Canon SX60 vs SX610

The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2014 and January 2015. Both the SX60 and the SX610 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The SX60 has a resolution of 14.2 megapixels, whereas the SX610 provides 20.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon SX60		Canon SX610
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5		25-450mm f/3.8-6.9
14.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)		ISO 80-3,200
Electronic viewfinder (922k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 922k dots		3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
6.4 shutter flaps per second		2.5 shutter flaps per second
340 shots per battery charge		270 shots per battery charge
128 x 93 x 114 mm, 650 g		105 x 61 x 27 mm, 191 g

Check SX60 offers at
ebay.com
Check SX610 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS? 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 side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX60 and the Canon SX610. 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 width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX610 can be obtained in three different colors (black, red, white), while the SX60 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 SX610 is considerably smaller (46 percent) than the Canon SX60. Moreover, the SX610 is substantially lighter (71 percent) than the SX60. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX60 nor the SX610 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX60 gets 340 shots out of its Canon NB-10L battery, while the SX610 can take 270 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-6LH power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. 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
1.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	549	ebay.com
2.		Canon SX610	105 mm	61 mm	27 mm	191 g	270	n	Jan 2015	249	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX70	127 mm	91 mm	117 mm	608 g	325	n	Sep 2018	549	amazon.com
4.		Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	299	ebay.com
5.		Canon SX620	97 mm	57 mm	28 mm	182 g	295	n	May 2016	279	ebay.com
6.		Canon G9 X	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	209 g	220	n	Oct 2015	529	ebay.com
7.		Canon XC10	125 mm	102 mm	122 mm	1040 g	370	n	Apr 2015	2,499	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX600	104 mm	61 mm	26 mm	188 g	290	n	Jan 2014	249	ebay.com
10.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799	ebay.com
11.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	549	ebay.com
12.		Canon G15	107 mm	76 mm	40 mm	352 g	350	n	Sep 2012	499	ebay.com
13.		Canon SX50	123 mm	87 mm	106 mm	595 g	315	n	Sep 2012	429	ebay.com
14.		Fujifilm X20	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	353 g	270	n	Jan 2013	599	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic FZ330	132 mm	92 mm	117 mm	691 g	380	Y	Jul 2015	599	amazon.com
16.		Panasonic FZ200	125 mm	87 mm	110 mm	588 g	540	n	Jul 2012	599	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 obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX610 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 55 percent) than the SX60, which puts it into a different market segment. 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 generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

In terms of chip-set technology, the SX60 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 6) than the SX610 (DIGIC 4+), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX610 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 14.2 MP of the SX60. This megapixels advantage translates into a 13 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX610 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 1.40μm for the SX60). However, it should be noted that the SX610 is a somewhat more recent model (by 3 months) than the SX60, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. 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 Canon SX610 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX610 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX60 are 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 12.3 inches or 46.8 x 31.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX60 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS are ISO 80 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 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 SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
2.		Canon SX610	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	20.2	11.6	712	47
3.		Canon SX70	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1063	51
4.		Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	20.3	11.7	806	48
5.		Canon SX620	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	20.4	11.8	838	49
6.		Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
7.		Canon XC10	1-inch	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	21.7	11.8	197	61
8.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.2	11.6	720	47
9.		Canon SX600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.0	11.4	620	45
10.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
11.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
12.		Canon G15	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.9	11.5	165	46
13.		Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
14.		Fujifilm X20	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	20.1	10.9	-462	46
15.		Panasonic FZ330	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	19.3	11.0	97	38
16.		Panasonic FZ200	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.1	10.8	114	37
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the SX60 provides a higher frame rate than the SX610. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the SX610 is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the SX60 has an electronic viewfinder (922k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX610 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX60 and Canon SX610 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 SX60	922	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4/s	Y	Y
2.		Canon SX610	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX70	2360	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX420	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
5.		Canon SX620	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon XC10	none	n	3.0 / 1030	tilting	Y	1/2000s	3.8/s	n	Y
8.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX600	none	n	3.0 / 461	fixed	n	1/2000s	3.9/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2/s	Y	Y
11.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
12.		Canon G15	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.1/s	Y	Y
13.		Canon SX50	202	n	3.0 / 461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
14.		Fujifilm X20	optical	n	2.8 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ330	1440	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FZ200	1312	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

Both the SX60 and the SX610 have zoom lenses built in. The SX60 has a 21-1365mm f/3.4-6.5 optic and the SX610 offers a 25-450mm f/3.8-6.9 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the SX60 provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the SX610. The SX60 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX60 and the SX610 write their files to SDXC 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 SX60 HS and Canon PowerShot SX610 HS 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 SX60	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
2.		Canon SX610	-	- / -	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon SX70	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon SX420	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon SX620	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon G9 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon XC10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon SX410	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX600	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Canon G16	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Canon G15	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon SX50	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Fujifilm X20	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Panasonic FZ330	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Panasonic FZ200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the SX60 has a hotshoe, while the SX610 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the SX60 and the SX610 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX60 was replaced by the Canon SX70, while the SX610 was followed by the Canon SX620. Further information on the features and operation of the SX60 and SX610 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX60 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon SX610 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon SX60 better than the Canon SX610 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS:

• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 6 vs DIGIC 4+).
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6.4 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.4 vs f/3.8).
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (340 versus 270) on a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2014).

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX610 HS:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 17%.
• More compact: Is smaller (105x61mm vs 128x93mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 459g or 71 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (55 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (3 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the SX60 is the clear winner of the match-up (13 : 5 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 wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports 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 SX60 and the Canon SX610 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 the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX60 or the SX610. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

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 SX60	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	549	ebay.com
2.		Canon SX610	..	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2015	249	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX70	..	+ +	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Sep 2018	549	amazon.com
4.		Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	299	ebay.com
5.		Canon SX620	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	May 2016	279	ebay.com
6.		Canon G9 X	3.5/5	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529	ebay.com
7.		Canon XC10	..	..	..	80/100	..	..	Apr 2015	2,499	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX600	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2014	249	ebay.com
10.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799	ebay.com
11.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549	ebay.com
12.		Canon G15	4/5	+	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	499	ebay.com
13.		Canon SX50	3/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	429	ebay.com
14.		Fujifilm X20	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	599	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic FZ330	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	599	amazon.com
16.		Panasonic FZ200	3/5	+ +	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	599	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Check SX60 offers at
ebay.com
Check SX610 offers at
ebay.com

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 make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~

Check SX60 offers at
ebay.com
Check SX610 offers at
ebay.com

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.