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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Canon XC10 front
Portability
54
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 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
  • Superseded the Canon SX10 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX30 IS
Canon XC10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 20000
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-241mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 1040g - 125 x 102 x 122mm
  • Announced April 2015
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Canon. The resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the XC10 (12MP) is relatively similar but the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and XC10 (1") come with totally different sensor size.

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The SX20 IS was manufactured 5 years earlier than the XC10 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Canon XC10 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SX20 IS matches up against the XC10 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Canon XC10

 SX20 IS XC10 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution230k1kSharper screen (+229k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon XC10 over the Canon SX20 IS

 XC10 SX20 IS 
AnnouncedApril 2015July 2010Fresher by 57 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Canon XC10

 SX20 IS XC10 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS enjoys physical measurements 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 XC10 has sizing of 125mm x 102mm x 122mm (4.9" x 4.0" x 4.8") with a weight of 1040 grams (2.29 lbs).

See the Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SX20 IS vs the XC10.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and XC10 is 65 and 54 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX20 IS and XC10.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The SX20 IS uses the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF trickier. The older SX20 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography factors
Canon XC10 Portrait photography factors
37
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
50
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detection focusing
low megapixels (12MP)
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography highlights
Canon XC10 Street photography highlights
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competitors (600g)
56
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports focus by touch
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (1,040g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon XC10 as a Sports photography camera
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.8 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon XC10 as a Travel photography camera
53
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (600g)
MP count low (12MP)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
43
supports focus by touch
quite wide (24mm)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,040 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Canon XC10 as a Landscape photography camera
35
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse function
50
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12MP)
lacks RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Canon XC10
50
pretty wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors (600g)
28
quite wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors in class (1,040g)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon XC10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Canon XC10
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISCanon XC10
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon XC10
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-07-06 2015-04-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 DIGIC DV5
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 12.8 x 9.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 122.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 20000
Minimum native ISO 80 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
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) 24-241mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing distance 0cm 8cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 3.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest 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) 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (120p, 100p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 XF-AVC, 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 1040 gr (2.29 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 125 x 102 x 122mm (4.9" x 4.0" x 4.8")
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 ID 4 x AA LP-E6N
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus CFast, SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $500 $1,599