Canon SX70 HS vs Casio EX-G1: A Hands-On Comparison for the Practical Photographer

When it comes to selecting a digital camera, the market is vast and varied. Even within the compact and bridge camera segments, the differences can be staggering. Today, I want to walk you through a detailed comparison between two very different cameras that nonetheless may appeal to overlapping segments of enthusiasts: Canon’s PowerShot SX70 HS - a superzoom bridge camera introduced in 2018 - versus the Casio Exilim EX-G1, a pocket-friendly ultracompact from 2009.

Both cameras fall into the “point-and-shoot” category but serve distinct use cases, budgets, and expectations. Over many years and thousands of hours testing gear ranging from ultra-high-end full-frame to entry-level compacts, I’ve found that truly understanding a camera's nuances means digging beyond specs to real-world utility. That’s exactly what we’ll explore here, peppered with detailed technical analysis and practical insights.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Starting with physical presence, the Canon SX70 HS and Casio EX-G1 could hardly be more different. The Canon SX70 HS resembles a DSLR-style bridge camera with a robust (if plastic) body design, measuring 127x91x117mm and weighing in at 608 grams with battery and card. In contrast, the EX-G1 is true ultracompact territory - 104x64x20mm and only 154 grams, designed to slip effortlessly into a jacket or even pants pocket.

The Canon feels substantial, with an abundance of buttons and a grip that promises steady handling especially for long telephoto shooting. The Casio is minimalist, lacking any kind of viewfinder and sporting a smaller, fixed LCD. For those who prefer deliberate control and comfortable ergonomics, the Canon wins hands down. But if pocketability and spontaneous shooting are your priorities, the Casio’s tiny footprint is unbeatable.

On the build side, I was intrigued to find the Casio offers environmental sealing - it’s dustproof, shockproof, waterproof, and even freezeproof. This ruggedness surprised me given its vintage and size, making it a potential choice for adventurous travelers or casual beach shooters. The Canon SX70 HS, by contrast, has no weather sealing, demanding more cautious handling outdoors.

Top-Down Look: Control Layout and Usability

Turning to controls, the SX70 HS features an SLR-style top plate with dedicated dials for mode selection, exposure compensation, and a custom function ring around the lens barrel – features that just aren't possible on the EX-G1’s simple, button-driven interface.

The Canon’s fully articulating 3-inch screen (922k dots) enhances flexibility in composing shots from unusual angles, and the electronic viewfinder (2.36M dots) offers bright, lag-free framing. Meanwhile, the Casio’s fixed, 2.5-inch screen has a mere 230k-dot resolution, quite dim by today’s standards, and no EVF.

As a photographer who often loves to compose through a viewfinder (especially in bright conditions), I can say the Canon’s superior electronic finder is a massive advantage. Also note that the SX70 HS’s touchscreen absence is a mild disappointment - touch interfaces have become standard for intuitive AF point selectors, though physical controls and joystick compensate fairly well.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Now to the heart of the camera - the image sensor. Both cameras employ a 1/2.3-inch sensor (commonly found in compact cameras), but the Canon uses a 20-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor paired with the DIGIC 8 processor, while the Casio utilizes a 12-megapixel CCD sensor. This difference is more than just numbers.

From my extensive testing, CMOS sensors with backside illumination (BSI) like the Canon’s deliver substantially better low-light sensitivity, dynamic range, and noise control than older CCD technology. This translates to clearer, cleaner images at higher ISO settings and when shooting in challenging lighting conditions.

The Canon’s sensor achieves 5184x3888 max resolution versus the Casio’s 4000x3000 max resolution - not huge, but a noticeable difference that translates to more cropping flexibility and finer detail reproduction especially for landscapes and portraits.

While neither camera can compete with APS-C or full-frame systems in outright image quality, within the small sensor realm, the Canon SX70 HS offers clear advantages for image clarity and performance.

Autofocus Systems and Performance in Action

Autofocus is a crucial performance area for any camera. Here, the SX70 HS boasts a contrast-detection AF system with 9 points, face detection, single, continuous, and tracking AF modes. It even offers some selective AF area modes to help dial in focus precisely.

The Casio EX-G1 is far simpler - contrast detect AF only with no continuous tracking, no face detection, and a generalized center-weighted focusing mechanism.

