Canon EOS Rebel SL3 vs Canon PowerShot SX700 HS: A Hands-On Camera Face-Off

When dissecting cameras across wildly different categories - a DSLR like the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 and a compact superzoom such as the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS - it’s easy to get lost in specs sheets or marketing hyperbole. Based on my fifteen-plus years obsessing over cameras and having personally tested thousands of models, this Canon showdown is a fascinating study in purpose-driven design, tech trade-offs, and user priorities. So buckle in: whether you’re a DSLR devotee eyeing a robust entry-level model or a casual clicker yearning for a pocket-sized zoom beast, I’ll lead you through what really counts.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Bulk vs. Pocketability

Let’s start with the physical form - because if a camera doesn’t feel right in hand or fit your lifestyle, all the pixels in the world won’t matter. The Canon SL3 weighs in at 449 grams and measures 122 × 93 × 70 mm, sporting a traditional DSLR stance with comfortable grip contours and thoughtfully placed buttons. Its design is heritage-rich but compact, aiming to bridge entry-level enthusiast usability with a petite body that doesn’t intimidate.

The SX700 HS, meanwhile, is truly pocket-friendly - 269 grams and a svelte 113 × 66 × 35 mm. This camera wins pure portability with ease, its fixed zoom lens integrated into a diminutive shell that slips effortlessly into a jacket pocket or purse.

What you gain in portability here - the SX700 HS - you lose in robust handling and manual controls. The DSLR SL3, by contrast, offers more tactile buttons and a familiarity that pros and serious amateurs appreciate.

This image captures their size and grip differences perfectly:

In practice, I've found that when you intend to shoot actively - say, street or sports photography - the SL3’s ergonomics can dramatically impact comfort and shooting speed, especially during longer sessions. The SX700 HS is more about casual snaps and travel convenience, where size trumps button layout every time.

Top-Down Design and Controls: Intuitive Or Intimidating?

Looking at their top panel layouts reveals a lot about their respective users. Here's a shot comparing both controls:

The SL3 features an array of physical dials and dedicated buttons - mode dial, ISO, exposure compensation, dedicated AF and drive mode buttons - that seasoned users will find familiar and refreshing. Its DIGIC 8 processor aids responsiveness, and while the maximum continuous shooting speed is a modest 5 fps, it’s sufficient for everyday photography and even light action shots.

The SX700 HS uses a simpler setup - fewer physical buttons, no mode dial, and shutter priority or aperture priority modes tucked within menus or less immediately accessible controls. Its continuous shooting speed is faster on paper (9 fps), but this comes with compromises in buffer depth and autofocus sophistication.

For experimental shooting, requiring quick access to settings, the SL3 clearly wins hands down. The SX700 HS suits leisure use, or travel where blending into crowds without fiddling much is the priority.

The Sensor Story: Size Matters… a Lot

Let's talk image quality - the heart of any camera comparison. Here is a visualization of their sensor sizes:

The SL3 employs a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 22.3 x 14.9 mm, offering a sensor area of approximately 332.27 mm². This sensor size is the real backbone behind its solid low-light capabilities, dynamic range, and overall image fidelity.

Conversely, the SX700 HS’s 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor is much tinier at 6.17 x 4.55 mm and about 28.07 mm² sensor area; it packs 16MP resolution. Tiny sensors like these struggle with noise at higher ISOs, have limited dynamic range, and generally less depth of field control due to the focal length multiplier and smaller pixels.

In real-world shooting, this means the SL3 produces cleaner images in dim conditions, with richer tonality and better sharpening options without immediately revealing digital noise artifacts. The SX700 HS shines fully in bright daylight scenarios where high ISO noise isn't introduced.

This isn't just theory - looking at the sample images below, notice the cleaner shadows, more natural skin tones, and finer detail retention in SL3 photos:

Canon SL3 front Canon SL3 screen back Canon SX700 HS screen back

Also, the SL3 supports RAW shooting - a critical feature for photographers who want full control and sophisticated post-processing. The SX700 HS lacks RAW support entirely, locking all your images into compressed JPEGs right out of the gate. That's a significant consideration for enthusiasts and professionals craving flexibility.

Rear Screen and Interface: Flexibility Meets Simplicity

Touchscreens and flip screens are a mixed bag depending on your shooting style. Comparing their rear panels:

The SL3 sports a bright 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen with 1040k-dot resolution - a major usability boon for video creators, vloggers, and anyone who enjoys flexible-angle shooting, such as low or high perspectives. Touch focus and menu navigation are responsive and intuitive. If you’re into selfies or studio shoots, this screen is a game changer.

