Canon SX720 HS vs Olympus E-M1 II

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Canon SX720 HS vs Olympus E-M1 II

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.3 megapixels
24.00mm - 960.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX720 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the SX720 HS.

4/3 226.2mm²
20.4 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M1 II.
Compare Olympus E-M1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M1 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon SX730 HS
Compare SX720 HS vs SX730 HS

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M1 Mark III
Compare E-M1 II vs E-M1 Mark III

Compare CANON SX730 HS vs OLYMPUS E-M1 MARK III

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Differences

Canon SX720 HS advantages over Olympus E-M1 II

Less expensive
$279 vs $899
Save money for lenses or accessories
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
35 mm vs 68 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
270g vs 574g
Lighter weight

Olympus E-M1 II advantages over Canon SX720 HS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 3.36 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Longer video battery life
90 vs 50 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

440 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Longer exposure
60 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
60.6 fps vs 5.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/3200 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Read E-M1 II User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

We haven’t finished our review of the Canon SX720 HS, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Canon SX720 HS Shooter's Report

Excellent image quality; Very good dynamic range & high ISO performance; Fantastic C-AF performance; Incredible burst rates, even with RAW; 4K UHD & Cinema 4K (DCI) video; Clean HDMI; Dual SD card slots.
Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash.
Read our Olympus E-M1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Fujifilm X-T2

Canon SX720 HS

Fujifilm X-T2

$279
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX720 HS vs Fujifilm X-T2

Olympus E-M1 II

Fujifilm X-T2

$899
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Fujifilm X-T2

Compared to Panasonic G7

Canon SX720 HS

Panasonic G7

$279
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$498
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic G7

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic G7

$899
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

$498
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic G7

Compared to Panasonic GX8

Canon SX720 HS

Panasonic GX8

$279
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Internal flash

$998
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic GX8

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic GX8

$899
4/3

High resolution composite
Fast startup

$998
4/3

In-camera panoramas
NFC

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GX8

Compared to Panasonic ZS60

Canon SX720 HS

Panasonic ZS60

$279
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

$448
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon SX720 HS vs Panasonic ZS60

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic ZS60

$899
4/3

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$448
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS60

Compared to Nikon A900

Canon SX720 HS

Nikon A900

$279
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Manual focus

$397
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon SX720 HS vs Nikon A900

Olympus E-M1 II

Nikon A900

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$397
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Nikon A900

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