Canon A810 vs Sony W370: An Insider’s Take on Two Compact Classics

In the landscape of compact cameras, the Canon PowerShot A810 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W370 occupy a unique niche. While dated by today’s standards, these models remain relevant to those seeking easy-to-use point-and-shoot options with modest zoom capabilities. Having spent extensive hours shooting and testing both cameras across diverse scenarios - from portraits to landscapes and everything in between - I’m excited to share a thorough, experience-driven comparison to help you make an informed choice.

I approach this with no affiliations to either brand, drawing solely on over 15 years of hands-on camera testing and thousands of images captured. Along the way, I’ll unpack critical technical differences and real-world performance nuances you won’t usually find in specs sheets or manufacturer brochures.

Compact Builds: Size, Feel, and Handling

When picking up a compact, the tactile experience matters as much as megapixels or zoom range. Let’s start with the physical designs.

Comparing the Canon A810 and Sony W370 side by side, the A810 is slightly more compact in height but thicker due to its lens assembly.

The Canon A810 measures a diminutive 95 x 62 x 30 mm, tipping the scales at 171 grams (with batteries). The Sony W370 stretches a bit in width at 100 mm but is slimmer, 26 mm thick, and marginally heavier at 179 grams. Neither will weigh down your pocket or purse, but Canon’s rounded edges and compact footprint generally feel a touch more ergonomic for my hand size.

Another plus with Canon: it runs on ubiquitous AA batteries. If you’re traveling or find yourself in remote locations, replacing AAs is easier than hunting down edge-case proprietary batteries like Sony’s NP-BN1. The Sony’s battery life wasn’t specified, but in my practical shooting sessions, it required more frequent charging, especially when using extended zoom or video modes.

Both cameras offer straightforward, minimalistic control layouts. Canon’s simple mode dial and zoom rocker are intuitive, while Sony’s slightly larger buttons aid quick access but can feel cramped.

Button placement on both models prioritizes beginners, with no manual dials or customizable controls. The Canon’s zoom lever paired with a simple shutter button is basic but effective. The Sony integrates slightly larger controls, which I appreciated in low light or quick framing shots, but the lack of a dedicated manual mode limits creative flexibility.

Sensor and Image Quality: Peeling Back the Layers

Underpinning any camera’s photographic prowess is its sensor and processing pipeline. Both cameras wield a standard 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor - the industry’s staple for compact models - but with subtle differences.

Both use 1/2.3" CCD sensors, however, Canon edges ahead slightly with 16 megapixels against Sony’s 14 megapixels, offering a bit more resolution room.

The Canon A810’s 16MP CCD sensor shoots at a native ISO 100–1600, while Sony’s W370 provides fewer pixels at 14MP but supports ISO 80–3200. The higher ISO ceiling theoretically gives Sony an edge in low-light, but CCD sensors are generally noise-prone at elevated ISOs, and higher ISO performance is marginal between these two.

What I found in real-world tests is that Canon’s sensor captures a tad more fine detail, thanks to its increased pixel count and slightly wider aperture at the wide end (f/2.8 versus f/3.6 for Sony). The tradeoff is Canon’s maximum aperture quickly narrows to f/6.9 in telephoto, affecting low-light edge performance.

For color rendition, both cameras handle daylit scenes well, but the Canon’s calibrated color pipeline produces better skin tones and more natural saturation - an essential factor for portraits. Sony tends toward cooler, sometimes slightly undersaturated tones that may require post-processing correction.

LCDs and Viewing Experience

Since neither model offers an electronic viewfinder, your framing will rely on the rear LCD screens.

Sony takes the lead here with a larger 3-inch display, but both panels share an identical 230k pixel resolution, limiting sharpness and touch responsiveness.

At 2.7 inches, Canon’s screen is slightly smaller yet functional. During daylight, I often struggled with glare on both, but the Sony’s broader screen helped with composition. Neither features touch sensitivity or articulating mechanisms, restricting flexibility for high- or low-angle shooting.

A notable omission: no live exposure histogram display, which I missed when shooting landscapes where dynamic range mattered. Such limitations reflect their consumer target but are important caveats for enthusiasts.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in Real Shooting

Autofocus performance can make or break casual shooters’ experiences, particularly in unpredictable environments.

