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Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Canon PowerShot SX530 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Canon SX530 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Replaced the Canon SX520 HS
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX530 HS (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is fairly similar and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX530 HS was unveiled 3 years later than the W550 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX530 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SX530 HS matches up against the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX530 HS over the Sony W550

 SX530 HS W550 
RevealedJanuary 2015July 2011Fresher by 43 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon SX530 HS

 W550 SX530 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX530 HS and Sony W550

 SX530 HS W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX530 HS has got physical measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SX530 HS vs the W550.

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX530 HS and W550 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The graphic underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX530 HS and W550.

To sum up, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX530 HS to offer greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more recent SX530 HS should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX530 HS Portrait photography info
Sony W550 Portrait photography info
44
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX530 HS as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon SX530 HS as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
51
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (1.6 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX530 HS
Travel photography with Sony W550
55
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (210 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
65
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX530 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
45
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
42
pretty wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX530 HS Vlogging info
Sony W550 Vlogging info
29
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
29
pretty wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Canon SX530 HS vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX530 HS and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot SX530 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX530 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2015-01-06 2011-07-24
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4+ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.6 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.50 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 442 grams (0.97 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 210 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Price at launch $379 $119