Canon SX220 HS vs Sony A68: An Expert Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing between cameras from two very different categories - the compact superzoom Canon SX220 HS and the entry-level DSLR Sony A68 - can be a challenge, particularly if you’re trying to maximize value while covering a wide range of photography interests. As someone who has spent the better part of 15 years testing cameras in the field - from humming concert halls to rugged mountain tops - I’m here to cut through the spec sheets and marketing fluff. Let’s dive deeply into how these two cameras stack up in real-world use, focusing on everything from image quality to ergonomics, and see which suits your ambitions and budget best.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Key Specs & Design Philosophy

Before we jump in the trenches, it helps to frame these cameras’ foundational differences. The Canon SX220 HS, announced in early 2011, is a small sensor superzoom compact designed for versatility and portability. It sports a 12MP 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor, a fixed 28-392mm (14x zoom) lens, and a modest feature set geared for casual shooters who want an all-in-one solution.

Contrast that with the Sony A68, a lightweight and affordable APS-C DSLR launched in late 2015, built around a 24MP sensor and an interchangeable-lens system supporting Sony’s extensive Minolta Alpha mount ecosystem. It’s more of a traditional camera that targets enthusiasts looking to step up from compacts and smartphones toward higher image quality and creative control.

Take a moment to appreciate their dramatically different footprints and body types:

The Canon SX220 HS fits snugly in your palm, with its sleek compact shell, while the Sony A68 commands a bulkier presence typical of DSLRs, offering a substantial grip and better balance with thicker lenses attached. This weight and size difference alone hints at very different use cases.

The Sensor and Image Quality Showdown

Image quality is often the number one consideration. And here, the difference in sensor technology is a big deal.

That small Canon sensor constrains dynamic range and noise performance, meaning images can look soft, noisier at higher ISOs, and less flexible during post-processing. The Sony A68’s APS-C sensor, which is over 13 times larger in surface area, naturally captures more light, offering richer tonal gradations and better low-light clarity.

From years of hands-on testing, APS-C DSLRs routinely outperform small sensor compacts in landscape shots rich with shadow and highlight variation, thanks to their far superior dynamic range. Portraits benefit, too, from better color depth and higher resolution, crucial for accurate skin tones and detail.

If you’re pixel-peeping or shooting raw files for professional post-processing, the Sony’s sensor prowess is a real boon. The Canon, fixed at JPEG, requires getting settings spot-on in-camera - less forgiving but simpler for casual sharing.

Lenses and Flexibility: Fixed Zoom vs Interchangeable Arsenal

The Canon SX220 HS packs a fixed 28-392mm equivalent (14x) zoom lens with a variable aperture of f/3.1-5.9. This gives decent reach in a super compact package and a respectable macro mode down to 5cm. Optical image stabilization is included, which compensates well for the telephoto reach handheld.

Sony A68’s big advantage? Interchangeable lenses. It uses the Sony / Minolta Alpha mount, which means you have access to over 140 lenses spanning primes, zooms, macros, and specialty optics. The kit lens is an f/3.5-5.6 zoom, but upgrading to brighter, sharper or faster lenses is as easy as the accessory shops around the corner.

Lens compatibility and quality influence all photography styles. For:

• Portraits: fast primes at wide apertures (like f/1.8 or f/1.4) offer creamy bokeh and subject isolation.
• Wildlife/Sports: telephoto lenses beyond the Canon’s 392mm equivalent enhance reach and subject detail.
• Macro: dedicated macro optics with precise focusing outperform the Canon’s limited macro mode.
• Landscapes: high-quality wide-angle lenses deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and minimal distortion.

The Canon is “all-in-one,” so it’s less about swapping glass and more about making the most of what’s there - a compromise that suits many casual and travel photographers.

Handling and Ergonomics: Clubs for Thumbs or Tucked-in Travels?

When it comes to handling, there’s always a tug of war between cameras large enough to offer great controls and those small enough not to weigh you down.

The Canon SX220 HS features a straightforward control layout but no electronic viewfinder, relying on its 3" PureColor II screen to compose. Buttons are small and while accessible enough for point-and-shoot use, may feel cramped in fast-paced situations. No touchscreen either - so menu navigation is done via buttons.

Connectivity is basic but includes standard USB 2.0 and mini HDMI. No wireless features or GPS.

