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A Family Affair: Reviewing the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

As an amateur photographer, I am always on the lookout for the next great camera to capture those precious family moments. Recently, my children decided to bake a cake for an upcoming birthday party, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test out the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS. A friend of mine, a fellow photography enthusiast, had been raving about this camera and kindly offered to let me borrow it for a few days. With my children bustling about in the kitchen, I set out to see how the SX70 HS would perform in capturing the excitement of a family baking session.

Design and Build

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS sports a sleek and compact design, making it an attractive choice for a family camera. At just 608 grams, the camera is lightweight and easy to handle, even for extended periods. The ergonomics of the SX70 HS are impressive; the grip is comfortable and secure, ensuring that I had full control over the camera while chasing my children around the kitchen. The buttons and dials are well-placed and easily accessible, allowing for quick adjustments without having to dive into the menu system.
One of the standout features of the SX70 HS is its fully articulating 3-inch LCD screen. This proved invaluable while trying to capture unique angles of my children at work, as I could easily tilt and swivel the screen to ensure that I was framing the shot just right. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is also a nice addition, providing a clear, bright image that allowed me to focus on my subjects with precision.

Image Quality and Performance

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is built around a 20.3-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, which is paired with Canon’s DIGIC 8 image processor. This combination delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, even in the warm, yellowish light of our kitchen. I was particularly impressed with how well the camera handled the varying degrees of contrast and shadow as my children moved in and out of the sunlight streaming through the window.
The camera’s autofocus system was quick and reliable, ensuring that I didn’t miss any candid moments. Even when my children were moving quickly, the SX70 HS’s face and subject tracking managed to keep them in sharp focus. The camera also features a continuous shooting mode of up to 10 frames per second, which was useful when trying to capture the perfect shot of my daughter cracking an egg or my son whisking the batter.
The SX70 HS’s 65x optical zoom was another standout feature, allowing me to get up close and personal with the baking process without having to physically move closer. This proved especially helpful when trying to capture the delicate work of icing the cake. While the image quality does suffer slightly at the extreme end of the zoom range, I was still able to capture some impressive shots that I might not have been able to achieve with other cameras.
In terms of low-light performance, the SX70 HS performed admirably, particularly considering its small sensor size. While there was some visible noise when shooting at higher ISO settings, the camera’s built-in noise reduction managed to keep it in check without sacrificing too much detail. The camera also features a built-in flash, which I found useful when I needed a bit of extra light to brighten up the scene.

Video Performance

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is capable of capturing 4K video at 30fps, which was perfect for recording my children’s cake-making antics. The video quality was crisp and clear, with accurate colors and smooth motion. The camera’s autofocus system continued to perform well in video mode, keeping my subjects in focus even as they moved around the kitchen.
The camera’s 5-axis image stabilization system was also a pleasant surprise. As I moved around to capture different angles and perspectives, the footage remained steady and smooth, with minimal camera shake. This was particularly important when I used the 65x optical zoom to get close-ups of my children’s faces as they focused intently on their baking tasks.
One downside to the SX70 HS’s video capabilities is the lack of an external microphone input. While the built-in stereo microphone provided decent audio quality, there were moments when the sound of the kitchen appliances drowned out my children’s voices. For casual family videos, this may not be a major issue, but it’s worth considering if you’re planning on using the camera for more professional video projects.

Wireless Connectivity and Battery Life

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which made it incredibly easy to transfer photos and videos to my smartphone for quick editing and sharing. The Canon Camera Connect app was intuitive and allowed me to remotely control the camera, which came in handy when I wanted to snap a group photo with the finished cake.
Battery life on the SX70 HS was sufficient for a day of shooting, but it’s worth investing in a spare battery if you plan on using the camera for extended periods or on trips. I was able to capture around 325 photos and 45 minutes of 4K video on a single charge, which was more than enough for my day in the kitchen with the kids.

Conclusion

Overall, the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS proved to be an excellent choice for capturing my children’s cake-baking adventure. Its combination of user-friendly design, impressive image quality, and versatile zoom range made it a pleasure to use, even in the often-chaotic environment of a family kitchen.
While the camera does have a few minor drawbacks, such as the lack of an external microphone input and some limitations in low-light performance, these did not detract from my overall experience with the SX70 HS. For anyone seeking a reliable, easy-to-use camera for capturing precious family moments, the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is a strong contender that is well worth considering.

Pros:

  1. Compact and lightweight design: The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is easy to carry around and handle, making it an excellent choice for family outings and everyday use.
  2. Comfortable ergonomics: The camera’s grip is secure and comfortable, allowing for extended periods of shooting without strain.
  3. Fully articulating LCD screen: The 3-inch screen provides flexibility when composing shots from unique angles, enhancing creativity and ease of use.
  4. Impressive image quality: The 20.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor deliver sharp, detailed images with accurate colors.
  5. Reliable autofocus system: The camera’s autofocus is quick and accurate, ensuring that you don’t miss any important moments.
  6. 65x optical zoom: The versatile zoom range allows you to capture both wide-angle and close-up shots, providing greater flexibility in your photography.
  7. 4K video capability: The SX70 HS captures high-quality video footage, making it suitable for recording family memories or even more professional projects.
  8. 5-axis image stabilization: This feature helps to minimize camera shake and produce smooth, steady footage, particularly when using the camera’s powerful zoom.
  9. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Wireless connectivity makes it easy to transfer photos and videos to a smartphone or control the camera remotely.

Cons:

  1. Limited low-light performance: While the SX70 HS performs admirably in low light, some noise may be visible at higher ISO settings.
  2. No external microphone input: The lack of an external microphone input can limit the quality of audio captured in video recordings, particularly in noisy environments.
  3. Average battery life: The camera’s battery life is sufficient for a day of shooting but may require a spare battery for extended use or trips.
  4. Slight loss of image quality at extreme zoom: Although the 65x optical zoom is a standout feature, image quality can suffer at the far end of the zoom range.

Fast facts

  • Camera Type: Bridge camera
  • Sensor: 20.3-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
  • Image Processor: DIGIC 8
  • Lens: 21-1365mm (35mm equivalent), 65x optical zoom
  • Aperture Range: f/3.4-6.5
  • ISO Range: 100-3200
  • Shutter Speed: 1/2000s to 15s
  • Autofocus System: Contrast-detection with face and subject tracking
  • Continuous Shooting: Up to 10 fps
  • Video: 4K UHD (3840×2160) at 30fps, Full HD (1920×1080) at 60fps
  • Image Stabilization: 5-axis (Dual Sensing IS)
  • Viewfinder: 0.39-inch, 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF)
  • LCD Screen: 3-inch fully articulating, 922,000-dot LCD
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • Battery Life: Approximately 325 shots (CIPA standard)
  • Weight: 608 grams (including battery and memory card)
  • Dimensions: 127 x 90.9 x 116.6 mm (5.0 x 3.6 x 4.6 inches)

Resources links

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Accessories on Amazon.com

Here is a list of Canon PowerShot SX70 HS accessories available on Amazon.com. Please note that these links are accurate at the time of writing, but they may change over time.
Please note that before purchasing any accessory, double-check its compatibility with the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS to ensure it will work properly with your camera.
A Family Affair: Reviewing the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS A Family Affair: Reviewing the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Reviewed by Stormy Dof on October 29, 2018 Rating: 5

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