Clicky

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930

Portability
65
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Previous Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX30 IS
Sony S930
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 38-108mm (F2.9-5.4) lens
  • 167g - 90 x 61 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Canon SX20 IS versus Sony S930, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX20 IS (12MP) and the S930 (10MP) is very similar and they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The SX20 IS was manufactured 19 months after the S930 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S930 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX20 IS grades versus the S930 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony S930

 SX20 IS S930 
IntroducedJuly 2010January 2009More modern by 19 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension2.5"2.4"Larger display (+0.1")
Display resolution230k112kCrisper display (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S930 over the Canon SX20 IS

 S930 SX20 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony S930

 SX20 IS S930 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX20 IS provides outside 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 S930 has proportions of 90mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX20 IS versus Sony S930 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the S930.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and S930 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The picture underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and S930.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX20 IS to deliver extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more recent SX20 IS provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony S930 Portrait photography factors
36
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
25
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography details
Sony S930 Street photography details
49
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography factors
Sony S930 Sports photography factors
33
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography factors
Sony S930 Travel photography factors
52
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
50
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography advice
Sony S930 Landscape photography advice
35
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
31
focusing manually
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
tiny screen (2.4 inches)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony S930 Vlogging highlights
49
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competition (600g)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (320 x 240 resolution)
does not have microphone support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony S930 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony S930
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-07-06 2009-01-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
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 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 38-108mm (2.8x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.9-5.4
Macro focus distance 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.4"
Screen resolution 230k dots 112k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 1/8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m 3.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 320x240
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
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") 90 x 61 x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0")
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 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / PRo-HG Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $500 $219