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Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 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
  • Superseded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX30 IS
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Launched July 2014
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Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Canon SX20 IS versus Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and XG-1 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was announced 5 years earlier than the XG-1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX20 IS grades vs the XG-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Pentax XG-1

 SX20 IS XG-1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Canon SX20 IS

 XG-1 SX20 IS 
LaunchedJuly 2014July 2010More modern by 49 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Pentax XG-1

 SX20 IS XG-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX20 IS has got outer measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Pentax XG-1 has proportions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX20 IS versus Pentax XG-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SX20 IS versus the XG-1.

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and XG-1 is 65 and 66 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by going over specs. The picture here might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and XG-1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax XG-1 to offer you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography information
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography information
37
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500 seconds)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
40
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX20 IS
Street photography with Pentax XG-1
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (567 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography factors
Pentax XG-1 Sports photography factors
34
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Travel photography camera
53
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (600g)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
52
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (1248mm)
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (240 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (567 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography information
Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography information
35
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
45
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Vlogging camera
50
really wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (600g)
25
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (567g)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Pentax XG-1
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISPentax XG-1
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Pentax XG-1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-07-06 2014-07-15
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
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, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600g (1.32 lbs) 567g (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
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 - 240 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $500 $599