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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 front
Portability
94
Imaging
42
Features
38
Overall
40

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 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
  • Announced July 2010
  • Succeeded the Canon SX10 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX30 IS
Sony WX300
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.5) lens
  • 166g - 96 x 55 x 25mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • New Model is Sony WX350
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and WX300 (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was revealed 3 years before the WX300 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX300 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SX20 IS matches up vs the WX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony WX300

 SX20 IS WX300 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony WX300 over the Canon SX20 IS

 WX300 SX20 IS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013July 2010More recent by 32 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX300

 SX20 IS WX300 
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS features outside dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony WX300 has sizing of 96mm x 55mm x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 166 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SX20 IS vs the WX300.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and WX300 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The photograph here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and WX300.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony WX300 to render greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older SX20 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX300 as a Portrait photography camera
37
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
36
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography details
Sony WX300 Street photography details
49
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (166 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography highlights
Sony WX300 Sports photography highlights
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography features
Sony WX300 Travel photography features
53
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than others in class (166g)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX300 as a Landscape photography camera
35
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
44
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging info
Sony WX300 Vlogging info
50
fairly wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (600g)
35
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (166g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone port
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX300
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-07-06 2013-02-20
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.5-6.5
Macro focus distance 0cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.80 m 4.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lbs) 166 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 96 x 55 x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" 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 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $330