Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550
96 Imaging
34 Features
21 Overall
28


96 Imaging
37 Features
28 Overall
33
Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
- 120g - 89 x 55 x 20mm
- Revealed August 2009
- Also Known as Digital IXUS 120 IS
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
- 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
- Released July 2011

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Overview
Below is a thorough assessment of the Canon SD940 IS and Sony W550, both Ultracompact cameras by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SD940 IS (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very comparable and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The SD940 IS was manufactured 23 months earlier than the W550 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).
Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SD940 IS matches up against the W550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SD940 IS & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The entire galleries are available at Canon SD940 IS Gallery & Sony W550 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SD940 IS over the Sony W550
SD940 IS | W550 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon SD940 IS
W550 | SD940 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2011 | ![]() | August 2009 | More recent by 23 months |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Common features in the Canon SD940 IS and Sony W550
SD940 IS | W550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Lack of manual focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither includes Touch friendly display |
Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SD940 IS features external dimensions of 89mm x 55mm x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).
Analyze the Canon SD940 IS and Sony W550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SD940 IS versus the W550.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SD940 IS and W550 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison
Often, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD940 IS and W550.
As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony W550 to produce extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older SD940 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SD940 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 |
Also Known as | Digital IXUS 120 IS | - |
Type | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Revealed | 2009-08-19 | 2011-07-24 |
Body design | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Digic 4 | BIONZ |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4320 x 3240 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 28-112mm (4.0x) | 26-104mm (4.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | f/2.7-5.7 |
Macro focusing distance | 3cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 2.7" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | - | Clear Photo LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 seconds | 2 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/1500 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 4.00 m | 3.80 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 120g (0.26 pounds) | 110g (0.24 pounds) |
Dimensions | 89 x 55 x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") | 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery ID | NB-4L | NP-BN1 |
Self timer | Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | - |
Price at release | $299 | $119 |