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Canon SX70 vs Nikon D3500

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Nikon D3500 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2018 and August 2018. The SX70 is a fixed lens compact, while the D3500 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX70) and an APS-C (D3500) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 24 MP.

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 D3500
Canon SX70   Nikon D3500
Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 Nikon F mount lenses
20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
325 shots per battery charge1550 shots per battery charge
127 x 91 x 117 mm, 608 g 124 x 97 x 70 mm, 415 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 D3500? 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 Nikon D3500 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.

Size Canon SX70 vs Nikon D3500
Compare SX70 versus D3500 top
Comparison SX70 or D3500 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D3500 is somewhat larger (4 percent) than the Canon SX70. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX70 nor the D3500 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX70 has a lens built in, whereas the D3500 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D3500 and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the SX70 gets 325 shots out of its LP-E12 battery, while the D3500 can take 1550 images on a single charge of its EN-EL14a power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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 D3500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 415 g 1550 n Aug 2018 429 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon SX740 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 299 g 265 n Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 200D 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 800D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 532 g 600 n Feb 2017 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 206 g 235 n Jan 2017 529ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 n Apr 2017 399ebay.com
10.
 
Fujifilm XF10 113 mm 64 mm 41 mm 279 g 330 n Jul 2018 499ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D3400 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 445 g 1200 n Aug 2016 499ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 899ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D3300 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 430 g 700 n Jan 2014 499ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX99 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 242 g 370 n Aug 2018 449ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX95 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 242 g 370 n Aug 2018 429ebay.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 obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. 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 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. 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 more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX70 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Nikon D3500 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D3500 is 1211 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the SX70 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the D3500 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Canon SX70 and Nikon D3500 sensor measures

With 24MP, the D3500 offers a higher resolution than the SX70 (20.2MP), but the D3500 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.91μm 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 Nikon D3500 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D3500 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 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 Nikon D3500 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the SX70 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the D3500 uses a CMOS imager. 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 D3500 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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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 D3500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.4185183
3.
 
Canon SX740 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1105051
4.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
5.
 
Canon 200D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
6.
 
Canon 800D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.1158680
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.912.552265
8.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
9.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
10.
 
Fujifilm XF10 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/15p24.013.4184483
11.
 
Nikon D3400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.813.9119286
12.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
13.
 
Nikon D3300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.8138582
14.
 
Sony HX99 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.612.1105851
15.
 
Sony HX95 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.612.1105751
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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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 SX70 provides a higher video resolution than the D3500. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/60p.

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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 D3500 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 table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX70 and Nikon D3500 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar 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.
 
Nikon D3500optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon SX740none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 10.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 200Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 800Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 8.2/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
9.
 
Canon SX730none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
10.
 
Fujifilm XF10none n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D3400optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D3300optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Sony HX99638 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony HX95638 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/2000s 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 D3500 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX70 and the D3500 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 Nikon D3500 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 D3500Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
3.
 
Canon SX740-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon 200DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon 800DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
9.
 
Canon SX730-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
10.
 
Fujifilm XF10-stereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
11.
 
Nikon D3400Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
12.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
13.
 
Nikon D3300Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
14.
 
Sony HX99-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
15.
 
Sony HX95-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
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It is notable that the SX70 has a microphone port, which is missing on the D3500. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Both the SX70 and the D3500 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The D3500 replaced the earlier Nikon D3400, while the SX70 followed on from the Canon SX60 . Further information on the features and operation of the SX70 and D3500 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX70 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D3500 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon SX70 and the Nikon D3500? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS:

  • 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.
  • 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 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the D3500 requires a separate lens.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.

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Reasons to prefer the Nikon D3500:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 11%.
  • 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.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • 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.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1550 versus 325) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D3500 comes out slightly ahead of the SX70 (10 : 9 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.

SX70 09:10 D3500

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX70 and the Nikon D3500 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 comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX70 or the D3500 perform in practice. 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 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.
 
Nikon D35004/5..4/575/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2018 429 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon SX740..+3.5/5..4/54/5 Jul 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 200D4/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 800D4.5/5..3.5/580/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II4/5..4/575/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 529ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 399ebay.com
10.
 
Fujifilm XF10....4/575/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2018 499ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D34004/5+4/576/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2016 499ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 899ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D33003/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 499ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX99........4/54.5/5 Aug 2018 449ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX95............ Aug 2018 429ebay.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 assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods 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? 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 SX70 vs Nikon D3500

    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 D3500
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2018 August 2018
    Launch Price USD 549 USD 429
    Sensor Specs Canon SX70 Nikon D3500
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 366.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 28.2 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3888 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.18 μm 3.91 μm
    Pixel Density 71.80 MP/cm2 6.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 8 EXPEED 4
    Screen Specs Canon SX70 Nikon D3500
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.57x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX70 Nikon D3500
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 5 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 Nikon D3500
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in no Wifi
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon SX70 Nikon D3500
    Battery Type LP-E12 EN-EL14a
    Battery Life (CIPA)325 shots per charge1550 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 127 x 91 x 117 mm
    (5.0 x 3.6 x 4.6 in)
    124 x 97 x 70 mm
    (4.9 x 3.8 x 2.8 in)
    Camera Weight 608 g (21.4 oz) 415 g (14.6 oz)
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