Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs.
In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony A100 and Canon N side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A100 has external dimensions of 133 x 95 x 71 mm (5.24 x 3.74 x 2.8″) and weighs 638 g (1.41 lb / 22.50 oz) (including batteries). Canon N has external dimensions of 79 x 60 x 29 mm (3.11 x 2.36 x 1.14″) and weighs 195 g (0.43 lb / 6.88 oz) (including batteries).
Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony A100 and the Canon N. Canon N is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 54mm narrower, 35mm shorter and 42mm thinner than Sony A100. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Canon N has a built-in lens but Sony A100 doesn't. Once you put a lens on A100, its thickness will increase significantly.
Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day.
Canon N is significantly lighter (443g ) than the Sony A100 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.
Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on A100, the total kit will weigh much higher.
Weather Sealing
Unfortunately neither the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 nor Canon PowerShot N provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, 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 DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing
LCD Screen Size and Features
Canon N's 2.80" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A100's 2.5" screen.
In addition to the size advantage, Canon N LCD screen also has a
Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Sony A100 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to N.