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Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Old Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX30 IS
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-2
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Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Canon SX20 IS and Olympus SH-3, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Canon and Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and SH-3 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was revealed 6 years before the SH-3 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SX20 IS matches up vs the SH-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Olympus SH-3

 SX20 IS SH-3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Canon SX20 IS

 SH-3 SX20 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2016July 2010More modern by 68 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Olympus SH-3

 SX20 IS SH-3 

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX20 IS offers physical dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Olympus SH-3 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Canon SX20 IS and Olympus SH-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SX20 IS and the SH-3.

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and SH-3 is 65 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and SH-3.

As you can see, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Olympus SH-3 to show more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
37
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
44
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography features
Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (600 grams)
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch focus
lighter than others (271 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX20 IS
Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography details
Olympus SH-3 Travel photography details
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
low MP (12MP)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
74
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than others (271g)
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography factors
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography factors
35
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
55
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging details
Olympus SH-3 Vlogging details
50
reasonably wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
35
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
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Canon SX20 IS vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Olympus SH-3
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISOlympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Olympus Stylus SH-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2016-02-08
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range 0cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/500s -
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) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 grams (1.32 lbs) 271 grams (0.60 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 380 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $500 $579