Canon SX70 vs Leica S3

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Leica S3 are two digital cameras that were announced in September 2018. The SX70 is a fixed lens compact, while the S3 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX70) and a medium format (S3) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 64 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon SX70		Leica S3
Fixed lens compact camera		Digital single lens reflex
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5		Leica S mount lenses
20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		64 MP, Medium Format Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/24p Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 100-50,000
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Optical viewfinder
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		3 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
127 x 91 x 117 mm, 608 g		160 x 120 x 80 mm, 1260 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Leica S3? 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

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX70 and the Leica S3. 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 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 Leica S3 is considerably larger (66 percent) than the Canon SX70. It is noteworthy in this context that the S3 is splash and dust-proof, while the SX70 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX70 has a lens built in, whereas the S3 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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 SX70	127 mm	91 mm	117 mm	608 g	325	n	Sep 2018	549
2.		Leica S3	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2018	18,995
3.		Canon SX740	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	299 g	265	n	Jul 2018	399
4.		Canon SX430	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	323 g	195	n	Jan 2017	299
5.		Canon 77D	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	540 g	600	n	Feb 2017	899
6.		Canon G9 X Mark II	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	206 g	235	n	Jan 2017	529
7.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399
8.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	549
9.		Canon SX1	128 mm	88 mm	88 mm	615 g	..	n	Sep 2008	599
10.		Leica M10	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	6,595
11.		Leica S-E Typ 006	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	16,900
12.		Leica S Typ 007	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2014	24,490
13.		Leica S Typ 006	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1260 g	..	Y	Sep 2012	21,950
14.		Leica S2	160 mm	120 mm	80 mm	1410 g	..	Y	Sep 2008	22,995
15.		Nikon B700	125 mm	85 mm	107 mm	565 g	350	n	Feb 2016	499
16.		Panasonic FZ80	130 mm	94 mm	119 mm	616 g	330	n	Jan 2017	399
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 retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The SX70 was launched at a lower price than the S3, 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. 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 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX70 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Leica S3 a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the S3 is 4721 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 0.8. The sensor in the SX70 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the S3 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 64MP, the S3 offers a higher resolution than the SX70 (20.2MP), but the S3 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.59μm versus 1.18μm for the SX70) due to its larger sensor. It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. 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 Leica S3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 49 x 32.7 inches or 124.5 x 83 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 39.2 x 26.1 inches or 99.6 x 66.4 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 32.7 x 21.8 inches or 83 x 55.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX70 are 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica S3 are ISO 100 to ISO 50000 (no boost).

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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		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	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Leica S3	Medium Format	64.0	9800	6533	4K/24p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon SX740	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon SX430	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	..	..	..	..
5.		Canon 77D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.3	971	78
6.		Canon G9 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.9	12.5	522	65
7.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
8.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
9.		Canon SX1	1/2.3	10.0	3648	2736	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
10.		Leica M10	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	24.4	13.2	2133	86
11.		Leica S-E Typ 006	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	..	..	..	..
12.		Leica S Typ 007	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	4K/24p	..	..	..	..
13.		Leica S Typ 006	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	23.9	12.2	824	76
14.		Leica S2	Medium Format	37.5	7500	5000	none	..	..	..	..
15.		Nikon B700	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
16.		Panasonic FZ80	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
17.		Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the SX70 provides a higher frame rate than the S3. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Leica is limited to 4K/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the SX70 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the S3 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX70 and Leica S3 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 SX70	2360	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
2.		Leica S3	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
3.		Canon SX740	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX430	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
5.		Canon 77D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
6.		Canon G9 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	8.2	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0	922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX1	202	n	2.8	230	swivel	n	1/3200s	4.0	Y	Y
10.		Leica M10	optical	n	3.0	1037	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	n	n
11.		Leica S-E Typ 006	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5	n	n
12.		Leica S Typ 007	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5	n	n
13.		Leica S Typ 006	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5	n	n
14.		Leica S2	optical	Y	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.5	n	n
15.		Nikon B700	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ80	1166	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	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 SX70 has one, while the S3 does not. While the built-in flash of the SX70 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The SX70 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the S3 uses Compact Flash or SDXC cards. The S3 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the SX70 only has one slot. The S3 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the SX70 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

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 Leica S3 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 SX70	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Leica S3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon SX740	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon SX430	-	mono	mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon 77D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Canon G9 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX730	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon SX1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Leica M10	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
11.		Leica S-E Typ 006	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Leica S Typ 007	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
13.		Leica S Typ 006	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Leica S2	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon B700	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ80	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
17.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the S3 has a hotshoe, which makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun. The SX70 does not feature such an accessory-socket.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Leica S3 (unlike the SX70) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the S3 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the SX70 and the S3 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The SX70 replaced the earlier Canon SX60 , while the S3 followed on from the Leica S Typ 007. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Leica websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX70 or the Leica S3 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/30p versus 4K/24p).
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• 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 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the S3 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (127x91mm vs 160x120mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the S3).
• 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 wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.

Advantages of the Leica S3:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (64 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 82%.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• 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 a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S3 is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 12 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. 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 SX70 and the Leica S3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best DSLR 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 SX70 and the S3 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. 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 SX70	..	+ +	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Sep 2018	549
2.		Leica S3	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2018	18,995
3.		Canon SX740	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2018	399
4.		Canon SX430	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2017	299
5.		Canon 77D	4.5/5	..	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	899
6.		Canon G9 X Mark II	4/5	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	529
7.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	399
8.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549
9.		Canon SX1	..	+ +	+	..	3.5/5	Sep 2008	599
10.		Leica M10	4.5/5	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	6,595
11.		Leica S-E Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	16,900
12.		Leica S Typ 007	4/5	..	..	..	..	Sep 2014	24,490
13.		Leica S Typ 006	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2012	21,950
14.		Leica S2	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2008	22,995
15.		Nikon B700	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2016	499
16.		Panasonic FZ80	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	399
17.		Sony HX400V	4/5	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	499
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. 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 would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Canon SX70 vs Leica S3

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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