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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55

Portability
64
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
55
Features
80
Overall
65

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
  • 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
  • Launched September 2010
  • Previous Model is Canon SX20 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX40 HS
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Overview

Below is a complete overview of the Canon SX30 IS versus Sony A55, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX30 IS (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SX30 IS (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The SX30 IS was launched very close to the A55 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SX30 IS scores against the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Sony A55

 SX30 IS A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Canon SX30 IS

 A55 SX30 IS 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Sony A55

 SX30 IS A55 
IntroducedSeptember 2010August 2010Same age
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX30 IS features exterior measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") having a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Canon SX30 IS versus Sony A55 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SX30 IS vs the A55.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX30 IS and A55 is 64 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing specifications. The graphic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX30 IS and A55.

Plainly, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SX30 IS because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A55 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Portrait photography info
Sony A55 Portrait photography info
42
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Street photography details
Sony A55 Street photography details
49
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than others (601g)
76
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX30 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
43
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
58
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (601 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
61
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
41
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
67
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (380 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX30 IS Vlogging info
Sony A55 Vlogging info
50
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than others (601g)
77
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX30 IS and Sony A55
 Canon PowerShot SX30 ISSony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Sony SLT-A55
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-09-14 2010-08-24
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.7-5.8 -
Macro focus range 0cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 601g (1.32 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-7L NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $800