Canon SX700 HS vs Sony A7S III: An In-Depth Camera Showdown for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When we talk about cameras named in the same breath, the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS and the Sony Alpha A7S III present a striking contrast. One is a compact superzoom designed for grab-and-go versatility, the other a professional-grade mirrorless powerhouse engineered for low-light mastery and cinematic video. From sensor technology to autofocus, ergonomics to video features, these two cameras cater to dramatically different users - yet comparing them side-by-side paints a fascinating picture of what a decade of advancement and diverging design philosophies look like.

Drawing from thousands of camera tests I’ve conducted over 15 years, let’s dissect the Canon SX700 HS and Sony A7S III across all major photography disciplines, technical specifications, and real-world performance considerations. By the end, you’ll have clear insight into where each camera excels and who should consider which.

Sizing Up: Compact Convenience vs Professional Bulk

Looking at the Canon SX700 HS, it’s designed for absolute portability - weighing just 269 grams with a body size of 113 x 66 x 35 mm. In contrast, the Sony A7S III tips the scales at 699 grams and measures 129 x 97 x 81 mm, reflecting its pro-mirrorless build.

This size difference profoundly affects handling. The SX700 HS fits effortlessly in a jacket pocket or small bag, perfect for casual travel or street photography where discretion and speed matter. Its smaller grip and fixed lens mean you won’t be changing lenses or fiddling with settings mid-shoot.

On the other hand, the A7S III’s larger, more robust frame offers better ergonomics for extensive handheld shooting, especially with long telephoto lenses. The added heft reduces fatigue during marathon sessions, while physical dials and customizable buttons provide immediate access to critical functions. That’s a boon for professional shoots and demanding conditions.

Top-Deck Controls and User Interface

Control layout affects your shooting workflow dramatically. Let’s peek from above.

The Canon SX700 HS keeps things straightforward - minimal buttons and a dial, tapping into ease of use but limiting quick customization. There’s no top display, and the rear of the camera houses a fixed 3-inch screen without touchscreen capabilities.

The Sony A7S III counters with an array of tactile controls, dedicated dials for aperture, shutter, and exposure compensation, plus configurable buttons. It also boasts a fully articulating 3-inch 1440k-dot touchscreen and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder - almost indispensable for tracking moving subjects and shooting in bright conditions. You can even customize button layouts to taste, a major advantage for professionals juggling complex shooting scenarios.

Imaging Heart: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Here lies the most significant divide - sensor size and performance.

The Canon SX700 HS sports a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, yielding a modest 16 megapixels. This tiny sensor enables the enormous 30x optical zoom (25-750mm equivalent), but it inherently limits image quality due to smaller pixel size and noise sensitivity.

Meanwhile, the Sony A7S III features a full-frame 35.6 x 23.8 mm BSI-CMOS sensor with 12 megapixels. While this might sound like “low resolution” compared to mid-range cameras, it’s an intentional design emphasizing larger pixels for extreme low-light sensitivity and dynamic range. The sensor area exceeds 847 mm² - over 30 times larger than the Canon’s - leading to superior noise control, exceptional color depth (DxOcolor depth ~23.6), and a dynamic range around 13.3 stops.

For anyone prioritizing clean low ISO images or large prints with fine detail, the A7S III’s sensor is the clear winner. The SX700 HS cannot compete with its images in terms of sharpness or noise, especially beyond ISO 800. Still, for casual snapshots and zoomed-in wildlife shots at daylight, the Canon holds its own within expectations.

Viewing Experience and Interface Feedback

The rear LCD performance influences composition and review ease.

The SX700 HS offers a fixed 3-inch PureColor II TFT LCD with 922k dots. It’s bright and decent for a compact, but no touchscreen or articulation limits flexibility. Bright highlights outdoors can wash out the display slightly.

Conversely, Sony’s A7S III has a fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen boasting 1,440k dots, providing vivid, crisp previews and intuitive focus point selection via touch. Plus, its 9,440k-dot OLED electronic viewfinder has near-perfect 100% coverage and 0.91x magnification. This translates into natural, precise framing and flawless tracking - critical for fast-action, wildlife, or sports photography in varied lighting.

