Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Comparison
| change cameras » | |||||
|
vs |
|
|||
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 | Canon PowerShot SX160 IS | ||||
| check price » | check price » | ||||
Megapixels
6.00
16.00
Max. image resolution
2816 x 2112
4608 x 3456
Sensor
Sensor type
CCD
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.5" (~ 5.75 x 4.32 mm)
1/2.3" (~ 6.16 x 4.62 mm)
Sensor size comparison
Sensor size is generally a good indicator of the quality of the camera.
Sensors can vary greatly in size. As a general rule, the bigger the
sensor, the better the image quality.
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Actual sensor size
Note: Actual size is set to screen → change »
|
|
vs |
|
| 1 | : | 1.15 |
| (ratio) | ||
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 | Canon PowerShot SX160 IS | |
Surface area:
| 24.84 mm² | vs | 28.46 mm² |
Difference: 3.62 mm² (15%)
SX160 IS sensor is approx. 1.15x bigger than W30 sensor.
Note: You are comparing sensors of very different generations.
There is a gap of 6 years between Sony W30 (2006) and Canon SX160 IS (2012).
Six years is a lot of time in terms
of technology, meaning newer sensors are overall much more
efficient than the older ones.
Pixel pitch tells you the distance from the center of one pixel (photosite) to the center of the next. It tells you how close the pixels are to each other.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
Pixel or photosite area affects how much light per pixel can be gathered.
The larger it is the more light can be collected by a single pixel.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Relative pixel sizes:
vs
Pixel area difference: 2.36 µm² (131%)
A pixel on Sony W30 sensor is approx. 131% bigger than a pixel on Canon SX160 IS.
Pixel density tells you how many million pixels fit or would fit in one
square cm of the sensor.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
To learn about the accuracy of these numbers,
click here.
Specs
Sony W30
Canon SX160 IS
Total megapixels
16.60
Effective megapixels
16.00
Optical zoom
3x
16x
Digital zoom
Yes
Yes
ISO sensitivity
Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000
Auto, 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
RAW
Manual focus
Normal focus range
50 cm
Macro focus range
2 cm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)
38 - 114 mm
28 - 448 mm
Aperture priority
No
Yes
Max. aperture
f2.8 - f5.2
f3.5 - f5.9
Metering
Multi-pattern, Spot
Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure compensation
±2 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
±2 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Shutter priority
No
Yes
Min. shutter speed
1 sec
15 sec
Max. shutter speed
1/2000 sec
1/3200 sec
Built-in flash
External flash
Viewfinder
Optical (tunnel)
None
White balance presets
6
5
Screen size
2"
3"
Screen resolution
85,000 dots
230,000 dots
Video capture
Max. video resolution
Storage types
Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo
SD/SDHC/SDXC
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Wireless
GPS
Battery
Lithium-Ion NP-BG1 rechargeable
2 x AA batteries
Weight
123 g
291 g
Dimensions
89 x 59 x 23 mm
111 x 73 x 44 mm
Year
2006
2012
Choose cameras to compare
Popular comparisons:
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Canon Digital IXUS i
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Samsung MV800
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W40
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W12
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
Diagonal
Diagonal is calculated by the use of Pythagorean theorem:
where w = sensor width and h = sensor height
| Diagonal = √ | w² + h² |
Sony W30 diagonal
The diagonal of W30 sensor is not 1/2.5 or 0.4" (10.2 mm) as you might expect, but approximately two thirds of
that value - 7.19 mm. If you want to know why, see
sensor sizes.
w = 5.75 mm
h = 4.32 mm
w = 5.75 mm
h = 4.32 mm
| Diagonal = √ | 5.75² + 4.32² | = 7.19 mm |
Canon SX160 IS diagonal
The diagonal of SX160 IS sensor is not 1/2.3 or 0.43" (11 mm) as you might expect, but approximately two thirds of
that value - 7.7 mm. If you want to know why, see
sensor sizes.
w = 6.16 mm
h = 4.62 mm
w = 6.16 mm
h = 4.62 mm
| Diagonal = √ | 6.16² + 4.62² | = 7.70 mm |
Surface area
Surface area is calculated by multiplying the width and the height of a sensor.
