Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A850

Below is a in-depth review of the Canon SX30 IS versus Sony A850, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the SX30 IS (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the SX30 IS (1/2.3") and A850 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SX30 IS was introduced 6 months later than the A850 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SX30 IS matches up versus the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A850. The whole galleries are provided at Canon SX30 IS Gallery and Sony A850 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX30 IS provides outside dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") and a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Canon SX30 IS versus Sony A850 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SX30 IS vs the A850.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX30 IS and A850 is 64 and 54 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX30 IS and A850.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SX30 IS with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A850 will render greater detail using its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively.