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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Key Specs

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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Announced March 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX270 HS
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are produced by Canon. The resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the SX280 HS (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was unveiled 3 years earlier than the SX280 HS and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX280 HS being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SX20 IS scores versus the SX280 HS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX280 HS

 SX20 IS SX280 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX280 HS SX20 IS 
AnnouncedMarch 2013July 2010More recent by 32 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX280 HS

 SX20 IS SX280 HS 
Focus manually More exact focus
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX20 IS provides exterior measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX280 HS has proportions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX20 IS vs the SX280 HS.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and SX280 HS is 65 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX20 IS and SX280 HS.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same resolution so you can expect comparable quality of images although you really should factor the age of the cameras into account. The older SX20 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography information
Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography information
37
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
has manual focus
features face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography details
Canon SX280 HS Street photography details
49
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competitors (600 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (233g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX280 HS as a Sports photography camera
34
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography highlights
Canon SX280 HS Travel photography highlights
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (600g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than competitors (233g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (210 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX20 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX280 HS
35
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
41
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging features
Canon SX280 HS Vlogging features
50
pretty wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (600g)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (233g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX280 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX280 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon PowerShot SX280 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX280 HS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-06 2013-03-21
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Digic 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focusing range 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lbs) 233 grams (0.51 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 210 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $500 $325