Lightweight and ergonomic, the SX70 is aimed squarely at serious wildlife photographers as well as casual users who want to ensure photos of families and friends appear professionally shot. Our expert reviewer found that Auto mode is a great way for beginners to ease in, while those who are more experienced can switch gears into manual. Resolution: 20.3MP | Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS | Max ISO: 3,200 | Optical Zoom: 65x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Smart AUTO will intelligently choose the optimal aperture and shutter speed for any shot, while a powerful 10x Optical Zoom will capture long-range snaps with incredible stability. Our reviewer was able to take great shots in outdoor, daylight settings, though the Auto mode has a tendency to overexpose shots with mixed lighting conditions. Resolution: 20MP | Sensor Type: CCD | Max ISO: 1,600 | Optical Zoom: 10x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC The included Canon 18-55mm II lens is a fantastic starter for a wide variety of shots. A wide-angle lens and a 58mm 2x telephoto pro lens are included in the kit, too, for when you’re ready for something a little trickier. Two SanDisk 32GB SDHC memory cards and a card reader ensure you’ll have plenty of space to store all the shots you’ll be taking, and the deluxe padded camera case, extra battery pack, and AC/DC charger are perfect for longer excursions. Finally, the 50-inch tripod gets you ready (and steady) for effortlessly still shots. Resolution: 24MP | Sensor Type: CMOS | Max ISO: 12,800 | Optical Zoom: 1.6x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC There’s added wireless connectivity via both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and there’s even built-in NFC compatibility that will readily connect and transfer media to other NFC devices. There’s a 3-inch touchscreen on the back for control and photo review, and the lens brings a full 3x optical zoom. Our reviewer noted that the zoom range isn’t that impressive though. That said, it shoots in a variety of video modes from mp4 to raw, full HD video, and the shutter speed clocks in at 8.2 fps for faster-moving subjects. Finally, there are a variety of onboard controls from styling filters to file converters that will make sure whenever you do get those gorgeous photos off the device, they’ll be ready for whatever you need to do. Resolution: 20MP | Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS | Max ISO: 12,800 | Optical Zoom: 3x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth Finally, built-in Wi-Fi allows you to wirelessly transfer your captures to any smart device. Other nice features include a built-in flash and a smart autofocus program that works even at 50x zoom. That said, our reviewer mentioned several issues to be mindful of such as the mediocre low-light quality and the short battery life. Those aside, this camera still offers solid value. Resolution: 16MP | Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS | Max ISO: 3,200 | Optical Zoom: 50x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi The Dual Pixel CMOS AFe technology allows you to translate that high resolution and fast shutter speed to the video capabilities, which gives you shooting capabilities at 1080p resolution. There’s an ISO range of 100 to 16,000, and there’s a DIGIC 6 image processor right on-board for further refining what you shoot. The 7560-pixel RGB+IR color tracking functions allow for a truer, brighter rainbow of image response. And even though this particular package doesn’t come with a lens (we chose it because it’s an absolute steal at the price), it is compatible with the full family of DSLR lenses from Canon. Resolution: 24MP | Sensor Type: CMOS | Max ISO: 16,000 | Optical Zoom: 1.6x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC Benjamin Zeman has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. He has over 20 years of experience in the tech industry and has a background in film, photography, and graphic design.
What to Look for in a New Canon Camera
Design
Selecting the correct design for your needs is essential. Don’t lug around a bulky DSLR if you only intend on using the included lens; consider other options such as a compact, lighter camera with a fixed lens. Be sure to choose a design that you won’t mind carrying around — and remember that a bigger camera isn’t always better! A compact camera like the point-and-shoot ELPH 190 can weight as little as 4.34 ounces, while a more full-sized superzoom camera like the SX70 HS weighs 1.34 pounds, which is still reasonable for outdoor use with a camera that powerful.
Zoom
Will you be zooming in on distant subjects with your new camera? If so, consider a camera with powerful zoom functions. If you’re thinking of purchasing a DSLR or mirrorless model, know that the included lens typically isn’t too powerful when compared to the built-in 50x zoom in some compact cameras. More professional users will want to pick up a 2x telephoto pro lens to capture close-ups.
Sensor and Processor
All of the cameras on our list come with enough megapixels to make anyone happy with poster-sized prints, but consider the quality of each sensor and what you wish to do with it. For example, while some of our offerings are excellent at shooting video, others focus their strengths primarily on still photographs. One of our top picks like the PowerShot SX70 has a 20.3MP CMOS sensor, which sounds similar on paper to the 20MP ELPH 190 sensor, but there’s a world of difference due to the fact that the former has a DIGIC 8 Image Processor while the latter just has a DIGI 4+. So it’s not just the raw megapixel count, but also the processor that makes a difference.
