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Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon SX220 HS front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
55
Features
80
Overall
65

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Canon SX220 HS
(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
Sony A55
(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
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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.

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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.

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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 typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k461kSharper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SX220 HS and Sony A55

 SX220 HS A55 
RevealedFebruary 2011August 2010Same generation
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 size comparison

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

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX220 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
38
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
supports face detection autofocus
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX220 HS Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
76
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX220 HS
Sports photography with Sony A55
36
amazing zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (210 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX220 HS Travel photography advice
Sony A55 Travel photography advice
60
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
long reach (392mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (210 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
61
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
bad battery power (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX220 HS
Landscape photography with Sony A55
41
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery power (210 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
67
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (380 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX220 HS Vlogging advice
Sony A55 Vlogging advice
34
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone support
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Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX220 HS and Sony A55
 Canon SX220 HSSony 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