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Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Key Specs

Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Announced March 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX260 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX280 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 SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Canon SX270 HS and Nikon L20, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the SX270 HS (12MP) and the L20 (10MP) is fairly similar and they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX270 HS was unveiled 4 years later than the L20 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the SX270 HS matches up vs the L20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Nikon L20

 SX270 HS L20 
ReleasedMarch 2013February 2009Fresher by 51 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Canon SX270 HS

 L20 SX270 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Nikon L20

 SX270 HS L20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SX270 HS comes with external measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Nikon L20 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX270 HS and Nikon L20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SX270 HS and the L20.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX270 HS and L20 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The graphic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SX270 HS and L20.

Plainly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Canon SX270 HS to offer you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively. The younger SX270 HS will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon L20 Portrait photography highlights
34
you can focus manually
provides face detection focus
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Street photography advice
Nikon L20 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (233g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
lighter than others (135g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX270 HS
Sports photography with Nikon L20
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon L20 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than others (233 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (210 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
55
lighter than others (135 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Landscape photography factors
Nikon L20 Landscape photography factors
41
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (210 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
27
nice screen size (3 inch)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Vlogging factors
Nikon L20 Vlogging factors
34
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (233 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
24
lighter than others (135 grams)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
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Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon L20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Nikon L20
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSNikon Coolpix L20
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Nikon Coolpix L20
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-03-21 2009-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233g (0.51 lbs) 135g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life 210 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $284 $120