Sony S930 vs Canon G16 Comparison

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Sony S930

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

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Canon G16

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Sony S930 vs Canon G16 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S930 and G16, two Small Sensor Compact cameras from Sony and Canon. Sony S930 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Canon G16 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. Sony S930 was introduced to market in January 2009 and Canon G16 was launched in November 2013. As you can see, S930 is 4 years older than G16. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony S930 and Canon G16 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony S930 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-01-08

10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

38-108 mm F2.9-5.4 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.4" Fixed Type Screen

2 fps continuous shooting

- 320 x 240 video resolution

167g. 90 x 61 x 26 mm

Canon G16 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-11-25

12MP - 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 12800

28-140 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (tunnel) viewfinder

12 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

356g. 109 x 76 x 40 mm

Replaced Canon PowerShot G15 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony S930 and Canon G16 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 over Canon PowerShot G16

Weight	167 g vs 356 g	189 g lighter

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G16 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Viewfinder	Optical vs None	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 10 MP	19% more pixels
Max ISO	12.800 vs 3.200	300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.4"	0.6 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	922k dots vs 112k dots	721% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	12.0fps vs 2.0fps	10 fps faster
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide	28mm vs 38mm	10 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	140mm vs 108mm	32 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	5× vs 2.8×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 2.90	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	2.80 vs 5.40	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	7.0m vs 3.0m	4m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	3.46µm² vs 2.81µm²	23% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 320 x 240	Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 and Canon PowerShot G16

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	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

Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 and Canon PowerShot G16

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Sony S930 vs Canon G16: 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 Sony S930 and Canon G16 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony S930 has external dimensions of 90 x 61 x 26 mm (3.54 x 2.4 x 1.02″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries). Canon G16 has external dimensions of 109 x 76 x 40 mm (4.29 x 2.99 x 1.57″) and weighs 356 g (0.78 lb / 12.56 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony S930 and Canon G16. Sony S930 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 19mm narrower, 15mm shorter and 14mm thinner than Canon G16.

Comparison image of Sony S930 and Canon G16 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 S930 is significantly lighter (189g ) than the Canon G16 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S930

G16

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S930

G16

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 nor Canon PowerShot G16 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 Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G16's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony S930's 2.4" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Sony S930 vs Canon G16: Sensor Comparison

Sony S930 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Canon G16 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Digic 6 processor.

Below you can see the S930 and G16 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony S930 and Canon G16 Cameras

As seen above, Canon G16 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Sony S930. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Sony S930 vs Canon G16 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony S930 features a 38-108 mm F2.9-5.4 2.8× zoom lens whereas Canon G16 features a 28-140 mm F1.8-2.8 5× zoom lens.

Canon G16 has 10mm wider coverage than the Sony S930. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon G16 has 32mm longer reach than the Sony S930. At f2.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S930

G16

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S930

G16

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S930

G16

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S930

G16

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Sony S930 and Canon G16 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony S930 and Canon G16 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.

Sony S930 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon G16 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus 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
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony S930 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon G16 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

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

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Sony S930 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon G16 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
108 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
Fast Lens at Tele: f2.80
140 mm Tele Lens
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Sony S930 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon G16 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
167g
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
2.8X Optical Zoom
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
356g
Body Thickness 40mm
Read the details

Sony S930 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon G16 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony S930 vs Canon G16: 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 Sony S930 and Canon G16, 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 Sony S930 and Canon G16 scores compare:

Sony S930

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #425 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1129 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Canon G16

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #7 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #275 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Canon G16 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony S930 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony S930. Otherwise, Canon G16 is the better camera overall.

Canon G16 vs Sony S930 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930	Canon PowerShot G16
Brand	Sony	Canon
Announced	2009-01-08	2013-11-25
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/1.7-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area	28.07mm²	41.52mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 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	38-108 mm (2.8×)	28-140 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F2.9-5.4	F1.8-2.8
Macro Focus Range	5cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.4"	3"
Resolution	112k dots	922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Optical (tunnel)
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a	80%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	3.00 m (Auto ISO)	7.00 m
Max Flash Sync	s	1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps	12.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	320 x 240	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	167g	356g
Dimensions	90 x 61 x 26mm	109 x 76 x 40mm
Battery Life	n/a	360 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	54
DxO Color Depth	not tested	21.0
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	11.7
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	230
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