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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon SX220 HS front
Portability
96
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX220 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • n/ag - 106 x 59 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are built by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the SX220 HS (12MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was brought out 7 months earlier than the SX220 HS which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon SX220 HS being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SX20 IS scores vs the SX220 HS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon SX220 HS

 SX20 IS SX220 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX220 HS over the Canon SX20 IS

 SX220 HS SX20 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2010More modern by 7 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX220 HS

 SX20 IS SX220 HS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS provides physical dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Canon SX220 HS has sizing of 106mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

See the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SX20 IS and the SX220 HS.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and SX220 HS is 65 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The image here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and SX220 HS.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of photographs however you should always factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged SX20 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX220 HS
37
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
38
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
provides face detect focusing
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography advice
Canon SX220 HS Street photography advice
49
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition (600g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography advice
Canon SX220 HS Sports photography advice
34
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
36
excellent zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (210 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX220 HS Travel photography details
53
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (392mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (210 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX220 HS as a Landscape photography camera
35
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
42
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery life (210 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX220 HS Vlogging advice
50
reasonably wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
more heavy than competition (600g)
34
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX220 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX220 HS
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon SX220 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon SX220 HS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2011-02-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology
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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
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 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 28-392mm (14.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing 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 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - PureColor II TG TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30,120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lb) -
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 106 x 59 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.3" 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 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/ MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $500 $399