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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510

Portability
87
Imaging
32
Features
28
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 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 W510
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 54 x 20mm
  • Released January 2011
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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the W510 (12MP) is relatively similar but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and W510 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The SX120 IS was introduced 16 months earlier than the W510 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX120 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony W510 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SX120 IS matches up vs the W510 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Sony W510

 SX120 IS W510 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W510 over the Canon SX120 IS

 W510 SX120 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2011August 2009Newer by 16 months

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Sony W510

 SX120 IS W510 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX120 IS comes with outside dimensions of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") having a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Sony W510 has measurements of 96mm x 54mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8") along with a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 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 dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX120 IS vs the W510.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and W510 is 87 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The image here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX120 IS and W510.

All in all, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SX120 IS using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony W510 will offer you more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography highlights
Sony W510 Portrait photography highlights
32
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
external flash not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Street photography advice
Sony W510 Street photography advice
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (285g)
57
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX120 IS
Sports photography with Sony W510
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography info
Sony W510 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
long reach (360mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (285g)
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
58
built-in flash
really wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography factors
Sony W510 Landscape photography factors
36
focusing manually
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
32
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging info
Sony W510 Vlogging info
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition in class (285g)
29
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone port
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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony W510 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Sony W510
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2009-08-19 2011-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 2.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285g (0.63 lbs) 119g (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 96 x 54 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model 2 x AA NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
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 Single Single
Launch cost $249 $99