Canon PowerShot SX740 HS: Still Worth Buying in 2025?

Canon discontinued the PowerShot SX740 HS in 2025, ending a seven-year run as the only pocket camera packing a 40x optical zoom. For Irish buyers still hunting one or weighing remaining stock, here is what the facts show about whether it’s worth your money.

Optical Zoom: 40x ·
Sensor Resolution: 20.3 MP ·
Video Capability: 4K Ultra HD ·
Depth: 39.9 mm ·
Processor: DIGIC 8

The specs table below summarises the core hardware against the standard spec sheet from the official listing.

Is the Canon SX740 HS worth buying?

The answer depends heavily on what you’re prioritising. For travellers who need serious zoom in a pocket-sized body, the SX740 HS still delivers something smartphones cannot match: an optically stabilised 40x reach that collapses to 39.9 mm depth when you’re done. The 20.3 MP sensor and DIGIC 8 processor produce solid JPEGs, and 4K video at 30p covers the basics for casual content creation.

Key features

• 40x optical zoom (24-960mm equivalent) with optical image stabilisation
• 20.3 MP CMOS sensor with DIGIC 8 processor
• 4K UHD video at 30p, plus 4K timelapse mode
• 3-inch tilting LCD (not touch-enabled)
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
• ISO range 100-3200
• 10 fps continuous shooting
• Weight: 299g

Pros and cons

Current pricing

Ireland pricing tells a fragmented story. Canon Ireland lists the Lite Edition at €549.99 (currently out of stock online). Via Klarna Ireland, prices range from €419.99 to €799 depending on colour and retailer. Conns Cameras still carries the Lite Edition Black, making it one of the more reliable local stockists.

What this means: buyers willing to hunt can find the camera below Canon’s original retail price — a common dynamic when production ends and remaining inventory sells through.

Has the Canon SX740 HS been discontinued?

Yes. Canon officially ended SX740 HS production, with the camera reportedly discontinued in 2025 according to DIY Photography. Canon Rumors notes that order suspension occurred in March 2024, ahead of the PowerShot V1 launch that replaced the SX series in Canon’s point-and-shoot lineup. Whatever stock remains at retailers represents the final units available anywhere.

Official status

• Production officially ended per Canon Rumors (Canon Rumors, Photography News Site)
• Orders suspended March 2024 per Canon Rumors (Canon Rumors, Photography News Site)
• Reported discontinued in 2025 per DIY Photography (DIY Photography, Photography Publication)

Availability now

• Canon Ireland Store: Lite Edition out of stock online (Canon Ireland, Official Store)
• Conns Cameras: Lite Edition Black listed (Conns Cameras, Ireland Retailer)
• Klarna Ireland: Prices from €419.99 to €799 (Klarna IE, Price Aggregator)

Replacement rumors

The PowerShot V1 replaced the SX series in Canon’s 2024-2025 roadmap, but it occupies a different category — a vlogging-focused compact with a larger sensor and different feature set. No direct superzoom successor has been announced, leaving the SX740 HS as the last of its kind in Canon’s lineup.

Which is better, the Canon G7X or the SX740?

These two cameras serve different priorities, and the choice comes down to one question: do you need reach or quality?

Three cameras, one pattern: the SX740 dominates on zoom reach while the G7X wins on image quality and low-light performance. If you’re shooting wildlife, concerts, or architecture where you physically cannot get closer, the 40x zoom justifies the trade-off. If you need usable files in dim interiors or want to shoot RAW for editing flexibility, the G7X is the stronger choice.

Zoom and sensor comparison

• The SX740’s 1/2.3-inch sensor is roughly four times smaller than the G7X’s 1-inch sensor by area
• Larger sensor means significantly better dynamic range and high-ISO performance
• The SX740’s f/3.3-6.9 aperture struggles compared to the G7X’s f/1.8-2.8 variable aperture

Portability vs features

Both cameras weigh roughly the same at around 300g, but the SX740 takes the prize for pocketability at 39.9 mm thick. The G7X sacrifices some depth for a faster lens and touch screen — a trade-off that makes sense for content creators but not for those prioritizing pure reach.

User reviews

DPReview forum users consistently praise the SX740 for ease of use and the zoom range, while noting battery drain during video recording and autofocus frustrations. The G7X earns higher marks for overall image quality but draws complaints about its narrower zoom range from superzoom buyers.

