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Canon SX730 HS

 
Canon PowerShot SX730 HS front
 
Portability
88
Imaging
47
Features
59
Overall
51

Canon SX730 HS overview

Canon SX730 HS is Canon's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera first announced on April of 2017. It houses a 20.3 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 5184 x 3888.

Canon released this model in an effort to improve the older Canon SX720 HS (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently released the newer Canon SX740 HS (Read Full Comparison) as a way to improve this model.

The SX730 HS stands at #11 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all round #413 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to test our Smart camera search to get camera rankings based on your personal requirements.

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The following is a diagram of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Canon SX730 HS history

The Canon SX730 HS comes with a history of related cameras. Below, you can look at all past and newer models alongside important specs.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-SX70-HS front thumbnailCanon SX70 HS
SX730 HS vs SX70 HS
21-1365mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2018
Canon-PowerShot-SX740-HS front thumbnailCanon SX740 HS
SX730 HS vs SX740 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
21MP1/2.3"2018
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Canon-PowerShot-SX730-HS front thumbnailCanon SX730 HS24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2017
Canon-PowerShot-SX620-HS front thumbnailCanon SX620 HS
SX730 HS vs SX620 HS
25-625mm
F3.2-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX720-HS front thumbnailCanon SX720 HS
SX730 HS vs SX720 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX420-IS front thumbnailCanon SX420 IS
SX730 HS vs SX420 IS
24-1008mm
F3.5-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
Photography Glossary
Canon-PowerShot-SX540-HS front thumbnailCanon SX540 HS
SX730 HS vs SX540 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX410-IS front thumbnailCanon SX410 IS
SX730 HS vs SX410 IS
24-960mm
F3.5-5.6
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX610-HS front thumbnailCanon SX610 HS
SX730 HS vs SX610 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX710-HS front thumbnailCanon SX710 HS
SX730 HS vs SX710 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX530-HS front thumbnailCanon SX530 HS
SX730 HS vs SX530 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Canon-PowerShot-SX60-HS front thumbnailCanon SX60 HS
SX730 HS vs SX60 HS
21-1365mm
F3.4-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX400-IS front thumbnailCanon SX400 IS
SX730 HS vs SX400 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX520-HS front thumbnailCanon SX520 HS
SX730 HS vs SX520 HS
24-1008mm
F3.4-6.0
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX700-HS front thumbnailCanon SX700 HS
SX730 HS vs SX700 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX600-HS front thumbnailCanon SX600 HS
SX730 HS vs SX600 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX510-HS front thumbnailCanon SX510 HS
SX730 HS vs SX510 HS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX170-IS front thumbnailCanon SX170 IS
SX730 HS vs SX170 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX160-IS front thumbnailCanon SX160 IS
SX730 HS vs SX160 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Canon-PowerShot-SX270-HS front thumbnailCanon SX270 HS
SX730 HS vs SX270 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX280-HS front thumbnailCanon SX280 HS
SX730 HS vs SX280 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX50-HS front thumbnailCanon SX50 HS
SX730 HS vs SX50 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX500-IS front thumbnailCanon SX500 IS
SX730 HS vs SX500 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX260-HS front thumbnailCanon SX260 HS
SX730 HS vs SX260 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX150-IS front thumbnailCanon SX150 IS
SX730 HS vs SX150 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX240-HS front thumbnailCanon SX240 HS
SX730 HS vs SX240 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX40-HS front thumbnailCanon SX40 HS
SX730 HS vs SX40 HS
24-840mm
F2.7-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SD4500-IS front thumbnailCanon SD4500 IS
SX730 HS vs SD4500 IS
36-360mm
F3.4-5.6
10MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SX230-HS front thumbnailCanon SX230 HS
SX730 HS vs SX230 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
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Canon-SX220-HS front thumbnailCanon SX220 HS
SX730 HS vs SX220 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SX30-IS front thumbnailCanon SX30 IS
SX730 HS vs SX30 IS
24-840mm
F2.7-5.8
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX130-IS front thumbnailCanon SX130 IS
SX730 HS vs SX130 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD4000-IS front thumbnailCanon SD4000 IS
SX730 HS vs SD4000 IS
28-105mm
F2.0-5.3
10MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX20-IS front thumbnailCanon SX20 IS
SX730 HS vs SX20 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX210-IS front thumbnailCanon SX210 IS
SX730 HS vs SX210 IS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD3500-IS front thumbnailCanon SD3500 IS
SX730 HS vs SD3500 IS
24-120mm
F2.8-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD1300-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1300 IS
SX730 HS vs SD1300 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SD980-IS front thumbnailCanon SD980 IS
SX730 HS vs SD980 IS
24-120mm
F2.8-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX200-IS front thumbnailCanon SX200 IS
SX730 HS vs SX200 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.3
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX1-IS front thumbnailCanon SX1 IS
SX730 HS vs SX1 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
10MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD970-IS front thumbnailCanon SD970 IS
SX730 HS vs SD970 IS
37-185mm
F3.2-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD960-IS front thumbnailCanon SD960 IS
SX730 HS vs SD960 IS
28-112mm
F2.8-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SD1200-IS front thumbnailCanon SD1200 IS
SX730 HS vs SD1200 IS
35-105mm
F2.8-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX10-IS front thumbnailCanon SX10 IS
SX730 HS vs SX10 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
10MP1/2.3"2009

Canon SX730 HS Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of positives and negatives of the Canon SX730 HS based on criterias which are usually viewed as crucial in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
built-in flash
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with HDMI port
connects via bluetooth
decent sized screen (3 inches)
display is selfie friendly
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (300 grams)
manual focus
NFC support
pretty wide (24mm)
provides face detection focusing
provides tracking autofocus
screen has good resolution (922 k dot)
screen tilts
sensor resolution is decent (20.3MP)
very good min ISO (80)
very long zoom (960mm)
cannot use external flash
does not have phase detect AF
does not have RAW support
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low battery (250 CIPA)
max zoom aperture not good (f6.9)
no external microphone port
no headphone port
no Timelapse mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
slow continuous shooting (5.9 frames per second)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Canon SX730 HS Sensor specs

The Canon SX730 HS houses the DIGIC 6 chip. The sensor dimension in the Canon SX730 HS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 5184 x 3888 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 20.3MP and delivers a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. Sadly, RAW photos are not supported which means that you have less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath displays the SX730 HS's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The SX730 HS sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is highlighted in green.

