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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Succeeded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX30 IS
Sony W650
(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
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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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony W650

 SX20 IS W650 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Canon SX20 IS

 W650 SX20 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2012July 2010More modern by 18 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony W650

 SX20 IS W650 
Screen resolution230k230kEqual 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony W650 Portrait photography factors
37
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
34
resolution is good (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography information
Sony W650 Street photography information
49
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competition (600g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (124 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography info
Sony W650 Sports photography info
34
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography advice
Sony W650 Travel photography advice
53
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than average (124g)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography highlights
Sony W650 Landscape photography highlights
35
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
43
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging factors
Sony W650 Vlogging factors
50
rather wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition (600 grams)
33
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than average (124 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony W650
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony 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