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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Key Specs

Canon SX170 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
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX160 IS
Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Photography Glossary

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon L20, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Nikon. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX170 IS (16MP) and L20 (10MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was launched 4 years after the L20 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the SX170 IS matches up versus the L20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Nikon L20

 SX170 IS L20 
RevealedAugust 2013February 2009Newer by 56 months
Manual focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Canon SX170 IS

 L20 SX170 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon L20

 SX170 IS L20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SX170 IS has got external dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Nikon L20 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check the Canon SX170 IS and Nikon L20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX170 IS compared to the L20.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX170 IS and L20 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The picture below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and L20.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can count on the Canon SX170 IS to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher SX170 IS provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon L20 as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon L20 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (251 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
54
lighter than others (135 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX170 IS
Sports photography with Nikon L20
48
long zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography factors
Nikon L20 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than others in class (251g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long zoom (448mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
lighter than others (135 grams)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography information
Nikon L20 Landscape photography information
49
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
27
screen size is good (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging factors
Nikon L20 Vlogging factors
31
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (251g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
24
lighter than others (135g)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Nikon L20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Nikon L20
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISNikon Coolpix L20
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Nikon Coolpix L20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2009-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 251 grams (0.55 lb) 135 grams (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 300 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $0 $120