Canon SX230 HS vs Sony a5100

The following is a complete review of the Canon SX230 HS versus Sony a5100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX230 HS (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX230 HS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SX230 HS was launched 4 years prior to the a5100 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX230 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the SX230 HS grades versus the a5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX230 HS and Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SX230 HS Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX230 HS offers external measurements of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX230 HS versus Sony a5100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SX230 HS versus the a5100.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX230 HS and a5100 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Often, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX230 HS and a5100.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SX230 HS due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX230 HS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.