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| Canon PowerShot SX510 HS (2013) |
2015.10.01 - First publish of review
2019.03.04 - Re-uploaded video, re-written from scratch
2021.08.01 - Updated and re-written
2022.07.29 - Re-written
Manual Exposure Mode
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Nomenclature:
PowerShot = consumer/prosumer digital cameras, launched 1996
SX = ultra zoom ('Super X-tended'?)
HS = High Sensitivity, produces better low light shots
Introduced - September 2013
Sensor - 1/2.3-inch CMOS
Resolution - 12.1MP
Optical Formula - 13 elements, 10 groups
Focal Range (35mm Equivalent) - 24mm - 720mm
Exposure - Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, Auto
Shutter Speeds - 1" - 1/6000", 15" to 1/6000" (Tv and M)
ISO Sensitivity - 80 to ISO 3200
(ISO 6400 available under 'Scenes > Low Light')
Shooting Range - 50cm(W), 1.4meters(T)
Macro Range - 0cm to 50cm
Maximum Aperture - f/3.4(W), f/5.8(T)
Video Format - .MOV [H.264, Linear PCM (Stereo)]
Resolution - 12.1MP
Optical Formula - 13 elements, 10 groups
Focal Range (35mm Equivalent) - 24mm - 720mm
Exposure - Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, Auto
Shutter Speeds - 1" - 1/6000", 15" to 1/6000" (Tv and M)
ISO Sensitivity - 80 to ISO 3200
(ISO 6400 available under 'Scenes > Low Light')
Shooting Range - 50cm(W), 1.4meters(T)
Macro Range - 0cm to 50cm
Maximum Aperture - f/3.4(W), f/5.8(T)
Video Format - .MOV [H.264, Linear PCM (Stereo)]
Resolution - 1920x1080/24, 1280x720/30, 640x480/30
Slow Motion - 320x240 at 120 and 240 fps
OTHER FEATURES
Focusing with TTL AF and Manual
Powered by NB-6LH
Data storage on SD, SDHS, SDXC
Built-in Wi-Fi
Optical Image Stabilization
30x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
IN THE BOX
PowerShot SX510 HS Digital Camera
Battery Pack NB-6LH
Battery Charger CB-2LY
Lens Cap (with strap)
Neck Strap NS-DC11
Made in China
Slow Motion - 320x240 at 120 and 240 fps
OTHER FEATURES
Focusing with TTL AF and Manual
Powered by NB-6LH
Data storage on SD, SDHS, SDXC
Built-in Wi-Fi
Optical Image Stabilization
30x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
IN THE BOX
PowerShot SX510 HS Digital Camera
Battery Pack NB-6LH
Battery Charger CB-2LY
Lens Cap (with strap)
Neck Strap NS-DC11
Made in China
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My Personal Experience
My first ever REAL camera was a Samsung ES25/ES95 back in 2011. I only had a poor quality mobile phone camera before starting 2009. I didn't have plans of upgrading to a huge DSLR or mirrorless camera at the time because I wasn't too serious about photography yet, but merely to document. My two previous digicams were okay but had limitations, so my next upgrade was this Canon PowerShot SX510 HS bought brand new in late 2014 at a price of PhP 9,000.00 (it retails 13k brand new in malls). However, I only owned it for a good 8 months before selling it to a friend and then finally upgrading to a Nikon DSLR.
Speaking of sensor size, this bridge camera merely uses a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, which is typical of digicams such as my previous cameras. A bigger sensor means better low light image quality, less noise and grain in images, clearer photos, and possibility of more blurry backgrounds.
The improvements this camera have over my old digicams were manual focusing, Manual exposure mode, higher ISO up to 6400, it has a super optical zoom range from 24mm to 720mm, which can reach further with digital zoom.
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| The memory card was not included in the box. |
Handling
The Canon SX510 has a cute size that looks like a mini-DSLR but feels very lightweight and compact. When fully extended, it looks about the same length as a DSLR with 18-55mm lens mounted. The grip was deep enough that one can confidently hold it without slipping, even without a strap. The buttons are neatly organized in one area and are big enough to press with ease. The one thing I never figured and used was the Wi-Fi feature.
Image Quality
The Canon Powershot SX510 has 13 elements in 10 groups. The elements are huge compared to my smaller point and shoot cameras. Maybe that is why the images produced by this Canon camera comes out cleaner and clearer even if they use the same size 1/2.3-inch sensor. The images are not super sharp like macro lens on a DSLR but it renders portraits beautifully. I kind of like it that way rather than super sharp.
