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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550

Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Key Specs

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
  • Released September 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX20 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX40 HS
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Canon SX30 IS versus Sony W550, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively similar and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX30 IS was launched 10 months before the W550 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the SX30 IS matches up versus the W550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Sony W550

 SX30 IS W550 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon SX30 IS

 W550 SX30 IS 
IntroducedJuly 2011September 2010More recent by 10 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Sony W550

 SX30 IS W550 
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX30 IS features external dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX30 IS versus Sony W550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SX30 IS against the W550.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX30 IS and W550 is 64 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The photograph below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX30 IS and W550.

All in all, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution and you should expect similar quality of photographs though you should always take the production date of the products into consideration. The older SX30 IS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W550 as a Portrait photography camera
42
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX30 IS
Street photography with Sony W550
49
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competitors (601 grams)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Sports photography information
Sony W550 Sports photography information
43
excellent zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
58
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (840mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (601g)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
65
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
41
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
50
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
heavier than competitors (601g)
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2010-09-14 2011-07-24
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD 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 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-840mm (35.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.7-5.8 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 601 grams (1.32 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 ID NB-7L NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One -
Price at launch $400 $119