Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A290

Lets look a bit more closely at the Canon SX220 HS and Sony A290, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Canon and Sony. The resolution of the SX220 HS (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SX220 HS (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SX220 HS was unveiled 9 months after the A290 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX220 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SX220 HS grades versus the A290 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Canon SX220 HS & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The full galleries are provided at Canon SX220 HS Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX220 HS has physical measurements of 106mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Canon SX220 HS and Sony A290 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX220 HS vs the A290.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX220 HS and A290 is 96 and 66 respectively.

Often, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specs. The image below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX220 HS and A290.

All in all, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SX220 HS with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A290 will offer you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher SX220 HS is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.