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Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5 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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Ricoh CX5

10 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Ricoh CX5
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Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SX30 IS and CX5, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Canon and Ricoh. Both cameras have 1/2.3" sensors but Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0 MP and Ricoh CX5 has a 10.0 MP resolution. Canon SX30 IS was introduced to market in September 2010 and Ricoh CX5 was launched in July 2011. There is only 10 months difference between SX30 IS and CX5 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 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

Ricoh CX5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-07-19
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 205g. 102 x 59 x 29 mm

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 Ricoh CX5

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Ricoh CX5
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Max Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 10 MP 39% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 300mm 540 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
35× vs 10.7× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage
6.8m vs 4.0m 2.8m longer range
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies


Reasons to choose Ricoh CX5 over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Max ISO
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 1.0fps 4 fps faster
Weight
205 g vs 601 g 396 g lighter
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Aperture - Tele
5.60 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 300mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5: 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 Ricoh CX5 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). Ricoh CX5 has external dimensions of 102 x 59 x 29 mm (4.02 x 2.32 x 1.14″) and weighs 205 g (0.45 lb / 7.23 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5. Ricoh CX5 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 21mm narrower, 33mm shorter and 79mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS.

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 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. Ricoh CX5 is significantly lighter (396g ) than the Canon SX30 IS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
CX5
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
CX5
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Ricoh CX5 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
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh CX5'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, Ricoh CX5 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5: 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, Ricoh CX5 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor.

Below you can see the SX30 IS and CX5 sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Ricoh CX5 features a 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 10.7× zoom lens.

Canon SX30 IS has 4mm wider coverage than the Ricoh CX5. At f2.70, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon SX30 IS has 540mm longer reach than the Ricoh CX5. However, with a max aperture of f5.60, Ricoh CX5 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
CX5
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
CX5
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
CX5
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
CX5
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Ricoh CX5 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

Ricoh CX5 for Portrait Photography

POOR
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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 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

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Ricoh CX5 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
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh CX5 for Sports Photography

POOR
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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Ricoh CX5 for Daily Photography

GOOD
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
Compact Body
205g
10.7X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Ricoh CX5 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
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS vs Ricoh CX5: 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 Ricoh CX5, 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 Ricoh CX5 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
Ricoh CX5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #199 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #767 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Canon SX30 IS is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Ricoh CX5 in all criteria except one: Portability. Ricoh CX5 is significantly smaller than Canon SX30 IS. If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Ricoh CX5. Otherwise, Canon SX30 IS is the better camera overall.

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Ricoh CX5
Ricoh CX5
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Ricoh CX5 vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Ricoh CX5
Brand Canon Ricoh
Announced 2010-09-14 2011-07-19
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type CCD 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 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 3,200 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 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 28-300 mm (10.7×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F3.5-5.6
Macro Focus Range 0cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m 4.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1280 x 720
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 205g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 102 x 59 x 29mm
Battery Life n/a n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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