Canon SX220 HS vs. Panasonic Lumix FZ70: The Definitive Superzoom Showdown for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right superzoom camera can be daunting given the myriad of options available. Today, we're diving deep into a detailed comparison between two popular compact superzoom cameras from Canon and Panasonic: the Canon SX220 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 (also known as FZ72/FZ73 in some regions). Both models target users seeking versatile zoom reach with manageable size - and at affordable price points - but their designs, features, and photographic performance reveal some compelling differences. Drawing from extensive hands-on testing and evaluation, let’s explore how these cameras perform across every major photography genre and usage scenario, along with their underlying technical merits.

Getting Acquainted: Body Design and Handling Impressions

The first interaction with a camera sets the tone for your creative workflow. Let's see how the SX220 HS and FZ70 stack up physically.

• Canon SX220 HS: This is a small, pocketable compact with a simple slab design. Its dimensions of approximately 106x59x33 mm make it extremely portable. The grip is modest, suitable for casual holding but might require care during extended shoots to avoid fatigue. Canon used a fixed, non-articulated 3" PureColor II TG TFT LCD screen with modest 461k-dot resolution. No electronic viewfinder is available, so composing in bright sunlight can be tricky.

• Panasonic FZ70: In contrast, the FZ70 is a larger, bridge-style superzoom weighing about 606 grams with dimensions 130x97x118 mm. Its SLR-like body offers a deeper grip and more substantial control dial placement, catering better to longer sessions. It comes equipped with a 3” fixed TFT LCD of similar resolution (460k dots), but importantly also an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 202k-dot resolution and 100% coverage, invaluable for precision framing under bright conditions.

Ergonomically, Panasonic’s FZ70 edges out for serious users thanks to its dedicated EVF and physically robust design. Still, Canon’s compact appeals if you prioritize portability above all.

Control Layout: The FZ70 adopts a traditional DSLR-esque layout with more physical dials and buttons, allowing quicker manual adjustments. The Canon opts for minimalism, trading some control speed for simplicity.

User Tip: If you shoot outdoors often in bright light or want tactile control over settings, the FZ70 delivers a more professional feel. For casual travel or street photography, the SX220 HS fits easily in a jacket pocket but expect some compromises.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

The sensor defines the basis of your image quality. Despite their shared "small sensor superzoom" category, nuances arise in sensor design and processing.

The Canon’s sensor leverages Back Side Illuminated (BSI) CMOS technology combined with its DIGIC 4 processor and iSAPS technology aimed at better high ISO noise control and sharper images – impressive for its 2011 release date.

The Panasonic’s sensor is 16MP, with a more modern Venus Engine processor, and supports RAW output - critical for post-processing flexibility. Although the sensor size is the same, Panasonic's newer processing allows for improved color depth (19.4 bits vs. Canon’s unreported but generally lower), dynamic range (10.8 EV stops per DxO mark), and better low-light performance (ISO 171 effective low-light score).

Real-World Image Quality

• Color and Detail: Panasonic’s extra resolution yields noticeably crisper photos, especially when printing large or cropping tightly. Colors tend to be more vibrant yet accurate out-of-camera.
• Noise Handling: Both cameras struggle somewhat above ISO 800, but the FZ70 preserves more detail and introduces less aggressive noise reduction.
• Dynamic Range: The Panasonic’s sensor allows for better recovery of shadows and highlights - a boon for landscape photographers.

For everyday shooters, both sensors produce good JPEGs in well-lit conditions, but professionals and enthusiasts will appreciate the FZ70’s RAW support and richer color reproduction.

Zoom Range and Lens Performance: Reach Meets Quality

Superzooms live and breathe by their lens capabilities. Let’s compare their zoom ranges, apertures, and macro abilities.

The Panasonic FZ70 is the clear winner in zoom reach with a whopping 60× optical zoom spanning 20-1200mm equivalent focal length - ideal for wildlife and sports requiring extreme zoom. The lens also maintains a bright f/2.8 aperture at wide angle, beneficial for indoor and low-light shooting.

The Canon SX220 HS offers a more modest 14× zoom (28-392mm), adequate for casual portraits, landscapes, and even some wildlife at a distance. The aperture range is similar though narrower on the wide end, which limits shallow depth-of-field creativity.

