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Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX70 HS front
Portability
63
Imaging
47
Features
67
Overall
55

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Revealed August 2009
Canon SX70 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 21-1365mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 608g - 127 x 91 x 117mm
  • Launched September 2018
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Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon SX120 IS versus Canon SX70 HS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Canon. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and SX70 HS (20MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and SX70 HS (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The SX120 IS was introduced 10 years before the SX70 HS and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX120 IS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX70 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the SX120 IS grades vs the SX70 HS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Canon SX70 HS

 SX120 IS SX70 HS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX70 HS over the Canon SX120 IS

 SX70 HS SX120 IS 
LaunchedSeptember 2018August 2009Fresher by 110 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Canon SX70 HS

 SX120 IS SX70 HS 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX120 IS enjoys outside measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Canon SX70 HS has specifications of 127mm x 91mm x 117mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 608 grams (1.34 lbs).

Check the Canon SX120 IS versus Canon SX70 HS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SX120 IS compared to the SX70 HS.

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SX120 IS and SX70 HS is 87 and 63 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by going through specifications. The graphic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX120 IS and SX70 HS.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SX120 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Canon SX70 HS will provide extra detail using its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older SX120 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography information
Canon SX70 HS Portrait photography information
33
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
cannot use external flash
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW format
54
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography factors
Canon SX70 HS Street photography factors
51
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition (285 grams)
58
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others (608g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography highlights
Canon SX70 HS Sports photography highlights
26
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no phase detect autofocus
56
long zoom range (21-1365mm 65.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography info
Canon SX70 HS Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
very long reach (360mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (285 grams)
low MP (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
supports bluetooth
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (21mm)
long reach (1365mm)
more heavy than others (608g)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX70 HS as a Landscape photography camera
36
you can focus manually
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
58
you can focus manually
quite wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX70 HS as a Vlogging camera
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competition (285g)
64
quite wide (21mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
slow max aperture (f3.4)
more heavy than others (608g)
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Canon SX120 IS vs Canon SX70 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Canon SX70 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISCanon PowerShot SX70 HS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Canon PowerShot SX70 HS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-08-19 2018-09-20
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Digic 8
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 21-1365mm (65.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, slow sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 120 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285 grams (0.63 pounds) 608 grams (1.34 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 127 x 91 x 117mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 325 photographs
Battery type - Built-in
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $249 $550