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Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Replaced the Canon SX260 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX280 HS
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX10V
  • Later Model is Sony HX30V
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Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the SX270 HS (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX270 HS was manufactured 9 months after the HX20V and they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the SX270 HS grades against the HX20V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Sony HX20V

 SX270 HS HX20V 
AnnouncedMarch 2013July 2012Newer by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Canon SX270 HS

 HX20V SX270 HS 
Screen resolution922k461kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Sony HX20V

 SX270 HS HX20V 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX270 HS features outside measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SX270 HS versus the HX20V.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX270 HS and HX20V is 91 and 90 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing a spec sheet. The image here should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX270 HS and HX20V.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony HX20V to show extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer SX270 HS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX270 HS
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
34
you can focus manually
has face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
45
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (233g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Travel photography advice
Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
61
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (210 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than others (254 grams)
good megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
41
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery pack (210 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
50
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX270 HS
Vlogging with Sony HX20V
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Canon SX270 HS vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Sony HX20V
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-03-21 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233 grams (0.51 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 photographs 320 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $284 $397