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Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57

Portability
86
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
85
Overall
67

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Canon SX150 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-336mm (F3.4-5.6) lens
  • 306g - 113 x 73 x 46mm
  • Announced May 2012
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX130 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX160 IS
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Successor is Sony A58
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Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX150 IS (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is fairly similar but the SX150 IS (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SX150 IS was launched 4 months before the A57 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX150 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the SX150 IS scores versus the A57 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX150 IS over the Sony A57

 SX150 IS A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Canon SX150 IS

 A57 SX150 IS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX150 IS and Sony A57

 SX150 IS A57 
ReleasedMay 2012September 2012Similar age
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX150 IS offers exterior dimensions of 113mm x 73mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.8") having a weight of 306 grams (0.67 lbs) while the Sony A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SX150 IS vs the A57.

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX150 IS and A57 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX150 IS and A57.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX150 IS because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A57 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX150 IS Portrait photography info
Sony A57 Portrait photography info
42
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX150 IS Street photography factors
Sony A57 Street photography factors
59
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (306g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
75
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX150 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony A57 Sports photography highlights
39
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (130 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX150 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
64
lighter than average (306g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (336mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (130 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
66
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX150 IS
Landscape photography with Sony A57
46
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery pack (130 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
72
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX150 IS Vlogging factors
Sony A57 Vlogging factors
30
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than average (306 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic port
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Canon SX150 IS vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX150 IS and Sony A57
 Canon PowerShot SX150 ISSony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX150 IS Sony SLT-A57
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-05-14 2012-09-13
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 1 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-336mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.6 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 306 grams (0.67 lbs) 618 grams (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 73 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.8") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 130 pictures 550 pictures
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $249 $1,000