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

Pippan wrote in post #19465637
I think what you're missing is the atmospheric distortion over that distance. Hard to get anything sharp unless the relative temps of water or land surface, and air, work out.

If it were me I'd use an R7 and RF 100-400 (actually that is what I use if I want a light carrying kit). 44 oz total, plenty of pixels on target, great AF tracking and image quality. Stick the RF-S 18-150 (11 oz) in your pocket for wider FOVs.

The sx70 would have also been impacted however it seems to be a bit superior, despite having to also go through the atmospheric distortions.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #19465657
The sx70 would have also been impacted however it seems to be a bit superior, despite having to also go through the atmospheric distortions.

True, though atmospheric distortions are continually changing. Were the shots taken at exactly the same time? Were multiple shots taken from each camera?

gjl711 wrote in post #19465638
Still asking, if there is a better option, let me know. I'm always looking.

At the moment I have no other option. I was looking at the Sony RX10 IV, but the reach is not far enough, 600 mm, and the camera is from 2017. Maybe they bring out a new version, but unfortunately the camera factories don't invest in developing new compacts.

I am not that impressed by my SX70. I did like my SX50 but sadly it got a hair or something inside so every photo was spoilt .

The dealer offered me an SX70 at a price not far off the dismantling/cleaning cost - and no guarantee that they could fix it. Maybe I should have just got a second hand SX50 - so many things wrong with the SX70, and there is something about the sensor where they saved money - an expert could help me there!

My personal feelings are :
On the SX70 plus side :
Some SX70 results are quite okay
The zoom range is good,
Shooting speed (fps) is better
It has a great easy panorama function
WiFi / Bluetooth connections work well
And it still has the swing viewfinder - and a good bright view finder too.

Minuses : It has been in once under guarantee, but I still have the weird case that often the focus doesn't work in modes such as AV or TV but it does in AUTO mode . Go figure!
You can't add a top flash any more.
Power info light doesn’t seem to exist
ISO is only 100 - 3200 i/o 80 - 6400
Also no decent weather protection which is a shame in a travel camera - but that's the price/spec balance.

So - the SX70 is not perfect but maybe okay if it meets your needs! I tried taking a three lens bag around for a while but soon went back to the SX for normal excursions. Still love my cheap Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM so that stays on for the occasional shoot and exercise.

I'd love to hear about the final choice!

Today's SX70 unedited range shots :

NixEre wrote in post #19465719
I am not that impressed by my SX70. I did like my SX50 but sadly it got a hair or something inside so every photo was spoilt .

The dealer offered me an SX70 at a price not far off the dismantling/cleaning cost - and no guarantee that they could fix it. Maybe I should have just got a second hand SX50 - so many things wrong with the SX70, and there is something about the sensor where they saved money - an expert could help me there!

My personal feelings are :
On the SX70 plus side :
Some SX70 results are quite okay
The zoom range is good,
Shooting speed (fps) is better
It has a great easy panorama function
WiFi / Bluetooth connections work well
And it still has the swing viewfinder - and a good bright view finder too.

Minuses : It has been in once under guarantee, but I still have the weird case that often the focus doesn't work in modes such as AV or TV but it does in AUTO mode . Go figure!
You can't add a top flash any more.
Power info light doesn’t seem to exist
ISO is only 100 - 3200 i/o 80 - 6400
Also no decent weather protection which is a shame in a travel camera - but that's the price/spec balance.

So - the SX70 is not perfect but maybe okay if it meets your needs! I tried taking a three lens bag around for a while but soon went back to the SX for normal excursions. Still love my cheap Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM so that stays on for the occasional shoot and exercise.

I'd love to hear about the final choice!

Today's SX70 unedited range shots :

Hosted photo: posted by NixEre in
./showthread.php?p=194​65719&i=i3938597
forum: The Lounge

Hosted photo: posted by NixEre in
./showthread.php?p=194​65719&i=i265382275
forum: The Lounge

It's looks like dust on the sensor, I have that on my Panasonic LF1. They should have replaced it while under warranty.
This convince me to keep my SX50 till it gives up.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #19464576
Something seems to be a bit wonky on the 5D4 image, can't quite put my finger on it. It gives me the same feeling I had when I did an entire shoot and nothing quite pleased me, and it turns out that a name-brand decent filter was to blame. Not using a filter on the 5D4 at all are you? Just seems a bit off...

Nothing is perfectly in focus in the 5DIV shot! Since 1/100 was shutter speed, it could even be some induced motion at time of exposure (jerky release when pressing shutter release?!), but since the cameras are stated to be resting on a picnic table, could the IS in the lens be responsible for inducing the motion? Turn off IS when resting on picnic table or tripod.

Wilt wrote in post #19466379
Nothing is perfectly in focus in the 5DIV shot! Since 1/100 was shutter speed, it could even be some induced motion at time of exposure (jerky release when pressing shutter release?!), but since the cameras are stated to be resting on a picnic table, could the IS in the lens be responsible for inducing the motion? Turn off IS when resting on picnic table or tripod.

