Canon SX520 HS vs Panasonic Lumix FZ70: Which Superzoom Compact Fits Your Photography Journey?

If you’re diving into the world of superzoom cameras, chances are you want impressive reach without hauling bulky gear. Both the Canon PowerShot SX520 HS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 promise extensive zoom ranges and beginner-friendly packs that suit everyday shooting and casual travel. But which one truly delivers on image quality, performance, and value for your photography goals?

Having personally tested both with extensive hands-on sessions and real-world shooting, we’re going beyond specs to bring you a thorough comparison. Whether you’re chasing wildlife, capturing expansive landscapes, practicing street photowalking, or starting your macro explorations, this article will help you decide which camera matches your style, budget, and aspirations.

Let’s unpack how these two small-sensor superzooms stack up against each other.

First Impressions: Design, Ergonomics, and Build

Size and Handling - Compact vs. Bridge Style

When it comes to physical feel, the Canon SX520 HS is a true compact with a straightforward pocket-friendly design, while the Panasonic FZ70 leans into a bridge camera form, resembling a DSLR-style body with a pronounced grip and a bulkier footprint.

You’ll find the Canon SX520 HS easier to carry around casually due to its lighter weight and smaller size, which is excellent for street photography or travel where portability is paramount. On the other hand, the Panasonic FZ70’s bulk might tire your wrist during long handheld sequences but offers better balance when shooting with its very long 60× optical zoom, giving you more stability for extended reach.

Control Layout and Top-View

Control ergonomics impact your shooting speed and enjoyment. The Canon SX520 HS offers a minimalist button set, suited to quick point-and-shoot usage without overwhelming new photographers. The Panasonic FZ70 includes more buttons and dials, reflecting its bridge camera positioning and giving enthusiasts greater manual control and quicker access to key functions.

For users who prefer a simplified interface, the Canon SX520 HS is friendlier. Meanwhile, if you want to experiment with more exposure modes and customize shooting parameters rapidly, the FZ70 puts those tools right at your fingertips.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: How Much Does Zoom Cost?

Both cameras employ a 1/2.3-inch sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a resolution of 16 megapixels. While this sensor size is standard for compact superzooms, it imposes limitations on noise and dynamic range compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors.

The Panasonic FZ70 edges ahead with RAW file support and more detailed sensor data thanks to its Venus Engine processor. The camera’s ability to shoot in RAW format means you can have significantly more control in post-processing, recovering highlights and shadows better than JPEG-only systems like the Canon SX520 HS. The FZ70 also boasts a slightly better dynamic range and color depth metrics, contributing to richer images, especially in challenging light conditions.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching Life’s Moments

Autofocus performance is vital across genres, from fast wildlife subjects to fleeting street scenes. Both cameras rely mainly on contrast-detection autofocus systems, common in compact cameras.

The Panasonic FZ70 shines with a significantly faster continuous shooting speed of up to 9fps, excellent for tracking moving subjects in wildlife or sports photography scenarios, while the Canon SX520 HS manages only 2fps, limiting its action-capture capabilities.

Its more numerous autofocus points also translate into finer subject tracking over a broader area, making it easier to lock focus when subjects move unpredictably. The Canon’s 9 AF points are adequate for general use but less flexible for complex tracking.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Reach, Brightness, and Macro Fun

Superzoom cameras are defined by their zoom ranges and lens capabilities.

The Panasonic FZ70 offers a far more aggressive 60× zoom range from a wide 20mm to a breathtaking 1200mm equivalent. Its brighter aperture at the widest end (f/2.8 vs f/3.4 on Canon) allows better low-light performance and smoother background separation in close-up photography.

Also, the FZ70 supports external flashes, a boon if you want more creative lighting options. Conversely, the Canon SX520 HS’s maximum aperture drops to f/6.0 at the long end, which can challenge handheld shooting in lower light or require bumping up ISO more aggressively.

Its macro mode with a minimum focus distance of essentially zero centimeters is great for extreme close-ups, though you should temper expectations given the sensor size limitations.

Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Framing and Playback

Both cameras feature 3-inch fixed LCD screens with similar resolutions around 460k dots. However, their viewfinding options differ significantly:

The absence of a viewfinder on the Canon SX520 HS can make composition challenging in bright sunlight and might reduce shooting comfort during extended sessions. The Panasonic FZ70’s electronic viewfinder is a clear advantage if you want the stability and precision of eye-level framing - particularly useful at long telephoto settings where camera shake can easily spoil shots.

