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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front
Portability
69
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 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
  • Succeeded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
Sony H50
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-465mm (F2.7-4.5) lens
  • 547g - 116 x 81 x 86mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and H50 (9MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was manufactured 18 months after the H50 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony H50 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SX20 IS grades vs the H50 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony H50

 SX20 IS H50 
LaunchedJuly 2010January 2009More modern by 18 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony H50 over the Canon SX20 IS

 H50 SX20 IS 
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony H50

 SX20 IS H50 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS has got external 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) whilst the Sony H50 has sizing of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") and a weight of 547 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SX20 IS vs the H50.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and H50 is 65 and 69 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and H50.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Canon SX20 IS to provide greater detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern SX20 IS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography details
Sony H50 Portrait photography details
37
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
you can focus manually
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony H50 as a Street photography camera
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competitors (600 grams)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (547g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony H50 as a Sports photography camera
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
32
amazing zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography advice
Sony H50 Travel photography advice
53
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
fairly wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (600 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
44
built-in flash
long reach (465mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (547 grams)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography advice
Sony H50 Landscape photography advice
35
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
34
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging features
Sony H50 Vlogging features
50
fairly wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (600g)
19
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic support
heavier than competition (547 grams)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony H50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony H50
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2009-01-15
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 31-465mm (15.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.7-4.5
Macro focusing distance 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 9.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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, 30 fps, 320 x 240, 8 fps
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600g (1.32 lbs) 547g (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 116 x 81 x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4")
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 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $500 $80