The SX700 HS’s fixed 3-inch screen has a lower 922k-dot resolution and no touch input. While it remains serviceable for framing and playback, it isn’t nearly as versatile or fast to navigate as the SL3’s.

For those used to live-view shooting or who want effortless touch focusing, the SL3 instantly feels more modern and user-friendly.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Focus Points

The SL3 comes with a nine-point phase-detection autofocus system with one cross-type sensor. Despite sounding modest compared to flagship models, in practice it performs admirably - especially for an entry-level DSLR. Face detection and eye-detection autofocus operate well in live view, aiding portrait and casual wildlife photography.

Contrast detection autofocus on the SL3 is acceptably quick, though phase detection paired with optical viewfinder use remains the fastest and most accurate AF method - the hallmark of DSLRs.

Meanwhile, the SX700 HS uses contrast detection AF with 9 focus points but no phase detection or continuous tracking AF modes. Its autofocus is slower and less reliable when subjects move fast, especially in low light.

For wildlife and sports enthusiasts, the SL3's AF system is head and shoulders above the SX700 HS, as it supports continuous AF and tracking.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Capabilities

Burst rates often get prioritized by action or wildlife photographers. The Canon SX700 HS boasts a faster 9 fps continuous shooting rate, versus the SL3’s 5 fps.

However, this is where raw numbers can deceive. The SL3’s buffer can handle a decent number of frames in RAW and JPEG without choking, thanks to its more powerful DIGIC 8 processor and SD card UHS-I compatibility.

The SX700 HS's burst speed, while higher, is limited by buffer size and sensor-readout speed - meaning the camera slows down relatively quickly if you hold down the shutter.

Personally, I’ve tested both on moving subjects: the SL3’s lower frame rate but better AF consistency and buffer depth actually make it preferable for moderate action shooting.

Build Quality and Environmental Endurance: The Weather Factor

Neither camera is weather-sealed or marketed for heavy-duty professional use, but build quality still matters.

The SL3 features a robust polycarbonate shell with quality assembly, characteristic of Canon’s DSLR line. It feels sturdy in hand despite its compact dimensions.

The SX700 HS is a small plastic compact with limited ruggedness. It’s fine for casual use, but more prone to damage from drops or adverse weather.

For outdoor landscape photographers who shoot in varying climates, the SL3’s more substantial build offers peace of mind, although both require care in harsh conditions.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: The World of Glass

Being a DSLR with an EF/EF-S mount, the SL3 has access to Canon’s extensive collection of over 326 lenses available worldwide - from fast prime lenses for portraits to ultra-wide zooms for landscapes and super-telephotos for wildlife.

This flexibility cannot be overstated. Choosing the right lens defines not just image quality, but creative expression.

The SX700 HS has a fixed 25-750mm (35mm equivalent 30x zoom) lens with variable aperture f/3.2 to f/6.9 - offering convenience and reach but at the expense of optical quality, especially in low light or at wide apertures.

If you dream about expanding your optical arsenal and experimenting with different focal lengths or specialty lenses (e.g. macro or tilt-shift), the SL3 is your gateway.

In my testing, the SX700 HS’s lens optical quality is generally “good enough” for casual use but lacks the sharpness and bokeh quality DSLRs naturally produce with premium glass.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long and How Much?

Battery performance is a practical concern for anyone shooting extended events or travel. The SL3 boasts a robust 1070-shot battery life rating per CIPA standards and uses the LP-E17 battery - surprisingly efficient for a DSLR.

In contrast, the SX700 HS tops out around 250 shots per charge with its NB-6LH battery, typical for compacts but limiting when you’re away from power.

Both cameras have single SD/SDHC/SDXC storage slots; the SL3 supports faster UHS-I cards, improving write speeds especially important for continuous RAW shooting. The SX700 HS supports UHS-I cards too but does not exploit their full speed.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Staying Wired or Cutting Loose

The SL3 offers built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing seamless remote control, image transfer, and sharing via Canon’s Camera Connect app. This is invaluable for quick smartphone uploads or tethered shooting.

SX700 HS features built-in Wi-Fi and NFC but no Bluetooth, reflecting its earlier release date. NFC offers quick pairing but is less standardized than Bluetooth, limiting some connectivity options.

USB 2.0 ports on both devices are slow by modern standards, and HDMI outputs are present but vary in quality.

