Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99
81 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36


57 Imaging
69 Features
88 Overall
76
Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 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
- Announced July 2014
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
- Revealed December 2012
- Previous Model is Sony A900
- Successor is Sony A99 II

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 Overview
The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Canon SX400 IS versus Sony A99, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Canon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX400 IS (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the SX400 IS (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

The SX400 IS was unveiled 20 months after the A99 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX400 IS being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SX400 IS grades vs the A99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX400 IS & Sony SLT-A99. The full galleries are available at Canon SX400 IS Gallery & Sony A99 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Sony A99
SX400 IS | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | July 2014 | ![]() | December 2012 | Newer by 20 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Canon SX400 IS
A99 | SX400 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+999k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Common features in the Canon SX400 IS and Sony A99
SX400 IS | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display sizing |
Touch display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch display |
Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX400 IS comes with external dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).
Check out the Canon SX400 IS versus Sony A99 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX400 IS vs the A99.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX400 IS and A99 is 81 and 57 respectively.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX400 IS and A99.
As you have seen, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX400 IS having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A99 will give you extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher SX400 IS provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony A99 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS | Sony SLT-A99 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX400 IS | Sony SLT-A99 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
Announced | 2014-07-29 | 2012-12-12 |
Body design | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 4+ | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 35.8 x 23.8mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 852.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6000 x 4000 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
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 | ||
Total focus points | 9 | 19 |
Cross type focus points | - | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | - |
Macro focusing range | 0cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 1,229k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Display tech | - | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Auto, on, off, slow synchro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | - | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 313 gr (0.69 lb) | 812 gr (1.79 lb) |
Dimensions | 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") | 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 89 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 25.0 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 14.0 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1555 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 190 images | 500 images |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | NB-11LH | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC |
Storage slots | One | 2 |
Cost at release | $229 | $1,998 |