In practical shooting, especially for subjects in motion (think wildlife or sports), the Canon’s autofocus feels much more capable. Its continuous AF and tracking modes provide more reliable focus lock during bursts and action sequences. The Casio requires a more deliberate approach, prone to focus hunting in low light or with moving subjects.

Continuous shooting also separates these cameras: Canon’s 10 fps burst versus Casio’s 3 fps max - important if shooting fast-moving subjects.

Composing Your Shot: Viewfinder and Screen Experience

I’ve commented on the Canon’s excellent EVF and articulated LCD. This dual option means you can shoot comfortably in a host of conditions from bright sun to cramped spaces.

The Casio’s lack of viewfinder and fixed, low-res screen hampers composition freedom, especially outdoors. This is a common limitation of ultracompact cameras from its vintage but worth considering if you prioritize framing accuracy and comfort.

Without an articulated screen, shooting low or high angles on the EX-G1 becomes a guessing game or requires awkward postures, while the Canon excels with its flexible screen.

Versatile Zoom and Its Uses: Comparing Lenses

The Canon SX70 HS boasts an astonishing 65x zoom ranging from 21mm wide-angle to 1365mm super-telephoto equivalency (in 35mm terms). It’s a playground for wildlife, sports, and landscape photographers who want a single lens solution.

Meanwhile, the Casio’s 3x zoom (38-114mm equivalent) is rather limited - fine for casual snapshots but inadequate for distant subjects or wildlife.

I’ve personally found the Canon’s zoom to be both exciting and practical, but it does come with some optical compromises - noticeably variable aperture from f/3.4 to f/6.5 means lower light performance at the telephoto end suffers, and some image softness can creep in.

Still, Canon’s optical image stabilization helps mitigate handshake, key when you’re handholding at 1365mm equivalent. The Casio lacks any image stabilization system.

For macro, the Casio offers a minimum focus distance of about 10cm; the Canon claims 0cm but don’t be fooled - practical working distances are longer due to lens design. Neither excels for serious close-up work, but the Casio may be preferable for casual macro shots thanks to its decent minimum focus point.

Photography in the Wild: Wildlife and Sports Shooting

Between these two cameras, the Canon SX70 HS is the natural choice for action and wildlife photography.

The autofocus tracking, high burst rate, and super-telephoto lens coaxed out respectable shots of birds in flight and sports practice sessions during my real-world tests. While it doesn’t hit the pro-level speeds of flagship mirrorless or DSLRs, its performance is quite notable for a bridge camera in its price range.

The Casio EX-G1, with slower AF and limited zoom, is better suited for stationary or slow subjects. Its ruggedized body is a plus on field trips where accidents happen, but don’t expect sharp, well-tracked action shots here.

Street, Travel, and Everyday Shooting

Here, the Casio’s compact size and ruggedness shine. For street photographers, the unobtrusive size, quick startup, and dustproof/waterproof ratings make the EX-G1 a tough-to-beat carry-around camera. It’s great for quick, casual shots in urban environments and wet weather without fear.

The Canon SX70 HS is bulkier and less covert, so street shooting may be more conspicuous, but its longer zoom range lets you isolate candid subjects from a distance creatively.

For travel, the Canon’s versatility is unparalleled - you get a “do-it-all” lens and a relatively long battery life (estimated 325 shots per charge). The Casio’s smaller body and ruggedness attract travelers wanting a lightweight weatherproof backup, though battery life ratings are unavailable.

Night and Low Light Photography

Canon SX70 HS front Canon SX70 HS screen back Casio EX G1 front Casio EX G1 screen back

Under dim lighting conditions, the Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 processor deliver noticeably cleaner images with less noise up to ISO 3200. Night or astro shooters will welcome the Canon’s ability to manually control exposure modes and shutter speeds down to 15 seconds.

The Casio’s CCD sensor struggles with noise noticeably creeping in beyond ISO 400, and its maximum shutter speed limit of 1/1250 sec prevents long exposures necessary for night sky photography.

Optical image stabilization on the Canon further aids handheld low-light shooting, a feature absent on the Casio.

Video Performance and Multimedia Use

The Canon SX70 HS steps up with strong video specs: 4K UHD 30fps recording, 1080p at higher frame rates, microphone input, and professional H.264 encoding in MOV format. This makes it appealing for vloggers or hybrid shooters requiring decent 4K video capture and crisp audio.

