Canon SX70 vs Panasonic S5

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2018 and September 2020. The SX70 is a fixed lens compact, while the S5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX70) and a full frame (S5) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic 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		Panasonic S5
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5		Leica L mount lenses
20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/60p Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 922k dots		3.0 LCD, 1840k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fully flexible touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
Lens-based stabilization		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
325 shots per battery charge		440 shots per battery charge
127 x 91 x 117 mm, 608 g		133 x 98 x 82 mm, 714 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5? 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 SX70 and the Panasonic S5 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 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 Panasonic S5 is notably larger (13 percent) than the Canon SX70. It is noteworthy in this context that the S5 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 S5 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 SX70 gets 325 shots out of its LP-E12 battery, while the S5 can take 440 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLK22 power pack. The power pack in the S5 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

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.

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.		Panasonic S5	133 mm	98 mm	82 mm	714 g	440	Y	Sep 2020	1,999
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.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
11.		Nikon B700	125 mm	85 mm	107 mm	565 g	350	n	Feb 2016	499
12.		Panasonic S1	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1017 g	400	Y	Feb 2019	2,499
13.		Panasonic S1R	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1016 g	380	Y	Feb 2019	3,699
14.		Panasonic S1H	151 mm	114 mm	110 mm	1052 g	400	Y	May 2019	3,999
15.		Panasonic FZ80	130 mm	94 mm	119 mm	616 g	330	n	Jan 2017	399
16.		Sony A7 III	127 mm	96 mm	74 mm	650 g	610	Y	Feb 2018	1,999
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 manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The SX70 was launched at a lower price than the S5, 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 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 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. 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to 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 Panasonic S5 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the S5 is 2925 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.0. The sensor in the SX70 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the S5 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 24MP, the S5 offers a higher resolution than the SX70 (20.2MP), but the S5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 1.18μm for the SX70) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the S5 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 11 months) than the SX70, and its sensor might 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 Panasonic S5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S5 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.

Unlike the SX70, the S5 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (96MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 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 SX70	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Panasonic S5	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
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.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
11.		Nikon B700	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Panasonic S1	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	25.2	14.5	3333	95
13.		Panasonic S1R	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/60p	26.4	14.1	3525	100
14.		Panasonic S1H	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/30p	..	..	..	..
15.		Panasonic FZ80	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
16.		Sony A7 III	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.7	3730	96
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 S5 provides a faster frame rate than the SX70. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/60p, while the Canon is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The SX70 and the S5 are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2360k dots. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX70 and Panasonic S5 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.		Panasonic S5	2360	n	3.0	1840	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	7.0	n	Y
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.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
11.		Nikon B700	921	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic S1	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
13.		Panasonic S1R	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
14.		Panasonic S1H	5760	Y	3.2	2330	swivel	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ80	1166	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
16.		Sony A7 III	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	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 S5 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 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 S5 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 Panasonic S5 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 SX70 and the S5 write their files to SDXC cards. The S5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the SX70 only has one slot. The S5 supports UHS-II cards (on its first slot), while the SX70 can use UHS-I 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 SX70 HS and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 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.		Panasonic S5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	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.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
11.		Nikon B700	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic S1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic S1R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic S1H	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ80	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Sony A7 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the S5 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.

Both the SX70 and the S5 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The SX70 replaced the earlier Canon SX60 , while the S5 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX70 or the Panasonic S5 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the S5 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (127x91mm vs 133x98mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the S5).
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2018).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 11%.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• 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 video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/60p versus 4K/30p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1840k vs 922k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s 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 (440 versus 325) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• 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.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
• 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 modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 11 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S5 is the clear winner of the contest (22 : 7 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 Panasonic S5 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 SX70 and the S5 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 why expert reviews 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 SX70	..	+ +	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Sep 2018	549
2.		Panasonic S5	4.5/5	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2020	1,999
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.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
11.		Nikon B700	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2016	499
12.		Panasonic S1	4.5/5	+ +	88/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	2,499
13.		Panasonic S1R	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	3,699
14.		Panasonic S1H	..	..	90/100	..	..	May 2019	3,999
15.		Panasonic FZ80	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	399
16.		Sony A7 III	..	+ +	89/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2018	1,999
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. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time 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.

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 Panasonic S5

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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