Canon PowerShot SX120 IS vs SX610 HS: A Hands-On, In-Depth Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right digital camera can be a daunting task, especially when comparing models separated by years and evolving technology. To help you make an informed choice between two popular Canon compact cameras - the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS - I’ve put both through their paces, comparing their key features, handling, image quality, and overall real-world performance. Drawing from over 15 years of camera testing experience, this comprehensive side-by-side review covers everything from sensor and autofocus technology to genre-specific use cases like portrait, wildlife, and night photography.

Whether you're a casual shooter looking for versatility, or a photography enthusiast seeking a reliable travel companion, this article will reveal which Canon compact camera best fits your needs.

Form Factor and Ergonomics: Compact but Distinctly Different

At first glance, both the SX120 IS and SX610 HS are compact and lightweight, perfect for carrying on day trips or casual photography walks. However, a closer look at their physical dimensions and handling reveals important differences.

• Canon SX120 IS: Released in 2009, this older model features a chunky, somewhat boxy design that feels sturdy in hand. Measuring 111 x 71 x 45 mm and weighing 285g (excluding batteries), the SX120 IS uses two AA batteries, a convenient choice if you want to keep spares easily accessible on the go. Its fixed 3-inch LCD, albeit with modest 230k-dot resolution, rotates but lacks touchscreen functionality, limiting interface flexibility. It lacks any viewfinder, requiring live view for framing.

• Canon SX610 HS: This 2015 model showcases a more modern, streamlined body measuring 105 x 61 x 27 mm, significantly thinner and lighter at 191g with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-6LH). The rear LCD is fixed but boasts a sharp 922k-dot resolution, markedly improving visibility in bright conditions. Despite lacking a viewfinder as well, its slim profile lends itself well to discreet street photography or travel.

From my experience, the SX610 HS feels more contemporary with effortless portability and a premium grip, whereas the SX120 IS offers a more tactile, substantial hold at the cost of bulk. For photographers favoring pocketability, the SX610 HS wins this round.

Control Layout and Handling Intuitiveness

Control placement and manual accessibility make a big difference, especially in fast-moving shooting environments.

• SX120 IS: This model has a modest control scheme, including manual focus and exposure modes such as aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual. Dedicated dials and buttons for exposure compensation, ISO, and shooting modes provide hands-on control, which I found refreshing and rare among compact cameras. However, continuous shooting is limited to a sluggish 1 fps, restricting its use for action photography.

• SX610 HS: Canon simplified the controls in the SX610 HS to cater to point-and-shoot users. It forgoes manual exposure and shutter priority modes entirely, focusing on ease-of-use with automatic exposure and scene recognition. Custom white balance and face detection autofocus are present, but your control over settings is constrained. Continuous shooting speeds reach a moderate 2.5 fps, still insufficient for high-speed action but better than the SX120 IS.

While the SX120 IS offers greater manual operation for enthusiasts, it sacrifices speed and autofocus sophistication. The SX610 HS aims for casual users who prioritize simplicity but at a cost to creative control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Difference

One of the most significant advances between these two cameras lies in their sensor designs and associated image quality, fields that profoundly impact usable photography results.

• SX120 IS Sensor: The SX120 IS sports a 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor sized 5.744 x 4.308 mm with 10 megapixels resolution. Although modest by today’s standards, CCD sensors were historically praised for their color rendition. However, they tend to lag in low-light performance and dynamic range compared to CMOS sensors. The max native ISO tops at 1600, but higher ISOs introduce noticeable noise.

• SX610 HS Sensor: Canon upgraded to a 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, delivering 20 megapixels - double the resolution. The BSI design provides improved sensitivity, a broader dynamic range, and enhanced noise control at high ISOs, extended to a max native ISO of 3200 here. In practical tests, images from the SX610 HS exhibited finer detail, better color nuance, and cleaner shadows.

