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Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
80
Imaging
45
Features
34
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Announced January 2016
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
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Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX420 IS (20MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is relatively close but the SX420 IS (1/2.3") and RX100 VA (1") offer different sensor measurements.

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The SX420 IS was manufactured 3 years prior to the RX100 VA which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX420 IS grades against the RX100 VA in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Sony RX100 VA

 SX420 IS RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Canon SX420 IS

 RX100 VA SX420 IS 
LaunchedJuly 2018January 2016Newer by 30 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Sony RX100 VA

 SX420 IS RX100 VA 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX420 IS comes with physical measurements of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VA has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX420 IS against the RX100 VA.

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX420 IS and RX100 VA is 80 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX420 IS and RX100 VA.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The SX420 IS has the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF tougher. The more aged SX420 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX420 IS
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VA
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
66
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Street photography info
Sony RX100 VA Street photography info
52
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX420 IS
Sports photography with Sony RX100 VA
41
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
max frames per second very slow (0.5 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (195 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
70
silent mode (1/32,000s)
high max fps (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
has tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography information
Sony RX100 VA Travel photography information
61
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (1008mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (195 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
76
lighter than others in class (299 grams)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (220 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery (195 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
66
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging features
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging features
29
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
81
pretty wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others in class (299 grams)
does not have microphone jack
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Canon SX420 IS vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Sony RX100 VA
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2016-01-05 2018-07-13
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4+ Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5152 x 3864 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 315
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 0.5 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 299 gr (0.66 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
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 195 shots 220 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11LH NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $299 $998