Both cameras incorporate optical image stabilization (OIS), crucial for handheld telephoto shots. Notably, Panasonic allows attaching an external flash, expanding lighting possibilities for portraits and events, whereas Canon’s design restricts flash to the built-in unit.

Macro Focus

Panasonic’s ability to focus as close as 1cm unlocks detailed macro photography - the SX220 HS’s minimum focus of 5cm limits extreme close-ups.

Practical Takeaway: If you dream of capturing distant wildlife or intricate flower details, the FZ70 opens wider creative doors.

Autofocus, Burst, and Shutter Performance: Capturing the Moment

The speed, accuracy, and flexibility of your camera’s autofocus system critically impacts image sharpness and shooting success.

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus, common in compact cameras but slower in tracking moving subjects compared to DSLRs. Panasonic’s 23 focus points give it a clearer advantage over Canon’s 9 areas, enhancing focus precision and flexibility when composing.

With continuous AF and face detection on board, both cameras handle casual portraits and street photography decently. However, when it comes to fast-action subjects - sports or wildlife - the Panasonic's faster 9 fps burst rate allows you to capture more decisive moments, whereas the Canon’s slower 3 fps could leave you missing peak action.

The shutter speed maxes out at 1/3200 for Canon and 1/2000 for Panasonic. The extended top speed of Canon helps freeze very rapid motion slightly better, but it’s a minor point given the burst speed advantage of Panasonic.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Feedback and Composition Tools

Viewing your scene accurately is essential for composition and review.

• Canon SX220 HS: Offers a fixed 3” LCD screen with 461k dots. The screen lacks touch functionality, which limits interaction speed. No EVF makes bright daylight framing challenging.

• Panasonic FZ70: Also sports a fixed 3" LCD of comparable resolution but adds a 202k-dot Electronic Viewfinder with 100% coverage, improving usability outdoors. Unfortunately, neither screen has touch capability.

In real-world use, the FZ70’s EVF proves invaluable for steady, precise framing - especially with its super telephoto reach. The Canon requires adapting to LCD use in bright conditions, making it better suited for casual day or indoor shooting.

Durability and Build Quality: How They Handle the Elements

Both cameras lack official weather sealing or rugged features - no shockproof, waterproof, or freezeproof ratings. The Panasonic’s larger, more robust body feels sturdier, suitable for casual amateur to enthusiast use but not professional harsh conditions.

If harsh weather or dusty environments are concerns, neither model is ideal; consider a more ruggedized option or ensure appropriate protective gear.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power and Workflow

The Panasonic FZ70 boasts nearly double the battery life of the Canon SX220 HS. This extended endurance is vital for travel, wildlife, or sports photographers who shoot extensively in the field. Both cameras support widely available SD cards, but Panasonic adds a small internal memory backup.

Note: Neither camera supports dual card slots, so carry ample cards on extended trips.

Video Performance: Basic HD Capabilities

Neither camera offers advanced video features like 4K, microphone ports, or articulating touchscreens. Panasonic’s superior frame rate options make it better for smooth motion video, and AVCHD format supports better post-production workflows.

Ideal for casual video capture rather than professional filmmaking or vlogging.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Let’s see how these models fare in application-specific contexts:

Portrait Photography

• Canon SX220 HS: Good skin tone rendering but limited bokeh due to smaller zoom range and aperture. Face detection helps with focus, but lack of RAW limits post-processing.
• Panasonic FZ70: Better color depth and RAW support allow richer portraits. Longer zoom and f/2.8 aperture help isolate subjects with some background blur, though small sensor size limits overall bokeh quality.

Landscape Photography

• Canon SX220 HS: Decent dynamic range for mid-budget compact, but limited resolution (12MP). Fixed screen and no EVF make composition a bit harder in bright conditions.
• Panasonic FZ70: Higher resolution and wider zoom (20mm wide-angle start) suit landscapes well. EVF offers precise framing; RAW format enables detailed edits. Both lack weather sealing for outdoor extremes.

Wildlife Photography

• Canon’s 14× zoom trails significantly behind Panasonic’s 60× superzoom. Faster burst rate on Panasonic critical for moving subjects. Panasonic clearly dominates in reach, autofocus points, and flexibility.

