• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 392.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Canon SX230 HS advantages over Sony A6500

  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Thinner
    33 mm vs 53 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    218g vs 453g
    Lighter weight

Sony A6500 advantages over Canon SX230 HS

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.92 vs 1.54 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Fast startup
    ~1.30 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 350 vs 210 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 461k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.18 vs 0.40 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 15 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.1 fps vs 3.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Buy the Canon SX230 HS

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Buy the Sony A6500
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 18-135mm lens
All A6500 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Great zoom range from 28mm to 392mm equivalent; Full HD and slow-motion video; excellent print quality.

  • Low battery life; some chromatic aberration; flash pops up when powered on every time.

  • Read our Canon SX230 HS Express Review

  • Comfortable, premium body with good controls; Touch-screen for subject selection; Hybrid image stabilization system; Excellent image quality; Better high ISO JPEGs than the A6300; Extremely fast 11.1 fps burst capture; Very deep buffers for raw and JPEG alike; 4K video capture with no pixel binning

  • Pricey for an APS-C camera; JPEG colors aren't the most accurate; Very slow buffer clearing; Laggy touch-pad AF function; Poorly-placed movie button; No headphone jack; Mediocre battery life

  • Read our Sony A6500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung HZ35W

Canon SX230 HS
Samsung HZ35W
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in GPS
  • $350
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Samsung HZ35W

Sony A6500
Samsung HZ35W
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $350
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony A6500 vs Samsung HZ35W

Compared to Canon SX210 IS

Canon SX230 HS
Canon SX210 IS
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $262
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • More pixels

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Canon SX210 IS

Sony A6500
Canon SX210 IS
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $262
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony A6500 vs Canon SX210 IS

Compared to Olympus SZ-10

Canon SX230 HS
Olympus SZ-10
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • Manual focus
  • $224
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Olympus SZ-10

Sony A6500
Olympus SZ-10
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $224
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony A6500 vs Olympus SZ-10

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Canon SX230 HS
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Built-in GPS
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Sony A6500
Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Higher max flash sync
  • More dots on screen

Compare Sony A6500 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Sony A6300

Canon SX230 HS
Sony A6300
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $846
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Sony A6300

Sony A6500
Sony A6300
  • $1216
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $846
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A6300

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