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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Later Model is Canon SX30 IS
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX20 IS was introduced 5 years before the WX500 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SX20 IS scores vs the WX500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony WX500

 SX20 IS WX500 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Canon SX20 IS

 WX500 SX20 IS 
IntroducedApril 2015July 2010More recent by 58 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX500

 SX20 IS WX500 
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX20 IS enjoys physical dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") having a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SX20 IS against the WX500.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX20 IS and WX500 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and WX500.

As you can see, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Sony WX500 to offer more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SX20 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography information
Sony WX500 Portrait photography information
37
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500 seconds)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
39
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography highlights
Sony WX500 Street photography highlights
49
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than others in class (600 grams)
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (236 grams)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography information
Sony WX500 Sports photography information
34
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
offers tracking focus
great battery power (360 per charge)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Travel photography camera
53
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (600 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery power (360 shots)
lighter than others (236 grams)
resolution is good (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
35
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
49
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
great battery power (360 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Sony WX500
50
quite wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
heavier than others in class (600g)
35
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (236g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX500
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-06 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
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
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.80 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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 600g (1.32 pounds) 236g (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life - 360 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $500 $348