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Canon SX70 vs SX710

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2018 and January 2015. Both the SX70 and the SX710 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20.2 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Canon SX70
versus
Canon SX710
Canon SX70   Canon SX710
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 25-750mm f/3.2-6.9
20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 80-3,200
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second 6 shutter flaps per second
325 shots per battery charge230 shots per battery charge
127 x 91 x 117 mm, 608 g 113 x 66 x 35 mm, 269 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS? 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.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon SX70 and the Canon SX710 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX710 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the SX70 is only available in black.

Size Canon SX70 vs Canon SX710
Compare SX70 versus SX710 top
Comparison SX70 or SX710 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon SX710 is considerably smaller (35 percent) than the Canon SX70. Moreover, the SX710 is substantially lighter (56 percent) than the SX70. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX70 nor the SX710 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX70 gets 325 shots out of its Canon LP-E12 battery, while the SX710 can take 230 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-6LH power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX70 127 mm 91 mm 117 mm 608 g 325 n Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
2.
 
Canon SX710 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 230 n Jan 2015 349ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX740 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 299 g 265 n Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX430 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 323 g 195 n Jan 2017 299ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
6.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 206 g 235 n Jan 2017 529ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 n Apr 2017 399ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX420 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 195 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX720 110 mm 64 mm 36 mm 270 g 250 n Feb 2016 379ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX700 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 250 n Feb 2014 349ebay.com
11.
 
Canon SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX1 128 mm 88 mm 88 mm 615 g .. n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon B700 125 mm 85 mm 107 mm 565 g 350 n Feb 2016 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ80 130 mm 94 mm 119 mm 616 g 330 n Jan 2017 399ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX400V 130 mm 93 mm 103 mm 660 g 300 n Feb 2014 499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX710 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 36 percent) than the SX70, which puts it into a different market segment. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

In terms of chip-set technology, the SX70 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 8) than the SX710 (DIGIC 6), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon SX70 and Canon SX710 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 20.2 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the SX70 and the SX710 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the SX70 is much more recent (by 3 years and 8 months) than the SX710, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time. 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 Canon PowerShot SX70 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS are ISO 80 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

SX70 versus SX710 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon SX70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1106351
2.
 
Canon SX710 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.211.671247
3.
 
Canon SX740 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1105051
4.
 
Canon SX430 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.511.990049
5.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
6.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.912.552265
7.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
8.
 
Canon SX420 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.311.780648
9.
 
Canon SX720 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.881748
10.
 
Canon SX700 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.111.462945
11.
 
Canon SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
12.
 
Canon SX1 1/2.3 10.0 3648 27361080/30p19.010.314435
13.
 
Nikon B700 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.411.881848
14.
 
Panasonic FZ80 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.511.990049
15.
 
Sony HX400V 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.111.462945
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the SX70 provides a higher video resolution than the SX710. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the SX710 is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the SX70 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX710 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon SX70, the Canon SX710, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon SX702360 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon SX710none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 6.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX740none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 10.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX430none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon G9 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 8.2/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX730none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon SX420none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon SX720none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon SX700none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 8.5/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
12.
 
Canon SX1202 n2.8 / 230 swivel n 1/3200s 4.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Nikon B700921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Panasonic FZ801166 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony HX400V210 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The SX70 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the SX710 does not have a selfie-screen.

Both the SX70 and the SX710 have zoom lenses built in. The SX70 has a 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 optic and the SX710 offers a 25-750mm f/3.2-6.9 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the SX70 provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the SX710. The SX710 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX70 and the SX710 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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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 SX70 HS and Canon PowerShot SX710 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon SX70-stereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
2.
 
Canon SX710-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX740-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon SX430-mono / mono---2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
7.
 
Canon SX730-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon SX420-mono / mono---2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon SX720-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon SX700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon SX1Ystereo / mono--YES2.0---
13.
 
Nikon B700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
14.
 
Panasonic FZ80Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
15.
 
Sony HX400VYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
padding

It is notable that the SX70 has a microphone port, which is missing on the SX710. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

The SX70 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the SX710 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the SX710 was succeeded by the Canon SX720. Further information on the features and operation of the SX70 and SX710 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX70 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon SX710 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX70 or the Canon SX710 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 6).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • 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 (10 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (325 versus 230) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 8 months of technical progress since the SX710 launch.


Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS:

  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/3200s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.2 vs f/3.4).
  • More compact: Is smaller (113x66mm vs 127x91mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 339g or 56 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (36 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in January 2015).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the SX70 is the clear winner of the match-up (12 : 7 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

SX70 12:07 SX710

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX70 and the Canon SX710 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX70 or the SX710. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX70..+ +3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Sep 2018 549 amazon.com
2.
 
Canon SX710..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2015 349ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX740..+3.5/5..4/54/5 Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon SX430........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2017 299ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
6.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II4/5..4/575/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 529ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 399ebay.com
8.
 
Canon SX420..........3/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX720..+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2016 379ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX700..+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 349ebay.com
11.
 
Canon SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
12.
 
Canon SX1..+ +..+..3.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon B700..+....4/54/5 Feb 2016 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ80..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 399ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX400V4/5+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. 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, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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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 your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon SX70 vs Canon SX710

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon SX70 Canon SX710
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 25-750mm f/3.2-6.9
    Launch Date September 2018 January 2015
    Launch Price USD 549 USD 349
    Sensor Specs Canon SX70 Canon SX710
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3888 pixels 5184 x 3888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.18 μm 1.18 μm
    Pixel Density 71.80 MP/cm2 71.80 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 80 - 3,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 8 DIGIC 6
    Screen Specs Canon SX70 Canon SX710
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder no viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX70 Canon SX710
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 6 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon SX70 Canon SX710
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in no Bluetooth
    Body Specs Canon SX70 Canon SX710
    Battery Type Canon LP-E12 Canon NB-6LH
    Battery Life (CIPA)325 shots per charge230 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 127 x 91 x 117 mm
    (5.0 x 3.6 x 4.6 in)
    113 x 66 x 35 mm
    (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 608 g (21.4 oz) 269 g (9.5 oz)
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