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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58

Portability
65
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
61
Features
72
Overall
65

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 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
  • Launched July 2010
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX10 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX30 IS
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony A57
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon SX20 IS versus Sony A58, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the SX20 IS (12MP) and A58 (20MP) and the SX20 IS (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The SX20 IS was manufactured 4 years earlier than the A58 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX20 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SX20 IS matches up versus the A58 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX20 IS over the Sony A58

 SX20 IS A58 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Canon SX20 IS

 A58 SX20 IS 
RevealedNovember 2013July 2010Newer by 41 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX20 IS and Sony A58

 SX20 IS A58 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX20 IS comes with exterior 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 A58 has specifications of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX20 IS versus Sony A58 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SX20 IS and the A58.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX20 IS and A58 is 65 and 68 respectively.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The picture here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX20 IS and A58.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SX20 IS because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A58 will show extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged SX20 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Portrait photography features
Sony A58 Portrait photography features
37
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/500s)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
76
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Street photography info
Sony A58 Street photography info
49
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than average in class (600g)
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Sports photography features
Sony A58 Sports photography features
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 tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
80
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (690 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Travel photography information
Sony A58 Travel photography information
53
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (600g)
low megapixels (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
better than average battery power (690 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX20 IS Landscape photography details
Sony A58 Landscape photography details
35
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (690 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX20 IS
Vlogging with Sony A58
50
rather wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (600g)
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Canon SX20 IS vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX20 IS and Sony A58
 Canon PowerShot SX20 ISSony SLT-A58
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Sony SLT-A58
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-07-06 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 1600 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 0cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.6
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 600g (1.32 lb) 492g (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 753
Other
Battery life - 690 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD / SDHC / MMC / MMC Plus / HC MMC Plus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $500 $645