Canon's pocket superzoom compact with 40x optical zoom — 24-960mm equivalent in a tiny body.
The Canon PowerShot SX720 HS was released in 2016 as a travel zoom compact featuring a 20.3MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor and 40x optical zoom covering 24-960mm equivalent. DIGIC 6 processing. 1080/60fps video — no 4K. WiFi and NFC built in for direct transfer. At approximately 270g with battery and card and no built-in EVF it is a pocket travel zoom with the widest continuous telephoto range Canon offered in this segment.
The 20.3MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor pairs with DIGIC 6. 40x optical zoom covers 24-960mm equivalent. Full HD 1080/60fps video. 5-axis Advanced Dynamic IS. NB-13L battery rated approximately 250 shots. Body weight approximately 270g with battery and card. 3.0-inch 922k-dot LCD. No EVF. WiFi and NFC. No RAW recording.
The 40x zoom range — 24mm wide to 960mm telephoto — is the SX720's primary differentiator. At 960mm equivalent, handheld bird and sports telephoto capture at events is possible from a camera that fits in a jacket pocket. The 24mm wide end covers full environmental landscape and architecture. Advanced Dynamic IS provides 5-axis compensation to counter the significant camera movement at 960mm hand-held telephoto focal lengths.
On the used market the Canon SX720 HS is affordable as a vintage travel zoom compact. Condition checks: zoom mechanism for smooth 40x travel, NB-13L battery health (shared with G7 X, G9 X, SX730 HS — confirmed NB-13L, not NB-6LH), and LCD for marks. No EVF, no 4K, no RAW. Fixed 24-960mm lens; no interchangeable mount.