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Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS

Portability
92
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Canon PowerShot G9 X front
 
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Key Specs

Canon G9 X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-84mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 209g - 98 x 58 x 31mm
  • Introduced October 2015
  • Later Model is Canon G9 X II
Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Introduced August 2009
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Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon G9 X versus Canon SX120 IS, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Canon. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the G9 X (20MP) and SX120 IS (10MP) and the G9 X (1") and SX120 IS (1/2.5") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The G9 X was manufactured 6 years later than the SX120 IS and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the G9 X matches up versus the SX120 IS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon G9 X over the Canon SX120 IS

 G9 X SX120 IS 
IntroducedOctober 2015August 2009More recent by 75 months
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Canon G9 X

 SX120 IS G9 X 

Common features in the Canon G9 X and Canon SX120 IS

 G9 X SX120 IS 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon G9 X has outside measurements of 98mm x 58mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") with a weight of 209 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Canon SX120 IS has sizing of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Canon G9 X versus Canon SX120 IS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the G9 X versus the SX120 IS.

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the G9 X and SX120 IS is 92 and 87 respectively.

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the G9 X and SX120 IS.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The G9 X featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Canon G9 X will render greater detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The younger G9 X will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS sensor size comparison

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G9 X as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX120 IS as a Portrait photography camera
64
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
33
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon G9 X
Street photography with Canon SX120 IS
80
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
lighter than competition (209 grams)
fixed screen
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (285 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G9 X
Sports photography with Canon SX120 IS
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G9 X Travel photography factors
Canon SX120 IS Travel photography factors
77
lighter than competition (209 grams)
has focus by touch
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
long reach (360mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (285g)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G9 X Landscape photography information
Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography information
70
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
terrible battery (220 per charge)
36
you can focus manually
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon G9 X
Vlogging with Canon SX120 IS
39
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (209 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
no external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (285g)
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Canon G9 X vs Canon SX120 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G9 X and Canon SX120 IS
 Canon PowerShot G9 XCanon PowerShot SX120 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot G9 X Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-10-12 2009-08-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 6 Digic 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-84mm (3.0x) 36-360mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-4.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 2.7 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2500s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/500s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 209 grams (0.46 lbs) 285 grams (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 58 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 495 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-13L 2 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 SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $249