Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A300

Below, we will be evaluating the Canon SX20 IS and Sony A300, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The SX20 IS was manufactured 2 years after the A300 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SX20 IS matches up vs the A300 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX20 IS & Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. The entire galleries are available at Canon SX20 IS Gallery & Sony A300 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS has got outer dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Sony A300 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX20 IS and Sony A300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SX20 IS versus the A300.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and A300 is 65 and 64 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at specifications. The pic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and A300.

To sum up, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX20 IS due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Canon SX20 IS will give extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SX20 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.