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Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Launched April 2006
  • Older Model is Canon 20D
  • Refreshed by Canon 40D
Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Previous Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX30 IS
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Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Overview

Lets look much closer at the Canon 30D and Canon SX20 IS, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Canon. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the 30D (8MP) and SX20 IS (12MP) and the 30D (APS-C) and SX20 IS (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 30D was manufactured 5 years earlier than the SX20 IS which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon 30D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the 30D grades against the SX20 IS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Canon SX20 IS

 30D SX20 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon 30D

 SX20 IS 30D 
ReleasedJuly 2010April 2006Newer by 51 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon 30D and Canon SX20 IS

 30D SX20 IS 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display sizing2.5"2.5"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon 30D has got exterior dimensions of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") with a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) whilst the Canon SX20 IS has proportions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Canon 30D and Canon SX20 IS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the 30D vs the SX20 IS.

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 30D and SX20 IS is 58 and 65 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 30D and SX20 IS.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 30D because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Canon SX20 IS will result in extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged 30D will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 30D
Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
51
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (8MP)
37
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D Street photography advice
Canon SX20 IS Street photography advice
52
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 30D
Sports photography with Canon SX20 IS
44
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
34
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon 30D as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
42
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low MP (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 30D Landscape photography factors
Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography factors
46
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
no Timelapse function
35
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
50
rather wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
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Canon 30D vs Canon SX20 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Canon SX20 IS
 Canon EOS 30DCanon PowerShot SX20 IS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 30D Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2006-04-04 2010-07-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Digic 4
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3504 x 2336 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 0cm
Number of lenses 326 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/500 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 784 grams (1.73 lb) 600 grams (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 736 not tested
Other
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $773 $500