Canon SX220 HS vs Sony a5100

On this page, we are reviewing the Canon SX220 HS and Sony a5100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Canon and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX220 HS (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the SX220 HS (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The SX220 HS was released 4 years prior to the a5100 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX220 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SX220 HS grades versus the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon SX220 HS and Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SX220 HS Gallery and Sony a5100 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX220 HS provides external measurements of 106mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX220 HS and Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SX220 HS versus the a5100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX220 HS and a5100 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The photograph underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX220 HS and a5100.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SX220 HS because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The older SX220 HS will be behind in sensor technology.