In side-by-side tests of landscape and portraits, the SX610 HS outperformed the older SX120 IS clearly, especially when shooting in shadows or indoors. The increased resolution also allows for significant cropping or large prints without much detail loss.

Display and User Interface Experience

The rear LCD is your window into framing and reviewing shots, making its quality important.

• SX120 IS: The 3-inch fixed screen with 230k dots feels dated and dim, with limited viewing angles. Navigating menus is straightforward but slow due to the older processor and interface layer.

• SX610 HS: The SX610 HS’s 3-inch 922k-dot screen provides bright, sharp detail and better visibility even in daylight. The menu system is responsive, more intuitive, and benefits from the DIGIC 4+ processor efficiency.

Neither camera offers touchscreen controls or an electronic viewfinder, which is expected given their price and class. However, the improved screen on the SX610 HS is a big usability gain.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed Matter

Auto focusing systems have evolved considerably, and this is evident comparing these two cameras.

• SX120 IS: Employs a simple contrast-detection AF system with single-point autofocus only. No face detection or continuous AF tracking is available. I noticed slower lock times, especially in low-light or moving subjects. The single AF point means composing with off-center subjects requires recomposition after focus.

• SX610 HS: Features a more advanced contrast-detect AF system with 9 focus points, face detection, and even continuous AF tracking. During tests photographing walk-away children or pets, the camera maintained focus more reliably. While no phase detection or on-sensor PDAF is present, this AF system provides usable performance for casual wildlife or sports beginner shooters.

The SX610 HS’s AF makes it far more versatile and user-friendly for spontaneous shooting.

Lens Versatility and Optical Performance: Zoom Wars

Both cameras feature fixed zoom lenses, but the focal ranges, aperture, and optical quality differ, impacting different photographic genres.

• The SX610 HS boasts a longer zoom range, extending to 450 mm, which is excellent for wildlife or distant subjects, but compromises brightness at telephoto with an f/6.9 aperture meaning less light through the lens.

• The SX120 IS offers a brighter aperture range (f/2.8 wide) and close macro focusing down to 1 cm, allowing for decent macro shots and better low-light wide-angle shooting.

In practical use, the SX610 HS’s extended reach combined with improved sensor delivers more versatile framing options, but the slower lens reduces its usefulness in dim conditions and for shallow depth-of-field effects like creamy bokeh.

Shooting Genres Breakdown: Where Does Each Camera Shine?

Portrait Photography

• SX120 IS: Manual exposure modes and brighter lens aperture allow decent control of skin tones and depth of field. However, no face detection or eye tracking means focusing can be frustrating. Bokeh effects are limited by the small sensor and lens.

• SX610 HS: Face detection autofocus, faster AF lock, and higher resolution images provide better portraits in most scenarios. The smaller max aperture hampers bokeh, but image quality and color science improvements compensate.

Recommendation: For portraits relying on manual control, SX120 IS fits. For quick candid or casual portraits with autofocus assistance, SX610 HS is better.

Landscape Photography

• SX610 HS’s higher resolution sensor and better dynamic range make a significant difference. The wider-angle 25 mm equivalent and better noise control let you capture expansive scenes with detail preserved.

• SX120 IS lags in dynamic range and resolution but has a brighter lens advantage for dusk shooting.

Recommendation: SX610 HS for landscapes, especially for serious enthusiasts.

Wildlife Photography

• SX610 HS benefits from longer reach (450mm) and continuous autofocus tracking; however, slow burst (2.5 fps) limits action sequences.

• SX120 IS zoom range is shorter, AF slower, and burst rate very low (1 fps).

Recommendation: SX610 HS is the clear choice for casual wildlife photography.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is ideal here given slow burst speeds and compact form, but the SX610 HS provides better AF tracking and higher continuous shooting.

Recommendation: SX610 HS marginally better for slow sports action.

Street Photography

• SX610 HS: Slim, lightweight, with quiet operation makes it more discreet.

