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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Canon SX20 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Older Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX30 IS
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Updated by Sony HX50V
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Canon and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was revealed 20 months earlier than the HX30V making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SX20 IS matches up against the HX30V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony HX30V

 SX20 IS HX30V 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Canon SX20 IS

 HX30V SX20 IS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012July 2010Fresher by 20 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony HX30V

 SX20 IS HX30V 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX20 IS comes with external 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 Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SX20 IS against the HX30V.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and HX30V is 65 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SX20 IS and HX30V.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX30V to resolve extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older SX20 IS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
37
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
45
you can focus manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography info
Sony HX30V Street photography info
49
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition in class (600g)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography details
Sony HX30V Sports photography details
34
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography factors
Sony HX30V Travel photography factors
53
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (600 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
decent MP (18MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
35
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
50
quite wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
heavier than competition in class (600 grams)
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony HX30V
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-07-06 2012-02-28
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life - 320 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $500 $420