Canon Powershot A480 vs Sony Cybershot DSC S950 Comparison

The Canon Powershot A480 and the Sony Cybershot S950 are two of the cheaper models available from these leading brands. They are both relatively straightforward cameras to use.

A quick look at the main features suggests the Cybershot DSC S950 has the edge over the Powershot A480. This is true if you look at the length of the zoom lens and the size of the LCD screen. When testing the two cameras I found the LCD screen of the Cybershot DSC S950 difficult to see, especially in bright sunlight. Therefore despite having a smaller screen I preferred the Powershot A480 in this area. The Canon model offers closer macro focusing.

Although not mentioned in the main specification Sony only offer a basic movie mode with this camera, so you are limited in the quality of the movies you can take. For example they will not look that good on a TV screen.

The Cybershot DSC S950 is a fair bit smaller. You can slip it into most pockets. It comes in three colour choices. These are black, silver and pink. Although not exactly big, the Powershot A480 is noticeably larger. This camera is available in four colours: red, blue, silver and black.

In this set of tests the Powershot A480 is the clear winner. The shutter lag times it managed were roughly what I have come to expect from cameras in this price range. The time taken to turn the camera on and take the first shot was 2.75 seconds. This compares well with more expensive cameras. The Cybershot DSC S950 struggled to keep up and with a turn on and first shot time of 5.45 seconds it is much slower in this area.

The Powershot A480 runs on AA batteries. Replacement batteries can add to running costs, unless you use rechargeable AA batteries. The Cybershot DSC S950 uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery. A battery and charger are supplied with the camera.

I found the Powershot A480 to be a clear winner. This is mainly due to the sharpness of the photos it takes. The difference may not be that obvious with smaller prints, but it is noticeable as you increase print size.

I found the Sony camera a little easier to use, although there is not a great deal in it.

Taking into account picture quality, the quality of the LCD screen, movie mode, plus start up and shutter lag times I much prefer the Powershot A480. You should also be able to pick it up for a little less money too.

Front View
Canon Powershot A480



Sony Cybershot DSC S950


Back View
Canon Powershot A480



Sony Cybershot DSC S950


Top View
Canon Powershot A480



Sony Cybershot DSC S950

	GBP 69.99
	GBP 75.00
	GBP 80.9
	GBP 87.09
	GBP 91.22
	GBP 91.78
	GBP 101.17
	GBP 104.58
	GBP 116.35
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Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, please make sure you double check the feature set and specification at the point of purchase.