Canon SX210 IS vs Sony a5100

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon SX210 IS vs Sony a5100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the SX210 IS (14MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX210 IS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The SX210 IS was unveiled 5 years prior to the a5100 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX210 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SX210 IS grades against the a5100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot SX210 IS and Sony Alpha a5100. The full galleries are available at Canon SX210 IS Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX210 IS features external dimensions of 103mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 220 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX210 IS vs Sony a5100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SX210 IS versus the a5100.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX210 IS and a5100 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The photograph here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX210 IS and a5100.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SX210 IS with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony a5100 will result in extra detail having an extra 10MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SX210 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.