Both LCDs are fixed and lack touchscreen control, which is a compromise for faster operation and lower cost but might feel dated to users accustomed to touch-friendly interfaces.

Image Samples and Real-World Output

Before committing to a camera, examining sample images is critical. We shot the same scenes in various conditions - daylight landscapes, portraits, indoor low-light, and wildlife at maximum zoom.

Canon SX520 HS front Canon SX520 HS screen back Panasonic FZ70 front Panasonic FZ70 screen back

Key takeaways:

• The Panasonic FZ70 produces sharper, more detailed images with better dynamic range retention, especially noticeable in highlights and deep shadows.

• The Canon SX520 HS offers warmer skin tones but sometimes struggles with detail retention in low light and higher ISOs.

• Both deliver respectable compression and noise control at ISO 100-400, but the FZ70’s boosted ISO 6400 capabilities, while noisy, extend low-light usability beyond the Canon’s 3200 max.

• Long-range wildlife shots on the FZ70 lock focus quicker and maintain clarity better due to its smoother zoom mechanics and image stabilization.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Battery longevity is often overlooked but crucial for travel and day-long shooting.

The Panasonic FZ70 clearly outlasts the Canon in battery endurance, allowing almost double the shots per charge under CIPA standards. This advantage is significant for users traveling or shooting long events without readily available charging.

Moreover, the FZ70 offers internal memory, providing a fallback if your card fills up unexpectedly - a feature missing on the SX520 HS.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips or Creative Vlogging?

While primarily photo-centric, both cameras offer full HD video recording but with notable differences:

The Panasonic FZ70 provides more video frame rate flexibility, supporting interlaced 50i/60i modes for smoother motion capture. However, no external mic ports limit audio quality control.

The Canon has simpler video controls and output in widely compatible formats, making it easier for casual users to share footage. Both handle basic handheld video well due to optical image stabilization but are not ideal for advanced videography.

Who Should Buy Which? Recommendations for Different Photographers

To distill all these findings into actionable advice, here is a breakdown of how each camera aligns with your photography interests:

Overall Performance Scores and Value Analysis

Zooming out to assess overall camera capabilities and price-to-performance:

You pay roughly $80 extra for the Panasonic FZ70, which returns this cost in higher performance, superior shooting flexibility, more zoom reach, and longer battery life. As always, your choice hinges on priorities - portability and simplicity favor Canon, while feature richness and image quality tilt the scale to Panasonic.

Final Verdict: Picking the Right Camera to Fuel Your Creativity

Our hands-on experience confirms both the Canon SX520 HS and Panasonic Lumix FZ70 cater well to enthusiasts seeking superzoom performance in accessible packages. The Canon SX520 HS is a dependable, compact companion for casual everyday shooting and travelers prioritizing pocketability and straightforward use.

Conversely, if you desire more zoom power, faster shooting, RAW files for advanced editing, and an electronic viewfinder for precision, the Panasonic FZ70 emerges as a clear winner. It’s a robust option for wildlife photography, sports, and more demanding shooting conditions.

Neither camera is perfect - the smaller sensors inherently limit ultimate image quality, and creative video makers will find both lacking in professional-grade features. But within their niche, these superzoom cameras open up exciting possibilities without breaking the bank.

Getting the Most Out of Your Superzoom

• Test handling before buying: Size, grip, and menu navigation vary – pick a camera that feels intuitive to you.
• Invest in fast memory cards: Both support SDXC cards, so choose high-speed ones to maximize burst and video performance.
• Use your zoom wisely: Superzooms shine, but image quality drops at extreme telephoto lengths; tripods or monopods help.
• Explore manual modes: Hone your skills using the aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation options on both cameras.
• Experiment with RAW on the FZ70: Capture more detail to edit later - a huge plus once you get comfortable with post-processing.

For further exploration into accessories and comparable models in this category, check out the latest bridge cameras with larger sensors and 4K video to step up your toolkit.

In closing, whether you select the Canon SX520 HS or Panasonic FZ70, you’re gearing up with tempting zooms and versatile features tailor-made for enthusiasts enhancing their creative journeys. We encourage you to get hands-on, try sample shooting, and dive into the world of photography with these capable companions.

Happy shooting!

This comparison is based on extensive real-world testing and technical analysis, reflecting the cameras’ strengths and limitations nuanced across diverse photographic disciplines.