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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX50V 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 HX50V

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

Sony HX50V
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX50V Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SX30 IS and HX50V, 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 HX50V has a 20.0 MP resolution. Canon SX30 IS was introduced to market in September 2010 and Sony HX50V was launched in April 2013. As you can see, SX30 IS is 3 years older than HX50V. 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 HX50V 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 HX50V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-04-24
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 12800)
  • 24-720 mm F3.5 - 6.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 272g. 108 x 64 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 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-HX50V

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V 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-HX50V
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 720mm 120 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
35× vs 30x more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.30 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.8m vs 5.6m 1.2m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.01µm2 vs 1.85µm2 8% larger pixel area
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V 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
3.200 vs 1.600 100% 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
Weight
272 g vs 601 g 329 g lighter
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
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 720mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.30 Slow lenses at tele
Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX50V: 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 HX50V 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 HX50V has external dimensions of 108 x 64 x 38 mm (4.25 x 2.52 x 1.5″) and weighs 272 g (0.60 lb / 9.59 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V. Sony HX50V is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 15mm narrower, 28mm shorter and 70mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX50V Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V 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. Sony HX50V is significantly lighter (329g ) than the Canon SX30 IS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
HX50V
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
HX50V
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V 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

Sony HX50V'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, Sony HX50V has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX50V: 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 HX50V has a 20.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Sony HX50V'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 HX50V sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony HX50V Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V 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 8% larger pixel area compared to Sony HX50V, 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 HX50V Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Sony HX50V features a 24-720 mm F3.5 - 6.3 30x 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 HX50V at this focal length. On the tele end, Canon SX30 IS has 120mm longer reach than the Sony HX50V. At f5.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
HX50V
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
HX50V
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
HX50V
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
HX50V
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Sony HX50V 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 HX50V 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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony HX50V 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
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
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 HX50V 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
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Optional External Viewfinder
No RAW shooting capability
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX50V 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
272g
30.0X 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

Sony HX50V 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 HX50V: 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 HX50V, 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 HX50V 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 HX50V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #41 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #443 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Sony HX50V 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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Sony HX50V
Sony HX50V
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Sony HX50V vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2010-09-14 2013-04-24
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
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 2920
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 3,200 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 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 24-720 mm (30x)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F3.5 - 6.3
Macro Focus Range 0cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
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 5.60 m
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 272g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 108 x 64 x 38mm
Battery Life n/a 400 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None BuiltIn
DxO Sensor Scores
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