Canon PowerShot SX720 HS vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7: A Deep Dive into Compact Camera Choices for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing the right compact camera can be a surprisingly complex task - even when comparing two models that might seem similar at first glance. The Canon PowerShot SX720 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 both fall into the compact category, but offer different approaches to zoom, image quality, and versatility. As a photography equipment reviewer with over 15 years of hands-on experience testing hundreds of cameras, I’m here to walk you through a thorough performance and feature comparison. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast looking to pick your next travel companion, an everyday shooter seeking easy versatility, or a budding expert exploring superzoom, this article will help you understand how each camera measures up in real-world use.

First Impressions: Size, Design, and Handling

At first glance, the Canon SX720 HS is noticeably more substantial than the Panasonic FH7. With dimensions of 110 x 64 x 36 mm and a weight of 270 g, Canon’s offering feels solid in the hand without being overly bulky. The Panasonic FH7 is smaller and lighter at 95 x 56 x 19 mm and only 126 g, designed for maximum portability and pocketability.

Why it matters:
Size and ergonomics directly affect how comfortable you are for extended shooting sessions, and how discreetly you can carry your gear, especially if you are into street or travel photography.

• Canon SX720 HS features a robust body with textured grips, making one-handed operation easier.
• Panasonic FH7 is ultra-compact and sleek but offers limited grip space, which can impact handling stability during prolonged use.

From an ergonomics standpoint, Canon’s approach will appeal to those who want a reliable hold and more control, while Panasonic favors compact convenience.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Minimal?

Examining the control setup from above reveals that Canon provides a more traditional camera interface with dedicated dials and buttons. The SX720 HS’s top panel includes a mode dial, shutter button ringed with power switch, and zoom toggle - a design language familiar to seasoned photographers.

The Panasonic FH7 embraces minimalism, with fewer physical controls and an emphasis on touchscreen operation. It features a fixed type 3-inch screen with very low resolution (230k dots) compared to Canon’s 922k-dot screen without touchscreen functionality.

User Interface Insights:

• The Canon SX720 HS’s button-centric layout offers quicker manual access - invaluable if you like to shoot in aperture or shutter priority modes.
• The Panasonic FH7 relies more on touchscreen menus and simple controls, best suited for casual users who prefer automatic shooting modes.

If you want granular manual controls and faster exposure adjustments, Canon wins hands down.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Both cameras use small 1/2.3” sensors but with different underlying technologies:

What does this mean practically?

• The Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor is modern, with better light-gathering efficiency compared to Panasonic’s CCD. This translates into improved low-light performance and dynamic range.
• Resolution difference of 20.3MP vs 16MP is noticeable for large prints or cropping flexibility.
• Panasonic’s ISO potential peaks higher, but CCD sensor noise characteristics typically degrade quality at higher ISO.
• Neither camera supports RAW files, limiting the post-processing latitude.

Real-world takeaway: If image quality, particularly in challenging lighting or for cropping, is important to you, the Canon sensor setup will generally yield superior results.

Lens and Zoom: Reach Versus Speed

Here is where things diverge substantially.

The Canon SX720 HS is a superzoom champion, featuring an enormous 40x zoom range equivalent to a 24-960mm lens. This makes it incredibly versatile for everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife or sports photography - where your subjects are often far away.

By contrast, the Panasonic FH7’s zoom is modest, topping out at 112mm equivalent (4x zoom). It’s better suited for casual snapshots, portraits, or general travel shooting.

Additionally, Canon’s closer 1cm macro focusing distance offers more creative flexibility for close-ups than Panasonic’s 5cm minimum.

Autofocus and Performance

Autofocus systems balance speed and accuracy, essential for capturing moments in fast-paced environments.

• Canon SX720 HS features 9 contrast-detection focus points with face detection and continuous autofocus modes. Tracking moving subjects is supported, though not professional-level.
• Panasonic FH7 has 11 focus points, touch autofocus, face detection, and tracking but only single-shot autofocus mode - no continuous AF.

The Canon’s autofocus is more versatile and responsive in continuous modes, benefiting wildlife, sports, and street photography where subjects move unpredictably.

Burst Shooting and Low-Light Capabilities

• The Canon SX720 HS is capable of 5.9 frames per second (fps) burst shooting.
• Panasonic FH7 lags with 4.0 fps.

While neither camera offers pro-grade burst rates, Canon’s higher frame rate combined with better low-light performance makes it better suited for action scenarios and dim environments.

Display and Viewfinder: How You See Your World

Both cameras lack an electronic viewfinder, so shooting relies on their LCD screens.

• Canon’s 3” fixed screen has a resolution of 922k dots but is not touch-enabled.
• Panasonic’s 3” screen has a much lower 230k-dot resolution but supports touch focus/shutter.

Sharpness and visibility in bright sunlight favor Canon’s higher-res screen, but touch operation on Panasonic can accelerate point-and-shoot workflows.

Video Recording: Capabilities and Limitations

Canon’s full HD 1080p at 60fps support allows smoother, more fluid motion capture, while Panasonic maxes out at 720p, which feels markedly dated today.

Both cameras lack external mic inputs, a limitation for serious vloggers or filmmakers. Stabilization helps keep footage steady, a bonus for handheld recording.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance is nearly identical but modest by today’s standards. For long shooting days, carrying spare batteries is essential.

Panasonic’s internal storage can be handy for backups in a pinch.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, or robust weather resistance. Both are designed for casual use and should avoid exposure to harsh conditions.

If you require ruggedness, consider a different camera class.

Connectivity Features

• Canon SX720 HS supports built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy sharing and remote control through mobile apps.
• Panasonic FH7 has no wireless connectivity options.

This is an important consideration for those who want instant image transfer or social media sharing on the go.

How These Cameras Perform Across Photography Genres

Let’s evaluate their suitability in key photographic disciplines.

Portrait Photography

• Canon SX720 HS offers a 20.3MP sensor, face detection, and a long zoom to isolate subjects with creamy bokeh at telephoto focal lengths. Manual exposure controls let you nuance lighting conditions.
• Panasonic FH7 has fewer pixels and a shorter zoom range, making subject-background separation less pronounced. Its touchscreen faces detection simplifies point-and-shoot portraits for beginners.

For skin tones and fine detail, Canon's CMOS sensor technology delivers better fidelity. If you want the creative control to craft portraits artistically, Canon is the stronger choice.

Landscape Photography

• Canon’s wide 24mm equivalent starting focal length and higher resolution enable capturing expansive scenes with rich detail.
• Panasonic’s 28mm end can be adequate for general landscapes, but a smaller aperture range and less resolution limit image quality.
• Neither camera is weather sealed, so caution is warranted in challenging outdoor environments.

Canon’s manual modes allow exposure bracketing for HDR or dynamic range improvements via exposure blending workflows.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

These genres benefit from fast autofocus, high burst rates, and long zooms:

Canon’s massive zoom and continuous AF with tracking make it far better for capturing distant or fast-moving subjects. Panasonic’s short zoom and slower AF hinder its suitability for sports or wildlife.

Street Photography

Portability and discreteness are vital here.

• Panasonic’s ultra-compact and lightweight design allows quick, unobtrusive shooting.
• Canon is larger and more noticeable but offers superior zoom for capturing candid moments from a distance.
• Low light performance favors Canon, expanding shooting opportunities during twilight or indoors.

If being discreet is your priority, Panasonic is advantageous - but at the cost of versatility.

Macro Photography

• Canon’s minimum focus distance of 1 cm enables impressive close-up magnification.
• Panasonic’s 5 cm is less versatile but still allows casual macro shots.
• Neither model offers focus stacking or focus bracketing.

If macro photography excites you, Canon’s closer focusing and longer zoom provide more creative freedom.

Night and Astrophotography

Small sensor size limits low-light prowess overall.

• Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor outperforms Panasonic’s CCD in noise control at ISO up to 3200.
• Panasonic claims ISO 6400 but noise and artifacts degrade usability dramatically.
• Neither model supports long exposure timers or bulb modes suited for star trails or astrophotography.

Canon is the better low-light choice but is limited by its sensor size.

Video Use

Canon supports 1080p60 video with H.264 compression for high-quality clips, stabilized and sharp.

Panasonic falls short with only 720p30 and lacks advanced codecs.

For casual video blogging and home movies, Canon is preferable.

Travel and Everyday Photography

• Panasonic’s compactness wins for lightweight travel.
• Canon’s zoom versatility covers diverse scenes without changing lenses.
• Battery life and storage are comparable.
• Canon’s Wi-Fi and NFC support streamline image sharing abroad.

If your journey involves varied subjects or you want to capture faraway scenes, Canon’s flexibility gives it an edge.

Professional Use

Both cameras lack RAW support and advanced file formats critical for professional post-processing workflows.

Neither provide weather sealing or accessory ports needed for professional reliability.

They remain enthusiast-grade tools for casual shoots and travel, not workhorses for professional assignments.

Canon SX720 HS front Canon SX720 HS screen back Panasonic FH7 front Panasonic FH7 screen back

Above: Sample images demonstrating Canon’s sharper, more detailed output with better dynamic range compared to Panasonic’s softer JPEGs.

Price and Value: What Does Your Budget Buy?

Bottom line: You pay more for the Canon, but get substantial technology and performance gains. Panasonic can satisfy basic needs at an accessible price for casual users or beginners.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

For Photography Enthusiasts Seeking Versatility and Image Quality:

Canon PowerShot SX720 HS is the clear choice. Its massive zoom range, superior sensor tech, manual modes, Full HD video, and wireless features make it a compelling all-round compact superzoom. It’s great for travel, wildlife, portraiture, and even casual sports photography.

For Casual Users Who Prize Portability and Simplicity:

Panasonic Lumix FH7 offers a lightweight, affordable package suited to daytime snapshots, simple travel photos, and social sharing. Its touchscreen is beginner-friendly, although image quality and zoom range limit creative expansion.

When Should You Consider Neither?

If you require photographical flexibility demanding RAW files, robust weather sealing, very high ISO performance, or professional video features, then entry-level or mid-grade mirrorless or DSLR systems warrant your attention instead.

In-depth Testing Methodology Disclosures

Our evaluations are based on:

• Laboratory sensor benchmarking: Assessing noise, dynamic range, resolution.
• Field trials: Real-world shooting across multiple genres, lighting conditions, and subjects.
• Ergonomics testing: Control layout impact and handling comfort during extended use.
• Video quality analysis: Bitrate and stabilization performance.
• Battery testing: Continuous shooting until depletion using CIPA standards.

This approach ensures our conclusions are grounded in both measurable data and practical shooter experience.

Final Encouragement: Choose What Ignites Your Creativity

A camera is a tool for your creative journey. Try to handle these models in person, explore their menus, and consider what types of images excite you most. If you want to zoom far, control exposure manually, and video in full HD - Canon brings those gifts in a compact form. If your priority is lightness, budget, and ease, Panasonic remains a friendly entry point.

Whichever you select, pair it with the right accessories - extra batteries, memory cards, protective cases - and start exploring the wide world of photography.

Check out local stores or online videos showcasing these cameras in action, and let your intuition guide you to the perfect fit.

This detailed comparison aims to empower your decision-making with expert insights and honest assessments. Happy shooting!