Image taken with camera resting on a picnic table, 2 second timer and in live view. So no mirror slap, no jiggling from pressing shutter, just the shake of shutter release. Also in processing, no sharpening added and I have default in PS set to zero. Also, image is heavily cropped, almost 100%. It's a worst case scenario, definitely exceeding what the 150-600 can do comfortable.

I went through my 150-600 with the usb hub and adjusted focus on all 16 points, so maybe that is why I had the results I did with my sigma. However copy variation could also come into play with that lens and impact the results each of us get.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #19466386
I went through my 150-600 with the usb hub and adjusted focus on all 16 points, so maybe that is why I had the results I did with my sigma. However copy variation could also come into play with that lens and impact the results each of us get.

hmm.. Maybe I sould do that as well. I have the Siggy hub but since I manually focused using live view, I don't think it would help. Getting the shutter speed sure would though but this was early morning and the sun had just popped over the horizon and that day there were a few high clouds so the light was diffuse.

Yeah forgot you manually focused, but it is still a good idea to work through the options you have on that lens via the hub. There are some customizations that are nice if nothing else.

Like Wilt said though, nothing quite seems in focus so that is an oddity. If it was atmospheric haze (which it looks like it could be), the other cameras would have been just as affected.

Some of my samples, cropped, then full size links added below; taken at some distance. Not at the distance you were shooting however. I used the 5d4, 7d2, and M50, not sure which ones for these though.

sample 1

sample 2

sample 3

For the price/deal you got and the results you are getting in good light, I think you will enjoy that sx70 for quite some time.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19463432
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, sorry it took a while to reply, lots of non-photography stuff happening right now. Wore it yesterday for the first time for a walk of 2½ hours carrying the 5D4 with a 100-400 lens.

Start with my conclusion - I am glad I bought it and will use it regularly when I don't need a bag with extra lenses, etc.

My observations:

Cost - delivery from the USA to Gibraltar was only a few days and brought the total cost to £178 (rather expensive)

For the first 20 mins use I found it sore on my back just below my shoulder blades. Adjusted the straps by about 2-3cms and the problem was solved. (I guess ladies used to adjusting shoulder straps would've solved it much sooner than I did)

I found the long lens to be bouncing a little on my stomach as I walked. Applied the lens strap that comes with the harness and that problem was solved. Of course doing this would prevent a rapid release of the camera taking one or two seconds extra to do so.

The mechanism for storing and removing the camera works really well and feels secure, I had no concerns as I walked that it was likely to fail.

Weight distribution was good on each shoulder, rather than one shoulder with the sling I normally use.

Rain cover - it was dry, so didn't try it. It is small and am sure wouldn't cover completely the set-up I had with the longer lens.

The walk I did was very much on flat ground, but I'm sure it'll be good on more hilly walks. I'm sure Levina it will be good when cycling, although I guess the lens strap will be even more essential when doing that.

After just one use that's my thoughts, I hope it helps you. If when using it more I find more worthy of comment I'll let you know.

GibJock wrote in post #19473367
Ok, sorry it took a while to reply, lots of non-photography stuff happening right now. Wore it yesterday for the first time for a walk of 2½ hours carrying the 5D4 with a 100-400 lens.

Start with my conclusion - I am glad I bought it and will use it regularly when I don't need a bag with extra lenses, etc.

My observations:

Cost - delivery from the USA to Gibraltar was only a few days and brought the total cost to £178 (rather expensive)

For the first 20 mins use I found it sore on my back just below my shoulder blades. Adjusted the straps by about 2-3cms and the problem was solved. (I guess ladies used to adjusting shoulder straps would've solved it much sooner than I did)

I found the long lens to be bouncing a little on my stomach as I walked. Applied the lens strap that comes with the harness and that problem was solved. Of course doing this would prevent a rapid release of the camera taking one or two seconds extra to do so.

The mechanism for storing and removing the camera works really well and feels secure, I had no concerns as I walked that it was likely to fail.

Weight distribution was good on each shoulder, rather than one shoulder with the sling I normally use.

Rain cover - it was dry, so didn't try it. It is small and am sure wouldn't cover completely the set-up I had with the longer lens.

The walk I did was very much on flat ground, but I'm sure it'll be good on more hilly walks. I'm sure Levina it will be good when cycling, although I guess the lens strap will be even more essential when doing that.

After just one use that's my thoughts, I hope it helps you. If when using it more I find more worthy of comment I'll let you know.

Thanks very much for your review, Ian. Much appreciated. I also just watched a product video and although I would have to use the lens strap, releasing it would still be very much quicker than getting the gear out of the bag. It’ll work.

Local stores sell them for 149 euro, so that’s not too bad.

Thanks again!

.

What product are you talking about?
(much easier to ask here than to look through the previous posts)


.

I just went to Gibjock's prior posts list to find replies to this particular thread and found this. I use this feature quite a bit to find someone's prior comments.

GibJock wrote in post #19463395
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.