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Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS

Portability
96
Imaging
46
Features
24
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Key Specs

Canon ELPH 180
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.2-6.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2016
Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Previous Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX30 IS
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Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Canon. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the ELPH 180 (20MP) and SX20 IS (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 180 was introduced 5 years after the SX20 IS which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Canon ELPH 180 being a Ultracompact camera and the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ELPH 180 matches up versus the SX20 IS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 180 over the Canon SX20 IS

 ELPH 180 SX20 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2016July 2010Newer by 67 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon ELPH 180

 SX20 IS ELPH 180 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon ELPH 180 and Canon SX20 IS

 ELPH 180 SX20 IS 
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon ELPH 180 has got outer measurements of 95mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Canon SX20 IS has dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the ELPH 180 and the SX20 IS.

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 180 and SX20 IS is 96 and 65 respectively.

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ELPH 180 and SX20 IS.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Canon ELPH 180 to show greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern ELPH 180 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 180 as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
39
MP count good (20MP)
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
37
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 180 Street photography features
Canon SX20 IS Street photography features
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
49
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than average (600 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 180 Sports photography details
Canon SX20 IS Sports photography details
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
low frames per second (0.8 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
34
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 180 Travel photography information
Canon SX20 IS Travel photography information
67
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
53
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (600g)
low megapixels (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon ELPH 180 Landscape photography info
Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography info
41
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
35
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon ELPH 180
Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
32
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
50
rather wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than average (600g)
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Canon ELPH 180 vs Canon SX20 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 180 and Canon SX20 IS
 Canon PowerShot ELPH 180Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-05 2010-07-06
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4+ Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-6.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/3200s
Continuous shooting rate 0.8 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m (at Auto ISO) 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/500s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 126 gr (0.28 pounds) 600 gr (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 54 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4")
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 220 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11LH 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $119 $500