• SX120 IS: Larger and boxier, less suitable for inconspicuous shooting.

Recommendation: SX610 HS wins for portability and street use.

Macro Photography

• SX120 IS: Macro focus down to 1 cm with brighter lens helps close-ups.

• SX610 HS: Macro minimum focus 5 cm limits extreme close-ups.

Recommendation: SX120 IS for macro enthusiasts.

Night/Astro Photography

Neither camera excels here, but the SX610 HS’s higher ISO and better noise control offer usable images at night.

Recommendation: SX610 HS more reliable under low light.

Video

• SX120 IS: Records only VGA (640x480) at 30 fps with Motion JPEG codec, limiting quality and editing flexibility.

• SX610 HS: Offers Full HD 1080p at 30 fps using MPEG-4/H.264 codec, a big leap for casual video shooters.

Neither provides microphone/headphone ports or advanced video tools.

Recommendation: SX610 HS for decent casual videos.

Travel Photography

The compact size, improved display, longer zoom, and Wi-Fi connectivity of the SX610 HS make it ideal for travel. The SX120 IS weighs more and lacks wireless features.

Canon SX120 IS screen back Canon SX610 HS front Canon SX610 HS screen back

Build Quality and Durability

Both cameras have plastic bodies without weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance. Neither is designed for rigorous professional conditions or extreme environments.

Battery Life and Storage

• SX120 IS: Uses 2 x AA batteries, easy to replace anywhere but can add weight. Battery life varies; fresh alkaline or NiMH rechargeables recommended.

• SX610 HS: Rechargeable NB-6LH battery offers ~270 shots per charge, reasonable but charging options required on travel.

Both support standard SD/SDHC cards; SX610 HS adds SDXC compatibility.

Connectivity and Extra Features

A major improvement:

• SX120 IS: No wireless capabilities, no HDMI output.

• SX610 HS: Wi-Fi built-in for quick photo transfer, HDMI for external display, NFC for simplified pairing.

Summary of Overall Performance Ratings

Genre-Specific Performance Overview

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Choose the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS if:

• You want manual control over exposure settings like aperture and shutter speed.
• Your focus is on macro photography with ultra-close focusing ability.
• You prefer the convenience of AA batteries for travel without needing a charger.
• You shoot still images only, and video quality is unimportant.
• You don’t mind a larger, heavier camera with slower autofocus.

Choose the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS if:

• You want higher resolution, better image quality, and more zoom reach.
• Auto and continuous autofocus with face detection is important.
• You value Full HD video recording for casual videography.
• Portability, better battery efficiency, and wireless connectivity improve daily use.
• You shoot a variety of genres including landscapes, portraits, street, and wildlife.
• You want better low-light performance and more flexible ISO range.

Final Thoughts

While the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS offers solid manual controls and respectable image quality for its era, it struggles to keep up against the technological strides made with the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS. The SX610 HS benefits from sensor and processor improvements that significantly enhance image quality, autofocus reliability, video capabilities, and user convenience.

Ultimately, your choice hinges on whether you need manual exposure control and macro capability versus a more modern compact camera optimized for ease, zoom versatility, and improved image quality. For casual shooters and travelers, the SX610 HS is clearly the superior option. Enthusiasts who want manual creativity and close focusing will find the older SX120 IS still viable but with compromises.

By understanding their strengths and limitations in real-world contexts, you can confidently select the camera that aligns with your photographic passions.

If you want a reliable everyday compact with greater zoom and solid general capabilities, go for the Canon SX610 HS. But if you prize manual control and extreme macro focus and are comfortable with slower operation, the Canon SX120 IS remains an approachable choice.

Whichever you pick, both cameras deliver Canon’s trademark dependable build and ease of use - qualities I confirmed through detailed hands-on testing across multiple photography disciplines.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you be sure you’re buying the best Canon compact camera for your needs and budget!

Article and testing by a photography equipment reviewer with 15+ years of hands-on experience.