DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70

Started Jun 11, 2021 | Discussions
wb2trf Veteran Member • Posts: 3,416
How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

I am an opportunistic bird and wildlife photographer.  I try to be serious about landscape and portrait photography, but for birds and wildlife for me its just about fun and id'ing birds.  I want to keep my telephoto equipment pretty small, so I doubt I'll ever buy the big tele lenses for my ILCs.

For this, I've been shooting SX50 for five years at least.  Putting up with its shooting infelicities for the sake of its nice IQ.  I had my eye on maybe upgrading to a Nikon P950, but, trying it out in a store, its AF speed didn't seem faster, maybe slower, than the SX50, and it's a lot bigger and heavier.  Between those two factors, I'm thinking not to get it.

This has led me now to consider the SX70 (the SX60 seems not worth considering).  I"m sure I'd like the much better viewfinder and operational advantages of the SX70.

I'm wondering if those here who made the switch from SX50 to SX70 felt as though their photos became better, all things considered, or not.  A lot of jpgs of side by side I've seen suggest the SX50 is still better IQ, but some say that if you become skilled with RAW processing of the SX70, that doesn't have to be so.  If I got nearly as good as SX50 with Jpg and could coax SX70 RAWs to be better, that plus the better operation might make me upgrade.  If all jpgs are worse, probably not.

If you made the switch, what do you think about it? Better photos?

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS Canon PowerShot SX70
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
Sue Anne Rush
Sue Anne Rush Senior Member • Posts: 6,285
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

Hello...

wb2trf wrote:

I am an opportunistic bird and wildlife photographer. I try to be serious about landscape and portrait photography, but for birds and wildlife for me its just about fun and id'ing birds. I want to keep my telephoto equipment pretty small, so I doubt I'll ever buy the big tele lenses for my ILCs.

For this, I've been shooting SX50 for five years at least. Putting up with its shooting infelicities for the sake of its nice IQ. I had my eye on maybe upgrading to a Nikon P950, but, trying it out in a store, its AF speed didn't seem faster, maybe slower, than the SX50, and it's a lot bigger and heavier. Between those two factors, I'm thinking not to get it.

This has led me now to consider the SX70 (the SX60 seems not worth considering). I"m sure I'd like the much better viewfinder and operational advantages of the SX70.

IMHO buy the SX70.

I'm wondering if those here who made the switch from SX50 to SX70 felt as though their photos became better, all things considered, or not. A lot of jpgs of side by side I've seen suggest the SX50 is still better IQ, but some say that if you become skilled with RAW processing of the SX70, that doesn't have to be so. If I got nearly as good as SX50 with Jpg and could coax SX70 RAWs to be better, that plus the better operation might make me upgrade. If all jpgs are worse, probably not.

If you made the switch, what do you think about it? Better photos?

-- hide signature --

Sue Anne Rush

 Sue Anne Rush's gear list:Sue Anne Rush's gear list
Canon PowerShot G9 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II Canon PowerShot Zoom Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS Rebel T7 +4 more
OP wb2trf Veteran Member • Posts: 3,416
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

Sue Anne Rush wrote:

Hello...

wb2trf wrote:

I am an opportunistic bird and wildlife photographer. I try to be serious about landscape and portrait photography, but for birds and wildlife for me its just about fun and id'ing birds. I want to keep my telephoto equipment pretty small, so I doubt I'll ever buy the big tele lenses for my ILCs.

For this, I've been shooting SX50 for five years at least. Putting up with its shooting infelicities for the sake of its nice IQ. I had my eye on maybe upgrading to a Nikon P950, but, trying it out in a store, its AF speed didn't seem faster, maybe slower, than the SX50, and it's a lot bigger and heavier. Between those two factors, I'm thinking not to get it.

This has led me now to consider the SX70 (the SX60 seems not worth considering). I"m sure I'd like the much better viewfinder and operational advantages of the SX70.

IMHO buy the SX70.

I'm wondering if those here who made the switch from SX50 to SX70 felt as though their photos became better, all things considered, or not. A lot of jpgs of side by side I've seen suggest the SX50 is still better IQ, but some say that if you become skilled with RAW processing of the SX70, that doesn't have to be so. If I got nearly as good as SX50 with Jpg and could coax SX70 RAWs to be better, that plus the better operation might make me upgrade. If all jpgs are worse, probably not.

If you made the switch, what do you think about it? Better photos?

Thanks. Can you give me a bit more about your experience with them so I understand why you suggest this? Any help is appreciated.

Sue Anne Rush
Sue Anne Rush Senior Member • Posts: 6,285
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

Hello...

wb2trf wrote:

Sue Anne Rush wrote:

Hello...

wb2trf wrote:

I am an opportunistic bird and wildlife photographer. I try to be serious about landscape and portrait photography, but for birds and wildlife for me its just about fun and id'ing birds. I want to keep my telephoto equipment pretty small, so I doubt I'll ever buy the big tele lenses for my ILCs.

