Canon's latest travel zoom compact camera offers a 40x optical zoom in a body that'll snugly fit in your pocket. In 35mm terms, that's 24-960mm, giving you a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to snapping distant subjects.

40x optical zoom makes it versatile; Generally accurate autofocus; Good photo quality in daytime; Shoots 4K video at 30fps

Small sensor restricts low light performance; No option to shoot in Raw; Screen isn't touch-sensitive

I've spent over a month with this camera now and having never owned a dedicated camera I would never go back to using a phone. The photo quality is amazing with vivid colours and sharp detail. It has a brilliant zoom lense that really lets you get in close.

This small camera has a great zoom lens and lots of features. I would have given it a 5 star but the main negative I have found is the delay in focus when you zoom in on an object.

The Canon Powershot SX740 HS updates the SX730 HS , and adds 4K video recording, as well as offering faster continuous shooting. The sensor remains a 20.1mp BSI CMOS sensor, and there's an impressively long 40x optical zoom lens, with improved image stabilisation.

40x optical zoom lens; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in; Good handling and metal body; 4K video recording added; 1cm macro focus

Noise and noise processing removes detail; No panoramic shooting mode; Images soft (often; Lacks raw

An affordable, solidly-featured travel cam that goes big on the zoom, but small on the extras

40x optical zoom; Good image quality in good light; Easy to use; Well priced

No touchscreen; Raw shooting not supported; Smaller sensor means iffy low-light performance

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, pocket-sized travel compact and your main consideration is the zoom ratio, then the Canon SX740 is a great choice. It’s also not too damaging on the old bank balance, coming in at around £350. By contrast, the other compact cameras, like the Panasonic Lumix TZ200 or the Sony RX100 VI, which tend to be marketed towards travel and family type users, are much more expensive and have a much more restricted zoom (but have a larger sensor, raw format shooting, touchscreens and so on). It’s clear that the SX740 represents a compromise – as pretty much all compact cameras do these days. Whether it’s the one you want is largely down to personal preference, but it’s certainly worth thinking about packing it in your suitcase.

40x optical zoom; Good image quality in good light; Easy to use; Well priced;

No touchscreen; Raw shooting not supported; Smaller sensor means iffy low-light performance;

Really good features, telephoto lens is great for close ups, compact and no trouble to carry around.

Such a fantastic camera for first time vloggers and memory making!!

40x optical zoom makes it versatile; Generally accurate autofocus; Good photo quality in daytime; Shoots 4K video at 30fps;

Small sensor restricts low light performance; No option to shoot in Raw; Screen isn’t touch-sensitive;

40x optical zoom; Good image quality in good light; Easy to use; Well priced;

No touchscreen; Raw shooting not supported; Smaller sensor means iffy low-light performance;