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The Canon PowerShot SX510HS measures 10.5x7x8.5cm when off, the lens when zoomed in can add 4cm to the last measurement. It weights 348grams.

This 12MP unit has up to 30x optical zoom. It can capture images in 4:3, 16:9, 3:2 and 1:1 each image can be L, M1, M2 or S so a total of 16 image sizes are available.

The left side has only the neck strap anchor point and speaker. The right side has the other neck strap anchor as well as a rubber bung hiding HDMI and A/V out. The base has a flip door and behind this is the solid battery and any SD card you might use, there is also a tripod screw. The face has only the zoom lens.

See also: Digital Cameras

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This leaves the top and the back, the top has a manual pop up flash that is never closer than 7cm to the lens. To the right of this a domed on/off button and to its right an eleven position wheel. In front of this at the top of the hand grip the shutter release with wide angle/zoom control around it.

The back is dominated by the 6.5x4.5cm TFT to the right of this at the top the thumb rest and quick video button to its right. Below this a pair of well marked multiple use buttons and then the ubiquitous five position joystick with the Display and Menu buttons below this.

You will get rather good images in Auto mode, however even better images can be achieved in the numerous other modes. The fish eye effect will I am sure have uses but they may be occasional. The discrete mode would be great for those occasions when a single click can sound like a thunder clap. Try the various scene modes which I counted to be 32, in my opinion that is too many as by the time you have decided which one to use the shot will probably be lost.

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30x zoom sounds great but unless you are a private detective or are shooting a rare bird in a nature reserve then get closer and use less zoom for a better image.

Anything over about 5x zoom will require a solid surface for the camera or better still a tripod as however steady you think your hands are it will show in the image.

While a lot of people equate a large MP number with good images I can assure you the important thing is the quality of the CMOS chip and here things are good so therefore are the images it captures.

Things like face recognition and optical image stabilization are now standard on almost all units. Anyone who has taken up photography in the last few years will be lost without them.

Flash when required was good although the immediate result on the TFT looks over exposed when viewed later on a PC or when printed out the images are fine. Where flash is not allowed or for more distant shots the low light level is important and this is also rather good.

Like a lot of recent camera you can send images via Wi-Fi and with the use of a mobile phone the exact place can be tagged with GPS.

As with all recent cameras you can capture movies in a range of modes up to full HD.

The Canon PowerShot SX510HS is available from the link below for £198.99 with free delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EQ7EGXU?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_Camera/PowerShot/PowerShot_SX510_HS/