Clicky

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Samsung ST30 front
Portability
98
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 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
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Older Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX30 IS
Samsung ST30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 0 - 0
  • 640 x 480 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • 87g - 82 x 52 x 17mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Canon SX20 IS and Samsung ST30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Canon and Samsung. The image resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the ST30 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and ST30 (1/3") have totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SX20 IS was revealed 6 months prior to the ST30 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung ST30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX20 IS grades versus the ST30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Samsung ST30

 SX20 IS ST30 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Samsung ST30 over the Canon SX20 IS

 ST30 SX20 IS 
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Samsung ST30

 SX20 IS ST30 
IntroducedJuly 2010January 2011Same age
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS features exterior measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Samsung ST30 has sizing of 82mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 87 grams (0.19 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX20 IS and Samsung ST30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the ST30.

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and ST30 is 65 and 98 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and ST30.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX20 IS with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Canon SX20 IS will provide more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs more aggressively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography information
Samsung ST30 Portrait photography information
37
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500 seconds)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography factors
Samsung ST30 Street photography factors
49
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competition (600g)
54
lighter than competition (87 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/3")
lack of RAW files
max ISO too low (0)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography advice
Samsung ST30 Sports photography advice
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
16
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/3")
lack of phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography factors
Samsung ST30 Travel photography factors
53
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (600 grams)
resolution not great (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competition (87g)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f)
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography information
Samsung ST30 Landscape photography information
35
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
30
great maximum aperture (f)
good sized screen (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/3")
max ISO too low (0)
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Samsung ST30
50
fairly wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition (600 grams)
29
great maximum aperture (f)
lighter than competition (87g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Samsung ST30
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSamsung ST30
General Information
Brand Canon Samsung
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Samsung ST30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-07-06 2011-01-19
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 4.8 x 3.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 17.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 80 -
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
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) ()
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 7.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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) 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600g (1.32 lb) 87g (0.19 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 82 x 52 x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus -
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $55