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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX150 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX170 IS
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
  • Launched July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Updated by Sony HX30V
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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Canon SX160 IS and Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX160 IS (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly similar and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was announced 12 months later than the HX20V so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX160 IS matches up against the HX20V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Sony HX20V

 SX160 IS HX20V 
LaunchedJune 2013July 2012More recent by 12 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Canon SX160 IS

 HX20V SX160 IS 
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Sony HX20V

 SX160 IS HX20V 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX160 IS has got outer dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX160 IS and Sony HX20V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX160 IS vs the HX20V.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and HX20V is 86 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The visual below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX160 IS and HX20V.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX20V to offer you extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger SX160 IS is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony HX20V Portrait photography factors
46
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
45
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX160 IS
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
51
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography info
Sony HX20V Travel photography info
69
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than average (254g)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography details
Sony HX20V Landscape photography details
51
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Vlogging information
Sony HX20V Vlogging information
31
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (291 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic socket
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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Sony HX20V
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-06-21 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 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 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 291 gr (0.64 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos 320 photos
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $199 $397