For this, I've been shooting SX50 for five years at least. Putting up with its shooting infelicities for the sake of its nice IQ. I had my eye on maybe upgrading to a Nikon P950, but, trying it out in a store, its AF speed didn't seem faster, maybe slower, than the SX50, and it's a lot bigger and heavier. Between those two factors, I'm thinking not to get it.

This has led me now to consider the SX70 (the SX60 seems not worth considering). I"m sure I'd like the much better viewfinder and operational advantages of the SX70.

IMHO buy the SX70.

I'm wondering if those here who made the switch from SX50 to SX70 felt as though their photos became better, all things considered, or not. A lot of jpgs of side by side I've seen suggest the SX50 is still better IQ, but some say that if you become skilled with RAW processing of the SX70, that doesn't have to be so. If I got nearly as good as SX50 with Jpg and could coax SX70 RAWs to be better, that plus the better operation might make me upgrade. If all jpgs are worse, probably not.

If you made the switch, what do you think about it? Better photos?

Thanks. Can you give me a bit more about your experience with them so I understand why you suggest this? Any help is appreciated.

I always think the SX70 is a better choice because it is newer.

I would go to your local Staples /Best Buy to see for yourself to get a feel of which you like better.  

-- hide signature --

Sue Anne Rush

 Sue Anne Rush's gear list:Sue Anne Rush's gear list
Canon PowerShot G9 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II Canon PowerShot Zoom Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS Rebel T7 +4 more
VadiV Contributing Member • Posts: 541
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
2

Hi Wb2rtf,

I had the same situation, but reading these forums and looking the bird photos convinced me to go with P950. I hardy see any bird images posted in this forum from SX70. As you said the P950 is bulky but images are comparable to SX50. Viewfinder is really good, and obviously 83X zoom is nice.

It would be nice if some one who has both SX50 and SX70 to post some real world bird photos.

Thanks,

VadiV

 VadiV's gear list:VadiV's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Panasonic FZ80/FZ82 Nikon Coolpix P950 +6 more
OP wb2trf Veteran Member • Posts: 3,416
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

Very nice photos.

Thanks for the response. 
How did you find the AF speed compared to your older SX50. (I had only a few minutes with the P950 in a store.)  Does the weight of the P950 bother you? I found it a bit heavy to hold after a little while.

bgreg
bgreg Contributing Member • Posts: 641
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
4

This probably isn't very helpful at all but I have to say this question has been going on with every generation of canon "bridge" cameras. The same questions asked from the sx10 to the sx 20-from the sx20 to the sx30 and on and on between every newer model of canon superzoom. I bought a couple of them not looking for better image quality because lets face it--All the canon sx?? cameras took excellent pics providing you stayed within their limits. My upgrade was for different features the previous model didn't have. The jump from the sx40 to sx50 might have been for the ability to shoot raw because you couldn't really detect image quality difference. Bottom line--You're not going to print a 16x20 from any of them. So what are you looking for from that small sensor. They are all good cameras that take great pics . My grandson uses the sx10 in proper light with low iso and the images are as good as anything with that size sensor-so it really comes down to better viewfinder or fancier controls than a previous model and of course colorful marketing.The guy that has the sx70 probably isn't going to have an edge over someone with an sx50 or sx60 taking prize winning photos. The sx10 uses AA batteries -- you can't beat that. hahaha

VadiV Contributing Member • Posts: 541
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

Hi Wb2rtf,

Thanks for your nice comments. Compared to FZ80 , I find P950 a bit slow. Overall , I like P950 as my future replacement of SX50. P50 is bulky but it is worth if you need that extra reach of optical zoom. Personally, I feel happy about the camera. I already collected too many of them, should stop adding more. One thing for sure, so far I could not use these bridge camera to capture any good BIF image.

However, got good results on the stationary birds.

Thanks,

VadiV

 VadiV's gear list:VadiV's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Panasonic FZ80/FZ82 Nikon Coolpix P950 +6 more
Lepewhi Senior Member • Posts: 2,105
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

I'm not sure that the SX70 has a hotshoe, if that's important.

-- hide signature --

Slippery when wet.

 Lepewhi's gear list:Lepewhi's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Panasonic Lumix DC-G100
Sactojim Veteran Member • Posts: 9,104
Re: How/whether to upgrade from SX50 to SX70
1

Visit a real camera shop and take your sd card. The SX70 is a very worthy upgrade, but IQ is not better IMO. Both cameras will grab a excellent detailed photo if you do your part.

OP wb2trf Veteran Member • Posts: 3,416
Thanks, everyone
2

Thanks all. Nice of you all to contribute to my question.

Still a little confused, but leaning again toward the P950 based on IQ.  Part of it is probably just stupid gear acquisition syndrome on my part.

I'd really like to order the P950 and the SX70, try them out, and then return one or both, but I feel badly for the effect of that, so I won't do it.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads