Canon SX510 HS vs Sony a5100

The following is a detailed assessment of the Canon SX510 HS and Sony a5100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX510 HS (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX510 HS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SX510 HS was unveiled 12 months earlier than the a5100 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX510 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SX510 HS grades against the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX510 HS & Sony Alpha a5100. The full galleries are viewable at Canon SX510 HS Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX510 HS features outer measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX510 HS and Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SX510 HS compared to the a5100.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX510 HS and a5100 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specifications. The pic below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX510 HS and a5100.

Plainly, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SX510 HS having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Sony a5100 will offer extra detail having an extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged SX510 HS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.