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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix P900 front
Portability
52
Imaging
40
Features
63
Overall
49

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Succeeded the Canon SX10 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX30 IS
Nikon P900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-2000mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 899g - 140 x 103 x 137mm
  • Released March 2015
  • Refreshed by Nikon P1000
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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon P900, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and P900 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was revealed 5 years before the P900 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SX20 IS matches up against the P900 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Nikon P900

 SX20 IS P900 

Reasons to pick Nikon P900 over the Canon SX20 IS

 P900 SX20 IS 
ReleasedMarch 2015July 2010Fresher by 56 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon P900

 SX20 IS P900 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon SX20 IS offers outside 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) whilst the Nikon P900 has measurements of 140mm x 103mm x 137mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 5.4") having a weight of 899 grams (1.98 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon P900 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the P900.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and P900 is 65 and 52 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by researching specs. The photograph below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and P900.

All in all, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Nikon P900 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SX20 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
Portrait photography with Nikon P900
37
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon P900 Street photography highlights
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average (600g)
45
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (899g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon P900 as a Sports photography camera
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
55
incredible zoom range (24-2000mm 83.3 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
good battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon P900 as a Travel photography camera
53
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
really wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (600 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
59
good battery power (360 per charge)
has bluetooth
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (2000mm)
more heavy than competition in class (899g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX20 IS
Landscape photography with Nikon P900
35
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
51
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
good battery power (360 shots)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging advice
Nikon P900 Vlogging advice
50
really wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than average (600 grams)
53
quite wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (899 grams)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon P900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Nikon P900
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISNikon Coolpix P900
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P900
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-06 2015-03-02
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-2000mm (83.3x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 921 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.80 m 11.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p) 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, 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 Yes
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600g (1.32 lbs) 899g (1.98 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 140 x 103 x 137mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 5.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 360 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA EN-EL23
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $500 $600