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Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Canon SX240 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 224g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX230 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX260 HS
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SX240 HS (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX240 HS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX240 HS was launched 3 years prior to the a5100 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX240 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX240 HS grades vs the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX240 HS over the Sony a5100

 SX240 HS a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Canon SX240 HS

 a5100 SX240 HS 
ReleasedAugust 2014February 2012More modern by 30 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k461kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX240 HS and Sony a5100

 SX240 HS a5100 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX240 HS comes with outer measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the SX240 HS against the a5100.

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX240 HS and a5100 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The pic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX240 HS and a5100.

Plainly, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX240 HS featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a5100 will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SX240 HS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Portrait photography features
Sony a5100 Portrait photography features
37
you can focus manually
includes face detection focusing
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
focusing manually
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Street photography details
Sony a5100 Street photography details
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (224 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
82
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
features touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Sports photography features
Sony a5100 Sports photography features
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (230 shots)
has no phase detect AF
68
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery pack (400 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Travel photography factors
Sony a5100 Travel photography factors
61
lighter than others (224g)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (230 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
80
great battery pack (400 per charge)
features touch to focus
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Landscape photography details
Sony a5100 Landscape photography details
41
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery life (230 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (400 shots)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Vlogging features
Sony a5100 Vlogging features
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (224g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
34
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon SX240 HS vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX240 HS and Sony a5100
 Canon PowerShot SX240 HSSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Sony Alpha a5100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-02-07 2014-08-17
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
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 focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 179
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 224 gr (0.49 pounds) 283 gr (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 230 photos 400 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $0 $448