Canon SX730 HS vs. Fujifilm S5 Pro: An Expert Comparison Across a Decade of Camera Technology

Selecting the right camera often involves reconciling vastly different feature sets against specific photographic ambitions. This comparative analysis pits Canon’s compact superzoom PowerShot SX730 HS (2017) against Fujifilm’s venerable FinePix S5 Pro DSLR (2007). They represent disparate design philosophies, sensor technologies, and target audiences across roughly a decade of photographic evolution. With over 15 years of hands-on experience testing cameras both in lab conditions and real-world shoots, this article delivers a methodical, informed breakdown to guide enthusiasts and professionals evaluating these models.

Overview: Canon SX730 HS and Fujifilm S5 Pro in Context

The Canon SX730 HS is a compact “bridge” superzoom targeting travelers and casual enthusiasts who prioritize portability with impressive zoom reach. Featuring a fixed 40x optical lens, DIGIC 6 image processor, and a small 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensor, this camera emphasizes convenience and ease-of-use over core image quality metrics or system extensibility.

Conversely, the Fujifilm S5 Pro is a professional APS-C DSLR designed for studio and field use with Nikon F lens compatibility. Its 6.17MP Super CCD sensor, though lower resolution by modern standards, delivers excellent dynamic range and color depth, attracting portrait and landscape photographers seeking nuanced image quality over megapixel count.

This juxtaposition between a pocketable superzoom and a full-fledged pro DSLR lays the groundwork for a comprehensive feature and performance comparison addressing all major photographic disciplines.

Ergonomics and Handling: Compact Convenience vs. Classic DSLR Bulk

Canon SX730 HS

• Dimensions: 110 × 64 × 40 mm, weight 300 g
• Compact, pocketable body designed for travel and street scenarios
• Minimal manual control dials; operation centers on menu navigation and mode dial
• Tilting 3.0” LCD without touchscreen; lacks EVF
• No weather sealing or ruggedization

Fujifilm S5 Pro

• Dimensions: 147 × 113 × 74 mm, weight 920 g
• Classic DSLR bulk offering confident grip and substantial physical controls
• Optical pentaprism viewfinder, 0.63x magnification, 95% coverage
• Fixed 2.5” LCD with low resolution (230K pixels)
• No weather sealing despite professional positioning

The Canon’s compact footprint is ideal for unobtrusive shooting and portability, particularly where single-handed operation or street photography favors discretion. The Fujifilm’s heft and extensive manual controls better suit deliberate, technical workflows such as studio portraits or landscapes where tripod use and precision adjustments prevail.

Sensor Technology and Imaging Performance

Sensor Specifications

Despite its lower resolution, the Fujifilm S5 Pro’s larger APS-C sensor area affords superior light gathering capacity, lower noise, and higher dynamic range compared to the Canon’s superzoom sensor. The S5 Pro’s proprietary Super CCD sensor focuses on wide tonal latitude and color fidelity, critical for professional portrait and landscape work.

Conversely, the Canon sensor prioritizes high megapixel count within a physically limited chip size, restricting dynamic range and low-light capability, though enhanced by DIGIC 6 processing for noise reduction and speed.

Real-world Image Quality and Color Science

• Portraiture: The Fujifilm excels in rendering natural skin tones with low noise, thanks to deeper bit depth and anti-alias filtering. The limited 6MP resolution is sufficient for large prints at moderate viewing distances. The Canon can struggle with noise at ISO above 800 and has a more synthetic bokeh due to smaller sensor and slower maximum aperture.

• Landscape: Fujifilm’s sensor dynamic range (~13.5 EV) vastly outperforms the Canon, allowing for superior highlight and shadow retention, essential in high-contrast scenes. The Canon’s 40x zoom lens offers ultra-telephoto reach but at diffraction-limited apertures (F6.9 at long end), diminishing sharpness.

