Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650
65 Imaging
35 Features
40 Overall
37


96 Imaging
39 Features
32 Overall
36
Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Key Specs
(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
- Launched July 2010
- Succeeded the Canon SX10 IS
- Later Model is Canon SX30 IS
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
- 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
- Introduced January 2012

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Overview
On this page, we will be comparing the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and W650 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

The SX20 IS was revealed 18 months earlier than the W650 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.
Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SX20 IS scores against the W650 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX20 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650. The full galleries are viewable at Canon SX20 IS Gallery and Sony W650 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony W650
SX20 IS | W650 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Canon SX20 IS
W650 | SX20 IS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2012 | ![]() | July 2010 | More modern by 18 months |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony W650
SX20 IS | W650 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Equal screen resolution |
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch screen |
Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison
For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX20 IS comes with outer dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") and a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony W650 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).
See the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the W650.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and W650 is 65 and 96 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The image here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX20 IS and W650.
As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony W650 to provide you with more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Sony |
Model | Canon PowerShot SX20 IS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2010-07-06 | 2012-01-10 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Digic 4 | BIONZ |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | - |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 28-560mm (20.0x) | 25-125mm (5.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-5.7 | f/2.6-6.3 |
Macro focus distance | 0cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.5" | 3" |
Display resolution | 230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Display technology | - | Clear Photo TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 secs | 2 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/3200 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 1.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 6.80 m | 3.70 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max 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) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 600g (1.32 pounds) | 124g (0.27 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") | 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall 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 life | - | 220 shots |
Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | 4 x AA | NP-BN |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus | SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail price | $500 | $140 |