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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX240 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX270 HS
Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX20 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX40 HS
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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Canon SX260 HS versus Canon SX30 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both manufactured by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SX260 HS (12MP) and the SX30 IS (14MP) is pretty close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX260 HS was unveiled 21 months later than the SX30 IS which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX260 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SX260 HS grades against the SX30 IS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Canon SX30 IS

 SX260 HS SX30 IS 
IntroducedJune 2012September 2010Fresher by 21 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Canon SX260 HS

 SX30 IS SX260 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX30 IS

 SX260 HS SX30 IS 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX260 HS enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Canon SX30 IS has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX260 HS versus Canon SX30 IS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SX260 HS against the SX30 IS.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SX260 HS and SX30 IS is 91 and 64 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching technical specs. The photograph below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX260 HS and SX30 IS.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Canon SX30 IS to render greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SX260 HS should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Portrait photography factors
Canon SX30 IS Portrait photography factors
37
focusing manually
includes face detection autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
42
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Street photography advice
Canon SX30 IS Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (231 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
49
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others (601 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX260 HS
Sports photography with Canon SX30 IS
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
great zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Travel photography information
Canon SX30 IS Travel photography information
61
lighter than competition (231 grams)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (230 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
58
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (601g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography features
Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography features
41
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
41
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Vlogging features
Canon SX30 IS Vlogging features
34
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (231 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no external mic socket
50
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than others (601 grams)
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Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Canon SX30 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSCanon PowerShot SX30 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-06-04 2010-09-14
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 Digic 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.7-5.8
Macro focus range 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
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), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 grams (0.51 pounds) 601 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L NB-7L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $349 $400