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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
Photography Glossary
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