Choosing Between the Canon SX70 HS and Samsung SH100: A Practical Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

In a market crowded with cameras ranging from simple point-and-shoots to sophisticated mirrorless beasts, selecting the right tool for your photography needs can be daunting. I’ve spent years testing cameras across the spectrum, and today I’m digging deep into two very different models: the 2018 Canon PowerShot SX70 HS - a feature-packed, bridge-style superzoom - and the 2011 Samsung SH100 - an ultracompact camera aimed at casual shooters.

At first glance, these two might seem apples and oranges, but each holds unique value depending on your priorities: versatility, portability, image quality, or budget. I’ll walk you through an in-depth, hands-on comparison touching all major photographic disciplines, technical aspects, and real-world usability to help you decide which suits your style best.

Let’s get started by understanding the physical differences that will shape your shooting experience.

Size, Weight, and Handling: The Feel Factor

When I first picked up the Canon SX70 HS next to the Samsung SH100, the size difference was immediately noticeable.

The Canon’s SLR-like bridge body is hefty at 608 grams and measures 127x91x117 mm. This substantial build houses an impressive 65x zoom lens, manual controls, and a comfortable grip that will appeal to enthusiasts who want handling like a DSLR without swapping lenses.

In contrast, the SH100’s ultracompact frame is tiny at 93x54x19 mm - pocketable, discreet, and ultra-lightweight. Unfortunately, weight data is missing, but this is clearly the type of camera you’d slip into a coat pocket or small purse. However, the slim body compromises grip and handling comfort for extended shoots, especially in low light or sports scenarios.

If you prefer substantial cameras that inspire confidence and manual control, the SX70 HS is your pick. For purely casual street or travel photography where size trumps versatility, the SH100 feels like an unobtrusive companion.

User Interface and Control Layout

Handling a camera well often hinges on how intuitive and responsive the controls feel. The Canon packs a lot here.

The SX70 HS employs a well-thought-out top layout featuring a mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation dial, and various buttons for quick adjustments. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is crisp and covers 100% of the frame, essential for bright daylight shooting where LCD glare can be troublesome.

While the SH100 boasts a 3-inch LCD, it’s fixed and has a notably low resolution of 230k dots, which falls short in today's standards. The touchscreen capability is a plus for casual users but is not backed by extensive manual controls or an EVF, limiting appeal for more serious shooters.

From my experience, the SX70’s control scheme makes switching between modes and tweaking settings on the fly much more efficient, a big deal for dynamic shooting like wildlife or sports.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Jumping under the hood, sensor size and type primarily dictate image quality potential. Here’s the comparison.

Both cameras use a 1/2.3" sensor, common in compact cameras, but that’s where similarity ends. The Canon touts a 20-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor (BSI-CMOS), optimized for better low-light sensitivity than earlier designs. The Samsung uses a 14-megapixel CCD sensor, which was common until around the early 2010s but suffers generally from higher noise and lower dynamic range.

In practical shooting tests, the SX70 delivers noticeably cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, with better detail retention and color fidelity. The increased pixel count also means you can crop more aggressively or produce larger prints without losing sharpness.

The SH100’s images appear softer and noisier as sensitivity climbs, making it less suitable for dimly lit interiors or nighttime shooting unless you strictly rely on flash.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots

A camera’s screen and viewfinder determine how you frame and review images.

The SX70 HS shines with a fully articulating 3-inch LCD at 922k dots, allowing compositional flexibility - ideal for shooting from low or high angles or creating selfies/videos. The EVF’s resolution of 2360 dots provides a clear preview with real-time exposure simulation.

On the other hand, the SH100 has a non-articulating, fixed 3-inch touchscreen at just 230k dots, with no electronic or optical viewfinder. This severely limits use in bright sunlight where screen reflections obscure the image.

If you’re a landscape or portrait shooter who often frames creatively or in awkward positions, the Canon’s flexible display combined with the EVF is a game-changer.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed

No matter your genre, autofocus (AF) performance shapes your shooting confidence. Let’s see how these cameras stack up.

The Canon SX70 HS features contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points and supports continuous AF tracking. It adds face-detection capabilities but lacks phase-detection AF or animal eye autofocus - an understandable omission given its bridge camera class.

Shooting continuous bursts at 10 fps gives it a leg up on capturing fleeting moments in wildlife or sports.

Samsung’s SH100 lacks continuous autofocus, manual focus, or AF tracking options. AF is contrast-based, but with a limited point count (not officially listed) and no face or eye detection. There is no burst shooting mode reported, which curtails action photography potential.

In real-world tests, the SX70 tends to lock focus quicker and track moderately fast-moving subjects more reliably. The SH100’s AF system is more suited to static subjects and casual photography.

Lens Versatility: Zoom Range and Aperture

One of the Canon’s standout features is its colossal zoom range.

The SX70 HS houses a fixed 21-1365 mm equivalent lens (65x zoom), with apertures ranging from f/3.4 to f/6.5. That’s a tremendous reach for wildlife, landscapes, portraits with background separation, or even casual sports coverage. The downside is variable and modest maximum aperture, meaning it struggles in low light at telephoto lengths, but the built-in image stabilization helps mitigate camera shake.

The Samsung SH100’s lens specs are scarce, but it features a fixed lens with a focal length multiplier similar to the Canon’s sensor crop - roughly 5.9x equivalent zoom. Without manual control or specified aperture data, it’s limited to general snapshots.

From extensive use, superzoom versatility is invaluable for travel and wildlife photography, though with some tradeoffs versus interchangeable lenses with wider apertures.

Image Stabilization and Low-light Capability

Stabilization matters, especially when using long zooms or in dim environments.

