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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Previous Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX30 IS
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX200V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX400V
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon SX20 IS and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was released 3 years prior to the HX300 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SX20 IS grades against the HX300 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony HX300

 SX20 IS HX300 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Canon SX20 IS

 HX300 SX20 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2013July 2010More recent by 32 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony HX300

 SX20 IS HX300 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS has physical 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 HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check the Canon SX20 IS and Sony HX300 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SX20 IS and the HX300.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and HX300 is 65 and 63 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The graphic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and HX300.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX300 to provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SX20 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
37
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
43
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX20 IS
Street photography with Sony HX300
49
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than others (600g)
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
rather wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (600 grams)
low MP (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (623g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography info
Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
35
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
49
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony HX300 Vlogging highlights
50
rather wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than others (600 grams)
25
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition (623g)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony HX300
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-06 2013-02-20
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus -
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $500 $339