Canon PowerShot SX740 HS

The PowerShot SX740 HS is a 2018 compact built around a fixed lens and a small 1/2.3-inch sensor. At 299 grams and 110 x 64 x 40 millimetres, it slips easily into a jacket pocket.

That combination suits travel and everyday photography where a bag of gear would stay home. The 21-megapixel sensor works alongside a Digic 8 processor, image stabilisation helps keep handheld frames steady, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth provide wireless connectivity.

Owning it means composing on the rear screen, because there is no viewfinder, and bringing a spare battery if a day of shooting runs long.

The 21-megapixel CMOS sensor uses the 1/2.3-inch format common to pocket compacts. That resolution leaves room for prints and cropping, while the small sensor keeps the body and lens scaled down. Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 3200, so dim interiors and evening streets will push the camera toward its ceiling.

For motion, the camera can shoot at up to 10 frames per second. That figure is a maximum rate rather than a sustained promise, so treat it as short bursts rather than a continuous stream. Autofocus works from nine points, and the shutter reaches 1/3200 of a second.

Image stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps when handholding at slower shutter speeds. It does nothing for subject movement, so a running dog still needs a fast shutter of its own.

The lens is fixed, with no mount for swapping glass, so the built-in lens is the entire optical system. Framing happens on the screen only, since no viewfinder is fitted.

The SX740 HS records video up to 4K resolution. Frame-rate support includes 60fps, which gives you a smoother-motion option for clips.

Clips record in MPEG-4 or MOV, two widely supported video formats. 4K files carry more data than HD ones, so a roomy card makes long shooting days easier.

A built-in timelapse mode gives you an in-camera option for projects such as clouds, tides or sunsets. The flip screen helps when framing a fixed-angle sequence at ground level or overhead.

Framing and playback run through a 3-inch TFT LCD with 922,000 dots. The screen flips, so waist-level, overhead and self-framed shots are easier to compose. It is not a touchscreen, so physical controls remain central to operation.

A built-in flash adds light for dim scenes and fill, and since there is no external flash option, the built-in unit is the only flash source. The camera also has no weather sealing, so rain and spray call for a pocket or a cover.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth provide wireless connectivity. There is no GPS, so the camera does not tag photos with shooting locations on its own.

Storage goes into a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot with UHS-I compatibility, so UHS-I cards can be used. Carry enough card capacity for the whole trip and keep a spare ready.

Power comes from an NB-13L battery with a rating of 265 shots. A charged spare makes sense for a full day of mixed shooting.

There is no USB charging. Charge the NB-13L before a longer outing and keep a second battery ready in the bag.