Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55
96 Imaging
35 Features
43 Overall
38


67 Imaging
55 Features
80 Overall
65
Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- n/ag - 106 x 59 x 33mm
- Introduced February 2011
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Revealed August 2010
- Newer Model is Sony A57

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Overview
Let's take a more detailed look at the Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX220 HS (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the SX220 HS (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

The SX220 HS was released 6 months after the A55 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX220 HS being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SX220 HS grades versus the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon SX220 HS and Sony SLT-A55. The complete galleries are available at Canon SX220 HS Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX220 HS over the Sony A55
SX220 HS | A55 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Canon SX220 HS
A55 | SX220 HS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 461k | Sharper display (+460k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Canon SX220 HS and Sony A55
SX220 HS | A55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | February 2011 | ![]() | August 2010 | Same generation |
Focus manually | ![]() | Very precise focusing | ||
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurements |
Touch display | ![]() | Lacking Touch display |
Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Canon SX220 HS provides external 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) whilst the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Examine the Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SX220 HS against the A55.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX220 HS and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The image below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX220 HS and A55.
As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX220 HS because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A55 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Specifications
Canon SX220 HS | Sony SLT-A55 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Sony |
Model | Canon SX220 HS | Sony SLT-A55 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Introduced | 2011-02-07 | 2010-08-24 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology | Bionz |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4912 x 3264 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
Highest boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 15 |
Cross focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 28-392mm (14.0x) | - |
Maximum aperture | f/3.1-5.9 | - |
Macro focus distance | 5cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Display resolution | 461k dots | 921k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display tech | PureColor II TG TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,150k dots |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/3200 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 3.50 m | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/2000 secs | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30,120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | - | 500 gr (1.10 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 106 x 59 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" x 1.3") | 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 73 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.0 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 816 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 210 photographs | 380 photographs |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NB-5L | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/ MMCplus/HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail price | $399 | $800 |