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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 front
Portability
99
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 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
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replaced the Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
Sony WX9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • n/ag - 95 x 56 x 20mm
  • Released January 2011
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX9, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and WX9 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX20 IS was announced 6 months before the WX9 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX20 IS grades against the WX9 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony WX9

 SX20 IS WX9 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony WX9 over the Canon SX20 IS

 WX9 SX20 IS 
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX9

 SX20 IS WX9 
ReleasedJuly 2010January 2011Similar age
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX20 IS has got 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) whilst the Sony WX9 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX20 IS compared to the WX9.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX20 IS and WX9 is 65 and 99 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and WX9.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony WX9 to resolve greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX20 IS
Portrait photography with Sony WX9
37
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
29
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX20 IS
Street photography with Sony WX9
49
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than others in class (600 grams)
59
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX9 as a Sports photography camera
34
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography details
Sony WX9 Travel photography details
53
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (600 grams)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography advice
Sony WX9 Landscape photography advice
35
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Vlogging highlights
Sony WX9 Vlogging highlights
50
pretty wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (600 grams)
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony WX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony WX9
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2010-07-06 2011-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 BIONZ
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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias 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 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 0cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 600 grams (1.32 pounds) -
Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 95 x 56 x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $500 $188