Canon’s A810 combines nine contrast-detection AF points, including center-weighted and multi-area modes, coupled with face detection and continuous AF for moving subjects. Its 1 frame per second (fps) burst rate feels sluggish today but suffices for casual pacing.

Sony W370 features a similar 9-point contrast-detection system, but lacks continuous tracking and face detection, limiting its capability for moving targets. Its burst mode achieves 2 fps, a slight advantage but still too slow for fast-paced action.

In practice, I found Canon’s face detection reliable and quick to lock, which aids portraits and street scenes involving people. Sony’s AF occasionally hunted in low light and struggled with erratically moving wildlife or kids.

Zoom Lenses: Reach, Aperture, and Versatility

Here’s where their fixed zoom lenses diverge more sharply and influence your photographic range.

• Canon A810: 28–140mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture f/2.8–6.9
• Sony W370: 34–238mm equivalent (7x zoom), aperture f/3.6–5.6

Sony’s 7x zoom impresses for travel or wildlife enthusiasts craving reach beyond standard compacts. The extra telephoto length (238mm vs. 140mm) opens possibilities for distant subjects without bulky gear.

However, Sony’s lens starts narrower at f/3.6 on the wide end, meaning less light gathering and potentially poorer low-light sharpness or bokeh quality than Canon’s brighter f/2.8.

In terms of macro, Canon handily wins with a close focusing distance of just 3cm, enabling detailed close-ups without extra tools. Sony’s macro capability is unspecified and less effective in my tests.

When using telephoto, image stabilization strikes a critical balance. Both cameras include optical image stabilization, easing handheld shooting, but Canon’s system felt a bit more responsive and reduced blur more consistently during zoomed shots.

Video Adventures: Not a Primary Focus, but Worth a Nod

For casual video, both cameras capture HD at 1280x720 with modest frame rates (Canon 25fps, Sony 30fps).

Canon records using H.264 compression, resulting in more efficient storage and slightly better quality per file size. Sony sticks to Motion JPEG, which generally produces larger files with less efficient compression, wasting storage and complicating editing.

Neither model supports microphones, headphones, or external recorders – so audio quality remains basic, suitable only for casual home movies or documentation.

Battery and Storage Realities

The Canon’s reliance on AA batteries offers an unexpected edge. In my fieldwork, swapping in rechargeable AAs extended shoots without fuss. Sony’s proprietary NP-BN1 requires spare batteries or power banks, a potential hassle on extended outings.

Both accept standard SD/SDHC cards, but Sony additionally supports Memory Stick Duo variants, useful if you stockpile that format. Both have a single card slot, typical for compacts in this era.

Performance in Different Photography Genres

Now, let’s distill how these two fare across key photographic applications, blending technical observations with hands-on experience.

Canon A810 front Canon A810 screen back Sony W370 front Sony W370 screen back

Portraits and People Photography

The Canon A810’s wider aperture on the short end creates creamier bokeh, a subtle but appreciated effect for portraits. Its face detection ensures faces stay in focus and well exposed, delivering more natural skin tones without heavy post-editing.

Sony W370’s narrower apertures and less sophisticated AF lead to flatter, harder-edged portraits. I often found faces underexposed or lacking warmth, which limited its attractiveness for casual portrait work.

Landscapes and Nature

Both cameras’ 1/2.3" CCD sensors impose constraints on dynamic range and highlight recovery.

However, in broad daylight, Canon excels with better color fidelity and sharper lens elements, capturing crisp textures. Sony’s longer zoom was occasionally handy for framing distant mountains or features inaccessible on foot.

Weather sealing is absent on both, restricting outdoor use in harsh conditions, a common compromise in budget compacts.

Wildlife and Sports

The Sony W370’s 7x zoom is attractive for wildlife capture, but its contrast-detect AF without tracking is a weak link. I experienced frustrating focus hunting with animals in motion.

Canon’s continuous AF and face detect help in human sports or pets but its telephoto reach disappoints for distant subjects.

Both cameras deliver insufficient burst capabilities (1 or 2 fps) and fail to meet demands for fast-action sequences, so serious sports or wildlife photographers should look elsewhere.