Video Capabilities: More than Just Stills

Video shooters will want to consider specs carefully. The SL3 supports 4K UHD recording at 25p capped at 120 Mbps. This is impressive in its class and exceeds the SX700 HS, which maxes out at 1080p 60p with H.264 compression.

SL3’s fully articulating screen and microphone port make it a solid choice for vloggers, hobbyist filmmakers, or interview setups. Optical image stabilization is absent on the SL3 body but some EF/EF-S lenses offer stabilization.

SX700 HS includes optical image stabilization to smooth handheld video and does have an inbuilt flash but no external mic jack.

For casual memory videos, the SX700 HS suffices, but if quality and audio control matter, the SL3 offers more creative latitude.

Specialized Photography Applications

Now, let’s run through how these cameras serve specific photographic genres:

• Portrait Photography: The SL3’s larger APS-C sensor and ability to use fast lenses equate to superior bokeh and delicately rendered skin tones. Its face and eye-detection AF help nail critical focus. The SX700 HS struggles with background separation and softer detail.

• Landscape Photography: The SL3’s dynamic range and resolution excel here, and the option for weather-resistant lenses helps outdoor use. SX700 HS’s smaller sensor limits tonal gradation and image enlargement quality.

• Wildlife & Sports: Faster autofocus tracking and decent burst rate put the SL3 ahead unless absolute frame rate is prioritized - though neither is ideal for professional sports photography. The SX700 HS has a massive zoom range, a boon for distant subjects but AF speed and tracking weaknesses hinder action shots.

• Street Photography: SX700 HS is stealthier and less obtrusive, especially thanks to its compact body and silent shooting. The SL3’s optical viewfinder and reflex noise can draw attention.

• Macro Photography: SL3’s lens flexibility lets you pick dedicated macro glass with excellent close-focus capabilities; SX700 HS claims a 1cm macro focus but image quality and sharpness are limited.

• Night/Astro Photography: SL3’s high native ISO (up to 25600), RAW capabilities, and sensor size deliver notably better low-light images than SX700 HS.

• Travel Photography: SX700 HS shines with versatility and portability. SL3 requires a bit more packing but delivers better output.

• Professional Work: The SL3’s RAW files, compatibility with professional workflows, and reliable battery life give it a professional edge.

Here’s a detailed chart breaking down genre-specific performance ratings:

Overall Performance Ratings and Value Assessment

No analysis is complete without wrapping performance into a cohesive evaluation:

The SL3 scores highly for image quality, handling, video, and battery life, with some deductions for lack of weather sealing and relatively slow burst rate.

The SX700 HS excels at portability, zoom range, and ease of use, but falls short on sensor quality, AF sophistication, and video.

Value-wise, the SL3 retails around $599, positioning it well for serious entry-level DSLR buyers seeking longevity and system expandability.

The SX700 HS retails near $349 (though replaced by newer models), perfect for point-and-shoot users on a budget or travelers wanting an all-in-one zoom.

Summary: Who Should Buy Which?

To wrap up, here’s my take distilled:

Choose the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 if you:

• Want a serious photography tool with DSLR controls and superior image quality
• Aim to grow a lens collection or explore different photography genres
• Shoot in low-light or require RAW files for editing flexibility
• Need 4K video and versatile articulation for multimedia projects
• Can accommodate a slightly larger camera and invest in batteries and lenses

Choose the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS if you:

• Prioritize ultra-compact size and a massive zoom in a grab-and-go camera
• Favor convenience, point-and-shoot simplicity, and travel portability
• Need a camera for casual snaps, family events, and daylight shooting
• Want decent full HD video without external accessories
• Are budget-conscious and satisfied with JPEG image quality

Parting Thoughts: Experience Over Specs

I’ve been beating the drum that specs alone don’t make or break a camera - and this comparison cements that. The Rebel SL3 is a refined photographic instrument with sensible compromises, while the SX700 HS is a nimble compact with compromises of its own.

Understanding your shooting style, priorities, and willingness to grow in skill is paramount. Don’t be dazzled by headline numbers - test for yourself if possible, or at least examine image samples carefully.

Whichever you pick, both Canons offer solid entry points into photography’s expansive world. And remember, gear is only part of the journey - practice, creativity, and passion make the real difference.

I hope this detailed side-by-side helps you make a confident choice! Happy shooting!

Additional Images Recap

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• Canon SL3 front Canon SL3 screen back Canon SX700 HS screen back