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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L820 front
Portability
72
Imaging
40
Features
28
Overall
35

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 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
  • Replacement is Canon SX30 IS
Nikon L820
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-675mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 470g - 111 x 76 x 85mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon L810
  • Newer Model is Nikon L830
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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and L820 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was unveiled 3 years before the L820 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SX20 IS scores vs the L820 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Nikon L820

 SX20 IS L820 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon L820 over the Canon SX20 IS

 L820 SX20 IS 
ReleasedJanuary 2013July 2010Fresher by 31 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon L820

 SX20 IS L820 
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS has external 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) while the Nikon L820 has sizing of 111mm x 76mm x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") with a weight of 470 grams (1.04 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the L820.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and L820 is 65 and 72 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and L820.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Nikon L820 to offer you greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older SX20 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon L820 as a Portrait photography camera
37
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
30
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography advice
Nikon L820 Street photography advice
49
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than average (600g)
38
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (470g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L820 as a Sports photography camera
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (23-675mm 29.3 x zoom)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography advice
Nikon L820 Travel photography advice
53
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (600 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (23mm)
long reach (675mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (470 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon L820 as a Landscape photography camera
35
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
36
relatively wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging information
Nikon L820 Vlogging information
50
really wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
heavier than average (600 grams)
24
relatively wide (23mm)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (470 grams)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon L820 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Nikon L820
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISNikon Coolpix L820
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix L820
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2013-01-29
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 23-675mm (29.3x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.0-5.8
Macro focusing distance 0cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600g (1.32 lbs) 470g (1.04 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 111 x 76 x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 320 photos
Style of battery - AA
Battery ID 4 x AA 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $500 $192