Nikon D5500 vs Canon SX70

Cameras
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Nikon D5500 vs Canon SX70

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.3 megapixels
21.00mm - 1365.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX70 Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600
Compare Nikon D5600 vs Canon SX70

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Canon SX70

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

820 vs 325 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
70 mm vs 116 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
30 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon SX70 advantages over Nikon D5500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$599* vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
5 years vs 9 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Tilt-swivel screen
Both provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

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Adorama
Read SX70 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
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Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

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Buy the Canon SX70

Canon SX70 (Black)

Review Excerpt

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

We haven’t reviewed the Canon SX70.
Read our Canon SX70 Preview

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S1

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-S1

Canon SX70

Pentax K-S1

$641
1/2.3 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX70 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Canon SX60

Nikon D5500

Canon SX60

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$449
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon SX60

Canon SX70

Canon SX60

$641
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$449
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Canon SX70 vs Canon SX60

Compared to Canon T6i

Nikon D5500

Canon T6i

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6i

Canon SX70

Canon T6i

$641
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon SX70 vs Canon T6i

Compared to Nikon B700

Nikon D5500

Nikon B700

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$499
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon B700

Canon SX70

Nikon B700

$641
1/2.3 inch

External Mic Jack
Newer

$499
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Canon SX70 vs Nikon B700

Compared to Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Canon SX70

Nikon D3400

$641
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX70 vs Nikon D3400

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