Clicky

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Key Specs

Canon SX280 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
  • Released March 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX270 HS
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Overview

Following is a in depth assessment of the Canon SX280 HS and Sony WX50, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and WX50 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The SX280 HS was brought out 14 months after the WX50 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the SX280 HS grades against the WX50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Sony WX50

 SX280 HS WX50 
ReleasedMarch 2013January 2012More modern by 14 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Canon SX280 HS

 WX50 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Sony WX50

 SX280 HS WX50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution461k461kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX280 HS features outside dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony WX50 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX280 HS and Sony WX50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the WX50.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX280 HS and WX50 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX280 HS and WX50.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony WX50 to provide extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent SX280 HS will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography features
Sony WX50 Portrait photography features
34
manual focus
features face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
34
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Street photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (233g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Sports photography camera
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (210 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX280 HS
Travel photography with Sony WX50
61
lighter than average in class (233g)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (210 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.6)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography information
Sony WX50 Landscape photography information
41
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
no Timelapse function
38
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX50 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
35
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (117g)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Sony WX50
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-03-21 2012-01-30
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 461k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233g (0.51 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 240 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $325 $250