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Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot A3100 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Canon A3100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Canon A3100 IS versus Sony HX20V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the A3100 IS (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A3100 IS was launched 3 years earlier than the HX20V and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the A3100 IS grades against the HX20V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3100 IS over the Sony HX20V

 A3100 IS HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Canon A3100 IS

 HX20V A3100 IS 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2010More recent by 30 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3100 IS and Sony HX20V

 A3100 IS HX20V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon A3100 IS provides physical dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Canon A3100 IS versus Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the A3100 IS compared to the HX20V.

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3100 IS and HX20V is 94 and 90 respectively.

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to see the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A3100 IS and HX20V.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX20V to provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older A3100 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
45
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
offers face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Street photography factors
Sony HX20V Street photography factors
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Sports photography features
Sony HX20V Sports photography features
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A3100 IS
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX20V Landscape photography highlights
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
50
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Vlogging advice
Sony HX20V Vlogging advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of mic jack
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Canon A3100 IS vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3100 IS and Sony HX20V
 Canon PowerShot A3100 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-01-05 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
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 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165 grams (0.36 lb) 254 grams (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-8L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $159 $397