Casio’s EX-G1 lags here with VGA and low-resolution 848x480 video maxing out at 30 fps, no microphone input, and old Motion JPEG compression.

For multimedia creators, the Canon is the clear winner, offering versatile recording options and higher quality output.

Diving Into the Details: Build, Battery, and Connectivity

The SX70 HS uses a built-in rechargeable battery with a CIPA-rated 325 shots per charge, that’s respectable but not outstanding. The Casio’s NP-800 battery specs aren’t well documented but expect less endurance given its size.

Storage-wise, both accept SD cards, with the Canon supporting UHS-I cards for faster write speeds - important when shooting 4K videos or high bursts.

Wireless connectivity is modern on the Canon, featuring Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for seamless image transfer and remote control - a feature totally absent on the Casio.

These conveniences reflect the decade between cameras but mean practical advantages for modern workflows.

Price and Value Assessment

At current pricing, the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS sits around $550 new, reflecting its advanced features, versatility, and 2018 technology. The Casio EX-G1, often found used or at clearance prices near $60, targets budget-conscious buyers or those seeking a durable point-and-shoot for rough conditions.

I approach value by asking: What’s the realistic use? If your priorities include zoom reach, video, and image quality, the Canon is worth the premium. If ruggedness, portability, and simplicity reign, the Casio may suffice at a fraction of the price.

Side-by-Side Performance Scores and Genre Strengths

To synthesize performance quantitatively, the Canon SX70 HS leads in overall imaging, autofocus, zoom versatility, video, and connectivity. The Casio lags outside its niche but gains marks for toughness and portability.

Breaking down by photography types:

• Portraits: Canon wins with better AF face detection, higher resolution, and shallow depth control (albeit limited by sensor size).
• Landscape: Canon’s higher resolution and dynamic range provide crisper, richer images.
• Wildlife/Sports: Canon’s tracking and zoom range facilitate capturing distant, fast subjects.
• Street: Casio’s smaller size and weather sealing give it discreet advantage.
• Macro: Neither excels, but Casio’s shorter minimum focus distance is slightly better.
• Night/Astro: Canon’s longer exposures and cleaner high ISO pull ahead.
• Video: Canon dominates with 4K and mic support.
• Travel: Casio’s compactness vs Canon’s all-in-one versatility is a tradeoff.
• Professional Work: Canon supports RAW, manual controls, decent file management. Casio lacks RAW and advanced modes.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

After years testing similar gear, here’s my bottom line:

Choose the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS if you want:

• A versatile, all-in-one bridge camera with an outrageously long zoom
• Decent image quality and low light performance for a small sensor camera
• 4K video and modern connectivity options
• Comfortable ergonomics with a viewfinder and articulating screen
• Manual controls for creative shooting, including RAW format support
• A reasonable budget (~$550) for a feature-packed superzoom

Choose the Casio Exilim EX-G1 if you want:

• A rugged, weatherproof ultracompact for pocket carry and adventurous outings
• A simple “grab and shoot” experience without complicated menus or lenses
• An affordable, basic camera primarily for casual photos, street, and travel use
• A camera that tolerates rough handling without fear (water, dust, cold)
• To spend under $100 or find a reliable backup camera

Final Thoughts: Balancing Legacy with Innovation

While it’s tempting to sum one camera as better outright, these two models represent different philosophies shaped by their eras and clientele.

The Canon SX70 HS embodies the matured superzoom bridge camera - a jack-of-all-trades with notable imaging capabilities and flexibility. The Casio EX-G1 harkens back to a simpler, rugged compact that trades polish and pixels for durability and convenience.

For serious enthusiasts who want single-lens versatility and acceptable image quality for varied subjects (including video), the Canon SX70 HS is my clear recommendation. It’s a compelling tool that punches above its price considering features and image performance.

Conversely, the Casio EX-G1 remains an interesting niche pick for minimalists and outdoor explorers who prioritize durability and size over resolution or autofocus speed.

Hopefully, this comparison helps you figure out which camera lines up best with your style and workflow. I encourage you to handle both if possible, and think about the types of photos you’ll make most often - that will always be your best guide.

Until next time, happy shooting!

If you’re curious to see more real-world image samples and performance charts mentioned, don’t miss these visuals:

Canon SX70 HS front Canon SX70 HS screen back Casio EX G1 front Casio EX G1 screen back