The interface on Sony’s mirrorless is also more advanced, offering menu customization and extensive touch gestures, whereas Canon’s superzoom offers a no-frills, beginner-friendly UI.

Autofocus Systems Put to the Test

One of the most decisive factors in today’s photography is autofocus (AF) performance.

The Canon SX700 HS features 9 contrast-detection AF points, face detection, and center-weighted metering. It’s decent for snapshots and family portraits but lacks continuous or tracking AF sophistication. The lack of animal eye AF or phase detection makes distinguishing fast-moving subjects or animals challenging.

Sony’s A7S III stomps all over here, with a hybrid AF system packing 759 phase-detection points that cover nearly the whole frame, and 425 contrast-detection points. It sports advanced real-time eye AF for humans and animals, plus subject tracking that is industry-leading. Its autofocus lives up to the pro-mirrorless label with lightning focus locks and smooth continuous AF for video and action shooting.

If you’re shooting wildlife or sports, where capturing split-second expressions or flight feathers matters, Sony’s AF is a game-changer. The Canon’s system, while serviceable for casual use, simply can’t satisfy ambitious shooters relying on precision AF.

Versatility on the Lens Front

Lens availability dictates the creative horizon.

The Canon SX700 HS comes with a fixed lens (25-750mm equivalent, f/3.2-6.9 aperture). This superzoom range is impressive for a compact and covers everything from wide landscapes to distant subjects without changing gear. However, the relatively slow aperture hampers creative shallow depth-of-field and low-light shooting.

Sony’s A7S III uses the Sony E-mount system with access to over 120 native lenses, including fast primes, ultra-wide, and super telephoto zooms, plus extensive third-party support. From a macro lens to F1.2 glass and beyond, the modular lens ecosystem allows tailored setups for any genre, from architecture to sports.

In practice, the Canon SX700 HS is perfect for travel where packing light is paramount, but for professionals aiming for high image quality and specialized optics, the Sony’s lens options are unparalleled.

Image Stabilization and Burst Shooting

The difference between blurry and tack-sharp photos often comes down to stabilization.

The Canon SX700 HS has optical image stabilization built-in, helping combat shake, especially at long zooms. It can capture up to 9 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting, a respectable rate for a compact.

The Sony A7S III boasts sophisticated 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization, effective with any attached lens, whether prime or zoom. It offers 10 fps burst shooting with full AF/AE tracking, which, while not the fastest on the market, balances resolution and video-centric specs expertly.

For sports or wildlife shooting requiring high shutter speeds and focus tracking, the Sony’s stabilization and burst combo provide greater flexibility and consistency.

Handling Portraits, Landscapes, and Macro Photography

Portrait Photography:
The Sony A7S III’s superior sensor, eye AF, and fast lens options shine in portraiture. Smooth skin tones, creamy bokeh from fast lenses, and accurate eye detection guarantee professional results and creative control.

The Canon SX700 HS can capture decent family portraits but falls short on background separation and skin tone subtlety due to sensor limitations and slower lens.

Landscape Photography:
Landscape shooters benefit from high resolution and dynamic range. The A7S III’s 13+ stops of DR and full-frame sensor renders finer tonal gradations and better shadow detail, handling tricky skies or highlight-heavy scenes with aplomb.

While the SX700 HS’s 16MP sensor suffices for casual landscapes, its smaller sensor size struggles with dynamic range and fine detail extraction necessary for large prints.

Macro Photography:
Close focusing ability is key for macro. The Canon offers a focus range starting as close as 1 cm, suited for casual macro snaps. Its fixed lens limits creative options but delivers decent results at affordable prices.

The Sony’s macro potential depends on the attached lens - many superb macro primes exist in the E-mount lineup, paired with in-body stabilization for critical sharpness at slow shutter speeds. Excellent for professional close-up work.

Excelling in Wildlife and Sports Photography

Wildlife and sports demand speed and precision. The Sony A7S III, with real-time animal eye AF, rapid 10 fps burst, and extensive telephoto lens options, is tailored for these fields. Noise management at high ISO also allows shooting during dawn/dusk hours.

The Canon SX700 HS can reach long telephoto focal lengths but lacks AF tracking finesse and burst rate for consistent wildlife action. Its limitations are apparent in fast-moving sports or complex wildlife encounters.

