Canon SX620 HS vs Sony A7R: A Detailed Face-Off Between Compact Superzoom and Pro Mirrorless Powerhouse

Choosing a camera can feel a bit like dating - are you going for the flashy, high-maintenance type with all the bells and whistles (think Sony A7R), or the reliable, easy-going compact (like the Canon SX620 HS) that you can toss in your pocket and call it a day? Having spent countless hours behind the viewfinder testing cameras that span both ends of the spectrum, I’m here to spill the beans on how these two very different beasts compare in practice. Spoiler alert: they serve fundamentally different purposes - but reality is always in the details, so let’s dig in with grit, clarity, and a dash of humor.

Getting Physical: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

Before shutterbugs even think about megapixels or sensor sizes, the way a camera feels in the hands often sets the tone for long-term use. The Canon SX620 HS and Sony A7R couldn’t be more at odds here: one is a compact superzoom, the other a professional-grade full-frame mirrorless system.

The SX620 HS is delightfully pocket-friendly, measuring a mere 97x57x28mm and weighing in at 182g. It’s the kind of camera you can slip into a coat pocket or small purse and barely notice. The controls are minimalistic - no external dials for shutter speed or aperture - just simple buttons and a zoom lever. The grip is shallow but comfortable for casual snaps.

Contrast that with the Sony A7R’s beefy 127x94x48mm body weighing 465g - a size that firmly puts it in the “serious photographer” category. The ergonomics are thoughtfully designed with deep grips and ample buttons/dials for quick manual adjustments. It’s not pocketable by any stretch but balanced well for heavier lenses. If you like feeling solid and tool-like when shooting, this body delivers.

I’ve spent dinnertime street shooting with the SX620 HS and loved how unobtrusive it was. Meanwhile, in the wild or studio, the Sony’s weight imparted a reassuring steadiness but could tire the wrist after hours. Both cameras suit their roles ergonomically, but it’s a trade-off between portability and control.

Form Meets Function: Top Control Layout and Interface

No one likes fumbling through menus mid-shoot, especially during fleeting candid moments or fast action.

The SX620 HS keeps things simple: a mode dial (auto, smart auto, scene modes) and a zoom rocker crown the top plate. There’s no dedicated exposure compensation or manual mode, which limits creative control but streamlines point-and-shoot convenience.

The Sony A7R, on the other hand, is littered with dials - dedicated shutter speed, exposure compensation, and customizable function buttons - plus a mode dial offering full manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and program modes. It caters to hands-on photographers who like to tweak settings on the fly, and the build quality of these controls feels robust in daily use.

From my experience, casual users will rarely miss manual dialing on the Canon, while professionals find the Sony’s tactile buttons indispensable during critical shoots where every fraction of a second counts. The Sony can be intimidating initially but rewards time invested in learning its interface.

Under the Hood: Sensor Size, Resolution & Image Quality

Here’s where the rubber meets the road - or perhaps better said, where the pixel counts matter most.

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS uses a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17x4.55mm with a 20MP resolution. In practical terms, that’s a tiny sensor capturing less light per pixel than larger formats, and it naturally limits dynamic range and low-light performance. The sensor has an anti-alias filter, which slightly softens detail to avoid moiré patterns.

Meanwhile, the Sony A7R boasts a full-frame 35.9x24mm CMOS sensor packing 36.4MP pixels and - crucially - no anti-aliasing filter. This setup translates to exceptional resolution, exceptional dynamic range (measured DxO mark dynamic range of 14.1 stops), and notably richer color depth (25.6 bits). You’re looking at a sensor area roughly 30 times larger than the Canon’s, which changes everything when light levels drop or fine details matter.

Having shot both cameras side-by-side under identical controlled lighting, the Sony images burst with detail and retain shadows and highlights with finesse. The Canon’s results, while decent for casual sharing, show more noise beyond ISO 400 and lack that three-dimensional pop in textures and skin tones I come to expect from larger sensors.

In low-light settings or when printing large for landscapes or portraits, the Sony is in an entirely different league. The Canon is best considered a capable compact for daylight and travel snapshots rather than artfully crafted images.

Peering Through the Screen: Display & Viewfinder

A live view experience can either frustrate or empower your shooting flow.

Canon’s SX620 HS offers a fixed 3-inch LCD screen with 922k dots. It’s bright enough for outdoor use but lacks touchscreen and any form of tilt/swivel, which is a bummer for those who like composing from hip-level or awkward angles.

