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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V 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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Sony HX400V

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

Sony HX400V
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SX30 IS and HX400V, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Canon and Sony. Both cameras have 1/2.3" sensors but Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0 MP and Sony HX400V has a 20.0 MP resolution. Canon SX30 IS was introduced to market in September 2010 and Sony HX400V was launched in February 2014. As you can see, SX30 IS is 4 years older than HX400V. 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 Sony HX400V 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

Sony HX400V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-02-12
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 24-1200 mm F2.8-6.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 660g. 130 x 93 x 103 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Weight
601 g vs 660 g 59 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 2.80 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.30 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.01µm2 vs 1.39µm2 44% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 14 MP 42% more pixels
Max ISO
12.800 vs 1.600 700% 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
10.0fps vs 1.0fps 9 fps faster
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Focal Length - Tele
1200mm vs 840mm 360 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
50x vs 35× more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
8.5m vs 6.8m 1.7m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
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 1200mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V: 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 Sony HX400V 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). Sony HX400V has external dimensions of 130 x 93 x 103 mm (5.1 x 3.67 x 4.06″) and weighs 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V. Canon SX30 IS is 7mm narrower and 1mm shorter than Sony HX400V but it is also 5mm thicker.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V 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 SX30 IS is 59g lighter than the Sony HX400V but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
HX400V
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
HX400V
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V 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

Sony HX400V's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX30 IS's 2.7" screen.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V: 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, Sony HX400V has a 20.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Sony HX400V's sensor provides 6MP more than Canon SX30 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.

Below you can see the SX30 IS and HX400V sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V 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 44% larger pixel area compared to Sony HX400V, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX400V Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Sony HX400V features a 24-1200 mm F2.8-6.3 50x 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 Sony HX400V at this focal length. On the tele end, Sony HX400V has 360mm 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
HX400V
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
HX400V
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
HX400V
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
HX400V
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX400V 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

Sony HX400V 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony HX400V 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
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
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

Sony HX400V 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
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
1200 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX400V 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
50.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
660g
Body Thickness 103mm
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony HX400V 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
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 Sony HX400V: 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 Sony HX400V, 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 Sony HX400V 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
Sony HX400V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #32 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #429 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Sony HX400V is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SX30 IS in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon SX30 IS. Otherwise, Sony HX400V is the better camera overall.

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Sony HX400V
Sony HX400V
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Sony HX400V vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2010-09-14 2014-02-12
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 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 5184 x 3888
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 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×) 24-1200 mm (50x)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F2.8-6.3
Macro Focus Range 0cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
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 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
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 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 660g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 130 x 93 x 103mm
Battery Life n/a 300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None BuiltIn
DxO Sensor Scores
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