The Sony A68 offers a far more DSLR-like handling experience, with:

• A comfortable, sculpted grip suited for longer shoots
• A tilting 2.7" LCD screen (though not touchscreen)
• A bright 1,440k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage, great for eye-level framing
• Comprehensive physical controls for exposure compensation, AF modes, drive modes, and a custom button layout

Battery life is another clear win for Sony: rated at roughly 510 shots per charge compared to Canon’s 210 - a critical consideration if you don’t want to lug around extra batteries on a day-long outing.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Keeping up in Action

AF system and burst speed often separate cameras usable for sports, wildlife, or fast-moving events from those better suited for static subjects.

Sony’s hybrid AF incorporates 79 phase-detection points - including 15 cross-type sensors - providing quicker, more accurate autofocus tracking during continuous shooting, which bursts at 8 fps. This responsiveness is essential when photographing sports, kids playing, wildlife, or any fleeting moments.

Canon’s contrast-detection AF system is slower and less precise in tracking moving subjects. Its 3 fps burst rate, while respectable for a compact, will struggle to keep pace in fast action scenarios.

For street and casual shooting, the Canon’s delays are manageable. But if your photography involves more dynamic subjects, the Sony’s superior system makes a tangible difference.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance

The Canon has optical image stabilization in its lens system, crucial for reducing camera shake, especially at full zoom and slower shutter speeds, compensating somewhat for its small sensor's low light limits.

Sony incorporates sensor-based stabilization (SteadyShot INSIDE), which works across all lenses attached, providing effective vibration reduction. Coupled with better ISO performance (up to ISO 25,600), this system enables more flexibility in dim environments without sacrificing image quality.

Practically speaking, this means:

• Canon might require slow shutter speeds or flash in low light, risking blur.
• Sony can handhold shots at higher ISO with less noise, thanks to better sensor and stabilization.

LCD Screen and Electronic Viewfinder Experience

The Canon SX220 HS’s 3" fixed LCD is bright and reasonably sharp for a camera of its era (461k dots), but it lacks the convenience and framing accuracy of an EVF.

Sony’s tilting 2.7" screen shares the same pixel count but with the added benefit of a high-res EVF (1,440k dots) that provides eye-level composition with 100% coverage and real-time exposure info - a huge advantage in bright sunlight or for precise framing.

Video Capabilities: Who Wins the Moving Image Battle?

Video is an increasingly important feature for hybrid shooters.

Canon SX220 HS offers:

• 1080p Full HD at 24fps
• 720p at 30fps
• Slower motion modes (480p 120fps, 240fps for short bursts)
• H.264 format, no mic input

Sony A68 provides:

• 1080p Full HD at 60i/30/24fps
• AVCHD, MPEG-4, and XAVC S codecs
• Microphone input for better audio control
• No 4K or high-frame-rate slow motion

While the Canon’s video is serviceable for basic shooting and offers slow-motion options, Sony’s video quality and audio input capability cater more to serious content creators who want flexibility in post-production sound and smoother frame rates.

Ruggedness and Build Quality

Neither camera is weather-sealed or shockproof, standard for their categories and price points. The Sony A68’s bulkier body tends to feel more robust, while the Canon is more delicate due to its compact internals.

Storage, Connectivity, and Battery Life

Both cameras store images on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the Sony additionally supports Memory Stick Pro Duo - a legacy feature sometimes useful for users invested in that ecosystem.

Wireless connectivity is absent on the Canon and limited on the Sony (only Eye-Fi card support, which is increasingly obsolete). Neither supports Bluetooth or NFC, reflecting their respective release dates.

Battery life heavily favors Sony (510 shots vs Canon’s 210), a big deal for travel and event photographers who hate running dry.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

To bring this home, let’s look at how these cameras perform across common photography types:

Canon SX220 HS front Canon SX220 HS screen back Sony A68 front Sony A68 screen back

Portraits

• Sony A68: Superior skin tone accuracy, excellent bokeh with fast lenses, and sophisticated face detection autofocus make this a solid option for portraits.
• Canon SX220 HS: Bokeh is limited by lens aperture and sensor size; decent face detection but crisper shots will need careful lighting.

Landscape

• Sony A68: Wide dynamic range, high resolution, and lens flexibility excel here.
• Canon SX220 HS: Usable for casual landscapes but small sensor limits shadow detail and low noise.

