• 1/2.5 inch 24.7mm2
  • 8.1 megapixels
  • 35.00mm - 105.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 224.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Sony DSC-S780 advantages over Canon N

  • Less expensive
    $180 vs $300 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 270 vs 200 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Lighter weight
    128g vs 195g
    Lighter weight

Canon N advantages over Sony DSC-S780

  • Larger sensor
    1/2.3 inch vs 1/2.5 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • More telephoto lens reach
    224 mm vs 105 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Newer
    12 years vs 17 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    461k vs 153k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    12.1 vs 8.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle lens
    28 mm vs 35 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Longer exposure
    15 vs 1 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    6400 vs 1250 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Neither provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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Buy the Canon N
Canon N

Review Excerpt

  • Head-turning (funky, but cool) design and solid build; 8x optical zoom lens with 28-224m-equivalent reach; Built-in Wi-Fi for easy image sharing (Facebook Ready version posts directly to the social site); Full HD 1080p video at 24fps.

  • Unintuitive (almost clumsy) physical controls; Inconsistent exposure and decision-making in Auto mode; Image quality not that much better than good smartphone cameras; Poor battery life (just 200 shots); Only uses microSD cards; Weak LED flash.

  • Read our Canon N Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung S860

Sony DSC-S780
Samsung S860
  • $180
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Manual focus
  • $179
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Longer exposure

Compare Sony DSC-S780 vs Samsung S860

Canon N
Samsung S860
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $179
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight

Compare Canon N vs Samsung S860

Compared to Samsung S760

Sony DSC-S780
Samsung S760
  • $180
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Manual focus
  • $169
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Longer exposure

Compare Sony DSC-S780 vs Samsung S760

Canon N
Samsung S760
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $169
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Canon N vs Samsung S760

Compared to Pentax E50

Sony DSC-S780
Pentax E50
  • $180
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • $150
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer exposure

Compare Sony DSC-S780 vs Pentax E50

Canon N
Pentax E50
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $150
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon N vs Pentax E50

Compared to Canon 330 HS

Sony DSC-S780
Canon 330 HS
  • $180
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony DSC-S780 vs Canon 330 HS

Canon N
Canon 330 HS
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $596
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Canon N vs Canon 330 HS

Compared to Canon N2

Sony DSC-S780
Canon N2
  • $180
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony DSC-S780 vs Canon N2

Canon N
Canon N2
  • $749
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $699
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon N vs Canon N2

Compare Other Cameras?