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Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Key Specs

Canon SX230 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 223g - 106 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon SX210 IS
  • Successor is Canon SX240 HS
Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Released February 2009
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Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the SX230 HS (12MP) and the L20 (10MP) is fairly similar and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX230 HS was revealed 2 years after the L20 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SX230 HS scores against the L20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX230 HS over the Nikon L20

 SX230 HS L20 
ReleasedJuly 2011February 2009More modern by 30 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Canon SX230 HS

 L20 SX230 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX230 HS and Nikon L20

 SX230 HS L20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX230 HS enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Nikon L20 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX230 HS compared to the L20.

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SX230 HS and L20 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX230 HS and L20.

Clearly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Canon SX230 HS to offer extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer SX230 HS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Portrait photography features
Nikon L20 Portrait photography features
34
manual focus
comes with face detection focus
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Street photography details
Nikon L20 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (223 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
54
lighter than competition (135g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX230 HS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L20 as a Sports photography camera
36
amazing zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Travel photography factors
Nikon L20 Travel photography factors
61
lighter than average (223g)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great zoom (392mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (210 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
55
lighter than competition (135 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Landscape photography info
Nikon L20 Landscape photography info
41
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (210 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
26
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX230 HS Vlogging highlights
Nikon L20 Vlogging highlights
34
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (223g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
24
lighter than competition (135 grams)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Canon SX230 HS vs Nikon L20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX230 HS and Nikon L20
 Canon PowerShot SX230 HSNikon Coolpix L20
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Nikon Coolpix L20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-07-19 2009-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-392mm (14.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology PureColor II TG TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 223g (0.49 pounds) 135g (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 62 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 210 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-5L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $399 $120