Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A700

Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A700, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the A700 (12MP) is relatively close but the SX30 IS (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX30 IS was introduced 2 years later than the A700 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX30 IS grades against the A700 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX30 IS & Sony Alpha DSLR-A700. The whole galleries are available at Canon SX30 IS Gallery & Sony A700 Gallery.

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX30 IS has got physical measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony A700 has measurements of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") along with a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A700 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the SX30 IS vs the A700.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX30 IS and A700 is 64 and 58 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX30 IS and A700.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX30 IS with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Canon SX30 IS will result in more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern SX30 IS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.