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS sensor size Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon SX730 HS dimensions

Canon SX730 HS weighs in at 0.66 pounds (300 grams or 10.58 ounces) and the dimensions of the camera is 110mm x 64mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.6"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams so the Canon SX730 HS is lighter as compared to various competitors.

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Down below is a picture of the Canon SX730 HS alongside a soft drink to help you have a feel for its size.

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS dimensions scale

The top view under will illustrate the button layout on the SX730 HS.

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS topview buttons dials

Canon SX730 HS Lens details

The SX730 HS has got a fixed lens offering a focal range of 24-960mm giving it a 40.0 x zoom which is significant and can let you zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 24mm, the lens will have an aperture of f3.3 making it really sluggish and not the best in low light events and you will probably find it hard to capture good bokeh. You could also have to increase your ISO setting which results in noisy images. Towards the long end, 960mm is terrific zoom and comes at f6.9 making it quite sluggish and you may have to use slower shutter speeds.

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Canon SX730 HS Connectivity

The SX730 HS has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that consist of NFC and / or Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily send images and in some cases change settings with no need to connect directly with the camera.

Some apps also enable a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external display. Virtually all cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB port.

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Canon SX730 HS Video details

The maximum video resolution in the Canon SX730 HS is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance for video quality and file size but FULL HD will not leave you with much room to downsample. The body doesn't feature a mic and / or headphone jack which means you have absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to buy another model if you want decent audio in your videos.

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Canon SX730 HS Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing for the Canon SX730 HS so you have to be cautious in wet or dusty situations.

Canon SX730 HS Screen and Viewfinder

The Canon SX730 HS is equipped with a 3" tilting display screen having a resolution of 922k dots.

It has a selfie friendly screen to shoot self portraits and group shots when needed. Please be aware that the display offers no touch support.

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The View Finder specs regarding Canon SX730 HS are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be really beneficial for sunny outdoor situations which will make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to view.

Canon SX730 HS Shutter details

Canon SX730 HS has the ability to shoot continuously at 5.9 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/3200 seconds.

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Canon SX730 HS Flash and Hot shoe details

Canon SX730 HS boasts just in-built flash without external flash ability.

Canon SX730 HS Autofocusing details

Canon SX730 HS boasts only Contrast Detect Autofocus and does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot snappier and exact as compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera supports Face detection which makes it useful for portrait photography.

It also has Tracking Autofocus for things that move. Canon SX730 HS boasts manual focus if needed for low light conditions or you want to have more precise control on focus.

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Canon SX730 HS Battery life

The battery for the Canon SX730 HS is designed to last for 250 photos based on the CIPA measurements making it lesser in comparison with its competitors. The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has the highest possible (600) battery life for this class of cameras.

Below is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that have the strongest battery life:

Canon SX730 HS for various forms of photography

The following diagram displays a analysis of the Canon SX730 HS for various forms of photography. To understand more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Canon SX730 HS Portrait photography features

The Canon SX730 HS gets a points total of 48 which is decent, and means the camera is somewhat suitable to use for portrait photos. Taking portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support plus the capability to utilize external lighting.

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manual focus
resolution is good (20.3 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Canon SX730 HS Street photography features

With a above average points total of 69, the Canon SX730 HS is a fine option for street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (300 grams)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Canon SX730 HS as a Sports photography camera

A average sports photography points tally of 48 indicates the Canon SX730 HS is fairly suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs good focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3MP)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (5.9 frames per second)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (250 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus

Canon SX730 HS Travel photography details

Size is very critical in choosing a travel camera. All things considered, the Canon SX730 HS gets a nice 72 for a travelling camera which makes it a good choice for your vacations.

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lighter than competition in class (300g)
has bluetooth
decent MP (20.3 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (960mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery (250 per charge)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)

Landscape photography with Canon SX730 HS

For anyone planning to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the most vital factor will no doubt be image quality. The Canon SX730 HS and it's moderate grade of 50 for a landscape camera is relatively suitable amongst its rivals.

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manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20.3MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery power (250 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode

Canon SX730 HS as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging should offer a articulating display, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything in to account, the Canon SX730 HS is a very decent option as a vlog camera as it gets a very good score of 74.

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relatively wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (300 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no mic socket

Canon SX730 HS Alternatives

If you are interested in replacements to the SX730 HS, below is a number of the highest placed cameras that fall in to the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line graph just below provides you a bird's eye view of the SX730 HS vs it's highest scoring rivals listed above.

These are various other cameras you may regard as alternative options. To look at a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Brand
Canon
Model
Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed
2017-04-06
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Chip
DIGIC 6
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20.3 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
5184 x 3888
RAW format
Maximum native ISO
3200
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-960mm (40.0x)
Highest aperture
f/3.3-6.9
Macro focus range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of screen
Tilting
Screen sizing
3 inches
Screen resolution
922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
15s
Maximum shutter speed
1/3200s
Continuous shooting speed
5.9 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
4.00 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options
Auto, on, slow synchro, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
300 gr (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions
110 x 64 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.6")
Other
Battery life
250 photos
Battery form
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs, self-timer)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots
One
Cost at launch
$399