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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
Portability
80
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 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
  • Released July 2010
  • Superseded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Old Model is Canon SX500 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX520 HS
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Overview

Here, we are looking at the Canon SX20 IS versus Canon SX510 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are built by Canon. The resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the SX510 HS (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was revealed 4 years prior to the SX510 HS which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX510 HS being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SX20 IS matches up versus the SX510 HS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX510 HS

 SX20 IS SX510 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX510 HS SX20 IS 
AnnouncedAugust 2013July 2010More modern by 38 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX510 HS

 SX20 IS SX510 HS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX20 IS offers outer dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX510 HS has measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs).

See the Canon SX20 IS versus Canon SX510 HS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SX20 IS and the SX510 HS.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and SX510 HS is 65 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and SX510 HS.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size and the identical MP and you can expect comparable quality of files although you will need to consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The more aged SX20 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX510 HS as a Portrait photography camera
37
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
has manual focus
features face detection focus
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX20 IS
Street photography with Canon SX510 HS
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (600 grams)
50
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX510 HS as a Sports photography camera
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
36
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (250 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX510 HS as a Travel photography camera
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (600 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery life (250 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX510 HS as a Landscape photography camera
35
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
40
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery life (250 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX510 HS as a Vlogging camera
50
reasonably wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
31
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX510 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX510 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon PowerShot SX510 HS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2013-08-22
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus range 0cm 0cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, slow synchro, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 600 grams (1.32 pounds) 349 grams (0.77 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
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 - 250 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $500 $249