Canon PowerShot SX70 could feature 100x optical zoom lens

Canon could be working on the PowerShot SX70 bridge camera, as the Japanese company has patented another 100x optical zoom lens for cameras with 1/3.2-inch-type sensors.

One of the most popular camera among travel and vacation photographers on a budget is the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS. In fact, almost all PowerShot SX-series cameras have been appreciated by consumers, so the company will keep on adding models to this line-up.

The latest version is the aforementioned PowerShot SX60 HS, which was introduced last September at the Photokina 2014 event. It was supposed to be launched with a 100x optical zoom lens, as the company has patented such lens for cameras with 1/3.2-inch-type image sensors. However, a 65x optical zoom lens made its way into the SX60. According to the rumor mill, the Canon PowerShot SX70 might be the one to bear such zoom, as another patent of this lens has been spotted on the web.

This is the internal design of the Canon 3-300mm f/1.8-9 lens, which could make its way into the PowerShot SX70 HS bridge camera.

Canon patents 100x optical zoom lens for fixed-lens cameras

The PowerShot SX60 HS was supposed to be announced sometime in 2013 or early 2014 with a 100x optical zoom lens, the latter being spotted in one of the company’s patent applications. However, Canon had other plans in mind. The bridge camera was revealed at Photokina 2014 with a 65x optical zoom lens.

It is never too late, as photographers may actually get a shooter with such extended zooming capabilities. A new 3-300mm f/1.8-9 zoom lens has been patented for cameras with 1/3.2-inch-type sensors, which would offer a 35mm focal length equivalent of 24-2400mm.

The lens comes with a couple of Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) elements as well as two aspherical elements. Its entire internal design consists of 13 elements divided into 10 groups as well as built-in optical image stabilization to keep things as steady as possible at extreme telephoto focal lengths.

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS bridge camera could replace the SX60 in 2015 or 2016

Canon has constantly improved the SX-series. The SX40 HS offered 35x zoom, the SX50 HS had 50x zoom, and the SX60 HS was launched with 65x zoom. Recently, Nikon has unveiled the Coolpix P900, which comes packed with an 83x zoom.

The Nikon Coolpix P900 is a serious threat to the SX-series, which means that Canon must step up its game once again, when the SX60 replacement launches.

The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS bridge camera may not be released on the market by the end of the year. However, it will definitely become available by the end of 2016. It remains to be seen which technologies will be added and how will the new model fare against its competitors.

Update: The lens is designed for cameras with 1/3.2-inch-type sensors. Canon’s SX-series cameras have 1/2.3-inch-type sensors, so there is a chance that the SX70 will not come packed with this lens. As usual, take the details with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more!