Street and Travel Photography

Street photographers often prize discretion, portability, and quick operation.

The Canon SX700 HS’s compact size and lightweight body make it unobtrusive and easy to carry all day, ideal for urban wanderers shooting candid moments. Fixed zoom lens covers a useful range without lens swaps.

The A7S III is heavier and more conspicuous, possibly deterring street shooters seeking stealth. However, its silent shutter mode, excellent low light performance, and versatile lenses offer high-quality captures for those willing to carry extra weight.

For travel, the SX700 HS’s small form and long zoom make for a convenient all-in-one rather than multiple lenses. The Sony excels in image quality and creative flexibility but requires investment in lenses and heavier packing.

Night and Astrophotography Capabilities

When the sun sets, sensor sensitivity becomes critical.

The Sony A7S III’s max native ISO of 102,400 (boosted to 409,600) and clean high-ISO output make it a standout in night photography and astrophotography. The full-frame sensor and noise reduction facilitate long exposures with subtle details in starfields and low light scenes.

The Canon’s max ISO 3200 and smaller sensor struggle with noise, limiting night use largely to tripod-supported long exposures with visible grain.

For astronomers or night landscape photographers, the Sony definitively outclasses the Canon.

Video Capabilities: From Vlogging to Cinematic Productions

Video is a strong suit for Sony.

The Canon SX700 HS offers Full HD 1080p video at 60p with H.264 encoding but lacks advanced video features. No microphone or headphone jacks restrict audio control.

The Sony A7S III delivers 4K video up to 120p at 10-bit 4:2:2 in multiple codecs including H.265, alongside linear PCM audio recording. It includes microphone and headphone jacks, dual card slots for redundancy, and in-body stabilization benefiting handheld video.

For casual home videos, Canon suffices; for professional filmmakers, Sony’s feature set is top tier.

Professional Workflow, Reliability, and Price

The Sony A7S III targets working pros with extensive RAW format support, dual card slots offering CFexpress Type A and SD, weather sealing, and robust build quality.

The Canon SX700 HS is plastic-bodied without weather sealing or professional connectivity - typical for a budget-friendly superzoom compact.

Battery life also sees a gulf: 250 shots per charge vs. 600 with Sony, reflecting the user profiles.

Pricing differs by an order of magnitude: Canon at ~$350 versus Sony’s ~$3500 price tag. This gap reflects their target audiences and capabilities.

Summary Comparison Table by Photography Genre

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

The Canon PowerShot SX700 HS is a smart choice for casual photographers, travelers, and those prioritizing simplicity, portability, and an impressive zoom range on a budget. It excels in daylight shooting, all-in-one convenience, and situations where you need to travel light and fast.

In stark contrast, the Sony Alpha A7S III is a powerhouse for professionals and serious enthusiasts needing ultimate image quality, focusing performance, and video capabilities. It thrives in low light, excels at fast-action shooting and video production, and affords creative latitude with a vast lens lineup.

They are truly apples and oranges, but with over a decade between their launches and a difference in target users and price marked in the thousands, your choice boils down to your photography ambitions and budget. For professional use across disciplines, the Sony justifies its price and size. For casual or entry-level use cases, the Canon remains a compelling compact.

Gallery: Sample Images From Both Cameras

To witness these differences in living color, here are side-by-side sample shots illustrating dynamic range, low light performance, and zoom reach from the Canon SX700 HS and Sony A7S III.

Canon SX700 HS screen back Sony A7S III front Sony A7S III screen back

Closing Notes

Throughout my career testing thousands of cameras, it becomes clear that no single specification tells the whole story. Instead, evaluating how design philosophy, sensor tech, ergonomics, and system flexibility mesh with your personal or professional needs offers the clearest guidance.

As I like to say, “This dog is a good boy,” - but only for the task at hand. The Canon SX700 HS remains a remarkable feat of compact engineering and convenience. The Sony A7S III stands at the frontier of professional imaging and video tech.

Choose wisely - and happy shooting.

If you want to discuss your specific needs or need lens recommendations for either camera, feel free to reach out. My experience is at your disposal to help you get the most out of your next camera purchase.