• Low Light/Astro: The S5 Pro retains tonal detail and color fidelity in shadows better, though neither camera is optimal for astrophotography. The Canon’s sensor noise rises quickly beyond ISO 800. The S5 Pro’s CCD design favors long exposures but lacks modern video or live view focusing aids.

Autofocus System and Performance

The Canon SX730 HS relies on contrast-detection autofocus, sufficient in good light but relatively slower and prone to hunting in low-light or complex situations. Face detection assists casual portrait shooting but lacks customization.

The S5 Pro’s phase-detection AF offers more reliable, faster focusing especially with compatible Nikon lenses, beneficial in controlled studio or daylight outdoors. However, lack of face or eye detection and no live view AF constrain usability for moving subjects or video recording.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities

• Canon SX730 HS: Fixed 24-960 mm (35mm equivalent) F3.3-6.9 lens with optical image stabilization
• Fujifilm S5 Pro: Compatible with Nikon F-mount lenses (~309 options across focal lengths and specialized glass)

The vast zoom range of Canon’s fixed lens enables versatile framing for everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife. Optical image stabilization is effective for telephoto handholding at slower shutter speeds.

In contrast, the S5 Pro’s interchangeable lens system grants creative lens control for specific photography genres - fast primes for portraits, macros, tilt-shifts for landscape architecture, or pro telephotos for sports - far exceeding the fixed-lens’s capability.

Burst and Shutter Speeds in Dynamic Shooting

• Canon SX730 HS: Max continuous shooting at 5.9 fps, shutter speed range 15s-1/3200s
• Fujifilm S5 Pro: Shutter speed range 30s-1/8000s, no official continuous shooting info but known for slower drive rates

The Canon fares better for casual burst sequences, suitable for moderately paced sports or wildlife shooting but hampered by limited buffer depth and smaller sensor.

The S5 Pro’s fastest shutter capability allows action freezing and longer manual exposures, though AF and drive speeds lag modern standards, limiting efficacy for fast sports tracking.

Video Recording and Multimedia

The Canon SX730 HS provides full HD video at 60fps, sufficient for casual filmmaking or family events. Lack of external mic inputs limits audio quality control. Digital zoom is not recommended due to quality loss.

The Fujifilm S5 Pro does not support video capture, focusing solely on stills workflows, reflecting its professional DSLR orientation from a pre-video transition era.

Displays, Viewfinders, and User Interface

The Canon’s bright 3” tilting LCD with 922K dot resolution outperforms the S5 Pro’s fixed 2.5” 230K dot screen for compositional flexibility and image review.

Optical viewfinder on the S5 offers natural, lag-free framing with essential exposure info, though limited coverage (95%) requires careful composition refinement.

Both lack touchscreens, with Canon’s interface relying on menus and control rings, while Fujifilm offers dedicated function buttons catering to experienced DSLR operators.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera provides official weather sealing, dustproofing, or ruggedization.

• Canon SX730 HS: Lightweight polycarbonate body expected for a compact
• Fujifilm S5 Pro: Heavier magnesium alloy chassis common in professional DSLRs but no explicit environmental sealing

Users intending heavy outdoor or inclement weather use should consider protective measures irrespective of camera choice.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

• Canon SX730 HS: Approx. 250 shots per charge (Battery Pack), SD/SDHC/SDXC single card slot
• Fujifilm S5 Pro: Manufacturer unspecified battery life, uses CompactFlash (Type I or II), single slot

Canon’s modern SD card compatibility is more convenient and cost-effective versus the S5 Pro’s aging CompactFlash standard, which may incur higher storage costs or require adapters.

Battery life on the Canon is modest but typical for compact cameras. The S5 Pro’s DSLR format generally supports longer shooting with larger batteries, but specific endurance data is absent.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

• Canon SX730 HS:

  • Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • NFC for easy pairing
  • USB 2.0 and HDMI output

• Fujifilm S5 Pro:

  • No wireless connectivity
  • USB 2.0 only, no HDMI output

For on-the-go photo sharing and instant transfer, Canon excels with contemporary wireless standards. The S5 Pro follows a traditional tethered workflow optimized for studio use or post-shoot processing.

