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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX540 HS front
Portability
69
Imaging
46
Features
44
Overall
45

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Key Specs

Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Previous Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX540 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 442g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are offered by Canon. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and SX540 HS (20MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was introduced 6 years earlier than the SX540 HS which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SX20 IS matches up versus the SX540 HS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX540 HS

 SX20 IS SX540 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX540 HS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX540 HS SX20 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2016July 2010More modern by 66 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX540 HS

 SX20 IS SX540 HS 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX20 IS comes with outer dimensions 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 SX540 HS has dimensions of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the SX540 HS.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and SX540 HS is 65 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and SX540 HS.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Canon SX540 HS to render more detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography information
Canon SX540 HS Portrait photography information
37
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500 seconds)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
47
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography advice
Canon SX540 HS Street photography advice
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (600 grams)
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography features
Canon SX540 HS Sports photography features
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
slow fps (5.9 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (205 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography features
Canon SX540 HS Travel photography features
53
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (600 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
56
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery pack (205 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX20 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX540 HS
35
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
48
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery pack (205 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX540 HS Vlogging advice
50
pretty wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (600 grams)
29
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of microphone support
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX540 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX540 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon PowerShot SX540 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2016-01-05
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 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 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.4-6.5
Macro focus distance 0cm 0cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 5.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m 5.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 442 gr (0.97 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 - 205 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NB-6LH
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $500 $399