Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57
81 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36


64 Imaging
57 Features
85 Overall
68
Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Key Specs
(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
- Launched July 2014
(Full Review)

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Overview
Its time to look a little more in depth at the Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX400 IS (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is very close but the SX400 IS (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

The SX400 IS was unveiled 23 months later than the A57 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX400 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SX400 IS matches up versus the A57 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX400 IS & Sony SLT-A57. The full galleries are provided at Canon SX400 IS Gallery & Sony A57 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Sony A57
SX400 IS | A57 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2014 | ![]() | September 2012 | More recent by 23 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Canon SX400 IS
A57 | SX400 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+691k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Canon SX400 IS and Sony A57
SX400 IS | A57 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display size |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch friendly display |
Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX400 IS comes with outer measurements of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).
See the Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SX400 IS against the A57.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX400 IS and A57 is 81 and 64 respectively.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by viewing specs. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX400 IS and A57.
All in all, the two cameras feature the identical megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The SX400 IS offers the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow DOF more challenging. The more modern SX400 IS should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A57 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS | Sony SLT-A57 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Sony |
Model | Canon PowerShot SX400 IS | Sony SLT-A57 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Launched | 2014-07-29 | 2012-09-13 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4+ | - |
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 | 16MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4912 x 3264 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 16000 |
Maximum boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
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 | 24-720mm (30.0x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | - |
Macro focus range | 0cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dots | 921k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display tech | - | Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,440k dots |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.7x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0fps | 12.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 5.00 m | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, on, off, slow synchro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
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 | 313g (0.69 lbs) | 618g (1.36 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") | 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 75 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.4 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 13.0 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 785 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 190 pictures | 550 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NB-11LH | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $229 | $1,000 |