Canon SX410 vs XC10

The Canon PowerShot SX410 IS and the Canon XC10 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2015 and April 2015. Both the SX410 and the XC10 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX410) and an one-inch (XC10) sensor. The SX410 has a resolution of 19.9 megapixels, whereas the XC10 provides 12 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon SX410		Canon XC10
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24-960mm f/3.5-5.6		24-240mm f/2.8-5.6
19.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		12 MP – 1" sensor
720/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600		ISO 160-20,000
No viewfinder, LCD framing		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 1030k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
0.5 shutter flaps per second		3.8 shutter flaps per second
185 shots per battery charge		370 shots per battery charge
104 x 69 x 85 mm, 325 g		125 x 102 x 122 mm, 1040 g

Check SX410 offers at
ebay.com
Check XC10 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX410 IS and the Canon XC10? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon SX410 and the Canon XC10 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX410 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the XC10 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon XC10 is considerably larger (78 percent) than the Canon SX410. Moreover, the XC10 is substantially heavier (220 percent) than the SX410. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX410 nor the XC10 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX410 gets 185 shots out of its Canon NB-11LH battery, while the XC10 can take 370 images on a single charge of its Canon LP-E6N power pack. The power pack in the XC10 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
2.		Canon XC10	125 mm	102 mm	122 mm	1040 g	370	n	Apr 2015	2,499	ebay.com
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799	ebay.com
4.		Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799	ebay.com
5.		Canon G7 X	103 mm	60 mm	40 mm	304 g	210	n	Sep 2014	699	ebay.com
6.		Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	699	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	549	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX400	104 mm	69 mm	80 mm	313 g	190	n	Jul 2014	249	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	299	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX430	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	323 g	195	n	Jan 2017	299	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX610	105 mm	61 mm	27 mm	191 g	270	n	Jan 2015	249	ebay.com
12.		Canon SX620	97 mm	57 mm	28 mm	182 g	295	n	May 2016	279	ebay.com
13.		Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	349	ebay.com
14.		Canon SX720	110 mm	64 mm	36 mm	270 g	250	n	Feb 2016	379	ebay.com
15.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX410 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 89 percent) than the XC10, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX410 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Canon XC10 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the XC10 is 339 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.75. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon SX410 offers a higher resolution of 19.9 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the Canon XC10. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.19μm versus 3.20μm for the XC10). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the SX410 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon SX410 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX410 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.8 x 19.3 inches or 65.4 x 49.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.6 x 15.5 inches or 52.3 x 39.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.2 x 12.9 inches or 43.6 x 32.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon XC10 are 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm for good quality, 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX410 IS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon XC10 are ISO 160 to ISO 20000 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the SX410 is build around a CCD sensor, while the XC10 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.2	11.6	720	47
2.		Canon XC10	1-inch	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	21.7	11.8	197	61
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
4.		Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	471	62
5.		Canon G7 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	23.0	12.7	556	71
6.		Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.8	11.9	260	62
7.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
8.		Canon SX400	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	720/30p	20.1	11.5	672	46
9.		Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	20.3	11.7	806	48
10.		Canon SX430	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	20.5	11.9	900	49
11.		Canon SX610	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	20.2	11.6	712	47
12.		Canon SX620	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	20.4	11.8	838	49
13.		Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	712	47
14.		Canon SX720	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.3	11.8	817	48
15.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	924	50
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the XC10 provides a better video resolution than the SX410. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the SX410 is limited to 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The SX410 and the XC10 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX410 and Canon XC10 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
2.		Canon XC10	none	n	3.0 / 1030	tilting	Y	1/2000s	3.8/s	n	Y
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
5.		Canon G7 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	6.5/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX400	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/1600s	0.8/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX420	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon SX430	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX610	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5/s	Y	Y
12.		Canon SX620	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5/s	Y	Y
13.		Canon SX710	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Canon SX720	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
15.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The SX410 has one, while the XC10 does not. While the built-in flash of the SX410 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Canon XC10 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the SX410 and the XC10 have zoom lenses built in. The SX410 has a 24-960mm f/3.5-5.6 optic and the XC10 offers a 24-240mm f/2.8-5.6 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the SX410 and XC10 provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the XC10 has less tele-photo reach at the long end. The XC10 offers the faster maximum aperture.

The SX410 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the XC10 uses CFast or SDXC cards. The XC10 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the SX410 only has one slot. The XC10 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the SX410 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX410 IS and Canon XC10 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon SX410	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon XC10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon G5 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon G7 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon SX400	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX420	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon SX430	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Canon SX610	-	- / -	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Canon SX620	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Canon SX710	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Canon SX720	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Canon SX730	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the XC10 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the SX410 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the SX410 and the XC10 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX410 was replaced by the Canon SX420, while the XC10 was followed by the Canon XC15. Further information on the features and operation of the SX410 and XC10 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX410 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon XC10 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon SX410 better than the Canon XC10 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX410 IS:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (19.9 vs 12MP) with a 29% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• More compact: Is smaller (104x69mm vs 125x102mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 715g or 69 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (89 percent cheaper at launch).

Arguments in favor of the Canon XC10:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 720/30p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1030k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.8 vs 0.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/3.5).
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (370 versus 185) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the XC10 is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX410 and the Canon XC10 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX410 or the XC10 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
2.		Canon XC10	..	..	..	80/100	..	..	Apr 2015	2,499	ebay.com
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799	ebay.com
4.		Canon G5 X	5/5	+ +	..	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799	ebay.com
5.		Canon G7 X	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	699	ebay.com
6.		Canon G7 X Mark II	4.5/5	+ +	..	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	699	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX400	..	+	..	..	..	..	Jul 2014	249	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	299	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX430	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2017	299	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX610	..	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2015	249	ebay.com
12.		Canon SX620	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	May 2016	279	ebay.com
13.		Canon SX710	..	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2015	349	ebay.com
14.		Canon SX720	..	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	379	ebay.com
15.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	399	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Check XC10 offers at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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