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Canon SX70 vs Nikon B700

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Nikon Coolpix B700 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2018 and February 2016. Both the SX70 and the B700 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
Nikon B700
Canon SX70   Nikon B700
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 24-1440mm f/3.3-6.5
20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-3,200
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Electronic viewfinder (921k dots)
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
325 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
127 x 91 x 117 mm, 608 g 125 x 85 x 107 mm, 565 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 Nikon Coolpix B700? 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

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX70 and the Nikon B700. 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.

The B700 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the SX70 is only available in black.

Size Canon SX70 vs Nikon B700
Compare SX70 versus B700 top
Comparison SX70 or B700 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon B700 is notably smaller (8 percent) than the Canon SX70. Moreover, the B700 is markedly lighter (7 percent) than the SX70. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX70 nor the B700 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX70 gets 325 shots out of its Canon LP-E12 battery, while the B700 can take 350 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL23 power pack. The power pack in the B700 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

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.

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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.
 
Nikon B700 125 mm 85 mm 107 mm 565 g 350 n Feb 2016 499ebay.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 SX60 128 mm 93 mm 114 mm 650 g 340 n Sep 2014 549ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX1 128 mm 88 mm 88 mm 615 g .. n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
10.
 
Kodak AZ901 139 mm 104 mm 119 mm 777 g 400 n Jan 2016 499 amazon.com
11.
 
Nikon P900 140 mm 103 mm 137 mm 899 g 360 n Mar 2015 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70 112 mm 67 mm 41 mm 322 g 380 n Apr 2017 449ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ80 130 mm 94 mm 119 mm 616 g 330 n Jan 2017 399ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX350 130 mm 93 mm 103 mm 652 g 300 n Dec 2016 449ebay.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 B700 was somewhat cheaper (by 9 percent) than the SX70 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies 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.

Canon SX70 and Nikon B700 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 B700 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 2 years and 6 months) than the B700, 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 Nikon Coolpix B700 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

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 B700 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-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.
 
Nikon B700 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.411.881848
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 SX60 1/2.3 14.2 4608 30721080/60p19.210.812739
9.
 
Canon SX1 1/2.3 10.0 3648 27361080/30p19.010.314435
10.
 
Kodak AZ901 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.311.780648
11.
 
Nikon P900 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.211.672747
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p19.110.610636
13.
 
Panasonic FZ80 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.511.990049
14.
 
Sony HX350 1/2.3 19.9 5152 38641080/60p20.511.989649
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 can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the SX70 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the B700 (2360k vs 921k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX70 and Nikon B700 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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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.
 
Nikon B700921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/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 SX60922 n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/2000s 6.4/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon SX1202 n2.8 / 230 swivel n 1/3200s 4.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Kodak AZ901202 n3.0 / 920 swivel n 1/2000s 5.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Nikon P900921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Panasonic ZS701166 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Panasonic FZ801166 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony HX350202 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 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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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The Nikon B700 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.

Both the SX70 and the B700 have zoom lenses built in. The SX70 has a 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 optic and the B700 offers a 24-1440mm f/3.3-6.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Canon provides a wider angle of view at the short end than the Nikon, but less tele-photo reach at the long end. The B700 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX70 and the B700 write their files to SDXC cards. The SX70 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the B700 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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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 Nikon Coolpix B700 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.
 
Nikon B700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
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 SX60Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon SX1Ystereo / mono--YES2.0---
10.
 
Kodak AZ901-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Nikon P900-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
13.
 
Panasonic FZ80Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
14.
 
Sony HX350-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
15.
 
Sony HX400VYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the SX70 has a microphone port, which is missing on the B700. 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 B700 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the B700 from Nikon. Further information on the features and operation of the SX70 and B700 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX70 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon B700 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX70 or the Nikon B700 – 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.

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Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS:

  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2360k vs 921k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 6 months of technical progress since the B700 launch.

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Arguments in favor of the Nikon Coolpix B700:

  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.3 vs f/3.4).
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the B700 comes out slightly ahead of the SX70 (7 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

SX70 06:07 B700

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX70 and the Nikon B700 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 incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX70 or the B700 perform in practice. 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 expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.
 
Nikon B700..+....4/54/5 Feb 2016 499ebay.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 SX603/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 549ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX1..+ +..+..3.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
10.
 
Kodak AZ901........3.5/53/5 Jan 2016 499 amazon.com
11.
 
Nikon P900......77/1004/54/5 Mar 2015 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70..+ +....4/54/5 Apr 2017 449ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ80..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 399ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX350..........4/5 Dec 2016 449ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX400V4/5+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. 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? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. 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 Nikon B700

    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 Nikon B700
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 24-1440mm f/3.3-6.5
    Launch Date September 2018 February 2016
    Launch Price USD 549 USD 499
    Sensor Specs Canon SX70 Nikon B700
    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 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 3,200 ISO
    Screen Specs Canon SX70 Nikon B700
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots 921k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Swivel screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX70 Nikon B700
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/2000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    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 no
    Connectivity Specs Canon SX70 Nikon B700
    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 Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon SX70 Nikon B700
    Battery Type Canon LP-E12 Nikon EN-EL23
    Battery Life (CIPA)325 shots per charge350 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 91 x 117 mm
    (5.0 x 3.6 x 4.6 in)
    125 x 85 x 107 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 4.2 in)
    Camera Weight 608 g (21.4 oz) 565 g (19.9 oz)
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