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Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
Portability
66
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX30 IS
Kodak Z981
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 85 x 105mm
  • Released July 2010
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Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Canon SX20 IS and Kodak Z981, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Kodak. The resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the Z981 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was released very close to the Z981 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the SX20 IS scores vs the Z981 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Kodak Z981

 SX20 IS Z981 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution230k201kCrisper display (+29k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Canon SX20 IS

 Z981 SX20 IS 
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Kodak Z981

 SX20 IS Z981 
ReleasedJuly 2010July 2010Same age
Manually focus More precise focusing
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS has got outside measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Kodak Z981 has sizing of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Check the Canon SX20 IS and Kodak Z981 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX20 IS and the Z981.

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and Z981 is 65 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The photograph below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and Z981.

All in all, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Kodak Z981 to produce greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
Portrait photography with Kodak Z981
37
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
46
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography highlights
Kodak Z981 Street photography highlights
49
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (540 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography information
Kodak Z981 Sports photography information
34
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
43
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography details
Kodak Z981 Travel photography details
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (600 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
53
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
very long reach (676mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (540 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography info
Kodak Z981 Landscape photography info
35
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
51
you can focus manually
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging factors
Kodak Z981 Vlogging factors
50
reasonably wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
22
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than average (540 grams)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Kodak Z981 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Kodak Z981
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISKodak EasyShare Z981
General Information
Brand Name Canon Kodak
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Kodak EasyShare Z981
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-07-06 2010-07-06
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range 0cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 201 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 16 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 6.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 H.264
Microphone 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 600g (1.32 lb) 540g (1.19 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 124 x 85 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1")
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 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $500 $299