Canon PowerShot N Facebook Ready vs Canon PowerShot SX720 HS: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Photography Enthusiasts

Over my 15+ years testing cameras, I've learned that even compact Canon cameras - long beloved for their user-friendly designs and dependable quality - can stretch across a broad spectrum of photographic needs. Today, I'll dissect two very different models from Canon’s small sensor lineup: the 2013-era PowerShot N Facebook Ready, and the 2016 PowerShot SX720 HS. While both are compact and affordable, their target audiences, feature sets, and shooting performance veer sharply apart.

Throughout this article, I’ll break down their designs, technology, and real-world usability across photography genres, backing it all up with hands-on testing insights. Whether you’re hunting for a casual snapshot taker or an all-in-one superzoom pocket camera, the goal is to equip you with an expert’s lens on which camera fits your visual ambitions best.

Body and Ergonomics: What Fits Your Hands and Your Style?

Starting with physicality: the Canon PowerShot N Facebook Ready flaunts its diminutive, quirky square shape. Canon designed this camera with compactness and social-media readiness in mind. Weighing 195g and measuring just 79x60x29mm, it feels ultra-light in hand and slips into any pocket effortlessly. Its flip-up touchscreen is touch-responsive and selfie-friendly - a nod to casual shooters and vloggers wanting quick social shares. Its tilting 2.8-inch PureColor II G touch screen (461k dots) is sharp, though small by today’s standards.

In contrast, the PowerShot SX720 HS sports a more conventional rectangular compact camera body measuring 110x64x36mm and weighing 270g. That's still pocketable but noticeably larger and heavier. It ditches touch control in favor of a fixed 3-inch LCD with higher resolution (922k dots), lending a more detailed live view and playback experience - valuable for a camera that aims to be versatile across zoom ranges and lighting conditions.

My hands-on time emphasized that the N Facebook Ready’s unconventional form factor is polarizing - great for on-the-go convenience but awkward for steady shooting over longer sessions, especially without a viewfinder. The SX720 HS, with deeper grip contours and manual exposure controls, feels more purposeful and confident in-hand for serious photographers.

Looking at top controls, the PowerShot SX720 HS has dedicated mode dial, zoom lever, and function buttons, while the N Facebook relies almost exclusively on its touchscreen for settings, limiting quick physical adjustments. This difference signals Canon's intended user groups: casual snapshooters versus more advanced amateurs who prefer faster tactile control.

Sensor and Image Quality: Peeking Under the Hood

Both cameras use the classic 1/2.3" sensor size (a staple for compact cameras), but the SX720 HS sports a newer 20.3MP BSI-CMOS sensor paired with Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor compared to the older 12MP CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 in the N Facebook.

Though the difference in megapixels alone doesn't tell the whole story, the BSI (Backside Illuminated) architecture in the SX720 improves low-light sensitivity and noise control. During controlled tests, the SX720 yielded cleaner files at ISO 800 and above, critical for dim environments like indoor sports or evening street photography. The N Facebook images, while decent in bright daylight, showed noticeably more grain and less detail retention in shadows.

A unique trait of the PowerShot N Facebook Ready is its square 1:1 aspect ratio shooting mode alongside standard 4:3 and 3:2 options, supporting creative framing akin to Instagram’s native format. However, its maximum resolution peaks at 4000x2248 pixels across a smaller pixel count, which limits cropping flexibility and large print size potential.

By comparison, the SX720 offers a full 20MP 5184x3888 resolution, great for landscape and cropping-intensive photography. The finer detail is apparent in the field - fine textures on distant birds or leaves resolve better.

User Interface and Screen: Command Centers of Creativity

Touchscreens have become standard even on compact cameras, but their implementation quality varies. The N Facebook’s 2.8-inch touchscreen is responsive and tiltable up to 90 degrees, making it ideal for selfies and low-angle shots. However, its small size and lower resolution can be limiting when reviewing fine image detail or navigating menus.

The SX720's larger, higher-res fixed screen provides a clearer, more accurate preview, though it lacks touch capabilities. For photographers accustomed to traditional buttons and dials, this setup encourages a more deliberate, manual approach, strengthened by shutter priority, aperture priority, and even full manual exposure modes - absent on the N Facebook.

If you prefer effortless touchscreen navigation and social media integration, the N Facebook is charmingly simple. But for navigating exposure controls or reviewing critical focus in the wild, the SX720 shows its superiority.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed and Precision on the Move

Here’s where the two diverge sharply. The PowerShot N Facebook Ready relies on basic contrast-detection autofocus with no continuous AF or tracking capabilities. Its two frames per second continuous shooting and absence of manual focus make capturing moving subjects challenging. Testing confirms this camera excels only at static scenes or casual candid portraits.

The SX720 HS introduces a more sophisticated AF system with nine focus points, continuous AF, face detection, and AF tracking. It achieves nearly 6fps burst, making it far more suitable for sports, wildlife, or kids-on-the-run scenarios. During wildlife sessions, the SX720 locked onto birds in flight with reasonable consistency, a marked advantage over the N Facebook's more deliberate AF hunting.

Lens and Zoom: How Far and Wide Can You Go?

A significant factor for many buyers is the lens versatility. The Canon PowerShot N Facebook Ready features an 8x optical zoom spanning 28-224mm equivalent focal length with fairly bright apertures of f/3.0-5.9. This range is fine for everyday snapshots and portraits but limited for distant subjects.

As for macro work, the N Facebook’s 1cm macro focusing distance is exceptionally close, letting you fill the frame with intricate details - great for close-up creativity.

The SX720 HS, however, sports a monster 40x optical zoom covering 24-960mm equivalent at apertures from f/3.3-6.9. This telephoto reach is impressive for a pocket-sized compact and invaluable for wildlife, travel, or sports shooters looking to photograph from a distance. While the maximum aperture narrows at the long end, optical image stabilization helps counteract shake for reliable sharpness.

In practice, the SX720 lets you grab details on distant mountain cabins or shy wildlife unreachable with the N Facebook. However, extensive focal lengths demand careful manual focus or AF tracking, stresses the lens mechanics, and benefit from the camera’s steadier build.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, limiting serious outdoor use in harsh rain or dusty conditions. Both feel firmly built for typical urban or travel use - the SX720’s larger size grants it a bit more confidence-inspiring heft, while the N Facebook’s compactness risks feeling delicate in demanding shoots.

If you prioritize ruggedness, neither is ideal. But for casual travel or indoor photography, both suffice.

Battery Life and Storage: The Practical Matters

Battery life favors the SX720 HS, delivering approximately 250 shots per charge versus 200 shots for the N Facebook. This difference is modest but vital on longer outings without quick charging options.

Both cameras accept standard SD or microSD cards, with the N Facebook using microSD variants only. In terms of connectivity, both feature built-in Wi-Fi for quick image transfers, but the SX720 adds NFC for simplified pairing with compatible smartphones. HDMI output on the SX720 further extends versatility for tethered viewing or presentations - capabilities absent in the N Facebook.

Photography by Genre: Which Camera Excels Where

Let’s dive into detailed photographic applications and how each camera fares.

Portrait Photography

Capturing pleasing skin tones and portraits demands accurate color rendering, decent bokeh, and reliable face detection. The N Facebook’s f/3.0 aperture at wide angle helps blur backgrounds modestly, and the square shooting format encourages creative composition. However, the lack of face detection and slower AF hamper quick candid portraits, while no RAW limits post-processing latitude.

The SX720 HS offers face detection AF, wider exposure controls, and manual focus for sharper portraits. Despite its longer zoom and smaller maximum aperture on the long end, it generally delivers more reliable portraits with pleasing bokeh at portrait distances.

Landscape Photography

Here, resolution and dynamic range reign. The SX720's 20MP sensor outperforms the N Facebook's 12MP in detail capture, and the DIGIC 6 processor extracts slightly better dynamic range in shadows and highlights. Weather-sealing is absent in both, but the SX720’s lens versatility (24mm wide angle) helps more comprehensive landscapes.

The N Facebook’s limited zoom and smaller image resolution constrain landscape creative freedom, relegating it to casual snapshots rather than serious landscape work.

Wildlife Photography

For birds and fast wildlife, autofocus speed, burst rate, and telephoto reach matter. The SX720 HS clearly dominates here with 40x zoom, 6fps burst, and AF tracking. I managed to get useable shots of inland birds at 600+mm equivalent.

The N Facebook’s slow 2fps and autofocus struggle make it unsuitable for wildlife, except the most patient observers willing to shoot stationary subjects.

Sports Photography

Similar story to wildlife: SX720’s burst and AF superiority give it an edge. Plus, shutter priority and aperture priority assist in exposing fast action correctly. The N Facebook’s absence of these modes is limiting.

Street Photography

Surprisingly, the N Facebook fits street shooting well thanks to its compact shape and touch interface - it allows quick candid shooting without drawing attention. The flip screen adds framing versatility.

The SX720’s larger body is less discrete but offers better image quality and zoom reach for distant street scenes. However, its lack of touchscreen and slower startup reduces snapshooting spontaneity.

Macro Photography

Both cameras focus as close as 1cm, which is impressive. The N Facebook’s lens aberrations at close distance are minimal, and its touchscreen aids rapid focusing on tiny subjects. The SX720 also performs well but benefits from manual focus to fine-tune critical sharpness.

Night and Astro Photography

The SX720 HS’s better high ISO performance and longer shutter speed range (up to 3200 max ISO, 15s shutter) let it serve casual astrophotographers at the entry level better than the N Facebook. The latter caps ISO at 6400 but sacrifices noise control.

Neither supports RAW or bulb mode, limiting advanced night shooters, but the SX720 is better for typical handheld low-light use.

Video Capabilities

Both record Full HD video, with the N Facebook maxing out at 24fps and the SX720 supporting 60fps at 1080p - key for smoother motion.

The N Facebook supports a variety of slow-motion modes (up to 240fps at lower resolutions). The SX720 records in MPEG-4 and H.264 with an HDMI port for external viewing, while the N Facebook lacks HDMI. Neither offers microphone input.

For casual video, the N Facebook’s touchscreen and simplicity appeal, but the SX720 provides technical advantages pertinent to serious videographers using small cams.

Travel Photography

Portability favors the N Facebook, especially for minimalist travelers wanting social-ready functionality.

If travel means varied subjects (landscapes, wildlife, street) and light conditions, the SX720 is overwhelmingly the better all-rounder despite its larger size.

Battery life and storage options further endorse the SX720 for extended trips.

Professional Work

Neither camera targets professional applications - the lack of RAW support and limited manual controls in the N Facebook are deal-breakers. The SX720 HS edges into semi-pro or enthusiast territory with manual exposure options but still falls short of higher-end compacts or mirrorless models.

Overall Performance Ratings and Value Analysis

Let's look at their relative strengths side-by-side with a concise scoring overview of key attributes:

From my thorough testing, the PowerShot SX720 HS asserts a clear advantage in image quality, autofocus, and versatility, justified by its modestly higher price. Conversely, the PowerShot N Facebook Ready excels as a quirky, lightweight social media companion with simplicity at its core.

For genre-specific expertise:

Image Quality Comparison: The Proof Is in the Pixels

To ground this discussion visually, here are some side-by-side sample images comparing detail, color rendering, and bokeh between the two cameras in real-world shooting conditions:

Canon N Facebook ready screen back Canon SX720 HS front Canon SX720 HS screen back

Notice the SX720’s superior clarity on fine details and color fidelity, especially in shadow areas and at telephoto focal lengths.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Buy the Canon PowerShot N Facebook Ready?

• Enthusiasts prioritizing ultra-compact size and social media connectivity.
• Casual shooters wanting simple, selfie-friendly interfaces.
• Macro hobbyists attracted to close focusing with easy framing.
• Budget-conscious buyers seeking a fun, fashion-forward point-and-shoot.

Who Should Buy the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS?

• Photography enthusiasts needing higher resolution and better image quality.
• Travelers wanting a versatile zoom range in a portable package.
• Wildlife, sports, and street photographers needing fast AF and burst.
• Videographers benefiting from 60fps 1080p and HDMI output.

Summary: Two Cameras, Two Different Paths

The Canon PowerShot N Facebook Ready and the Canon SX720 HS serve distinct niches within the compact camera market. The N Facebook is a charming, no-frills social snapshot tool, with a unique design and touchscreen optimized for casual sharing, but limited in image quality and controls.

The SX720 HS represents a meaningful step-up in performance, precision, and flexibility. It trades some pocketability for a much stronger all-around photographic experience.

My extensive testing confirms that investing a bit more in the SX720 generally results in images with better detail, smoother autofocus tracking, and manual control - assets that pay dividends for serious creative photography or travel documentation.

Ultimately, understanding your primary shooting needs and desired balance between simplicity and capability will guide you to the model that suits your photographic journey best.

If you have questions about specific shooting scenarios with either model or want tips on maximizing their features, drop a comment below. Camera reviews are best when backed by shared experiences!

Happy shooting!

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