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Canon S120 vs Sony W230

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon S110
Sony W230
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Canon S120 and Sony W230, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the W230 (12MP) is very close but the S120 (1/1.7") and W230 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was introduced 4 years later than the W230 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the S120 matches up versus the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Sony W230

 S120 W230 
AnnouncedNovember 2013February 2009Fresher by 59 months
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Canon S120

 W230 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Sony W230

 S120 W230 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon S120 comes with outside measurements of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Canon S120 and Sony W230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the S120 vs the W230.

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S120 and W230 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specifications. The graphic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the S120 and W230.

To sum up, both of these cameras have the same MP but different sensor sizing. The S120 has got the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The fresher S120 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon S120
Portrait photography with Sony W230
42
has manual focus
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography highlights
Sony W230 Street photography highlights
65
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (217 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography information
Sony W230 Sports photography information
38
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Canon S120 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
67
comes with touch focus
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition (217 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography advice
Sony W230 Landscape photography advice
57
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
36
has manual focus
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S120
Vlogging with Sony W230
35
rather wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
more heavy than competition (217 grams)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Canon S120 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Sony W230
 Canon PowerShot S120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-11-26 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 4cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 gr (0.48 pounds) 156 gr (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $449 $180