landscape and portrait shooters demanding quality, this performance gap is a meaningful tradeoff.

Screen and Interface: How You Preview Your World

The user interface can make or break the joy of photography - fiddly menus and tiny screens often steal focus from the moment. The Canon delivers with a 3-inch tilting LCD offering 922k-dot resolution, whereas the Nikon provides a fixed 2.7-inch TFT LCD with only 230k-dot resolution and anti-reflection coating.

The tilting mechanism was invaluable for shooting from low angles during wildlife and macro sessions, and the higher screen resolution made focus checking sharper and color previews more faithful. The Nikon’s screen suffered visibly in bright daylight, and the lack of articulation limited framing creativity.

I missed touchscreen support on both cameras, but the Canon at least offers intuitive menus navigable by the rear dial and buttons, speeding up exposure adjustments. The Nikon’s basic, less responsive interface felt more like a toy camera in comparison, reinforcing its entry-level positioning.

Zoom and Focus: Reach, Speed, and Precision

Zoom range and autofocus performance dictate how versatile a compact really is. Canon’s SX740 HS shines with a whopping 40x optical zoom, covering 24–960mm equivalent focal length. The Nikon S32 tops out at just 3x optical zoom (30-90mm equivalent). This massive difference is immediately palpable; the Canon lets you stow one camera for landscapes or distant subjects alike, while the Nikon confines you to casual snapshots mostly.

Autofocus systems tell a similar story. Canon uses contrast-detect autofocus with face detection and tracking, capable of continuous AF for moving subjects and selectable AF areas. Nikon’s autofocus is much simpler: contrast-detect only, no continuous AF, no tracking, and focused on center-point AF with basic face detection.

In wildlife and sports tests, the Canon SX740 locked focus instantly on animals and fast athletes, rarely hunting or missing unless lighting was poor. The Nikon struggled to maintain focus on moving kids playing, resulting in softer images.

Build, Durability, and Weather Sealing: Going Beyond Looks

Durability is an important factor, especially if you intend to take your camera outdoors or on adventures. Here, Nikon’s Coolpix S32 shines with solid waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof credentials. It’s rated to survive drops, submersion up to 10 meters, and cold weather - thanks to robust seals and reinforced design. The camera feels reassuringly tough in hand, perfect for active families or outdoor enthusiasts who want carefree shooting.

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS, however, has no weather sealing or rugged protections. It’s a “gentleman’s” superzoom: sleek and sophisticated but best treated carefully away from rough elements. Its alloy and premium plastics feel high quality, but the SX740 is not an outdoor workhorse.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraiture demands positive skin tone reproduction, sharp eye focus, and pleasing background blur to isolate your subject. The Canon’s larger sensor and versatile lens get it more “portrait-ready” than the Nikon. The longer zoom and wider max aperture (f/3.3 to f/6.9), paired with selective autofocus including face detection, deliver sharp eyes and natural skin tones with minimal artifacts.

While neither camera has dedicated eye autofocus, the Canon’s face detection system tracked faces reliably during real-world portraits, even in mixed light. Nikon’s S32, designed more as a point-and-shoot for kids, lacked the refined autofocus performance. Skin rendering felt somewhat muted and images were softer overall due to resolution and sensor constraints.

Background blur (bokeh) is minimal on both cameras given the sensor sizes and lens apertures, but the Canon’s telephoto end allowed for slightly more subject isolation in close-ups.

Landscape and Travel: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Portability

For landscapes and travel use, image quality, ruggedness, and weight all matter. The Canon’s 21MP sensor gave me plenty of cropping latitude and delivered vibrant JPEGs straight out of the camera. The tilting screen was a bonus when shooting intricate compositions and panoramas. However, the lack of any weather sealing means you have to be cautious in harsh conditions or unexpected rain.

The Nikon S32’s ruggedness is a big plus for travel in wet or rough environments but its limited zoom and sensor size compromise image quality, especially noticeable in landscape scenes with complex dynamic range. The lower resolution can diminish fine detail capture.

Battery life favors the Canon slightly with rated 265 shots vs. Nikon’s 220 shots - enough for a day trip but packing extra batteries or power banks is advisable for longer adventures.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Tracking and Burst Performance

In my tests tracking fast birds and soccer players, the Canon’s autofocus and burst capabilities impressed. Its continuous shooting speed of 10 fps combined with intelligent AF tracking allows photographers to freeze dynamic moments sharply. The Nikon S32 maxed out at only 5 fps and its AF is single-point and slow, often missing decisive frames.

Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization helped tame camera shake with the massive telephoto zoom, critical when shooting handheld at distance.

Street and Macro Photography: Discretion and Focusing Precision

Street photography benefits from small size and fast, silent operation. The Nikon’s smaller profile and reduced noise made it less conspicuous for candid moments, though its limited zoom range truncated framing options unless you could get close.

For macro, the Canon’s minimum focus distance of 1 cm far outpaces Nikon’s 5 cm, offering more creative close-ups with fine details. Optical stabilization also helps for these delicate shots.

Night and Astro: ISO Performance and Exposure Controls

Night photography punishes small sensors, and here the Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor again outperforms the Nikon’s CCD. Canon’s ISO ceiling and noise suppression let me capture detailed handheld shots after sunset that would have been grainy on the Nikon.

The Canon also features full manual exposure modes, including shutter and aperture priority, giving creative control for long exposures and astro work. The Nikon lacks manual modes, limiting night shooting flexibility.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio

Video enthusiasts will appreciate the Canon’s 4K UHD recording at 30p in H.264 codecs, delivering sharp, smooth footage - rare in this price range. Electronic stabilization isn’t present, but the optical image stabilization smooths handheld video nicely enough for casual terrestrial shooting.

The Nikon, meanwhile, tops out at 1080p 30p with digital image stabilization, though its waterproofing may be useful for underwater video. Neither model offers microphone or headphone ports, so audio quality is limited without accessories.

Connectivity and Storage: Modern Interfaces and Convenience

Canon’s SX740 offers wireless connectivity including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC - invaluable for fast image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps. The Nikon has no wireless features, a disadvantage for workflow speed.

Both cameras support standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Canon supports UHS-I speeds beneficial for video and rapid continuous shooting.

Price and Value: What Fits Your Budget and Priorities?

At launch, the Canon SX740 retailed around $400, reflecting its advanced zoom, sensor size, and feature set. The Nikon S32 was about $180, targeting entry-level buyers needing rugged simplicity.

Considering performance per dollar, the Canon commands a premium but delivers better image quality, versatility, and modern conveniences. The Nikon’s robust waterproof design and ease-of-use justify its price for specific use cases.

Final Scores and Recommendations

After comprehensive testing and evaluation, here is a summary of strengths and weaknesses along with my recommendations.

Who Should Choose the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS?

• Enthusiasts who want high zoom versatility for travel, wildlife, and landscape.
• Photographers needing better low-light performance and manual exposure control.
• Users who want modern connectivity and 4K video.
• Those who prioritize image quality and creative flexibility over ruggedness.

Who Should Consider the Nikon Coolpix S32?

• Families looking for a durable, waterproof kid-friendly camera.
• Casual shooters who want a simple, easy-to-use device without many controls.
• Outdoor adventurers who want a camera that survives water, dust, and shocks.
• Buyers on a tighter budget prioritizing tough construction over imaging finesse.

Conclusion: Matching Cameras to Your Photographic Life

Choosing between the Canon SX740 HS and Nikon S32 is really about matching the camera to your lifestyle and priorities. The Canon is the superior imaging tool overall, with modern features, high zoom, and rich controls that serve casual to semi-pro purposes beautifully. Its tilt screen, fast AF, and 4K video place it well ahead for serious creatives.

Conversely, the Nikon S32 offers ruggedness and simplicity unmatched at this price, making it a dependable companion for family outings or active, outdoor play where accidents or moisture are risk factors.

I hope my detailed comparison helps you understand which of these cameras better fits your photographic journey. In my experience, investing in a camera that aligns with the way you shoot and the environments you frequent yields the greatest satisfaction and success.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or to share your experiences with either camera - I’m always eager to hear fellow photographers’ stories!

Canon SX740 HS front Canon SX740 HS screen back Nikon S32 front Nikon S32 screen back

Sample gallery illustrating differences in sharpness, zoom reach, and color rendition between Canon SX740 HS and Nikon S32 in varied conditions.

Disclosure: I have no direct affiliations with Canon or Nikon. All tests were conducted independently on production units, adhering to rigorous methodologies including evaluation of RAW/DNG processing where applicable, subjective and objective image quality assessments utilizing software tools, and real-world shooting scenarios reflective of common practice.

Thank you for reading my in-depth comparison! Stay inspired and keep creating.