Anything better than the Canon SX70? It's all about the zoom and pixels on target

I have researched myself into total paralyses and thought I would toss out the question to the wisdom of the forum.

The problem: I am really happy with the 5DIV and 150-600. It delivers consistently however, I am also an avid hiker/walker and out almost daily, many times at our local lake. There are some wonderful photo opportunities and so many times I wished I had my camera with me but lugging the 5D paired with the 150-600 is just not practical. I have tried using a Lowepro sling and though it's comfortable to carry, by the time I get the camera out of the bag and set up, the opportunity is usually gone.

I always have my phone but it's a total joke. It will capture something but that's about it, It's something. Totally not an option.

Pardon me for going slightly sideways. Have you tried a cotton carrier harness for your dslr and zoom? It's comfy and instantly accessible.

gonzogolf wrote in post #19463110
Pardon me for going slightly sideways. Have you tried a cotton carrier harness for your dslr and zoom? It's comfy and instantly accessible.

Like THIS? I haven't, no. Might be a possibility. Thanx for the suggestion.

gjl711 wrote in post #19463180
Like THIS? I haven't, no. Might be a possibility. Thanx for the suggestion.

Thanks for that, I have just ordered one. Will let you know what I think when it gets over to me from the US.

An R7 and a 100-400 would be smaller but have nearly the same pixels per duck than the sigma 150-600 on the 5d4. Or the M6II or 90D…

Use a 1.4x using a mirrorless, and you still get working AF, and even more reach than you have now. I use the M50 plus TC personally.

M50 example but using 2x = 800mm x 1.6 = almost 1300mm

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-F9RN9Zt-X2.jpg&lb=1&s=A

TeamSpeed wrote in post #19463254
An R7 and a 100-400 would be smaller but have nearly the same pixels per duck than the sigma 150-600 on the 5d4. Or the M6II or 90D…

Use a 1.4x using a mirrorless, and you still get working AF, and even more reach than you have now. I use the M50 plus TC personally.

M50 example but using 2x = 800mm x 1.6 = almost 1300mm

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-F9RN9Zt-X2.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

THanx TS but reach is only 1/2 of the equation. I don't have a problem lugging the 5D and 150-600 when I go out specifically for photography, but I'm looking for something I can have with me when I'm out for exercise. SO many times I run into a nice photo but all I have is my phone. The ZS80 sort of addresses that but the quality is much poorer than I though it would be especially on the long end. THat's what I'm thinking about the SX70. It looks to be a bit better than the Panasonic but still small enough to fit into a sweatshirt pocket of belly pack. Juist wondering if I missed anything. A 1" sensor camera with a 1200mm lens would have been awesome but I was not able to find such a beast. I did find a 1" sensor and 400mm, but that's a bit short I think.

GibJock wrote in post #19463209
Thanks for that, I have just ordered one. Will let you know what I think when it gets over to me from the US.

Let me know how this works out. It looks like a interesting solution, better than the Lowepro sling I think.

Will do. I have a Carry Speed sling, not impressive how the camera keeps bouncing against me when walking. Hopefully the harness will be better, especially as it has a lens strap.

gjl711 wrote in post #19463365
THanx TS but reach is only 1/2 of the equation. I don't have a problem lugging the 5D and 150-600 when I go out specifically for photography, but I'm looking for something I can have with me when I'm out for exercise. SO many times I run into a nice photo but all I have is my phone. The ZS80 sort of addresses that but the quality is much poorer than I though it would be especially on the long end. THat's what I'm thinking about the SX70. It looks to be a bit better than the Panasonic but still small enough to fit into a sweatshirt pocket of belly pack. Juist wondering if I missed anything. A 1" sensor camera with a 1200mm lens would have been awesome but I was not able to find such a beast. I did find a 1" sensor and 400mm, but that's a bit short I think.

I am trying to address the size issue though at the same time. I had both the 150-600 and 100-400 with my 5D4. The 100-400 is just lighter and a bit smaller. Throw on a small camera like the M6II or even the R7, and the overal package would be noticeably lighter and smaller.

However, another option is the M6II and the 55-250 STM. The M6II has 33Mpx on an APS-C sensor vs the 12Mpx of the 5D4 cropped to APS-C, almost 3x the pixels on target. So the 250mm on the M6 acts like a 400mm on a FF, and then throw in the pixel density differences, and you are likely quite close to your current combination.

The M50 and 55-250 is a very small setup (with great IQ), and the M6II would be no different, but with even more resolution. I have tried 2 or 3 of the Canon SX versions in the past, and after a month or so of use, ended up selling them off. They never quite met my expectations, either ISO noise was atrocious, or IQ was lacking at the extreme end.

I would rather go with ILC cameras any chance I can get vs some sort of superzoom.

GibJock wrote in post #19463209
Thanks for that, I have just ordered one. Will let you know what I think when it gets over to me from the US.

I hope you will report back, Ian. I’m looking for something I can use on my bicycle so I’d have the gear at the ready. This could work, I think.

Ok, so to give you a picture of what I am trying to say, here is the setup.

