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Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Canon SD940 IS
(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
Sony W550
(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
Photography Glossary

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").

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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.

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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 
ReleasedJuly 2011August 2009More recent by 23 months
Display dimension3"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 typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 size comparison

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

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Portrait photography details
Sony W550 Portrait photography details
21
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Street photography factors
Sony W550 Street photography factors
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Sports photography details
Sony W550 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD940 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
58
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD940 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD940 IS Vlogging features
Sony W550 Vlogging features
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
29
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Canon SD940 IS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD940 IS and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot SD940 ISSony 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