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| This was at f/8. |
Shooting In Low Light
The built-in flash works fine around 3-5 meters but not sufficient for the tele range (the extended lens will create a shadow). This brings up the need for an external flash but unfortunately, the camera has no hot shoe mount for an external flash.
The image stabilization helps you get through low light shooting with slow shutter speeds, as well as stabilized footage for handheld videos. The stabilization works by shifting the lens elements inside the camera, unlike others that only use digital stabilization.
ISO can be dialed up to 3200 with acceptable amount of graininess (you can secretly reach 6400 in 'Scenes > Low Light'). Low light shooting could be grainy, but you could always shoot somewhat underexposed and then push the shadows with beautiful results.
My previous point-and-shoot digicams had a tendency to create blown out highlights or clipping even when the exposure was balanced. This Canon bridge camera was a refreshing improvement in this department.
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| This bracket bought in 2021 could have been my same setup if the Canon SX510 is still here, since it is about the same width as the FUJI X-T10 |
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| Camera AF struggled alot in this dim hazy scene. |
Manual Exposure Mode
At the time (2014), I was merely focused on using this camera as point and shoot. However, I also wanted to get out of auto and this was my opportunity to start leaning about full manual control. In the beginning, I was very enamored with the extra features such as filters and effects.
Manual Focusing
Manual focusing can be achieved by scrolling on the button at the back side of the camera. It's a refreshing feature that allows you to refine the focus particularly for macro shooting. However, for shooting videos, manual focusing only works before you recording. It stays fixed once you are recording videos. I'd like to leave it in AF while filming videos.
Auto Focusing
This camera is a varifocal zoom, you always need to re-focus after zooming. That is why you could miss some shots while zooming. The AF is okay at the wide angle, but it hunt alot toward the telephoto end, particularly in low light.
Macro Focusing
Another feature that I loved, as improvement over my previous digicams, was the ability to shoot macro up close. You could focus as close as 1cm on the wide end or 1.4m on the telephoto end.
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| Macro at the wide angle end means the front element will literally be touching the subject. |
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| This is the biggest magnification possible without cropping. |
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| MFD at the wide end and macro range. |
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| MFD at the tele end. |
All-Around Super Zoom with Variable Aperture
A birdge camera such as this Canon SX510 uses optical zooming (the camera zooms by moving the lens elements); whereas with a phone camera, you are stuck with a wide angle lens, and it zooms by cropping the image (aka 'digital zoom'). It looks like a mini-DSLR and packs a crazy zoom range in such a tiny body. You can have a wide angle 24mm with maximum aperture of f/3.4, and zoom all the way to 720mm with maximum opening of f/5.8 (that is the camera's optical zoom range). The camera can zoom much further by using digital zoom, but I recommend to always turn it off. The AF takes longer to nail focus the longer the zoom, so I rarely use the extreme telephoto end even if it was mounted on a tripod.
A birdge camera such as this Canon SX510 uses optical zooming (the camera zooms by moving the lens elements); whereas with a phone camera, you are stuck with a wide angle lens, and it zooms by cropping the image (aka 'digital zoom'). It looks like a mini-DSLR and packs a crazy zoom range in such a tiny body. You can have a wide angle 24mm with maximum aperture of f/3.4, and zoom all the way to 720mm with maximum opening of f/5.8 (that is the camera's optical zoom range). The camera can zoom much further by using digital zoom, but I recommend to always turn it off. The AF takes longer to nail focus the longer the zoom, so I rarely use the extreme telephoto end even if it was mounted on a tripod.
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| 24mm |
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| The most zoom possible without cropping. |
Video Shooting
The camera shoots Full HD 1080p at 24fps only. This framerate could be noticeably disturbing if you are doing panning shots or have moving subjects. The camera can also capture smaller resolutions at 720/30, 480//30, 240/120fps and 240/240fps for smooth slow motion shots.
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| There is a dedicated Movie Mode, but you can also film in the other modes. |
Extras
These extra features of filters and effects were fun to play around in the beginning.
Battery Life
The lithium battery is long lasting for stills and lasts more than a day. It heats up quickly when filming, but less when shooting in 720p.
Conclusion
I have sold this beautiful camera 7 years ago in 2015. I do miss it often when I just want to document stuff and not be bothers with other controls (aka 'point-and-shoot'). I loved it because it's much cheaper than a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you have a superzoom camera, and you can also get near-DSLR quality considering its small 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. It's definitely not a camera you want to use for low light shots, but help from an external light source could fix this, such a small LED video light. The only limitation that annoyed me was its super slow AF when zoomed at telephoto (eg. you need to have ample light). The Canon Powershot SX510 is super cute, super portable, and a huge improvement from using your phone camera.
Other Samples
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