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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Announced March 2013
  • Replaced the 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
  • Announced September 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX20 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX40 HS
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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are designed by Canon. The image resolution of the SX280 HS (12MP) and the SX30 IS (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was launched 2 years after the SX30 IS which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera and the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX280 HS matches up versus the SX30 IS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Canon SX30 IS

 SX280 HS SX30 IS 
AnnouncedMarch 2013September 2010More modern by 31 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Canon SX280 HS

 SX30 IS SX280 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX30 IS

 SX280 HS SX30 IS 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX280 HS has got exterior measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Canon SX30 IS has sizing of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") along with a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX280 HS versus the SX30 IS.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX280 HS and SX30 IS is 91 and 64 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The picture below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX280 HS and SX30 IS.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Canon SX30 IS to give you greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer SX280 HS provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography details
Canon SX30 IS Portrait photography details
34
manual focus
supports face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
42
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography features
Canon SX30 IS Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
49
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competitors (601 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography information
Canon SX30 IS Sports photography information
36
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography advice
Canon SX30 IS Travel photography advice
61
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (210 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
58
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (840mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (601g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX280 HS
Landscape photography with Canon SX30 IS
41
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (210 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
41
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7")
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX280 HS
Vlogging with Canon SX30 IS
34
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (233g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
50
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
more heavy than competitors (601 grams)
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Canon SX280 HS vs Canon SX30 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Canon SX30 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSCanon PowerShot SX30 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-03-21 2010-09-14
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 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 alias 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 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.7-5.8
Macro focusing distance 5cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233 gr (0.51 pounds) 601 gr (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L NB-7L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $325 $400