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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S6400 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Key Specs

Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Older Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX30 IS
Nikon S6400
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 58 x 27mm
  • Revealed August 2012
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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon S6400, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and S6400 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX20 IS was launched 3 years prior to the S6400 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon S6400 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SX20 IS scores vs the S6400 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Nikon S6400

 SX20 IS S6400 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon S6400 over the Canon SX20 IS

 S6400 SX20 IS 
RevealedAugust 2012July 2010Newer by 25 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon S6400

 SX20 IS S6400 

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX20 IS enjoys outer 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 Nikon S6400 has proportions of 95mm x 58mm x 27mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX20 IS and Nikon S6400 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the SX20 IS against the S6400.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and S6400 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading technical specs. The pic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and S6400.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon S6400 to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography details
Nikon S6400 Portrait photography details
37
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon S6400 Street photography highlights
49
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (600 grams)
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (150g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography info
Nikon S6400 Sports photography info
34
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (160 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S6400 as a Travel photography camera
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (600g)
low MP (12MP)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery (160 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (150 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon S6400 as a Landscape photography camera
35
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (160 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging features
Nikon S6400 Vlogging features
50
relatively wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition (600 grams)
33
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (150 grams)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Nikon S6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Nikon S6400
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISNikon Coolpix S6400
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix S6400
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2010-07-06 2012-08-22
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range 0cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
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 speed 1.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 150 gr (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 95 x 58 x 27mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 - 160 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $500 $500