PowerShot SX70 HS Pics are soft and lack detail

[Wilsonsteeup]

My previous camera was a SX 520 HS PowerShot.  My favorite setting was LIVE.  I got the most beautiful, clear, sharp photos using that setting.  It started making funny sizzling sounds, the screen would go black and shut down.  I got a new SX 70 HS and have yet to get a nice clear shot.  I am having the hardest time with all the settings.  All my photos have soft edges.  I captured the dimples on the moon with my old camera.  Now, not even close.

My question is, is there a setting I have not found on my new SX 70 HS that compares to the LIVE setting on my old  SX 520 HS.

Thank you in advance...Adrienne

[MathieuR]

I love the IQ of the SX70, and the excellent EVF.

But, I think I'm going to sell it, and keep using my old thrustwurthy SX50

(I have a R6II for "serieus" subject, but I use the bridge as walkaround)

[Wilsonsteeup]

Thanks Mathieu...I wish I could go back to my SX 520.  I'd love to know what the problem is but I have a feeling the cost would be more than it's worth.

I can't believe I'm so disappointed with this SX 70.  I will keep working on the settings and see what I can come up with.

Thank you again for all your help!!

[MathieuR]

Hi W,

I think with the new settings you will make fine pictures with the SX70. It is a nice camera. High IQ, huge range, beautifull colors.

But I am a "pixelpeeper", and I miss the crispness of my old SX50.

I think you will like DPP. It will improve your results.

I love my Canon camera's and lenses, but sometimes we do have our specific wishes 😎

[MathieuR]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4348349 

Some interesting reading.

[Wilsonsteeup]

I'm sure I will get used to it.  I have now changed my settings and am back to JPG only to see the difference.

I also miss the crispness.  In my photos of hot air balloons, specifically, You could perfectly see the lines of the patterns and seams.  With the photos I just took at our latest festival, they are soft and I am so disappointed.  A couple of them were alright but it was during night glow with tons of light. Taking photos of plants, the leaves are not distinct.  They are soft.  I'm just not used to seeing that.  Even distant photos before, were clear.  My same photos are just ok.  It's like going from a 10 to a 7.  I thought I would go the other way.

After I see what happens with the new setting, which I took al the way to 7, then I will check out the DPP from Canon.  I hate having to adjust a photo just to make it clear and not have it clear when I take it, but I don't feel I can go get a different camera right now.

Anyway, I will be doing a lot of experimenting now. 🙂

P.S.  Thank you for the link.  I'll go check it out.

[Wilsonsteeup]

WOW, how interesting and telling.  Hmmmm...maybe I'm expecting too much.???

[Wilsonsteeup]

By the way, I think I actually get better photos on the AV setting.  I won't use the P, I really don't like that setting.  I also purchased a Remote Switch just in case I was jiggling the camera when I snapped the photo.  I'm not sure I have noticed a change there but the jury is still out.

[Hubert]

Same here, had my SX50 for 10 years until it started funny noises and finally jammed. Bought a new SX70 last year, which did not generate crisp pictures right from the start. Did send it in to Canon headquarters in Johannesburg, who did return it saying that they replaced the optics module. However, still not much improved images. I then decided to have my SX50 repaired by a local digital camera repair centre. It is now usable again, however, still sounds somewhat rough and am not sure how long it will last. The repair centre manager had a look at the SX70 also and said he did adjust the sharpening settings somewhat, but still image quality does not come close to the SX50 or my Samsung S20 Cell phone. Even my ancient SX10 gives sharper images!

The strange thing is that the SX70 viewfinder is sharp and clear showing all the details, but then taking the image it is not sharp and somewhat washed out. I always thought that the viewfinder uses the same chip as the camera, which indicates to me that it must be a software issue. The raw format, however, is not better.

Thinking of selling the SX70, but don’t know what to replace it with.

[Wilsonsteeup]

Hubert...funny you should say that about the viewfinder.  It looks so nice, clear and sharp when I take the photo but the final image doesn't come close to what I saw.  I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[Wilsonsteeup]

Mathieu, can I pick your brain?  I am looking at the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR.  Do you have any experience with this camera?  Also, I have been looking at the Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera.  Is this the one you liked? 

I was wondering if you thought one had sharper clearer photos without having to adjust in a downloaded program?  I just can't get the SX70 settings to produce what I want to.  My SX520 was so clear without having to do anything, I just want to have something at least as good without a lot of adjusting.

Thank you in advance...Adrienne