Canon SX730 HS vs Olympus XZ-10: In-Depth Compact Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing the right compact camera can be a challenging task, especially when faced with attractive options like the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS and the Olympus Stylus XZ-10. Both cameras pack a lot into small, pocketable bodies and target photographers who want more than just smartphone snaps but without the bulk and complexity of a DSLR or mirrorless system.

Drawing on years of hands-on testing, we've put these two cameras side-by-side to help you understand how they differ technically, perform across real-world shooting scenarios, and which one might be the best fit for your photography style and needs. Let’s dive deep into their specs, strengths, weaknesses, and usage recommendations.

Physical dimensions and ergonomics can influence your comfort and ease of shooting on the go.

Design and Ergonomics: Handling Your Creative Tool

Starting with the basics, the Canon SX730 HS (110x64x40mm, 300g) sits just above the Olympus XZ-10 (102x61x34mm, 221g) in size and weight. Although both cameras are compact, the Canon feels a bit bulkier in hand, primarily due to its superzoom lens assembly. The Olympus leans more toward a classic compact style with a slightly smaller profile and lighter weight, which could suit street photographers and travelers prioritizing portability.

• Canon SX730 HS
  • Pros: Firm grip with textured body; tilting 3” LCD screen for creative angles
  • Cons: No viewfinder; bulkier lens
• Olympus XZ-10
  • Pros: Sleek compact body; touch-sensitive fixed LCD screen with similar 3” size and resolution
  • Cons: Fixed LCD; no viewfinder

The Canon's LCD tilts, which is excellent for low-angle or high-angle shots and makes selfies easier (selfie-friendly mode included). The Olympus offers touchscreen controls, which speed up menu navigation and focus point selection but sacrifices the tilt function.

Top controls differ; Canon adds zoom rocker and dedicated mode dial, while Olympus favors simplicity with fewer buttons.

Sensor and Image Quality: Sharpening the Details

Both cameras employ a 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor measuring 6.17x4.55mm with roughly 28 sq mm active surface area. This sensor size represents the common compact camera standard but remains small compared to APS-C or full-frame cameras. Such diminutive sensors naturally limit low-light ability and overall image quality compared to larger systems.

Canonical Differences:

While the Canon boasts a higher megapixel count, pushing 20MP, the Olympus offers RAW file support, critical for photographers wanting the most out of post-processing - a distinct advantage for pros and enthusiasts focused on image quality.

The Olympus extends ISO sensitivity up to 6400, providing better flexibility in darker environments, though image noise will notably increase at these levels given the sensor size.

Despite similar sensor footprints, differences in resolution and RAW support influence image flexibility and output quality.

Lens and Zoom Capability: Flexibility Meets Sharpness

The biggest physical and usage difference lies in the lens design and zoom range.

• Canon SX730 HS:

  • Focal length: 24-960mm equivalent (40x optical zoom)
  • Maximum aperture: f/3.3 (wide) to f/6.9 (tele)

• Olympus XZ-10:

  • Focal length: 26-130mm equivalent (5x optical zoom)
  • Maximum aperture: f/1.8 (wide) to f/2.7 (tele)

The Canon offers an incredible 40x zoom, reaching into super-telephoto territory, which is perfect for wildlife and sports casual shooters or travelers who want all-in-one gear. However, the maximum aperture at the telephoto end is quite narrow (f/6.9), limiting low light performance and requiring steadier handling plus higher ISO.

The Olympus, conversely, boasts a fast lens across its zoom range (f/1.8-2.7), advantageous for low-light shooting and creating pleasing background separation with shallow depth of field. This makes it a better choice for portrait and lifestyle photography where beautiful bokeh and sharper images at wider apertures matter. The shorter zoom range is less versatile but often more optically sharper and less prone to aberrations.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Moment

Autofocus responsiveness and burst shooting likely matter most to those capturing action - whether sports, wildlife, or fleeting street moments.

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus systems, which typically are slower than phase-detection systems found in higher-end models but adequate for casual shooting.

• Canon supports continuous autofocus in burst mode, handy for moving subjects.
• Olympus offers more AF points (35) but lacks continuous AF during burst shooting.
• Face detection is present and functional on both, aiding portraits and casual candid shots.

If autofocus speed and precision for wildlife or sports moments are crucial, the Canon's slightly higher burst speed and continuous AF make it the preferred pick.

Image Stabilization: Steady Shots Every Time

Both cameras include optical or sensor-shift image stabilization:

• Canon SX730 HS uses Optical IS, built into the lens.
• Olympus XZ-10 employs Sensor-Shift IS, stabilizing via sensor movements.

Sensor-shift can be effective for correcting small shakes, particularly useful in macro and handheld shooting, while optical IS usually shines for longer telephoto focal lengths.

Given Canon’s extensive zoom, Optical IS is vital to mitigating camera shake at long reach. Olympus’ sensor-based stabilization supports general handheld stability but may be less effective at extreme zoom.

LCD and User Interface: Your Window to Creativity

Both models feature 3" LCDs with nearly identical resolutions (~920k dots), but:

• Canon’s LCD is tiltable, boosting compositional creativity at awkward angles and enabling selfies.
• Olympus offers a fixed touchscreen, speeding up focus point selection and menu navigation.

Neither camera has a built-in viewfinder, requiring reliance on the LCD in bright sunlight, which can challenge visibility outdoors.

