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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix A900 front
Portability
88
Imaging
46
Features
58
Overall
50

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Released January 2016
Nikon A900
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-840mm (F3.4-6.9) lens
  • 289g - 113 x 67 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Renewed by Nikon A1000
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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Canon SX420 IS and Nikon A900, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the SX420 IS (20MP) and the A900 (20MP) is pretty close and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was manufactured within a month of the A900 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon A900 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX420 IS scores against the A900 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Nikon A900

 SX420 IS A900 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon A900 over the Canon SX420 IS

 A900 SX420 IS 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Nikon A900

 SX420 IS A900 
IntroducedJanuary 2016February 2016Same age
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX420 IS enjoys outside measurements of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Nikon A900 has specifications of 113mm x 67mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX420 IS and Nikon A900 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX420 IS against the A900.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX420 IS and A900 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX420 IS and A900.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of photographs however you have to factor the age of the cameras into account.

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX420 IS
Portrait photography with Nikon A900
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
40
megapixel count good (20MP)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Street photography info
Nikon A900 Street photography info
52
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (289 grams)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Sports photography details
Nikon A900 Sports photography details
41
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (0.5 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (195 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
56
excellent zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon A900 as a Travel photography camera
61
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery power (195 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
74
lighter than competition in class (289 grams)
supports bluetooth
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (840mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon A900 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery power (195 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
49
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging highlights
Nikon A900 Vlogging highlights
29
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
34
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (289g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon SX420 IS vs Nikon A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Nikon A900
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISNikon Coolpix A900
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Nikon Coolpix A900
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-01-05 2016-02-23
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4+ -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 5152 x 3864 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/3.4-6.9
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 0.5 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 289g (0.64 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 113 x 67 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 195 photographs 300 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11LH EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $299 $400