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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W650 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 W650

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

Sony W650
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Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W650 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon SX30 IS, which was introduced in September 2010 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 14.0MP 1/2.3" sensor whereas Sony W650, which was introduced in January 2012 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3" sensor. There is 16 months difference between SX30 IS and W650 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger W650, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 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 W650 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-01-10
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 25-125 mm F2.6-6.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 124g. 94 x 56 x 19 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 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-W650
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 Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/1600s faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 125mm 715 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
35× vs 5× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.30 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.8m vs 3.7m 3.1m longer range
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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 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
3.200 vs 1.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
Weight
124 g vs 601 g 477 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
2.60 vs 2.70 faster lens at wide

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
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 W650: 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 W650 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 W650 has external dimensions of 94 x 56 x 19 mm (3.7 x 2.2 x 0.75″) and weighs 124 g (0.27 lb / 4.37 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650. Sony W650 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 29mm narrower, 36mm shorter and 89mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W650 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 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 W650 is significantly lighter (477g ) than the Canon SX30 IS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
W650
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
W650
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 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 W650'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 W650 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W650: 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 W650 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features BIONZ processor.

Below you can see the SX30 IS and W650 sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W650 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 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 Sony W650, 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 W650 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Sony W650 features a 25-125 mm F2.6-6.3 5× zoom lens.

Canon SX30 IS has 1mm wider coverage than the Sony W650. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.60, Sony W650 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon SX30 IS has 715mm longer reach than the Sony W650. At f5.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
W650
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
W650
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
W650
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SX30 IS
W650
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Sony W650 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 W650 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
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony W650 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.60
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony W650 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
125 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony W650 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
Compact Body
124g
Body Thickness 19mm
5.0X 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 W650 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
25 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 Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS vs Sony W650: 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 W650, 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 W650 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 W650
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #350 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1006 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Canon SX30 IS has a higher Overall Score than the Sony W650 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Sony W650
Sony W650
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Sony W650 vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2010-09-14 2012-01-10
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
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 3,200 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 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 25-125 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F2.6-6.3
Macro Focus Range 0cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m 3.70 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 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 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 124g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 94 x 56 x 19mm
Battery Life n/a 220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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