Canon SX60 vs Fujifilm GFX 50R

The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Fujifilm GFX 50R are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2014 and September 2018. The SX60 is a fixed lens compact, while the GFX 50R is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX60) and a medium format (GFX 50R) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 14.2 megapixels, whereas the Fujifilm provides 51.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon SX60		Fujifilm GFX 50R
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5		Fujifilm G mount lenses
14.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		51.1 MP, Medium Format Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)		ISO 100-12,800 (50 - 102,400)
Electronic viewfinder (922k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)
3.0 LCD, 922k dots		3.2 LCD, 2360k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
6.4 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
340 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
128 x 93 x 114 mm, 650 g		161 x 97 x 66 mm, 775 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Fujifilm GFX 50R? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon SX60 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Fujifilm GFX 50R is notably larger (31 percent) than the Canon SX60. It is noteworthy in this context that the GFX 50R is splash and dust-proof, while the SX60 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX60 has a lens built in, whereas the GFX 50R is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

Concerning battery life, the SX60 gets 340 shots out of its NB-10L battery, while the GFX 50R can take 400 images on a single charge of its NP-T125 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	549
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	161 mm	97 mm	66 mm	775 g	400	Y	Sep 2018	4,499
3.		Canon SX70	127 mm	91 mm	117 mm	608 g	325	n	Sep 2018	549
4.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
5.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799
7.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	549
8.		Canon G15	107 mm	76 mm	40 mm	352 g	350	n	Sep 2012	499
9.		Canon SX50	123 mm	87 mm	106 mm	595 g	315	n	Sep 2012	429
10.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	148 mm	94 mm	91 mm	740 g	400	Y	Sep 2016	6,499
11.		Hasselblad X1D II	148 mm	97 mm	70 mm	766 g	..	Y	Jun 2019	5,750
12.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995
13.		Nikon P900	140 mm	103 mm	137 mm	899 g	360	n	Mar 2015	599
14.		Panasonic FZ300	132 mm	92 mm	117 mm	691 g	380	Y	Jul 2015	599
15.		Panasonic FZ200	125 mm	87 mm	110 mm	588 g	540	n	Jul 2012	599
16.		Panasonic FZ150	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	528 g	410	n	Aug 2011	499
17.		Sony HX400V	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	660 g	300	n	Feb 2014	499
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX60 was launched at a lower price than the GFX 50R, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX60 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Fujifilm GFX 50R a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the GFX 50R is 5086 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 0.79. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

With 51.1MP, the GFX 50R offers a higher resolution than the SX60 (14.2MP), but the GFX 50R nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.33μm versus 1.40μm for the SX60) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the GFX 50R is a much more recent model (by 4 years) than the SX60, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Fujifilm GFX 50R implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GFX 50R for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 41.3 x 31 inches or 104.9 x 78.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 33 x 24.8 inches or 83.9 x 62.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 27.5 x 20.6 inches or 69.9 x 52.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX60 are 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 12.3 inches or 46.8 x 31.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm GFX 50R are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	Medium Format	51.1	8256	6192	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon SX70	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
5.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
7.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
8.		Canon G15	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.9	11.5	165	46
9.		Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
10.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	Medium Format	51.1	8256	6192	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
11.		Hasselblad X1D II	Medium Format	51.3	8272	6200	none	..	..	..	..
12.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
13.		Nikon P900	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
14.		Panasonic FZ300	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	19.3	11.0	97	38
15.		Panasonic FZ200	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.1	10.8	114	37
16.		Panasonic FZ150	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.4	10.9	132	40
17.		Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the SX60 provides a higher frame rate than the GFX 50R. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the GFX 50R offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the SX60 (3690k vs 922k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX60 and Fujifilm GFX 50R along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4	Y	Y
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	3690	n	3.2	2360	tilting	Y	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
3.		Canon SX70	2360	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
4.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
5.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2	Y	Y
7.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
8.		Canon G15	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.1	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX50	202	n	3.0	461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2	Y	Y
10.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	optional	Y	3.2	2360	full-flex	Y	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
11.		Hasselblad X1D II	3690	n	3.6	2360	fixed	Y	1/2000s	2.7	n	n
12.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	20.0	n	Y
13.		Nikon P900	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
14.		Panasonic FZ300	1440	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ200	1312	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ150	202	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony HX400V	210	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The SX60 has one, while the GFX 50R does not. While the built-in flash of the SX60 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the GFX 50R is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm GFX 50R has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX60 and the GFX 50R write their files to SDXC cards. The GFX 50R features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the SX60 only has one slot. The GFX 50R supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the SX60 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and Fujifilm GFX 50R and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon SX70	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon G16	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Canon G15	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX50	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
11.		Hasselblad X1D II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	-	3.0	Y	-	-
12.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
13.		Nikon P900	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Panasonic FZ300	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Panasonic FZ200	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Panasonic FZ150	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm GFX 50R (unlike the SX60) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The GFX 50R is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Fujifilm. In contrast, the SX60 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the SX60 was succeeded by the Canon SX70. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Fujifilm websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon SX60 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6.4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the GFX 50R requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (128x93mm vs 161x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the GFX 50R).
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2014).

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm GFX 50R:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (51.1 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 86%.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (3690k vs 922k dots).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2360k vs 922k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 340) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards on both slots.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years of technical progress since the SX60 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GFX 50R is the clear winner of the contest (22 : 12 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX60 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the SX60 and the GFX 50R in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	5/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2018	4,499
3.		Canon SX70	..	+ +	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Sep 2018	549
4.		Canon 5DS	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
5.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799
7.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
8.		Canon G15	4/5	+	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	499
9.		Canon SX50	3/5	+ +	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	429
10.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	..	..	85/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	6,499
11.		Hasselblad X1D II	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jun 2019	5,750
12.		Leica Q2	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995
13.		Nikon P900	..	..	77/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2015	599
14.		Panasonic FZ300	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	599
15.		Panasonic FZ200	3/5	+ +	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	599
16.		Panasonic FZ150	3/5	+ +	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	499
17.		Sony HX400V	4/5	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	499
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Specifications: Canon SX60 vs Fujifilm GFX 50R

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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