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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II 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
  • Announced July 2010
  • Superseded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX30 IS
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX10
  • Refreshed by Sony RX10 III
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Here is a thorough review of the Canon SX20 IS versus Sony RX10 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and RX10 II (20MP) and the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and RX10 II (1") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The SX20 IS was introduced 5 years earlier than the RX10 II and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the SX20 IS grades vs the RX10 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony RX10 II

 SX20 IS RX10 II 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Canon SX20 IS

 RX10 II SX20 IS 
AnnouncedJune 2015July 2010Fresher by 60 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony RX10 II

 SX20 IS RX10 II 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX20 IS offers outside measurements of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 II has measurements of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX20 IS versus Sony RX10 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the RX10 II.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and RX10 II is 65 and 58 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX20 IS and RX10 II.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SX20 IS using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony RX10 II will give you greater detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older SX20 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
Portrait photography with Sony RX10 II
37
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography factors
Sony RX10 II Street photography factors
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition (600 grams)
72
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Sports photography camera
34
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
68
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes tracking focus
weather proof
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography advice
Sony RX10 II Travel photography advice
53
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (600g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
weather proof
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography features
Sony RX10 II Landscape photography features
35
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
62
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony RX10 II Vlogging highlights
50
relatively wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition (600g)
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony RX10 II
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-07-06 2015-06-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.80 m 10.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 seconds -
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600g (1.32 pounds) 813g (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 400 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
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
Price at launch $500 $998