How old is the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS?

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS launched in mid-2018, making it approximately seven years old by 2025 — an eternity in consumer electronics. Canon even reintroduced a Lite Edition in 2024 (removing USB charging as a cost-saving measure), which is unusual for a camera that old and speaks to sustained demand.

Release timeline

• June 2018: PowerShot SX740 HS launched as superzoom compact (Alibaba Electronics Guide, Buying Guide)
• March 2024: Canon suspended orders ahead of PowerShot V1 launch (Canon Rumors, Photography News Site)
• 2024: Lite Edition reintroduced without USB charging (Digital Camera World, Review Publication)
• 2025: Production officially ended — camera discontinued (DIY Photography, Photography Publication)

Updates and variants

Outside the 2024 Lite Edition reissue, Canon released no significant hardware revisions to the SX740. Firmware updates were minimal post-launch, and the camera was notably absent from Canon’s marketing campaigns after 2024. The product’s longevity came from its spec balance, not ongoing development.

Relevance today

Digital Camera World notes that the SX740 still outsells newer rivals in 2025 due to its proven reliability and unmatched zoom-to-size ratio. That’s a remarkable run for a camera with a small sensor and no RAW support — driven largely by travellers and event photographers who need reach without bulk.

Is a Canon PowerShot better than an iPhone?

For the majority of casual photographers, an iPhone 16 Pro or comparable flagship now produces better photos in most situations. But the SX740 holds one irreplaceable advantage: true optical zoom that does not degrade with cropping.

Zoom advantages

• 40x optical zoom delivers genuine magnification versus digital crop on smartphones
• Optical image stabilisation provides steadier shots at extreme telephoto
• No computational zoom tricks — what you see through the viewfinder is what the lens captures

Image quality tests

Modern iPhones process JPEGs with computational photography that often produces more visually pleasing results than the SX740’s output straight from camera — especially in backlit scenes or low-light conditions where the iPhone’s Night mode outperforms the small sensor. However, when zoomed to 40x, the SX740’s optical magnification produces detail that no current smartphone can match digitally.

Portability trade-offs

An iPhone weighs roughly 200g and is always in your pocket. The SX740 adds another 299g and a separate device to charge, update, and carry. For a once-in-a-lifetime safari or sporting event where that zoom genuinely matters, the SX740 justifies the extra hassle. For everyday social media, the iPhone wins.

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS vs rivals: specifications

The superzoom compact market narrowed to a handful of competitors over the years. Here is how the SX740 stacks up against two discontinued rivals.

Three superzoom compacts, three discontinued models: the SX740 outlasted both the Sony HX80 and Panasonic ZS80, and it leads on raw zoom numbers. The trade-off is that neither rival ever matched the 40x mark, making the SX740 genuinely unique in its class.

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS timeline

What this timeline shows: the SX740 had an unusually long commercial life for a compact camera, surviving nearly seven years without a direct replacement. The Lite Edition reissue in 2024 suggests Canon saw continued demand strong enough to justify a limited production run — even as the camera was already approaching discontinuation.

Confirmed facts vs rumors

“Canon has now officially discontinued the camera, and whatever stock is out there will be the last of it.”

— Canon Rumors (Photography News Site)

“The PowerShot SX740 has been discontinued, possibly making for a golden opportunity to snag a great camera at a low price.”

— OWC Blog (Tech Blog)

For Irish buyers, the picture is specific: the camera is gone from Canon’s own store, but third-party retailers still list it. Prices span a wide range from €419.99 to €799, which means the market has not fully settled post-discontinuation. The implication is that early adopters who move quickly may find better deals than those who wait for stock to thin further.

Summary

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is a niche product that survived by filling a gap no one else bothered to address: pocket-sized cameras with serious zoom reach. Its discontinuation in 2025 leaves that gap open, and no direct replacement exists from Canon or major competitors. For Irish buyers weighing a purchase now, the calculus is straightforward: if you need 40x optical zoom in a pocket body, the SX740 is the only game left — and whatever stock remains is the final batch. If you can live without that reach, newer smartphones or the G7X Mark III deliver better all-round image quality.

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The SX740 HS’s 40x zoom continues to impress years later, much as a detailed SX740 HS review affirms against smartphone rivals.

Frequently asked questions