Canon N vs Sony S950

Following is a detailed review of the Canon N and Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the N (12MP) and the S950 (10MP) is fairly well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The N was unveiled 3 years after the S950 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the N grades versus the S950 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot N and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950. The full galleries are provided at Canon N Gallery and Sony S950 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon N has exterior measurements of 79mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony S950 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Canon N and Sony S950 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the N compared to the S950.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the N and S950 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the N and S950.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should anticipate the Canon N to give more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern N provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.