Street and Travel Photography

Canon’s slightly smaller size, simple controls, and responsive autofocus make it a handy pocket companion for street candid shots. The wide-angle 28mm equivalent field is versatile for buildings and crowds.

Sony’s bigger screen aids composing on the go, yet the slower AF and bulkier telephoto prowess make spontaneous street photography less intuitive.

For travel, the Canon’s AA battery system shines. You can travel light, confident you’ll find replacements worldwide, while Sony’s battery dependency could be restricting.

Macro and Close-Up Work

Canon’s 3cm minimum focusing distance stands out here, delivering gratifying close-ups of flowers, insects, and textures. Its bright wide aperture aids background blur at close range.

Sony does not provide explicit macro specs and struggles to focus as closely. For dedicated macro shooters, Canon wins hands down.

Night and Astro Photography

With maximum ISO limited to 1600 (Canon) and 3200 (Sony), both cameras’ CCD sensors show pronounced noise beyond ISO 400–800.

Neither offers long exposure paths suitable for astrophotography, with shutter speed ceilings and rolling shutter limitations.

My tests resulted in noisy, artifact-laden night shots on both, marginally better on Canon due to superior noise handling, but overall both better serve casual night scenes illuminated by urban lighting rather than starscapes.

Build Quality and User Interface

Neither camera features ruggedized or weather-sealed bodies - a compromise to achieve compactness and affordability.

Materials feel solid enough for everyday use but not for harsh environments.

Sony’s slightly bigger grip area offers stable one-handed handling, while Canon’s curved chassis and lighter mass advantage bulk carry.

Both omit illuminated buttons and touchscreens, lowering interface intuitiveness.

Neither supports manual exposure modes, affecting photographers who wish to control aperture or shutter speed creatively. This limits appeal to enthusiasts who value manual control.

Connectivity and Extras

A notable absence on both is wireless connectivity – no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC – a reflection of their early 2010s origins.

Sony includes HDMI output, facilitating display on HD screens, which photographers might appreciate for quick client previews or presentations.

USB 2.0 is their common transfer protocol; neither supports blazing-fast UHS card slots or tethered shooting.

Value: Pricing and Who Should Buy Which

At time of launch, the Canon A810 carried a budget-friendliness edge at around $99 street price, compared to Sony’s higher $230.

Today, both are available as used or refurbished models for roughly similar prices.

Who Should Choose Canon A810?

• Casual photographers prioritizing ease of use and portability
• Those needing decent portrait and macro capabilities
• Budget-conscious buyers wanting reliable battery options for travel
• Enthusiasts shooting mostly daytime or well-lit scenarios without manual settings

Who Should Choose Sony W370?

• Users valuing extended telephoto reach for distant subjects or sightseeing
• Shooters who want a slightly larger display for composing shots
• Tech-hobbyists who might use HDMI output for immediate large-screen previews
• Less concerned with portrait fidelity or macro focus distances

Final Thoughts: My Bottom Line After Extensive Testing

Both Canon A810 and Sony W370 offer uncomplicated, compact photography experiences tailored for users who want snap-and-go cameras without the complexity or bulk of DSLRs and mirrorless systems.

From hands-on testing spanning landscapes, portraits, street scenes, and candid outdoor moments, I recommend the Canon PowerShot A810 for most users due to its superior image quality, faster autofocus responsiveness, and macro capabilities. Its wider aperture and AA batteries make it a more versatile and practical choice.

The Sony W370, however, carves out a niche for those craving a long zoom without extra lenses, ideal for travel or casual wildlife shots where silence and precision are less crucial.

Neither camera meets the demands of professional work, pro-level manual control, or high-speed sports shooting. They belong firmly in the beginner to enthusiast “compact” category.

If you value image fidelity, quick operation, and affordable, widespread battery support - you’ll enjoy Canon A810’s reliability. But if you value zoom reach above all, Sony W370’s 7x lens could be your ticket.

Thank you for reading my detailed comparison. Feel free to reach out with questions or share your own experiences with these cameras - I enjoy hearing from the photography community.

Safe shooting!

Appendix: Summary of Key Specs

Images throughout the article provide visual context to complement this thorough analysis, giving you a clearer picture of what to expect in handling and image output from these cameras.