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Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX260 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX280 HS
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
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Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Canon SX270 HS versus Sony A390, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX270 HS (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty close but the SX270 HS (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX270 HS was announced 2 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX270 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX270 HS matches up against the A390 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Sony A390

 SX270 HS A390 
ReleasedMarch 2013July 2010Fresher by 33 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Canon SX270 HS

 A390 SX270 HS 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Sony A390

 SX270 HS A390 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX270 HS features outer dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX270 HS versus Sony A390 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SX270 HS vs the A390.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX270 HS and A390 is 91 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by researching specs. The graphic here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX270 HS and A390.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SX270 HS with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A390 will render extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer SX270 HS will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A390 Portrait photography highlights
34
has manual focus
provides face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Street photography information
Sony A390 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Sports photography information
Sony A390 Sports photography information
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery life (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Travel photography highlights
Sony A390 Travel photography highlights
61
lighter than competition (233 grams)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (210 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
53
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (230 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
41
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery (210 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
bad battery life (230 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Vlogging advice
Sony A390 Vlogging advice
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (233g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
9
no video
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Canon SX270 HS vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Sony A390
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSSony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-03-21 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 6 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233 grams (0.51 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 210 photographs 230 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $284 $500