Canon’s optical image stabilization on the SX70 HS is crucial for handheld shooting at 1365 mm equivalent, helping reduce blur. Combined with the BSI-CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 processor, low ISO images remain clean at up to ISO 3200, allowing usable shots indoors or twilight.

Unfortunately, Samsung’s SH100 lacks any form of image stabilization, and a CCD sensor with limited high-ISO prowess means it’s best for well-lit conditions or flash usage.

My takeaway? If you anticipate low-light shooting like indoor events, nightscapes, or astro, the Canon holds a clear advantage.

Video Capabilities: Motion in Focus

Video is an important criterion for many buyers nowadays.

The Canon powers 4K UHD video capture at 30 fps, recording high-quality H.264 MOV files at 120 Mbps. It also offers timelapse recording and an external microphone port - a rare find on bridge cameras - which gives you improved audio control. Although there’s no headphone jack, the articulated screen assists framing selfies or vlogging.

In sharp contrast, the Samsung SH100 shoots only up to 720p HD video in Motion JPEG format - an outdated compression method that hinders smoothness and editing flexibility. It also features a microphone port, but no advanced video features exist.

If you want serious video quality or plan to create multimedia content, the SX70 HS clearly outmatches the SH100.

Battery Life and Storage

Practical usability depends on how long you can shoot or record.

The Canon uses a built-in battery rated for approximately 325 shots per charge, which is average for the category but may require spare power for longer outings. It supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with UHS-I compatibility, providing plenty of storage options.

The Samsung’s battery life isn’t specified, and it uses an unspecified storage format. The lack of USB or HDMI output hampers easy file transfer or external monitoring, making workflow less smooth than the Canon.

For travel or professional use, extended battery life and flexible media options weigh heavily in favor of the Canon.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Both cameras lack weather sealing or ruggedness features like dust or shock resistance. The Canon’s more robust body may hold up better to casual abuse but shouldn’t be relied upon in harsh environments.

If you need gear that survives rain, dust, or freezing conditions, neither is ideal without protective housing.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The Canon includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote control, wireless image transfer, and easy social sharing from your smartphone - standard conveniences in today’s cameras.

The Samsung offers built-in wireless but lacks Bluetooth or NFC, and no HDMI or USB ports, limiting connectivity and workflow efficiency.

Image Samples and Performance Ratings

Seeing is believing, right? Comparing sample shots reveals much about practical differences.

Canon SX70 HS front Canon SX70 HS screen back Samsung SH100 front Samsung SH100 screen back

The Canon SX70 HS produces sharper, better-exposed JPEGs with richer colors and detail. The Samsung’s output is softer and noisier, sometimes exhibiting some color shifts especially in shadows.

Here’s the overall scoring for each category based on extensive testing and industry benchmarks:

Additionally, genre-specific performance highlights clear winners:

The Canon dominates in wildlife, sports, and video, while the Samsung only competes in casual snapshot or backup camera niches.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

It’s one thing to know specs, another to understand real-world suitability across photography disciplines.

Portraits:
The Canon’s autofocus with face detection and decent bokeh from telephoto reach offers pleasing skin tones and subject isolation. The Samsung can’t lock focus as precisely, and fixed lens aperture limits creative depth of field.

Landscapes:
Both sensor sizes and resolution are similar, but Canon’s superior dynamic range and articulating screen make composing and post-processing richer, punchier landscapes easier.

Wildlife:
Canon’s 65x zoom and fast AF tracking give it a major edge for distant birds or animals. Samsung’s lack of zoom and AF performance make wildlife photography impractical.

Sports:
Canon’s 10 fps continuous shooting and tracking AF suit moderately fast sports action; Samsung lacks continuous shooting and speedy AF altogether.

Street:
Samsung’s pocketable size is a plus for discreet street shooting, but Canon’s size and noise in quiet environments are tradeoffs. However, Canon’s silent shutter modes can help.

Macro:
Canon’s lens allows close focus but no dedicated macro mode or stacking. Samsung doesn’t support manual focus or focus peaking, undermining macro control.

Night & Astro:
Canon’s higher ISO capability, stabilized lens, and manual exposure modes let you experiment with night and astro shots. Samsung struggles with long exposures and noise.

Travel:
Canon’s versatility, zoom range, and connectivity make it a solid travel companion, though bulkier. Samsung excels in portability but limits creative flexibility.

Professional Work:
Canon’s RAW support, manual exposure modes, and reliable build lend itself to serious work. Samsung’s limited controls and output constraints mean it’s best as a casual second camera.

Price and Value: What’s Your Budget Buying?

Finally, the financial side:

• Canon SX70 HS launched around $550, offering stellar zoom and versatile features for the price.
• Samsung SH100, retailing near $200 at launch, is a budget compact for casual users.

For just over double the price, you gain significant leaps in image quality, speed, and capabilities with the Canon.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Suits You?

I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing bridges and compacts through varied conditions, and my experience says:

• Choose the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS if you want a powerful all-in-one superzoom with manual controls, excellent video, and versatility for wildlife, travel, sports, and more. It’s a perfect bridge camera for enthusiasts who want DSLR-like handling without swapping lenses.

• Lean toward the Samsung SH100 only if you prioritize pocketability, simplicity, and an inexpensive camera for snapshots and casual use where image quality and controls matter less.

Dear Canon, a touchscreen would be a welcome upgrade next time, and Samsung, I’d love to see you return with a modern compact that balances size and features better.

In the end, your choice depends on your shooting style, priorities, and budget. If you find yourself wanting a camera that grows with your skills - covering diverse genres and advanced shooting - the SX70 HS clearly leads the pack. If all you need is a lightweight, barebones shooter for social snaps, the SH100 might suffice.

Happy shooting!

As always, ensure you try handling cameras in person if possible; specifications only tell part of the story. I hope this detailed comparison helps you zero in on the right tool to capture your creative vision.