Clicky

Canon S95 vs Sony W230

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S95 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Canon S95
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-105mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 195g - 100 x 58 x 30mm
  • Announced November 2010
  • Old Model is Canon S90
  • Updated by Canon S100
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
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Canon S95 vs Sony W230, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S95 (10MP) and the W230 (12MP) is fairly similar but the S95 (1/1.7") and W230 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The S95 was revealed 22 months later than the W230 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the S95 matches up vs the W230 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

        

Reasons to pick Canon S95 over the Sony W230

 S95 W230 
AnnouncedNovember 2010February 2009Fresher by 22 months
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Canon S95

 W230 S95 

Common features in the Canon S95 and Sony W230

 S95 W230 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon S95 comes with physical measurements of 100mm x 58mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") and a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Canon S95 vs Sony W230 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the S95 versus the W230.

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S95 and W230 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the S95 and W230.

All in all, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The S95 using its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony W230 will offer extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher S95 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 sensor size comparison

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S95 Portrait photography information
Sony W230 Portrait photography information
40
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Canon S95 Street photography features
Sony W230 Street photography features
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Canon S95 Sports photography highlights
Sony W230 Sports photography highlights
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Canon S95 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W230 as a Travel photography camera
64
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Canon S95 Landscape photography info
Sony W230 Landscape photography info
52
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
36
has manual focus
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S95
Vlogging with Sony W230
32
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (30mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone port
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Canon S95 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S95 and Sony W230
 Canon PowerShot S95Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-11-23 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD 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 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
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 28-105mm (3.8x) 30-120mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 4cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 1 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.50 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195 grams (0.43 lb) 156 grams (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 58 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 153 not tested
Other
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots - One
Price at release $495 $180