W30 sensor area
Width = 5.75 mm
Height = 4.32 mm
Surface area = 5.75 × 4.32 = 24.84 mm²
Height = 4.32 mm
Surface area = 5.75 × 4.32 = 24.84 mm²
SX160 IS sensor area
Width = 6.16 mm
Height = 4.62 mm
Surface area = 6.16 × 4.62 = 28.46 mm²
Height = 4.62 mm
Surface area = 6.16 × 4.62 = 28.46 mm²
Pixel pitch
Pixel pitch is the distance from the center of one pixel to the center of the
next measured in micrometers (µm). It can be calculated with the following formula:
| Pixel pitch = | sensor width in mm | × 1000 |
| sensor resolution width in pixels |
W30 pixel pitch
Sensor width = 5.75 mm
Sensor resolution width = 2825 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 2825 pixels
| Pixel pitch = | 5.75 | × 1000 | = 2.04 µm |
| 2825 |
SX160 IS pixel pitch
Sensor width = 6.16 mm
Sensor resolution width = 4612 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 4612 pixels
| Pixel pitch = | 6.16 | × 1000 | = 1.34 µm |
| 4612 |
Pixel area
The area of one pixel can be calculated by simply squaring the pixel pitch:
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
Pixel area = pixel pitch²
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
| Pixel area = | sensor surface area in mm² |
| effective megapixels |
W30 pixel area
Pixel pitch = 2.04 µm
Pixel area = 2.04² = 4.16 µm²
Pixel area = 2.04² = 4.16 µm²
SX160 IS pixel area
Pixel pitch = 1.34 µm
Pixel area = 1.34² = 1.8 µm²
Pixel area = 1.34² = 1.8 µm²
Pixel density
Pixel density can be calculated with the following formula:
One could also use this formula:
| Pixel density = ( | sensor resolution width in pixels | )² / 1000000 |
| sensor width in cm |
One could also use this formula:
| Pixel density = | effective megapixels × 1000000 | / 10000 |
| sensor surface area in mm² |
W30 pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 2825 pixels
Sensor width = 0.575 cm
Pixel density = (2825 / 0.575)² / 1000000 = 24.14 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 0.575 cm
Pixel density = (2825 / 0.575)² / 1000000 = 24.14 MP/cm²
SX160 IS pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 4612 pixels
Sensor width = 0.616 cm
Pixel density = (4612 / 0.616)² / 1000000 = 56.06 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 0.616 cm
Pixel density = (4612 / 0.616)² / 1000000 = 56.06 MP/cm²
Sensor resolution
Sensor resolution is calculated from sensor size and effective megapixels. It's slightly higher
than maximum (not interpolated) image resolution which is usually stated on camera specifications.
Sensor resolution is used in pixel pitch, pixel area, and pixel density formula.
For sake of simplicity, we're going to calculate it in 3 stages.
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
3. To get sensor resolution we then multiply X with the corresponding ratio:
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
| (X × r) × X = effective megapixels × 1000000 → |
|
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
W30 sensor resolution
Sensor width = 5.75 mm
Sensor height = 4.32 mm
Effective megapixels = 6.00
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 2124 × 1.33 = 2825
Resolution vertical: X = 2124
Sensor resolution = 2825 x 2124
Sensor height = 4.32 mm
Effective megapixels = 6.00
| r = 5.75/4.32 = 1.33 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 2124
Sensor resolution = 2825 x 2124
SX160 IS sensor resolution
Sensor width = 6.16 mm
Sensor height = 4.62 mm
Effective megapixels = 16.00
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 3468 × 1.33 = 4612
Resolution vertical: X = 3468
Sensor resolution = 4612 x 3468
Sensor height = 4.62 mm
Effective megapixels = 16.00
| r = 6.16/4.62 = 1.33 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 3468
Sensor resolution = 4612 x 3468
Crop factor
Crop factor or focal length multiplier is calculated by dividing the diagonal
of 35 mm film (43.27 mm) with the diagonal of the sensor.
| Crop factor = | 43.27 mm |
| sensor diagonal in mm |
W30 crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 7.19 mm
| Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 6.02 |
| 7.19 |
SX160 IS crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 7.70 mm
| Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 5.62 |
| 7.70 |
35 mm equivalent aperture
Equivalent aperture (in 135 film terms) is calculated by multiplying lens aperture
with crop factor (a.k.a. focal length multiplier).
W30 equivalent aperture
Crop factor = 6.02
Aperture = f2.8 - f5.2
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f2.8 - f5.2) × 6.02 = f16.9 - f31.3
Aperture = f2.8 - f5.2
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f2.8 - f5.2) × 6.02 = f16.9 - f31.3
SX160 IS equivalent aperture
Crop factor = 5.62
Aperture = f3.5 - f5.9
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f3.5 - f5.9) × 5.62 = f19.7 - f33.2
Aperture = f3.5 - f5.9
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f3.5 - f5.9) × 5.62 = f19.7 - f33.2
More comparisons of Sony W30:
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX60
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Canon PowerShot A480
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Canon PowerShot G9
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50
Enter your screen size (diagonal)
My screen size is
inches
Actual size is currently adjusted to screen.
If your screen (phone, tablet, or monitor) is not in diagonal, then the actual size of a sensor won't be shown correctly.
If your screen (phone, tablet, or monitor) is not in diagonal, then the actual size of a sensor won't be shown correctly.