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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV Comparison

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Canon SX120 IS

10 MP | 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX120 IS
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Sony A7R IV

61 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7R IV
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Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon SX120 IS, which was introduced in August 2009 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 10.0MP 1/2.5-inch sensor whereas Sony A7R IV, which was introduced in July 2019 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 61.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, SX120 IS is 10 years older than A7R IV. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX120 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-08-19
  • 10MP - 1/2.5-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 36-360 mm F2.8-4.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 285g. 111 x 71 x 45 mm

Sony A7R IV Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-07-16
  • 61MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50-102800)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 665g. 129 x 96 x 78 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha A7R III Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX120 IS over Sony Alpha A7R IV
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Weight
285 g vs 665 g 380 g lighter


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7R IV over Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
61 MP vs 10 MP 509% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 1.600 1900% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution
1.440k dots vs 230k dots 526% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Sensor Pixel Area
14.15µm2 vs 2.48µm2 470% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (241.0MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Sony Alpha A7R IV
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and Sony Alpha A7R IV
Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX120 IS has external dimensions of 111 x 71 x 45 mm (4.37 x 2.8 x 1.77″) and weighs 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz) (including batteries). Sony A7R IV has external dimensions of 129 x 96 x 78 mm (5.08 x 3.78 x 3.07″) and weighs 665 g (1.47 lb / 23.46 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV. Canon SX120 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 18mm narrower, 25mm shorter and 33mm thinner than Sony A7R IV. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Canon SX120 IS has a built-in lens but Sony A7R IV doesn't. Once you put a lens on A7R IV, its thickness will increase significantly.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX120 IS is significantly lighter (380g ) than the Sony A7R IV which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on A7R IV, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of A7R IV, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to SX120 IS.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Sony A7R IV features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Canon SX120 IS has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7R IV.
Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX120 IS has a 10.0MP 1/2.5-inch (5.744 x 4.308 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Sony A7R IV has a 61.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Sony A7R IV's sensor provides 51MP more than Canon SX120 IS's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Sony A7R IV's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the SX120 IS and A7R IV sensor size comparison.

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7R IV has a 34.4x Larger sensor area than Canon SX120 IS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon SX120 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Sony A7R IV for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 61.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX120 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7R IV for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Canon SX120 IS for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony A7R IV for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
360 mm Tele Lens
Fast Lens at Tele: f4.30
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2500s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
567 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 670 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Read the details

Canon SX120 IS for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony A7R IV for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Compact Body
285g
10.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 45mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Medium size Body
665g
Body Thickness 78mm
Read the details

Canon SX120 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony A7R IV for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 61.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Canon SX120 IS vs Sony A7R IV: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon SX120 IS and Sony A7R IV scores compare:

Canon SX120 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #274 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #890 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Sony A7R IV
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #3 out of 88 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #3 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Sony A7R IV is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SX120 IS in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon SX120 IS. Otherwise, Sony A7R IV is the better camera overall.

Canon SX120 IS
Canon SX120 IS
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Sony A7R IV
Sony A7R IV
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Sony A7R IV vs Canon SX120 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Sony Alpha A7R IV
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2009-08-19 2019-07-16
Body Type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CCD BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.5-inch Full frame
Dimensions 5.744 x 4.308 mm 35.8 x 23.8 mm
Area 24.74mm2 852.04mm2
Megapixels 10 megapixels 61 megapixels
Max Resolution 3648 x 2736 9504 x 6336
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 32,000 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 102800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 567
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens Focal Range 36-360 mm (10×) no lens
Max Aperture F2.8-4.3 no lens
Macro Focus Range 1cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3" 3
Resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 5,760k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.78x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2500s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.00 m no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync 1/500s 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 640 x 480 3840 x 2160
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 285g 665g
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm 129 x 96 x 78mm
Battery Life n/a 670 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 99
DxO Color Depth not tested 26.0
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 14.8
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 3344
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