Canon SX60 HS vs Samsung HZ35W: The Ultimate Small Sensor Superzoom Face-Off

Whether you're a chemist for pixels, a weekend wanderer chasing landscapes, or a cheapskate clubs-for-thumbs at family events, picking a camera that fits your style and budget can feel like navigating a jungle of specs and promises. Today, I’m bringing to you a hands-on, no-nonsense comparison between two small sensor superzoom cameras that’ve piqued interest in the budget-conscious community over the past decade: the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Samsung HZ35W (aka WB650).

Having put both through their paces extensively, here's everything you need to know - from sensor tech to wildlife hunts - and, importantly, which one deserves a spot in your camera bag.

The Big Picture: Design, Size, and Feel

Before popping in a memory card, the first thing that hits you is how a camera feels in your hand. Ergonomics matter, especially if you shoot all day or take spontaneous street snaps.

The Canon SX60 HS is a bridge camera through and through. It’s SLR-esque in both looks and heft, tipping the scales around 650 grams and measuring a chunky 128x93x114mm. That grip, those clubs-for-thumbs bumps on the front - Canon clearly aimed for photographers craving manual controls and serious zoom capabilities in one package.

On the flip side, the Samsung HZ35W is a lean compact at just 245 grams and roughly 107x61x28mm. It slips in your jacket pocket and rarely calls attention, perfect for those who want zoom without the DSLR bulk.

Beyond ergonomics, control layout shines on the SX60 HS - dedicated dials, a mode wheel, plus a fully articulated 3-inch screen with 922k dots resolution, bringing ease and comfort for manual shooting and live review. The Samsung’s fixed 3-inch screen comes with a lower resolution of 614k dots and basic button controls, reflecting its compact design ethos and simpler operation.

Bottom line: If you want traditional camera handling, the SX60 HS feels like a natural extension of your hands; if you crave travel light and unobtrusive, the Samsung’s petite size wins.

Eyes of the Beast: Sensor and Image Quality

Superzoom cameras often get a bad rap for image quality. And with tiny sensors at the heart of both models (1/2.3” BSI-CMOS for Canon, 1/2.3” CCD for Samsung), this conundrum is expected. Yet, the devil’s in the details.

The Canon SX60 HS boasts a more modern BSI CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels, paired with Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor. This combo imparts better dynamic range (about 10.1 EV by DxOMark) and color depth (~19.2 bits) than the older Samsung, which uses a CCD sensor with 12 megapixels. With the Samsung HZ35W’s sensor, you’re looking at a limited dynamic range and noisier images when pushing ISO beyond 400, as well as less vibrant color reproduction.

My hands-on testing confirms the Canon maintains fine details well up to ISO 800, while the Samsung struggles to keep noise at bay past ISO 200. This significant difference means low-light shooting, night landscapes, and astrophotography are simply more viable on the Canon.

That said, both sensors are limited by their small size, so don’t expect DSLR-like image quality. But for everyday snaps and long-range zoom shots, the Canon offers a clear edge.

Zooming Into Lens Performance and Autofocus

A superzoom’s defining trait is, well, its zoom. How do these two stack?

Lens focal range:

• Canon SX60 HS: 21-1365mm (65x optical zoom)
• Samsung HZ35W: 24-360mm (15x optical zoom)

As someone who has deciphered terrain through countless telephotos, this difference is a game-changer. Canon’s 65x zoom is outright monstrous, capable of bringing distant wildlife and faraway sports action with impressive reach. Meanwhile, Samsung’s 15x zoom suits travel and casual shooting but isn’t fatal to birdwatchers or safari fans who want every feather crisp.

Maximum aperture: Both cameras close down from about f/3.2–3.4 at wide angles to f/5.8–6.5 at full zoom, so neither camera is a speed demon in low light at long focal lengths.

Autofocus (AF): The Canon bursts ahead here with a 9-point AF system inclusive of continuous, center-weighted, and face detection autofocus, plus predictive tracking (important for sports and wildlife). The Samsung uses contrast-detection AF with fewer focus modes, relying mainly on center-weighted AF and lacking continuous AF capabilities.

In real shooting scenarios, the Canon’s AF tracks moving subjects with less hunting, letting you concentrate on framing the shot. The Samsung is peppier in static scenes but less confident on fast action or crowded shots.

Real-World Photography Disciplines: Strengths and Weaknesses

Portraits and Skin Tones

In controlled lighting, the Canon SX60 HS renders pleasing skin tones with natural warmth and smooth tonal transitions, helped by its advanced DIGIC 6 processor and better color science. The articulated screen is a bonus for selfies or creative angles.

Samsung’s images tend to be flatter with a slight cool cast, needing post-processing tweaks for flattering portraits. Additionally, the absence of face detection AF (in the classical sense) makes nailing sharp portraits trickier on the HZ35W.

Landscape and Nature

Here, resolution and dynamic range matter most. The Canon’s higher megapixel count combined with increased dynamic range lets you recover shadows and highlights better in challenging lighting. Weather sealing isn’t present on either, but the Canon’s robust build inspires more confidence for field use.

The Samsung’s compactness makes for easy hiker’s companion, but the limited zoom and sensor performance restrict ultimate image quality and fine detail.

Wildlife and Sports

Canon’s gigantic zoom and versatile AF system make it a wildlife shooter’s friend. Burst shooting at 6.4 fps lets you capture fleeting moments, although buffer depth isn’t extensive.

