Canon SX30 IS vs Sony a1

Following is a detailed overview of the Canon SX30 IS and Sony a1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX30 IS (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the SX30 IS (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) boast different sensor measurements.

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The SX30 IS was revealed 11 years before the a1 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SX30 IS matches up vs the a1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are provided at Canon SX30 IS Gallery and Sony a1 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX30 IS has 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) while the Sony a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX30 IS and Sony a1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SX30 IS against the a1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX30 IS and a1 is 64 and 61 respectively.

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specifications. The picture below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX30 IS and a1.

To sum up, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX30 IS with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony a1 will give you more detail because of its extra 36MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged SX30 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.