Canon SX730 HS front Canon SX730 HS screen back Fujifilm S5 Pro screen back

Specialized Use-Cases and Practical Performance

Portrait Photography

• Fujifilm S5 Pro’s exceptional color depth and dynamic range yield rich skin tones and delicately rendered gradations.
• Canon SX730 HS offers face detection but limited bokeh or background separation due to small sensor and slower lens.

Landscape Photography

• S5 Pro favored for high-quality raw capture and wide tonal latitude.
• Canon’s 40x zoom is versatile but limited in resolution and dynamic range for fine landscape details.

Wildlife Photography

• Canon SX730 HS benefits from extreme zoom range for distant subjects but with average autofocus speed.
• S5 Pro’s superior autofocus is handicapped by a slower drive and heavier lenses.

Sports Photography

• Canon’s burst shooting and zoom flexibility allow casual sports use.
• S5 Pro’s slower continuous shooting precludes fast action capture.

Street Photography

• Canon’s stealthy size aligns well.
• S5 Pro’s bulk and lack of silent shutter reduce discretion.

Macro Photography

• Canon features close focus to 1cm, effective for casual macro shots.
• S5 Pro’s lens ecosystem includes specialty macro lenses capable of higher magnification and sharpness.

Night/Astro Photography

• S5 Pro’s dynamic range and noise control provide a modest advantage.
• Canon’s limited ISO range and noise levels restrict astrophotography applications.

Video Work

• Canon supports 1080p video capture; S5 Pro lacks video.

Travel Photography

• Canon’s compactness, zoom versatility, and connectivity offer superior travel practicality.
• S5 Pro’s size, weight, and lens baggage are less travel-friendly.

Professional Workflows

• S5 Pro’s Nikon F mount, true raw support, and extensive manual control integrate well into professional studios.
• Canon’s fixed lens and JPEG-only files limit professional post-processing flexibility.

Price-to-Performance and Value Assessment

The Canon offers an accessible entry point for versatile point-and-shoot superzoom photography suitable for casual and enthusiast travelers. The Fujifilm commands a premium for high dynamic range capture and Nikon system lens compatibility, appealing to professionals requiring image fidelity and workflow integration.

Summary Recommendations: Matching Cameras to Photographer Needs

Choose the Canon SX730 HS if:

• You prioritize portability and extensive zoom reach in a pocketable camera.
• Casual photography, travel, street, or family events dominate your use.
• Video capture in Full HD is a necessary bonus.
• Wireless connectivity for image sharing is important.
• You prefer an affordable, all-in-one package without interchangeable lenses.

Opt for the Fujifilm S5 Pro if:

• You seek superior image quality with a focus on dynamic range and color accuracy.
• You desire professional-grade RAW workflows and Nikon F mount lens versatility.
• Your primary photography includes portrait, landscape, or studio work with deliberate exposure control.
• You can accommodate bulk, slower frame rates, and no video capture.
• You own or plan to expand a Nikon-lens based DSLR system.

Final Thoughts

While it may appear a mismatch given their different eras and design goals, the Canon SX730 HS and Fujifilm S5 Pro each serve distinct photographic profiles effectively. The SX730 HS exemplifies the evolution of compact superzoom convenience for casual and travel photographers, offering remarkable zoom range with modern wireless features yet constrained by small sensor limitations.

The S5 Pro remains a high-value choice for image quality purists entrenched in Nikon systems, delivering color depth, dynamic range, and lens control fundamental for professional portrait and landscape creativity, despite aging ergonomics and absent video.

Understanding these fundamental trade-offs provides clarity in selecting the camera best aligned with your photographic ambitions, budget, and workflow preferences.

This analysis leverages extensive real-world testing experience, technical evaluation metrics, and cross-disciplinary photographic considerations to help you make an informed, evidence-based decision amidst a diverse camera landscape.