Clicky

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is fairly close but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and S2100 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The SX120 IS was launched 4 months earlier than the S2100 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX120 IS scores vs the S2100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Sony S2100

 SX120 IS S2100 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Canon SX120 IS

 S2100 SX120 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Sony S2100

 SX120 IS S2100 
AnnouncedAugust 2009January 2010Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX120 IS provides outer dimensions of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") along with a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Sony S2100 has proportions of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SX120 IS vs the S2100.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and S2100 is 87 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The graphic below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX120 IS and S2100.

All in all, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX120 IS because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony S2100 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography highlights
Sony S2100 Portrait photography highlights
33
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500s)
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW files
21
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Street photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (285 grams)
46
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography info
Sony S2100 Sports photography info
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no phase detect auto focus
17
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX120 IS
Travel photography with Sony S2100
51
has built in flash
long reach (360mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (285g)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
50
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Landscape photography camera
36
focusing manually
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
27
good sized screen (3 inches)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging advice
Sony S2100 Vlogging advice
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
no external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (285g)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Sony S2100
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-08-19 2010-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 1s
Highest shutter speed 1/2500s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285g (0.63 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 2 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $249 $0