Tiltable vs fixed touchscreen LCDs impact flexibility in composition and control ease.

Build Quality and Durability: Crafted for Travel?

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproofing, reflecting their entry-level compact nature. Both will require cautious handling in challenging outdoor or extreme environments.

• Canon weighs more but offers solid build quality.
• Olympus is lighter and slightly more compact, better suited for pocket carry.

Video Capabilities: Great for Casual Clips

Video shooting is similar:

• Canon can capture Full HD 1080p at 60fps, allowing smooth motion capture.
• Olympus records 1080p at 30fps, suitable for casual HD footage but less fluid.

Neither supports 4K video or external microphone inputs, limiting their appeal for serious videographers. Both use standard H.264 codecs within MP4 files.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

Canon SX730 HS offers up to 250 shots per charge, Olympus XZ-10 around 240 shots - typical for compacts but modest when traveling.

Wireless connectivity differs:

• Canon features built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, facilitating smartphone image transfer and remote control.
• Olympus employs Eye-Fi card support, a less common wireless standard for image transfer.

USB 2.0 and HDMI ports are available on both for basic wired connectivity.

Performance in Different Photography Genres

An overview of how these cameras fit practical photography types:

Portrait Photography

• Canon SX730 HS:
  • Higher sensor resolution for crisp details.
  • Decent face detection.
  • Bokeh control limited by narrower aperture (f/3.3+)
• Olympus XZ-10:
  • Faster lens (f/1.8-f/2.7) for soft background separation.
  • Raw support for editing skin tones and exposure.
  • Touchscreen AF aids precise focusing on eyes.

Recommendation: Olympus offers more creative control and image quality benefits for portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Higher resolution and raw capability favor Olympus for professional edits.
• Canon’s larger zoom is less relevant here.
• Neither has weather sealing.
• Dynamic range is limited but somewhat better on Olympus due to raw files.

Wildlife Photography

• Canon’s 40x zoom is a standout for distant subjects.
• Faster burst and continuous AF help track movement.
• Olympus’ limited zoom range restricts wildlife reach.

Sports Photography

• Canon’s 5.9 fps burst and continuous AF offer modest sports capture capability.
• Olympus lags with 5 fps and lack of continuous AF.
• Neither camera can compete with dedicated sports systems but Canon is preferable.

Street Photography

• Olympus’ smaller size and quieter operation favor street photography.
• Touchscreen and faster aperture great for low light and selective focus.
• Canon is bulkier and less discreet.

Macro Photography

• Both focus as close as 1cm.
• Olympus sensor-shift IS aids steady close-ups.
• Canon’s longer zoom offers perspective options but with less aperture speed.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus’ ISO 6400 and RAW support give better noise management and editing flexibility.
• Canon limited to ISO 3200, no raw files.
• Neither ideal for true astrophotography but Olympus leads slightly.

Video Use

• Canon’s 1080/60p video offers smoother footage.
• Lack of mic input limits serious video projects.
• Olympus video is fine for casual use.

Travel Photography

• Canon’s zoom versatility shines for capturing varied scenes without swapping lenses.
• Olympus’ lighter, smaller form and brighter lens aids low-light and street shots.
• Battery life similar, wireless connectivity better with Canon.

Professional Use

• Olympus’ RAW format support and manual controls better suit pro workflows.
• Canon’s convenience and zoom flexibility lean toward enthusiast travel and tourist photographers.

Canon SX730 HS front Canon SX730 HS screen back Olympus XZ 10 front Olympus XZ 10 screen back

Price-to-Performance and Value Analysis

• Canon SX730 HS: Usually priced around $399, represents excellent value for superzoom enthusiasts wanting an all-in-one pocket solution.
• Olympus XZ-10: Slightly higher priced (~$428), but appeals to photographers seeking image quality, raw capture, and faster optics in a compact.

Both cameras show their age given announcements from 2017 and 2013 respectively but stand as capable compacts in their niches.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS?

• You want the ultimate compact superzoom reach (24-960mm).
• You shoot wildlife, casual sports, or varied travel scenes without changing lenses.
• You prioritize ease of use, fast continuous AF, and selfie-friendly LCD tilt.
• Wireless connectivity and video smoothness matter to you.

Who Should Choose the Olympus Stylus XZ-10?

• You desire superior image quality for portraits, landscapes, and low-light photography.
• You appreciate RAW file support for robust editing.
• You prefer a faster lens for shallow depth of field and brighter scenes.
• A compact, lightweight camera with touchscreen control appeals to your street or travel style.

Getting Started: Tips To Maximize Your Choice

• Try out camera handling in store to feel grip and control layout.
• Consider accessories such as extra batteries and SD cards for longer shoots.
• For Olympus users, explore raw editing software to unlock image potential.
• Canon users may benefit from learning zoom stabilization techniques or using tripods at extreme telephoto.

Photography is a deeply personal creative journey. The Canon SX730 HS and Olympus XZ-10 each offer unique tools to support varying photographic goals. Whether you chase distant wildlife or shoot intimate street portraits, understanding their strengths helps you capture your vision with confidence.

Happy shooting - and be sure to experiment and explore with whichever camera you choose!

If you found this detailed comparison helpful, check out our full hands-on reviews and sample galleries on our site. Your next creative adventure awaits!