Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Review


The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS ($549.99) is a compelling argument for why bridge cameras still exist, and, for the right photographer, make a lot of sense. It makes some minor changes from the previous generation SX60 HS, keeping the same lens, but adding a higher-resolution image sensor, 4K video,

 and a much better viewfinder. It's a solid option for smartphone users who crave zoom power, and for SLR owners looking for a lighter camera to grab when on the go. As with the SX60 HS that came before it, the SX70 HS earns our Editors' Choice award.The SX70 HS ($799.00 at Amazon) doesn't 

stray from the standard bridge camera blueprint. It's smaller than an SLR, but shaped like one. It boasts an ample handgrip, plenty of physical controls, and an understated matte black finish. The camera measures 3.6 by 4.6 by 5.0 inches (HWD) and weighs about 1.3 pounds when loaded with a battery and card and ready to shoot

The reason to buy the SX70 HS is its lens. It boasts a 65x zoom range, matching a full-frame 21mm lens at the wide end and zooming all the way into the 1,365mm equivalent. With a smartphone you typically get a 28mm wide-angle and a 56mm secondary lens—the SX70 HS captures views that can be much wider or tighter.

While it doesn't have the biggest zoom reach around—Nikon has its P900 and its 83x (24-2,000mm) zoom and the P1000 with a 125x zoom (24-3,000mm)—I consider the SX70's reach to be more than enough for most applications. The P900 and P1000 are noticeably larger and heavier—2 pounds and 3.1 

pounds respectively—so you'll have to live with a heftier camera if you find the extra reach to be imperative.