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Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 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
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX230 HS
  • New Model is Canon SX260 HS
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 Overview

Let's look closer at the Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX240 HS (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX240 HS was revealed 7 months later than the W550 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX240 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SX240 HS matches up against the W550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX240 HS over the Sony W550

 SX240 HS W550 
ReleasedFebruary 2012July 2011More recent by 7 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon SX240 HS

 W550 SX240 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX240 HS and Sony W550

 SX240 HS W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX240 HS offers outside dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Sony W550 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SX240 HS and the W550.

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX240 HS and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX240 HS and W550.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Sony W550 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The newer SX240 HS will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Portrait photography info
Sony W550 Portrait photography info
37
has manual focus
offers face detection autofocus
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Street photography info
Sony W550 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (224 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX240 HS
Travel photography with Sony W550
61
lighter than others in class (224 grams)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery power (230 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
41
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery power (230 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (224g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
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Canon SX240 HS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX240 HS and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot SX240 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-02-07 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology PureColor II TFT LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 grams (0.49 lb) 110 grams (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Price at launch $0 $119