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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Released September 2017
  • Superseded the Sony RX10 III
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The SX20 IS was released 8 years earlier than the RX10 IV which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SX20 IS matches up vs the RX10 IV in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony RX10 IV

 SX20 IS RX10 IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Canon SX20 IS

 RX10 IV SX20 IS 
ReleasedSeptember 2017July 2010Newer by 87 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony RX10 IV

 SX20 IS RX10 IV 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS provides exterior dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony RX10 IV has sizing of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") along with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX20 IS and the RX10 IV.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and RX10 IV is 65 and 52 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out a spec sheet. The image underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and RX10 IV.

As you can see, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SX20 IS due to its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony RX10 IV will show greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography advice
37
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography information
Sony RX10 IV Street photography information
49
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average in class (600g)
64
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather sealing
more heavy than competition (1,095g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Sports photography highlights
34
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
77
excellent zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography highlights
53
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (600g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
57
weather sealing
has bluetooth
features focus via touch
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (1,095g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography highlights
35
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
63
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Vlogging camera
50
pretty wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
more heavy than average in class (600g)
29
pretty wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competition (1,095g)
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony RX10 IV
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-06 2017-09-12
Physical type 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 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600g (1.32 pounds) 1095g (2.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
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 life - 400 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $500 $1,698