Canon SX20 IS vs Sony NEX-5T

The following is a extended comparison of the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony NEX-5T, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Canon and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and NEX-5T (16MP) and the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SX20 IS was manufactured 4 years earlier than the NEX-5T which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SX20 IS grades against the NEX-5T when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX20 IS & Sony Alpha NEX-5T. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX20 IS Gallery & Sony NEX-5T Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX20 IS features external measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5T has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony NEX-5T in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the SX20 IS against the NEX-5T.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and NEX-5T is 65 and 89 respectively.

Usually, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The pic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX20 IS and NEX-5T.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX20 IS because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-5T will give more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.