Wildlife

• Sony A68: Faster autofocus, quicker bursts, and longer lenses give the edge.
• Canon SX220 HS: 14x zoom helps, but slower, less accurate AF hampers capturing wildlife action.

Sports

• Sony A68: 8 fps burst and reliable tracking make it fit for fast action.
• Canon SX220 HS: 3 fps rate and less responsive AF better for slow-moving or posed subjects.

Street

• Canon SX220 HS: Pocketable and discreet for candid shots.
• Sony A68: Bulkier but with EVF, quieter than DSLR optical viewfinder, good for composed street shots.

Macro

• Sony A68: Specialized lenses and focus assist features make it more capable.
• Canon SX220 HS: Decent close-focusing mode but limited detail.

Night/Astro

• Sony A68: High ISO, stabilization, and manual control outperform Canon’s small sensor.
• Canon SX220 HS: Limited ISO and noise control restrain night shooting ability.

Video

• Sony A68: Better frame rates, audio input, and codecs cater to serious video.
• Canon SX220 HS: Basic video with slow motion modes but less control.

Travel

• Canon SX220 HS: Lightweight, simple, versatile zoom.
• Sony A68: Heavier but more capable and flexible.

Professional Work

• Sony A68: Can handle demanding workflows with raw files and wide lens options.
• Canon SX220 HS: More of a point-and-shoot tool; limited raw support.

How They Score in Different Photography Disciplines

Check the breakdown here:

Pros and Cons Summary

Canon SX220 HS

Pros:

• Compact and highly portable
• Superb zoom range for its size (28-392mm equiv.)
• Optical image stabilization
• Easy to operate with simple controls
• Affordable price point (~$399 new)

Cons:

• Small sensor limits image quality and dynamic range
• No RAW support
• Slow autofocus and low burst rate
• No viewfinder, fixed LCD only
• No wireless or video audio input
• Limited low-light ability and burst speed

Sony A68

Pros:

• Large APS-C sensor with excellent image quality (24MP)
• Interchangeable lens system with wide ecosystem support
• Fast, accurate hybrid AF with 79 points
• 8 fps continuous shooting
• Electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage
• Camera-based stabilization works with any lens
• Superior low-light and video performance with mic input
• Strong battery life (510 shots)
• Better suited for serious enthusiasts or semi-pros
• Supports RAW for in-depth editing

Cons:

• Larger and heavier body (610g)
• No touchscreen
• No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
• No weather sealing
• More complex menu system for beginners
• Pricier (~$581 new)

Final Verdict: Which One Fits You?

If you identify as a casual shooter, beginner, or cheapskate simply looking for an ultra-portable, all-in-one zoom compact to carry everywhere - say, family outings, vacations, or street snaps - the Canon SX220 HS still holds appeal due to its simplicity, pocket-friendly size, and versatile zoom range. Just don’t expect stellar low-light shots or professional-grade files.

But if you aspire to hone your craft with better image quality, shooting speed, lens control, and versatility, the Sony A68 is a clear winner. It has the chops to deliver sharper portraits, dynamic landscapes, and crisp wildlife photos. Its advanced autofocus and shooting speeds make capturing fleeting moments easier, and RAW support opens the door to creative post-processing. This camera shines when you demand more from your gear without diving into full-frame cost territory.

Thinking about travel photography or mixed-content creation (photo + video)? The Canon’s small size helps with packing light, but the Sony’s enhanced battery life, better viewfinder, and video capabilities will keep you going longer in the field with improved quality.

Closing Thoughts

Having lived through the evolution from compact superzooms to mirrorless cameras and advanced DSLRs, my recommendation hinges on your priorities.

• For grab-and-go convenience with minimal fuss, the Canon SX220 HS is still a capable companion in well-lit environments.
• For enthusiast photographers eager to learn and expand horizons, the Sony A68 offers significantly greater potential, and thanks to its modest price, is a fantastic value when purchased secondhand or new.

If budget allows and weight isn’t the biggest enemy, the Sony A68 gives you a proper foundation for serious photography growth while keeping your wallet relatively happy.

I hope this thorough comparison gives you clear insight into each camera’s real strengths and quirks. Whichever you choose, remember that mastering your camera beats obsessing over specs. Get out there, shoot a lot, and enjoy the process - gear matters, but your eye matters more.

Happy shooting!