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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100

Portability
65
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX30 IS
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
Photography Glossary

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was brought out 6 months after the S2100 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SX20 IS grades versus the S2100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony S2100

 SX20 IS S2100 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Canon SX20 IS

 S2100 SX20 IS 
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony S2100

 SX20 IS S2100 
AnnouncedJuly 2010January 2010Similar age
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Canon SX20 IS offers external 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 S2100 has specifications of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX20 IS versus the S2100.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and S2100 is 65 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SX20 IS and S2100.

Clearly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels and you can expect similar quality of pictures however you really should take the age of the products into consideration.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography advice
Sony S2100 Portrait photography advice
36
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
20
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography info
Sony S2100 Street photography info
49
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Sports photography camera
33
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
17
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Travel photography camera
52
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
rather wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (600g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX20 IS
Landscape photography with Sony S2100
35
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
27
screen is a good size (3")
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Sony S2100
49
rather wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony S2100
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-07-06 2010-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
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) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 secs -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 600 gr (1.32 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $500 $0