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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX610 HS front
Portability
93
Imaging
46
Features
47
Overall
46

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 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
  • Announced July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX610 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.8-6.9) lens
  • 191g - 105 x 61 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Succeeded the Canon SX600 HS
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both of them are built by Canon. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and SX610 HS (20MP) but they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was announced 5 years earlier than the SX610 HS and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX610 HS being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SX20 IS grades vs the SX610 HS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX610 HS

 SX20 IS SX610 HS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX610 HS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX610 HS SX20 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2015July 2010Fresher by 54 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX610 HS

 SX20 IS SX610 HS 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Touch display No Touch display

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX20 IS features 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) and the Canon SX610 HS has proportions of 105mm x 61mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 191 grams (0.42 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SX20 IS against the SX610 HS.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and SX610 HS is 65 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The photograph below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and SX610 HS.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon SX610 HS to offer greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older SX20 IS is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography details
Canon SX610 HS Portrait photography details
37
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
44
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
supports face detection focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography factors
Canon SX610 HS Street photography factors
49
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (600 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (191 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX610 HS as a Sports photography camera
34
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
45
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.5 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX610 HS Travel photography details
53
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (600 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition in class (191g)
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography factors
Canon SX610 HS Landscape photography factors
35
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
48
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.8)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging information
Canon SX610 HS Vlogging information
50
reasonably wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (600 grams)
35
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (191 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX610 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX610 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon PowerShot SX610 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX610 HS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-07-06 2015-01-06
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 DIGIC 4+
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.8-6.9
Macro focus distance 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
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 2.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.80 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, slow synchro, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 gr (1.32 lb) 191 gr (0.42 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 105 x 61 x 27mm (4.1" 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 - 270 shots
Type of battery - 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 shooting
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $500 $214