The Sony A7R ups the ante with a 3-inch 1230k-dot Xtra Fine LCD that tilts - great for low or high-angle shots - and a high-resolution 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage, offering a clear, lag-free framing experience that mirrors DSLR optical finders closely. The EVF magnification of 0.71x is acceptable, though not class-leading.

Having relied on the Canon in bright sunlight for street and travel shots, occasional glare and fixed angle proved limiting. The Sony’s EVF is an absolute joy in any lighting, delivering critical focus confirmation and exposure previews on the spot. For serious photographers, this difference greatly impacts usability and confidence before picking a camera.

The Lens Question: Fixed Zoom vs Versatile Interchangeables

Let’s talk glass. The Canon SX620 HS comes with a fixed 25–625mm (25x optical zoom) lens at f/3.2-6.6 aperture. The huge zoom range is undeniably appealing for casual travel - to get wide landscapes or faraway subjects without changing lenses. However, the variable aperture gets quite narrow at the telephoto end, which affects depth of field control and low-light capability. The optical quality is solid but unsurprisingly limited by compact zoom design compromises such as some chromatic aberration and softness at extremes.

In contrast, the Sony A7R employs the Sony E-mount, boasting a mature ecosystem of over 120 high-quality lenses. This ranges from pancake primes to ultra-long telephotos, macro optics, and fast apertures for beautiful subject isolation. Changing lenses lets photographers tailor their gear precisely to the task, pushing creative boundaries.

What’s important - and easily overlooked here - is the synergy between the large sensor and sharp high-res glass on the Sony, delivering the level of detail and bokeh aesthetics that compact fixed zooms can’t match. For instance, in my portrait sessions, Sony’s 85mm f/1.8 produced creamy bokeh and stunning skin tone gradations unimaginable on the SX620 HS.

For casual everyday shooters, the SX620’s all-in-one convenience is a plus, but enthusiasts will quickly outgrow it.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: When Speed and Accuracy Matter

How do these cameras fare when the action heats up?

The Canon SX620 HS uses a contrast-detection autofocus system with 9 focus points and basic face detection. It offers single and continuous AF modes but maxes out at about 2.5 frames per second (fps) burst rate - a snail’s pace if you need wildlife or sports performance. Tracking moving subjects is hit-and-miss, especially in dim or cluttered environments.

The Sony A7R features a 25-point contrast-detection AF system (no phase detection here, which is a slight drawback), but it’s significantly snappier with reliable face detection. Burst shooting hits 4 fps - which is modest by modern standards yet acceptable for medium-paced action. The camera also supports continuous AF for moving subjects but lacks specialized animal eye AF found in newer models.

From field testing in wildlife scenarios, I observed the Sony vastly outperforms the Canon in locking focus and maintaining tracking, especially paired with fast lenses. The Canon struggled to keep up on flying birds or street racers, often hunting before settling.

If fast autofocus or action photography is your jam, the Sony yields a clearly better result.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Moving Pictures?

Many photographers shoot video now, so how do these two perform on the movie front?

The Canon SX620 HS captures Full HD 1080p video but maxes out at 30 fps with MPEG-4/H.264 compression and no manual exposure controls during video. Unfortunately, no microphone or headphone jack is included for serious audio. Additionally, image stabilization is optically applied - helpful for handheld clips. This camera is really targeting casual videographers who want simple full HD clips to upload quickly.

Sony’s A7R produces smoother Full HD video at 60p, 60i, and 24p, encoding in MP4 and AVCHD formats. It supports microphone and headphone jacks, which is a game-changer for anyone serious about sound quality. Its lack of in-body image stabilization is a small downside, but using stabilized lenses mitigates this. Manual exposure controls during video allow refined creative decisions and exposure consistency.

I recorded sample walks with both - Canon’s footage was acceptable for family or travel use but soft and noisy in low light. Sony’s clips showed crisp detail, rich color gradations, and more cinematic quality. For semi-professionals or serious enthusiasts dabbling in video-and-still work, the Sony is vastly superior.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations for Long Shoots

No one wants their camera dying mid-session.

Canon rates the SX620 HS at about 295 shots per charge, powered by a proprietary Lithium-ion pack. It’s decent but, unsurprisingly, doesn’t last all day if you’re heavy on zoom or playback. The single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot works well for affordable storage.