M50 (24Mpx) with 55-250 (right sides)
versus
5D4 with 100-400II with 1.4xIII = 560mm (close to the Sigma 150-600, which is why I ended up selling the Sigma) (left sides)

The first picture shows you the pixel density differences of the two setups, and the FOV received on both.
The second picture shows 100% crops from each.

Please ignore WB/color as I didn't even try to match those, and only shot JPG with whatever picture styles I had set up. I did however match exposures. This is simply a pixel density and FOV comparison.

This discussion point only matters however if you are trying to replicate what you have now but with a smaller lighter and very close IQ setup. If you want more reach yet, then this is moot. To go beyond the 600mm equivalence on a FF (especially a high resolution FF like the 5D4 or beyond with the R5), there really isn't anything else out there as compact and with the reach from the superzooms like the SX series or Nikon's equiv, but they come with some IQ debt.

If I had a 70-300 or 100-300 that I could put on the M50 (and/or if I had an M6II with 33Mpx), it would likely be a closer equivalence. But hopefully still interesting to see alternative or at least a middle ground between using a phone and using your current gear, while retaining IQ and being within striking distance of what you get now. I lose some pixel density/digital zoom with the M50, but lose 4 lbs at the same time, so for me, it would have to be priorities that drive which I use, weight/bulk vs cropped results/pixel density.

Here are the gear used side by side and there is a 4lb difference in weight (2/3 savings). It is these types of comparisons that always me wonder why I always seem to take my heaviest biggest gear around with me, when many times, my M50 and lenses would deliver nearly the same set of results. If I am doing pro work, then of course I bring pro gear, but for family, simple outings, trips, etc, I really don't utilize my M equipment nearly enough.

Maybe it makes sense to put in a "Notify Me" on the Canon refurb page for the SX70? This way at least you will spend a bit less and resale will recoup most of the cost if you decide it just isn't for you?
https://www.usa.canon.​com …rbished-powershot-sx70-hs

Almost $500 isn't that much of an outlay to see if this helps you be able to go on treks and get good pictures, and for the same amount of money, there is NOTHING you can add in the ILC side of things to get beyond 600mm in a smaller package.

Will certainly let you know my thoughts Levina.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #19463436
Here are the gear used side by side and there is a 4lb difference in weight (2/3 savings). It is these types of comparisons that always me wonder why I always seem to take my heaviest biggest gear around with me, when many times, my M50 and lenses would deliver nearly the same set of results. If I am doing pro work, then of course I bring pro gear, but for family, simple outings, trips, etc, I really don't utilize my M equipment nearly enough.

Maybe it makes sense to put in a "Notify Me" on the Canon refurb page for the SX70? This way at least you will spend a bit less and resale will recoup most of the cost if you decide it just isn't for you?
https://www.usa.canon.​com …rbished-powershot-sx70-hs

Almost $500 isn't that much of an outlay to see if this helps you be able to go on treks and get good pictures, and for the same amount of money, there is NOTHING you can add in the ILC side of things to get beyond 600mm in a smaller package.

Thanx, I was more concerned that I had missed some options. Your comparison does make me want to spring for a mirror-less though Seeing them side by side you get a better perspective on how much smaller they really are. I'm not really sold on the SX70, it just seems the best option out there right now. The Nikons, the 100 and 950, are clearly the super-zoom champs at 2000mm and an insane 3000mm but they are almost as big at the 5DIV. I'm thinking that there might be a market for a P/S revival with a quality, larger sensor and better lens as what seems to be available out there at the moment is rather sad.

gjl711 wrote in post #19463619
Thanx, I was more concerned that I had missed some options. Your comparison does make me want to spring for a mirror-less though Seeing them side by side you get a better perspective on how much smaller they really are. I'm not really sold on the SX70, it just seems the best option out there right now. The Nikons, the 100 and 950, are clearly the super-zoom champs at 2000mm and an insane 3000mm but they are almost as big at the 5DIV. I'm thinking that there might be a market for a P/S revival with a quality, larger sensor and better lens as what seems to be available out there at the moment is rather sad.

I was enamored with the superzooms in the past and really thought how useful it would be, but over time I found that after about 32x or so, the IQ just dropped off if conditions weren't just right. I had the SX50/60 models and the sensor performance just wasn't very good at the exposures I was getting at the long end in lower light situations, like people in shadows, dusk/dawn, etc.

Perhaps the SX70 is better though in both regards, low light high ISO performance, and IQ at the long end. It seems based on reviews that perhaps the Nikon was better in this regard than Canon, but I basically gave up on them at that time, and for a travel kit (which is what I was trying to do), back then I went with the baby rebels and a couple lenses for Disney, etc.

If I were hiking and wanted a lighter travel kit, I would personally have no issues taking the M50 (good through ISO 6400), but would want something other than the 55-250, like a 70-300 or maybe 100-300 (if I could find one), just to give that bit of extra reach. I cannot put a TC on the 55-250, or I would try that even.

I have been really contemplating the 70-300L and might actually get it. It is a tank, it is a compact lens, it takes 1.4x TCs to get me to 420mm (at f8), and I could use this on both my mirrorless and my 5D4. It would basically eliminate my need for the 55-250, with some gains, like a bit more IQ, up to 420mm, etc.

420mm on the M50 is 672mm equivalent FF FOV at 24Mpx and that would be quite, quite good for travel.