Canon PowerShot SX210 IS Review 
The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS is a digital camera which was designed with the traveler in mind, combining a small size with a high zoom level. This model is a leap forward from the SX210. The camera has a high resolution 14.1MP (megapixels) sensor, a 14X optical zoom lens on a 28mm – 392mm lens. The 4-stop image stabilizer built-in prevents image blur due to camera shake , the LCD screen is 3 inches in size and the processing engine is DIGIC 4. These combine to give you great image quality.
This canon camera is capable of recording movies at Full HD 720p quality, complete with stereo sound. Other features include face recognition, smart shutter and a wide range of shooting modes. It has an HDMI out great for watching your videos on your HDTV.
The Canon PowerShot SX210IS is offered in black, gold or purple.
The first impression of the Canon PowerShot SX210IS is that it’s about the same size and form as the SX200 was, but other than that there are plenty of differences. The camera is quite sturdy and it uses a combination of metal and plastic which blend well together. Thanks to its curved edges, the look of the camera is not as boxy as it actually is.
The Canon Powershot SX210 IS is lightweight despite it’s solid feel.
As for the weight, 215 grams including battery and memory card. The Canon PowerShot SX210IS comes with a flash which is built-in and it pops out automatically. Thanks to it, the red eye chances are reduced and the software which is included also helps. The one thing about it which isn’t ideal is that when you turn the camera on, the flash pops up automatically. You can press it back down, but it’s still a bit annoying that it opens without giving you a choice.
The improvements of the SX210IS over the SX210 are the extra features in a model which is slightly more expensive. One of the bigger additions to this model is the recording at Full HD 720p quality, which makes it great for both recording videos and taking photos. Even though the PowerShot SX210IS is small in size it is big in performance.
Jen from San Diego, CA USA says…
This is not the smallest or lightest pocket camera you will find, but it has a couple of features that make it stand out from the rest, especially for traveling. First: the zoom. It’s a 14x optical zoom. Not a 3x optical plus a useless “digital” multiplier. It’s going to be tough to hold it steady enough at 14x to get sharp photos in all but the brightest conditions, but that’s why they make tripods. With this lens you can zoom in on high-up building details or that strange bird across the marsh. I also use it to get photos of far-off signs I want to read. The other feature – and one I rarely see on cameras in this category – is a Manual setting for aperture and exposure. I admit that…
The Canon Powershot SX210 IS is also a lot of fun as it takes the worry out of picture taking. | Just Point and Shoot.
Once you get used to the features and the possibilities of this model, going back to a regular compact camera with a small zoom will be quite hard. If you need a camera which you can easily carry around, but which works well, this model might be a better choice than a huge DSLR or a hybrid model.
The quality of the image is a bit better than what the SX210 offers and thanks to a sensor which is back-illuminated, the camera does good in low light conditions, using an ISO from 100 to 800. Since it has full manual controls, the camera is very good for users which are experienced and need a second camera, to use when their full sized DSLR is too much to carry around.
The Canon Powershot SX210 IS is so simple to use with great results.
Smart Auto and Easy shooting modes use Scene Detection Technology to calculate subject brightness, contrast, distance and hue. The camera then selects the appropriate scene from a possible 22, and applies optimal settings. Smart Flash Exposure intelligently controls flash power and usage to ensure natural results in a variety of conditions. Face detection technology detects up to 35 faces in a scene and will adjust focus, exposure, flash settings and white balance for natural looking photos.
Canon PowerShot SX210IS is a model which has as a competitor in the TZ series from Panasonic, though the Canon camera has better specs and a better price giving better value for money.
If you’re looking for a travel zoom compact camera, the Canon PowerShot SX210IS is a very good choice. In fact as far as compact digital cameras go there are are none that leave the Canon Powershot SX210 IS in their shadow.