Canon SX700 vs Nikon D7000

The Canon PowerShot SX700 HS and the Nikon D7000 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2014 and September 2010. The SX700 is a fixed lens compact, while the D7000 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX700) and an APS-C (D7000) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 16.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon SX700		Nikon D7000
Fixed lens compact camera		Digital single lens reflex
25-750mm f/3.2-6.9		Nikon F mount lenses
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/24p Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 922k dots		3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
8.5 shutter flaps per second		6 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
250 shots per battery charge		1050 shots per battery charge
113 x 66 x 35 mm, 269 g		132 x 105 x 77 mm, 780 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS and the Nikon D7000? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon SX700 and the Nikon D7000 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX700 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the D7000 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D7000 is considerably larger (86 percent) than the Canon SX700. It is noteworthy in this context that the D7000 is splash and dust-proof, while the SX700 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX700 has a lens built in, whereas the D7000 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D7000 and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the SX700 gets 250 shots out of its Canon NB-6LH battery, while the D7000 can take 1050 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL15 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon SX700	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	250	n	Feb 2014	EUR 349	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D7000	132 mm	105 mm	77 mm	780 g	1050	Y	Sep 2010	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
3.		Canon 7D	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
4.		Canon M10	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	301 g	255	n	Oct 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
5.		Canon SX400	104 mm	69 mm	80 mm	313 g	190	n	Jul 2014	EUR 179	ebay.com
6.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	EUR 279	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	EUR 299	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX520	120 mm	82 mm	92 mm	441 g	210	n	Jul 2014	EUR 299	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	EUR 299	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	EUR 399	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX740	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	299 g	265	n	Jul 2018	EUR 399	amazon.com
12.		Nikon D90	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	703 g	850	n	Aug 2008	EUR 1 189	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D300S	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	938 g	950	Y	Jul 2009	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D7100	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	950	Y	Feb 2013	EUR 1 179	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	EUR 1 499	amazon.com
16.		Ricoh GR II	117 mm	63 mm	35 mm	251 g	320	n	Jun 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	EUR 399	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX700 was launched at a lower price than the D7000, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX700 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Nikon D7000 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D7000 is 1225 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the SX700 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the D7000 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 16.1MP, the D7000 offers a higher resolution than the SX700 (15.9MP), but the D7000 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.80μm versus 1.33μm for the SX700) due to its larger sensor. However, the SX700 is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 4 months) than the D7000, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the SX700 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Canon PowerShot SX700 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D7000 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the SX700 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the D7000 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon SX700	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
2.		Nikon D7000	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/24p	23.5	13.9	1167	80
3.		Canon 7D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	854	66
4.		Canon M10	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.4	753	65
5.		Canon SX400	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	720/30p	20.1	11.5	672	46
6.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.2	11.6	720	47
7.		Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	20.3	11.7	806	48
8.		Canon SX520	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.1	11.5	672	46
9.		Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	712	47
10.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	924	50
11.		Canon SX740	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1050	51
12.		Nikon D90	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	977	73
13.		Nikon D300S	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.5	12.2	787	70
14.		Nikon D7100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.2	13.7	1256	83
15.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
16.		Ricoh GR II	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.7	1078	80
17.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.2	1070	51
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the SX700 provides a higher frame rate than the D7000. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the D7000 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX700 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX700 and Nikon D7000 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon SX700	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	8.5/s	Y	Y
2.		Nikon D7000	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 7D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon M10	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.6/s	Y	n
5.		Canon SX400	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/1600s	0.8/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX420	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX520	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/2000s	1.6/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX710	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX740	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Nikon D90	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon D300S	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon D7100	optical	Y	3.2 / 1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	Y	n
15.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2 / 922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
16.		Ricoh GR II	optional	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
17.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the D7000, but is missing on the SX700 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Nikon D7000 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX700 and the D7000 write their files to SDXC cards. The D7000 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the SX700 only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS and Nikon D7000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon SX700	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
2.		Nikon D7000	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 7D	Y	mono / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon M10	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon SX400	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon SX410	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon SX420	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon SX520	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX710	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon SX730	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX740	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Nikon D90	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D300S	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D7100	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Ricoh GR II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony WX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the SX700 offers wifi support, while the D7000 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both the SX700 and the D7000 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D7000 was replaced by the Nikon D7100, while the SX700 was followed by the Canon SX710. Further information on the features and operation of the SX700 and D7000 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX700 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D7000 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon SX700 and the Nikon D7000? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/24p).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8.5 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the D7000 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x66mm vs 132x105mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the D7000).
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 4 months of technical progress since the D7000 launch.

Advantages of the Nikon D7000:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/3200s) to freeze action.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1050 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2010).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D7000 is the clear winner of the contest (16 : 11 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX700 and the Nikon D7000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX700 or the D7000 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon SX700	..	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	EUR 349	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D7000	4/5	..	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
3.		Canon 7D	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
4.		Canon M10	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Oct 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
5.		Canon SX400	..	+	..	..	..	..	Jul 2014	EUR 179	ebay.com
6.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	EUR 279	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	EUR 299	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX520	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2014	EUR 299	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX710	..	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2015	EUR 299	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	EUR 399	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX740	..	+	3.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2018	EUR 399	amazon.com
12.		Nikon D90	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	EUR 1 189	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D300S	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D7100	5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	EUR 1 179	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	4.5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	EUR 1 499	amazon.com
16.		Ricoh GR II	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	EUR 799	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	EUR 399	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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