Samsung lacks continuous AF and fast FPS modes, limiting its effectiveness for unpredictable subjects.

Street and Everyday

Samsung’s stealthy size and weight trump the Canon here. It’s less conspicuous and faster to deploy for spontaneous street photography. Low-light struggles on both cameras mean you’ll want good ambient light or creative shutter-lens play.

Macro Photography

Both cameras have macro modes but flare differently. The Canon boasts a 0 cm macro focus range (meaning you can almost touch your subject), while Samsung’s minimum focusing distance is 3cm. Sharpness and focusing precision edge out in Canon’s favor, but neither approach dedicated macro lenses.

Night and Astro

Canon edges night shooting with lower noise and better dynamic range. The DIGIC 6 processor aids longer exposures seamlessly. Samsung’s JPEG-based video and limited ISO range hold it back.

Video Capabilities and Multimedia

Canon SX60 HS:

• Full HD 1080p at 60fps, 30fps in MPEG-4 H.264
• Optical image stabilization (vital during zoomed video)
• External mic port (rare in budget superzooms)
• No headphone jack

Samsung HZ35W:

• HD 720p at 30fps max, Motion JPEG format
• Optical stabilization mitigates camera shake
• No external microphone or audio monitoring

The Canon’s fuller video spec roster caters to vloggers and casual videographers better, while the Samsung’s video competes marginally with basic compacts.

Handling and Interface

Canon’s fully articulated 3-inch screen (922k dots) allows live view shooting at unusual perspectives and simplifies video framing. Meanwhile, Samsung’s fixed 3-inch screen is serviceable but feels dated with lower resolution and no touchscreen features.

Menu systems on both remain user-friendly but Canon’s interface offers more customization, exposure info, and manual mode access - welcoming to users who want creative input instead of point-and-shoot rigidity.

Build Quality, Battery Life, and Storage

Samsung’s slim and lightweight body feels plastic but precise; the Canon SX60 HS has a more solid, heftier chassis consistent with its bridge camera moniker.

Battery life tips in Canon’s favor, rated at approximately 340 shots per charge (using the NB-10L battery), while Samsung’s battery rating isn’t explicitly available but likely more limited due to size.

Both accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with a single slot.

Connectivity: Sharing and Wireless

The Canon SX60 HS comes with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easier image transfer and remote control - an especially handy feature for travelers and social media sharers.

The Samsung HZ35W has no wireless options but does feature built-in GPS for geo-tagging your photos on the go.

Price and Value Considerations

At their respective launches, Canon SX60 HS lists around $549, while Samsung HZ35W retails near $300. With such price disparity, some might question whether Canon’s added specs justify the steep premium.

In my view, if zoom reach, image quality, and video capabilities matter most, the Canon easily justifies the cost difference. For budget-first consumers who want a compact travel zoom with basic features, Samsung remains a valid choice.

Overall Performance Scores and Genre-Specific Insights

According to comprehensive performance testing benchmarks (including DxOMark for Canon), the SX60 HS leads comfortably in overall image quality, autofocus reliability, and versatility across most photographic genres.

Samsung performs respectably in casual snapshot and travel roles but lags in demanding disciplines like low-light, telephoto, and professional use.

Sample Gallery: Images From Both Cameras

Seeing is believing. Here are side-by-side sample images comparing the Canon SX60 HS and Samsung HZ35W under varied conditions like daylight landscape, indoor portrait, telephoto wildlife, and low-light scenes.

Canon SX60 HS front Canon SX60 HS screen back Samsung HZ35W screen back

The sharpness, detail retention, and color fidelity on the Canon’s captures leap out, especially when zoomed or cropped. Samsung images look serviceable but soften significantly when pushed or enlarged.

Who Should Choose Which? Tailored Recommendations

Pick the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS If:

• You crave an insanely long zoom lens for wildlife, sports, or astrophotography.
• You want decent low-light performance and manual control options.
• Video capture with external audio input matters to your workflow.
• You appreciate a fully articulated screen for creativity.
• You aren’t fussed about backpack weight and want a DSLR-like shooting experience on a superzoom budget.
• Your budget allows for $500+ upfront investment.

Consider the Samsung HZ35W If:

• You're after a compact, lightweight point-and-shoot with respectable zoom.
• Your photography is casual - days out, family events, travel snapshots without deep manual fiddling.
• Your budget caps near $300 or lower in the used market.
• You prefer built-in GPS for easy geo-tagging.
• Video quality is not a top priority, and low-light situations are rare for you.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Final Thoughts: Which Superzoom Wins?

If you’re seeking a workhorse superzoom with versatility, superior image and video quality, and long-range capability, the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS remains the undisputed champion in this pairing, despite its 2014 vintage. Its strengths hold up well even in 2024 terms when budget options are limited in zoom range and features.

But if you’re on a shoestring budget, want something ultra-portable, or need GPS tagging for travel diaries, the Samsung HZ35W is a viable prosaic choice - not glamorous, but functional.

As a seasoned shooter who’s cracked open hundreds of lenses and tweaked countless ISO settings, sometimes it boils down to 'what fits in your hand, and your budget,' and sometimes to 'what lets you nail the shot.' Both cameras tell stories, but Canon’s SX60 HS gives you a more compelling narrative with details, tone, and action. Choose accordingly.

Happy shooting, whether you zoom big or stroll light!