The Sony A7R extends battery life slightly with 340 shots per charge - not stellar but respectable for full-frame mirrorless. It accepts SD cards as well as Memory Stick Pro Duo media, plus uses the NP-FW50 battery - common in Sony mirrorless bodies, providing accessory convenience.

Real-world testing shows the Sony demands vigilant battery management when shooting stills plus video, but friendly battery grip options exist for longer outings. The Canon’s smaller sensor and simpler processing mean it’s lighter on power, but you’ll still want a spare battery if shooting heavily.

Durability and Weather Sealing: Can They Take a Beating?

The Sony A7R boasts environmental sealing for dust and moisture resistance - a welcome feature for outdoor shooters working in rugged conditions. The Canon SX620 HS, typical of compact superzooms, lacks any weather sealing or shock resistance.

If you deal with harsh environments - rain, dust, or cold - the Sony is a safer choice. The Canon requires extra care, ideally used in sheltered or fair weather situations.

Pricing and Value: What's Your Budget Buying?

At the time of writing, new Sony A7R bodies hover around $1900, while the Canon SX620 HS can be found comfortably under $300.

This price delta reflects their market positioning perfectly - the Sony is a professional-grade tool delivering unparalleled image quality and creative flexibility. The Canon is a budget-friendly, easy-to-use superzoom designed for casual or beginner photographers wanting versatility without fuss.

For enthusiasts mindful of budget but desiring full-frame performance, buying into older or refurbished Sony bodies might be viable. For casual users or travel photographers who prioritize convenience and zoom range over image quality, the Canon makes compelling sense.

Against the Grain: How They Rank Across Photography Genres

Different cameras shine differently depending on use.

Portraits: Sony A7R easily takes the crown here with shallow depth of field, impeccable skin tone rendition, and sharpness. Canon struggles with background compression and limited low-light clarity.

Landscapes: Sony’s full-frame sensor delivers vastly superior dynamic range and resolution for breathtaking landscapes. Canon’s sensor limitations and zoom lens cannot match.

Wildlife: Sony edges ahead due to faster, more reliable focus and better telephoto lens choices. Canon’s long zoom is tempting but let down by slow autofocus and limited frame rates.

Sports: Sony wins with better control, faster response, and more manual options. Canon’s slow fps and single-lens fix restrict racing scenes.

Street: This is the Canon’s only niche competitive slot - its small form is less conspicuous and easy for candid shots, though limited sensor size reduces image quality in dim light.

Macro: Sony’s choice of dedicated macro lenses and manual focus aids beats Canon’s fixed lens with only 1cm macro capabilities.

Night/Astro: Sony’s high ISO strength and cleaner images win handily. Canon’s noise and dynamic range pale in comparison.

Video: Sony’s full HD 60p, manual controls, and audio jacks make it far more capable for video creators.

Travel: Depending - Canon’s pocket portability and zoom are compelling for casual tourists; Sony’s versatility suits serious travelers prioritizing quality and flexibility.

Professional Use: Sony is the clear winner for reliability, workflow integration (including RAW), and build.

Final Thoughts: Picking Your Camera Sidekick

The Canon PowerShot SX620 HS and Sony Alpha A7R are tougher to compare than apples and oranges; they’re apples and tractors. One’s a compact zoom for quick snapshots; the other’s a full-frame workhorse for creative professionals.

If your goal is ultimate image quality, creative control, and you’re comfortable investing time and money into lenses and learning a more complex interface, the Sony A7R remains a fantastic choice even years after its release. It’s an excellent entry into full-frame mirrorless territory for portrait, landscape, or studio work.

If you’re after convenience, simplicity, and an all-in-one zoom companion for travel, family, or street photos where packing light matters most, the Canon SX620 HS delivers pleasing results for the price and ease of use.

To close with a phrase from my own testing mantra: “Choose the camera that inspires you to shoot more, not the one with the fanciest specs.” Both these cameras can fit that bill - just in very different photo bags.

Sample Shots: Seeing Is Believing

Don’t just take my word for it; here’s a gallery comparing images from both cameras side-by-side, showcasing their strengths and limitations in the real world.

Canon SX620 HS front Canon SX620 HS screen back Sony A7R front Sony A7R screen back

If you’re ready to dive deeper or are debating Canon’s other compacts or Sony’s newer A7R models, feel free to reach out or check back here for more hands-on fields notes. Happy shooting!