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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530 Comparison

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Canon SX30 IS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX30 IS
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Nikon P530

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon P530
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Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SX30 IS and P530, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Canon and Nikon. Both cameras have 1/2.3" sensors but Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0 MP and Nikon P530 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Canon SX30 IS was introduced to market in September 2010 and Nikon P530 was launched in February 2014. As you can see, SX30 IS is 4 years older than P530. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 601g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Compare

Nikon P530 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-02-07
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400 ( expands to 12800)
  • 24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 7 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 120 fps High-Speed Video
  • 494g. 123 x 84 x 98 mm
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix P520 Compare

Canon SX30 IS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Nikon Coolpix P530

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Nikon Coolpix P530
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 3.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.01µm2 vs 1.76µm2 14% larger pixel area
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix P530 over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 14 MP 14% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/3200s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 1.0fps 6 fps faster
Weight
494 g vs 601 g 107 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
1000mm vs 840mm 160 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
41.7× vs 35× more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
8.0m vs 6.8m 1.2m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Nikon Coolpix P530
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 1000mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Nikon Coolpix P530
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 5.90 Slow lenses at tele
Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530: 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 SX30 IS and Nikon P530 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX30 IS has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″) and weighs 601 g (1.32 lb / 21.20 oz) (including batteries). Nikon P530 has external dimensions of 123 x 84 x 98 mm (4.83 x 3.31 x 3.87″) and weighs 494 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 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. Nikon P530 is significantly lighter (107g ) than the Canon SX30 IS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
P530
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
P530
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Nikon Coolpix P530 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon P530's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX30 IS's 2.7" screen.

On the other hand, Canon SX30 IS sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. On the other hand, Nikon P530 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Nikon P530 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the SX30 IS and P530 sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Canon SX30 IS has 14% larger pixel area compared to Nikon P530, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Nikon P530 features a 24-1000 mm F3.0-5.9 41.7× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.70, Canon SX30 IS is faster than Nikon P530 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon P530 has 160mm longer telezoom reach than the Canon SX30 IS. However, with a max aperture of f5.80, Canon SX30 IS is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
P530
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
P530
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
P530
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
P530
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Nikon P530 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 SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P530 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon P530 for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P530 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
840 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No RAW shooting capability
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1000 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon P530 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
601g
Body Thickness 108mm
Read the details
41.7X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
494g
Body Thickness 98mm
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon P530 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS vs Nikon P530: 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 SX30 IS and Nikon P530, 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 SX30 IS and Nikon P530 scores compare:

Canon SX30 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #69 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #626 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Nikon P530
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #48 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #531 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Nikon P530 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SX30 IS in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Nikon P530
Nikon P530
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Nikon P530 vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Nikon Coolpix P530
Brand Canon Nikon
Announced 2010-09-14 2014-02-07
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CCD BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 12800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 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 9 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 24-1000 mm (41.7×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range 0cm 0cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m 8.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 494g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 123 x 84 x 98mm
Battery Life n/a 240 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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