Canon SX270 HS vs Sony a5100

Below is a extensive assessment of the Canon SX270 HS and Sony a5100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the SX270 HS (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX270 HS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The SX270 HS was launched 17 months before the a5100 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX270 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the SX270 HS matches up vs the a5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX270 HS & Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SX270 HS Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX270 HS has outer dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX270 HS and Sony a5100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SX270 HS vs the a5100.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX270 HS and a5100 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX270 HS and a5100.

All in all, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX270 HS due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony a5100 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older SX270 HS is going to be behind in sensor technology.