Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Review: A Pocket Superzoom for Beginners

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS sits in a category that once felt like a contradiction: a truly pocketable camera with a zoom lens long enough to reach across a football field. Released in 2018 and still widely available, it has become a quiet favourite among travellers who want reach without the bulk of a mirrorless kit. For anyone stepping up from a smartphone but not ready to commit to interchangeable lenses, this little Canon offers a 40x optical zoom in a body that slips into a jacket pocket.

I have been carrying compact cameras through airports and beach towns for years, and the appeal of the SX740 HS is simple: one device, one lens, almost every focal length a casual photographer might want. On a recent trip along the east coast, it barely registered as extra weight in a daypack. That kind of convenience shapes how and when you shoot, which is why compact superzooms remain relevant even in a world of excellent phone cameras.

Design, build and everyday handling

The SX740 HS weighs roughly 299 grams with battery and card, light enough that a wrist strap is almost a necessity. The textured front grip is shallow but defined enough to keep the camera steady when extending the lens to its longest reach. Controls follow a familiar Canon layout, with a mode dial on top, a dedicated movie record button and a control ring around the lens for quick zoom or manual focus adjustments.

The 3-inch tilting LCD is the most useful physical feature for travel shooters. It flips 180 degrees upward, which is ideal for low-angle compositions of tide pools at Bondi Beach or for framing yourself against the Melbourne skyline. Build quality is plastic, as expected at this tier, though the camera feels solid enough to survive being tossed in a backpack for a weekend in the Blue Mountains. Battery life is rated at around 265 shots per charge, which is realistic; carrying a spare NB-13L battery is wise for a full day of shooting.

Zoom reach and image quality

The headline feature is the 24-960mm equivalent zoom range, paired with a 20.3-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor and Canon's DIGIC 8 processor. In good light, results are pleasing: colours are Canon-typical warm, JPEG sharpening is restrained, and the metering generally handles tricky scenes like backlit harbour views without too much fuss. The wide end is useful for cramped interiors, such as laneway cafes in Melbourne or hostel common rooms.

At the long end, image stabilisation makes a meaningful difference. Handholding at 800mm or beyond is genuinely possible for stationary subjects, which opens up wildlife photography without a tripod. I managed usable frames of kookaburras in eucalyptus branches and a wary kangaroo at a distance near a walking track, neither of which would have been possible with a phone. The trade-off is sensor size: in low light, noise becomes visible, and the smaller pixels struggle compared to larger-sensor compacts.

RAW capture is not offered, which limits post-processing flexibility. For beginners who prefer to share images directly from camera or phone, this is rarely a concern. The SX740 HS is built for people who want a good-looking JPEG straight out of the camera, and on that front it delivers reliably for daylight travel photography.

Video, connectivity and creative modes

4K video at 30fps is a useful inclusion, though it comes with a noticeable crop that reduces wide-angle reach. For casual clips of street scenes in Adelaide or family moments at a cricket match, the footage is sharp and well-exposed, with smooth autofocus for this class. Full HD at 60fps offers better low-light performance and less rolling shutter when panning across moving subjects.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connect through Canon's Camera Connect app, transferring photos to a phone in seconds for quick social sharing. The app also enables remote shooting with live view, doubling as a simple solution for group photos. Built-in creative filters, including miniature and grainy monochrome, add fun without needing editing software. The pop-up flash is basic but functional for fill light during dim dinners or indoor gatherings.

Field testing across Australian conditions

Carrying the SX740 HS from Sydney to regional Victoria gave a fair sense of its strengths. At the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, the wide end captured the scale of the cliffs, while the zoom pulled in distant rock formations that would have required a longer lens on a traditional camera. The tilting screen made it easy to compose over the railing without lying on the ground.

Heat and humidity caused no issues during a wet day in the Daintree region. The lens extended and retracted smoothly, and autofocus continued to lock onto subjects in flat, overcast light. Dust is a more realistic concern on outback tracks or near Uluru, where grit can find its way into zoom mechanisms. A soft case and a rocket blower go a long way toward keeping the lens barrel clean.

Wildlife photography is where the superzoom truly shines. From rainbow lorikeets in Brisbane suburbs to dolphins breaking the surface off Byron Bay, the SX740 HS made it possible to capture moments impossible with a phone and impractical with a heavier zoom lens. The compact form factor also means less intimidating gear when photographing shy animals or candid street scenes.

Buying advice and practical recommendations

The SX740 HS typically retails in Australia for around AUD $479 to $599 depending on the retailer and current promotions. JB Hi-Fi and Camera House stock it regularly, and it is available through the Canon Australia online store with local warranty support. Grey-import models are cheaper but lack Australian after-sales service, so buying through an authorised channel is the safer option.

For those drawn to travelling light with one capable camera, the SX740 HS pairs naturally with the kind of slow, observational approach covered in guides like the art of minimalist travel photography. Readers comparing options across brands can also find broader roundups at related camera reviews useful when weighing alternatives from Nikon, Sony or Panasonic.

A few practical tips make daily use smoother:

• Pair the camera with a fast UHS-I SD card of at least 64GB to handle 4K video without buffering issues.
• Keep a spare NB-13L battery in the bag; the small size makes it easy to forget.
• Use a wrist strap rather than a neck strap, which can let the camera swing into the lens barrel when seated on buses or trains.
• Enable the in-camera grid and horizon level to keep travel compositions straight, especially in busy markets.
• Consider a small padded case if carrying the camera in a backpack alongside water bottles and sunscreen.

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is not a camera that aims to replace a smartphone or a mirrorless system. It is a friendly companion for beginners, casual travellers and anyone who values reach and convenience over outright image quality. For a family trip to Tasmania, a weekend in the Grampians or a coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi, it covers more situations than any phone and asks for very little in return.