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Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
59
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 20D front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Canon 20D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 770g - 144 x 106 x 72mm
  • Revealed November 2004
  • Older Model is Canon 10D
  • Later Model is Canon 30D
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Canon 20D versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the 20D (8MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the 20D (APS-C) and MX-1 (1/1.7") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 20D was manufactured 9 years before the MX-1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon 20D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the 20D scores against the MX-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 20D over the Pentax MX-1

 20D MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Canon 20D

 MX-1 20D 
RevealedJuly 2013November 2004More modern by 105 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution920k118kSharper screen (+802k dot)

Common features in the Canon 20D and Pentax MX-1

 20D MX-1 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon 20D provides external dimensions of 144mm x 106mm x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") and a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Canon 20D versus Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the 20D against the MX-1.

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 20D and MX-1 is 59 and 84 respectively.

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The pic below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the 20D and MX-1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 20D due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax MX-1 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged 20D is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 20D as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
47
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
no manual mode
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
42
has manual focus
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Canon 20D Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
53
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
very small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 20D
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
44
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
great battery power (290 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon 20D Travel photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
46
built-in flash
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
great battery power (290 per charge)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 20D Landscape photography features
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
46
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
no manual mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
55
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 20D
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
9
lack of video recording
33
relatively wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic support
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
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Canon 20D vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 20D and Pentax MX-1
 Canon EOS 20DPentax MX-1
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS 20D Pentax MX-1
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2004-11-03 2013-07-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3504 x 2336 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 326 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 1.8" 3"
Resolution of display 118 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 770 grams (1.70 lbs) 391 grams (0.86 lbs)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 62 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 11.3
DXO Low light rating 721 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $1,300 $400