Canon SX230 HS vs Sony A550

The following is a detailed analysis of the Canon SX230 HS and Sony A550, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX230 HS (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very comparable but the SX230 HS (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The SX230 HS was manufactured 20 months after the A550 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX230 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX230 HS grades against the A550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX230 HS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are available at Canon SX230 HS Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX230 HS has outer dimensions of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX230 HS and Sony A550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SX230 HS against the A550.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX230 HS and A550 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specifications. The picture below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX230 HS and A550.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SX230 HS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A550 will show extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer SX230 HS provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.