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Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
35
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Launched January 2013
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Sony. The resolution of the A3500 IS (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was launched 11 months after the HX30V so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the A3500 IS grades versus the HX30V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Sony HX30V

 A3500 IS HX30V 
RevealedJanuary 2013February 2012More modern by 11 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Canon A3500 IS

 HX30V A3500 IS 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Sony HX30V

 A3500 IS HX30V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon A3500 IS has external measurements of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the A3500 IS against the HX30V.

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A3500 IS and HX30V is 96 and 90 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading through specifications. The pic below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A3500 IS and HX30V.

Plainly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony HX30V to give greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer A3500 IS should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
45
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (135g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A3500 IS
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony HX30V Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competition in class (135 grams)
comes with focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (200 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Landscape photography factors
Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
42
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
50
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging details
Sony HX30V Vlogging details
34
quite wide (28mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (135 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
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Canon A3500 IS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Sony HX30V
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-07 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135g (0.30 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 images 320 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $115 $420