Sports Photography

• Better burst rate (9 fps) and autofocus on Panasonic provide better results for sports compared to Canon’s 3 fps.

Street Photography

• Canon’s compact size offers discretion and portability advantages. Both have adequate low-light sensitivity, but Panasonic's bigger size could be intrusive.

Macro Photography

• Panasonic allows extremely close focusing (1cm vs 5cm), better for flower details or insects.

Night/Astro Photography

• Both cameras struggle due to small sensors and limited ISO capabilities. Panasonic's extended boosted ISO of 6400 and RAW format provide slight edge.

Video

• Panasonic delivers smoother frame rates and more codec options, though neither provides advanced video tools.

Travel Photography

• Canon’s small, lightweight body suits travelers prioritizing light packing. Panasonic’s longer zoom and better battery life serve well when versatility is paramount.

Professional Work

• Neither is a pro-grade camera, but Panasonic’s RAW support and broader features better align with enthusiast and semi-pro workflows.

Canon SX220 HS front Canon SX220 HS screen back Panasonic FZ70 front Panasonic FZ70 screen back

Sample photos show Panasonic’s sharper wildlife images at telephoto reach and Canon’s comfortable handling in street settings.

A Summary of Strengths and Limitations

Detailed Genre Scores Breakdown

Technical Evaluation: What’s Under the Hood?

Sensor Technology

Our lab testing reveals Panasonic's newer CMOS sensor plus Venus Engine processing produces superior detail retention and noise management compared to Canon’s DIGIC 4/BSI CMOS combo from 2011.

Autofocus System

Both rely on contrast-detection AF, inherently slower than phase-detection systems. Panasonic’s advantage lies in more focus points (23 vs 9) and better continuous AF tracking performance across our moving target tests.

Build Quality

Plastic-heavy constructions on both reflect their budget-friendly class. Panasonic’s bridge style offers a robust grip and better button layout, reducing accidental presses and improving usability during prolonged use.

Lens Quality

Despite exceptional zoom range, the Panasonic lens exhibits some softness at maximum telephoto; however, it's manageable and offset by convenience. Canon’s lens is optically competent but constrained in reach.

Connectivity & Storage

Both lack WiFi, NFC, or Bluetooth - limiting wireless file transfer. USB 2.0 and HDMI ports provide basic connectivity.

Recommendations: Which Should You Choose?

• If you value portability, ease of use, casual shooting, and primarily indoor/urban settings, the Canon SX220 HS is an economical, lightweight companion. It’s a solid choice for beginners or travelers who want a straightforward camera without carrying bulky gear.

• If your photography calls for extended zoom, better manual control, RAW flexibility, and advanced AF performance (wildlife, sports, macro), the Panasonic Lumix FZ70 is the superior option overall. Despite its bulk, it balances features & price well for enthusiasts.

Budget-Conscious Buyers

Panasonic generally sells cheaper and offers more features. The Panasonic FZ70 is excellent value compared to the aging Canon SX220 HS.

Beginners Versus Enthusiasts

Beginners appreciate ease and small size of Canon while enthusiasts who like post-processing and varied shooting scenarios gain more from Panasonic.

Final Thoughts: Embrace Your Creative Journey

Both cameras represent attractive points on the superzoom spectrum. Your choice depends largely on your shooting style, subject preferences, and how much camera bulk you can accommodate.

Remember, no camera is perfect. What matters most is matching gear to your vision and workflow habits. We encourage you to:

• Visit a local camera store to hold both models and get firsthand feel.
• Try out sample shooting to evaluate autofocus and ergonomics.
• Explore compatible lens accessories and extras to boost your creativity.
• Consider your future needs - do you want to explore RAW editing or jump into high-frame-rate bursts?

Each of these cameras can open doors to new photographic opportunities. Use this guide as a trusted roadmap for deciding which superzoom aligns best with your artistic goals.

Happy shooting!

This article is based on extensive real-world tests including resolution charts, autofocus tracking under diverse conditions, battery endurance trials, and image quality comparisons using standardized protocols to deliver an honest, expert perspective.