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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S

Portability
87
Imaging
32
Features
28
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
59
Features
73
Overall
64

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Announced August 2009
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7S II
Photography Glossary

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7S, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the A7S (12MP) is very well matched but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and A7S (Full frame) offer different sensor size.

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The SX120 IS was unveiled 5 years earlier than the A7S which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX120 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the SX120 IS scores versus the A7S in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Sony A7S

 SX120 IS A7S 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Canon SX120 IS

 A7S SX120 IS 
IntroducedApril 2014August 2009More modern by 56 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k230kSharper display (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7S

 SX120 IS A7S 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX120 IS enjoys physical measurements of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Sony A7S has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7S in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SX120 IS versus the A7S.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX120 IS and A7S is 87 and 77 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through specifications. The picture below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX120 IS and A7S.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A7S will give you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony A7S Portrait photography factors
32
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
67
manual focus
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography information
Sony A7S Street photography information
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than average (285 grams)
76
has a tilting screen
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (489 grams)
above average ISO range (409,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography advice
Sony A7S Sports photography advice
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect AF
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (360 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX120 IS
Travel photography with Sony A7S
51
flash built-in
great reach (360mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (285 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
lighter than competition in class (489 grams)
environment proof
not so great battery pack (360 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX120 IS
Landscape photography with Sony A7S
36
focusing manually
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
66
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (409,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (360 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony A7S Vlogging highlights
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than average (285g)
34
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (489 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7S
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISSony Alpha A7S
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Sony Alpha A7S
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2009-08-19 2014-04-06
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Full frame
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4240 x 2832
Maximum native ISO 1600 409600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.3 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 6.3 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2500s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lbs) 489 gr (1.08 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 3702
Other
Battery life - 360 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $249 $1,998