540 HS vs SX70 HS

[robert91]

I have two questions:

I have a 540 HS and love the zoom lens. I'm not a great photographer and mostly use it on cruise excursions a couple times a year. Since the camera is a 2016-year model I was hoping there would be a better camera with a better zoom. I looked at the SX70 HS and think it might be a better camera but I'm not sure. I could use some expert advice. I see the SX70 is a 2018-year camera and was wondering if there is a better even than that camera. I read somewhere that camera companies are not making those type of cameras anymore, hence the 2018-year date. If that's the case I'm wondering if I should get a SX70 quickly - if I can find one - before they are all gone with no replacement in existence.

The second question is: when the lens on the 540 is at full zoom, it's difficult to steady it over the object. Is that the nature of a zoom lens or could I be doing something wrong.

Thanks for any advice or suggestions:

Robert

[Tronhard]

Hi Robert and welcome to the forum:

The Canon SX70Hs and there seem to be lots of them for sale at present.

With regards to your second question.  The longer the lens focal length the more important how the camera is held steady becomes more significant.   There is a correct way to hold a camera hand-held and here it is:

You should always use the viewfinder as it gives a third point of contact and support. By also using the arms tucked into the trunk, you are providing the three points of support that a form a sort of tripod to help steady the camera. Note that the left hand sits under the camera with the camera body on the heel of the hand while the palm and fingers cradle the lens from beneath.  This carries the weight of the camera, leaving the right hand free to gently manipulate the cameras controls.

The other things one can do are:
Get a monopod to help steady the camera.
Be aware of the shutter speed of the camera and try to keep it no less than the same as the focal length indicated on the barrel of the lens as it extends.
Set the ISO at auto, with a maximum value of about 3200 that means you just have to consider aperture and shutter speed.

It is a good idea to download the PDF version of the manual for any camera you get, to act as a reference point and for trouble-shooting. You can have it on a cell phone, tablet or laptop.

Get to know the camera controls so that you are familiar with their function - the last thing you want is to get the shot of a lifetime and miss it because you don't know which button to press or dial to turn.  There are various videos on You Tube to help you with that.

I hope I can say this without upsetting Canon as they ceased to make the equivalent camera to this some time ago (that was the PowerShot SXIII).  I am predominantly a Canon user but this unit is pretty unique...

IMHO, the best bridge camera to be made, but recently no longer being manufactured (although you may still pick one up if you're quick), is the Sony DSC-RX10 MkIV.  It has a brilliant Zeiss stabilized lens that delivers the full-frame equivalent of 24-600mm, with a fabulous sensor that is much larger that the PowerShot SX70, and thus offers better resolution, dynamic range and noise control than the sensors on the PowerShot range.  It is weather sealed and while a bit larger and heavier, that is not a bad thing for hand-holding.  It can follow people or animals' eyes and has advanced focus and metering capability above any other.

[robert91]

thanks for all the information, Trevor. It was just what I needed. If nothing else, it got me doing more research. But a lot of that got too technical for me, really quickly. After checking on the Sony DSC-RX10 MkIV specs I decided to go with the Canon SX70. Mostly because of the zoom lens. For me that's the most important feature. Reading the comments on Amazon can scare anyone for buying anything sometimes. But most of the reviews were positive. I'm such an amateur I just set my SX540hs on the running man and just leave it there. Kind of pathetic, I know. Maybe that's why I get a lot of double pictures. The camera does a click-click with almost every picture I take. Sometimes it's only a 1 click. - Thanks again

[Tronhard]

No problem. I had the SX60HS for a while and it has exactly the same specs, but the SX70HS is slightly biased towards video.

Your SX540hs does not have a viewfinder, while the SX70HS does.  I STRONGLY recommend you use that to get steady shots when shooting hand-held.  The much longer focal range will significantly magnify any camera movement.

Here is a selection of images to show the focal range you will achieve.
21mm  100mm  300mm550mm  1050mm  1365mm

These were all shot, hand-held, using the EVF