Canon SX420 vs Sigma fp

The Canon PowerShot SX420 IS and the Sigma fp are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2016 and July 2019. The SX420 is a fixed lens compact, while the fp is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX420) and a full frame (fp) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 19.9 megapixels, whereas the Sigma provides 24 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon SX420		Sigma fp
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
24-1008mm f/3.5-6.6		Leica L mount lenses
19.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
720/25p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600		ISO 100-25,600 (6 - 102,400)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 230k dots		3.2 LCD, 2100k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed touchscreen
0.5 shutter flaps per second		12 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
195 shots per battery charge		280 shots per battery charge
104 x 69 x 85 mm, 325 g		113 x 70 x 45 mm, 422 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX420 IS and the Sigma fp? 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 SX420 and the Sigma fp are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX420 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the fp 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 Sigma fp is notably larger (10 percent) than the Canon SX420. It is noteworthy in this context that the fp is splash and dust-proof, while the SX420 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX420 has a lens built in, whereas the fp is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The power pack in the fp can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	299
	Sigma fp	113 mm	70 mm	45 mm	422 g	280	Y	Jul 2019	1,899
	Canon M6	112 mm	68 mm	45 mm	390 g	295	n	Feb 2017	779
	Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499
	Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399
	Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	699
	Canon SX620	97 mm	57 mm	28 mm	182 g	295	n	May 2016	279
	Canon SX720	110 mm	64 mm	36 mm	270 g	250	n	Feb 2016	379
	Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799
	Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279
	Canon SX610	105 mm	61 mm	27 mm	191 g	270	n	Jan 2015	249
	Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	349
	Fujifilm X-Pro2	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	495 g	350	Y	Jan 2016	1,699
	Fujifilm X-T2	133 mm	92 mm	49 mm	507 g	340	Y	Jul 2016	1,599
	Panasonic S1	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1017 g	400	Y	Feb 2019	2,499
	Panasonic FT7	117 mm	76 mm	37 mm	319 g	300	Y	May 2018	449
	Sony A7	127 mm	94 mm	48 mm	474 g	340	Y	Oct 2013	1,699
Notes: 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 retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The SX420 was launched at a lower price than the fp, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX420 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sigma fp a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the fp is 2964 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.0. The sensor in the SX420 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the fp offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 24MP, the fp offers a higher resolution than the SX420 (19.9MP), but the fp nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.98μm versus 1.19μm for the SX420) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the fp is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 6 months) than the SX420, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sigma fp implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the fp for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX420 are 25.8 x 19.3 inches or 65.4 x 49.1 cm for good quality, 20.6 x 15.5 inches or 52.3 x 39.3 cm for very good quality, and 17.2 x 12.9 inches or 43.6 x 32.7 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX420 IS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sigma fp are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 6-102400.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	..	..	..	..
	Sigma fp	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M6	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
	Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX620	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX720	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX610	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Fujifilm X-Pro2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Fujifilm X-T2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic S1	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	25.2	14.5	3333	95
	Panasonic FT7	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony A7	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	14.2	2248	90

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the fp provides a better video resolution than the SX420. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 720/25p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The SX420 and the fp 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 table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX420 and Sigma fp in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon SX420	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
	Sigma fp	none	n	3.2	2100	fixed	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	n
	Canon M6	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	n
	Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
	Canon SX730	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0	Y	Y
	Canon SX620	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5	Y	Y
	Canon SX720	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon SX410	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
	Canon SX610	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5	Y	Y
	Canon SX710	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0	Y	Y
	Fujifilm X-Pro2	2360	n	3.0	1620	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
	Fujifilm X-T2	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
	Panasonic S1	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
	Panasonic FT7	1170	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/1300s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony A7	2400	n	3.0	1230	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The SX420 has one, while the fp does not. While the built-in flash of the SX420 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the fp is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sigma fp 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX420 and the fp write their files to SDXC cards. The fp supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the SX420 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 SX420 IS and Sigma fp 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 Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon SX420	-	mono	mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sigma fp	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	-	-	-
	Canon M6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon SX730	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX620	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX720	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G5 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX410	-	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon SX610	-	-	-	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX710	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Fujifilm X-Pro2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Fujifilm X-T2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
	Panasonic S1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Panasonic FT7	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Sony A7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the SX420 offers wifi support, while the fp does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both the SX420 and the fp are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The SX420 replaced the earlier Canon SX410, while the fp does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sigma websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon SX420 better than the Sigma fp or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot SX420 IS:

• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the fp requires a separate lens.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the fp).
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• 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.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2016).

Advantages of the Sigma fp:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 19.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 12%.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 720/25p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 230k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 0.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (280 versus 195) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 6 months of technical progress since the SX420 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the fp is the clear winner of the contest (22 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape 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 SX420 and the Sigma fp place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the SX420 and the fp in practical situations. 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 adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	299
	Sigma fp	..	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	Jul 2019	1,899
	Canon M6	..	80/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	779
	Canon M100	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
	Canon SX730	+	..	4/5	..	4/5	Apr 2017	399
	Canon G7 X Mark II	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	699
	Canon SX620	..	..	..	..	4/5	May 2016	279
	Canon SX720	+	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	Feb 2016	379
	Canon G5 X	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799
	Canon SX410	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279
	Canon SX610	..	..	4/5	..	4/5	Jan 2015	249
	Canon SX710	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Jan 2015	349
	Fujifilm X-Pro2	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	1,699
	Fujifilm X-T2	+ +	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jul 2016	1,599
	Panasonic S1	+ +	88/100	4.5/5	..	4/5	Feb 2019	2,499
	Panasonic FT7	+	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	May 2018	449
	Sony A7	+ +	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	1,699
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes 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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Specifications: Canon SX420 vs Sigma fp

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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