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Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690

Portability
81
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Key Specs

Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Revealed July 2014
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Canon SX400 IS and Sony W690, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX400 IS (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is fairly close and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX400 IS was launched 2 years later than the W690 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX400 IS matches up against the W690 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Sony W690

 SX400 IS W690 
LaunchedJuly 2014February 2012Fresher by 30 months

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Canon SX400 IS

 W690 SX400 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX400 IS and Sony W690

 SX400 IS W690 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX400 IS enjoys external dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Sony W690 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX400 IS and Sony W690 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX400 IS against the W690.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX400 IS and W690 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX400 IS and W690.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of photos though you will want to consider the production date of the cameras into account. The more modern SX400 IS should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Portrait photography features
Sony W690 Portrait photography features
35
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Street photography highlights
Sony W690 Street photography highlights
52
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Sports photography information
Sony W690 Sports photography information
42
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (190 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX400 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony W690 as a Travel photography camera
60
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery (190 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
68
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Landscape photography factors
Sony W690 Landscape photography factors
40
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery (190 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
43
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Vlogging details
Sony W690 Vlogging details
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Canon SX400 IS vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX400 IS and Sony W690
 Canon PowerShot SX400 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-29 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4+ BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 142 grams (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 190 pictures 220 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11LH NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $229 $297