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Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 990 IS
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
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Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Overview

The following is a extensive review of the Canon SD970 IS versus Sony HX30V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the SD970 IS (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was announced 4 years before the HX30V which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SD970 IS matches up against the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Sony HX30V

 SD970 IS HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Canon SD970 IS

 HX30V SD970 IS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012February 2009Newer by 36 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution922k461kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Sony HX30V

 SD970 IS HX30V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD970 IS offers physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Canon SD970 IS versus Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SD970 IS and the HX30V.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and HX30V is 94 and 90 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specifications. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SD970 IS and HX30V.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony HX30V to offer greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
26
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
comes with face detection focusing
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD970 IS
Street photography with Sony HX30V
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
69
lighter than competitors (254g)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD970 IS
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
32
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
50
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
27
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
wide angle not the best (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (254g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
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Canon SD970 IS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Sony HX30V
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Other name Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-02-18 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160g (0.35 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price - $420