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Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS

Portability
60
Imaging
52
Features
76
Overall
61
Canon PowerShot G3 X front
 
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Key Specs

Canon G3 X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 733g - 123 x 77 x 105mm
  • Released June 2015
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
  • Succeeded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
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Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS, one being a Large Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Canon. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the G3 X (20MP) and SX20 IS (12MP) and the G3 X (1") and SX20 IS (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G3 X was brought out 5 years later than the SX20 IS and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the G3 X matches up against the SX20 IS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon G3 X over the Canon SX20 IS

 G3 X SX20 IS 
IntroducedJune 2015July 2010More recent by 61 months
Screen dimensions3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1620k230kSharper screen (+1390k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon G3 X

 SX20 IS G3 X 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Canon G3 X and Canon SX20 IS

 G3 X SX20 IS 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Canon G3 X offers outside measurements of 123mm x 77mm x 105mm (4.8" x 3.0" x 4.1") having a weight of 733 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Canon SX20 IS has specifications of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the G3 X versus the SX20 IS.

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 X and SX20 IS is 60 and 65 respectively.

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The visual here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 X and SX20 IS.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The G3 X due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Canon G3 X will provide extra detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The younger G3 X is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS sensor size comparison

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G3 X Portrait photography info
Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
37
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon G3 X Street photography advice
Canon SX20 IS Street photography advice
73
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
environment sealing
49
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G3 X
Sports photography with Canon SX20 IS
59
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.9 fps)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon G3 X Travel photography advice
Canon SX20 IS Travel photography advice
65
environment sealing
comes with focus via touch
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
bad battery power (300 shots)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
low MP (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon G3 X
Landscape photography with Canon SX20 IS
63
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
35
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G3 X as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
69
fairly wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
50
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (600 grams)
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Canon G3 X vs Canon SX20 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G3 X and Canon SX20 IS
 Canon PowerShot G3 XCanon PowerShot SX20 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot G3 X Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Class Large Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-06-18 2010-07-06
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 Digic 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 31 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-600mm (25.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focus distance 5cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3.2 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 1,620k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.9 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m (with Auto ISO) 6.80 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/500 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 733 gr (1.62 lbs) 600 gr (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 123 x 77 x 105mm (4.8" x 3.0" x 4.1") 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 521 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-10L 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 (UHS-I compatible) SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $849 $500