Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20
64 Imaging
36 Features
42 Overall
38
83 Imaging
60 Features
73 Overall
65
Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-840mm (F2.7-5.8) lens
- 601g - 123 x 92 x 108mm
- Released September 2010
- Earlier Model is Canon SX20 IS
- Updated by Canon SX40 HS
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Samsung NX Mount
- 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
- Revealed April 2012
- Superseded the Samsung NX11
- Successor is Samsung NX30
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 Overview
On this page, we will be contrasting the Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Canon and Samsung. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the SX30 IS (14MP) and NX20 (20MP) and the SX30 IS (1/2.3") and NX20 (APS-C) have different sensor size.
Mastering Nature Photography with a Digital Microscope CameraThe SX30 IS was revealed 19 months prior to the NX20 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon SX30 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung NX20 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the SX30 IS grades versus the NX20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX30 IS & Samsung NX20. The full galleries are viewable at Canon SX30 IS Gallery & Samsung NX20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX30 IS over the Samsung NX20
| SX30 IS | NX20 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Canon SX30 IS
| NX20 | SX30 IS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | April 2012 | September 2010 | More modern by 19 months | |
| Screen dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 614k | 230k | Crisper screen (+384k dot) |
Common features in the Canon SX30 IS and Samsung NX20
| SX30 IS | NX20 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | More accurate focus | |||
| Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated screen | |
| Selfie screen | Both are selfie friendly | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 Physical Comparison
If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX30 IS has got outer measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 601 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Samsung NX20 has specifications of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).
Take a look at the Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SX30 IS against the NX20.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX30 IS and NX20 is 64 and 83 respectively.
Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The image below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX30 IS and NX20.
As you can see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SX30 IS using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Samsung NX20 will result in extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged SX30 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.
Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 Screen and ViewFinder
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Canon SX30 IS vs Samsung NX20 Specifications
| Canon PowerShot SX30 IS | Samsung NX20 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Canon | Samsung |
| Model type | Canon PowerShot SX30 IS | Samsung NX20 |
| Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced Mirrorless |
| Released | 2010-09-14 | 2012-04-20 |
| Body design | SLR-like (bridge) | SLR-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | Digic 4 | - |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
| Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 14 megapixel | 20 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Peak resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 5472 x 3648 |
| Highest native ISO | 1600 | 12800 |
| Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW pictures | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 15 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | fixed lens | Samsung NX |
| Lens zoom range | 24-840mm (35.0x) | - |
| Maximal aperture | f/2.7-5.8 | - |
| Macro focusing distance | 0cm | - |
| Amount of lenses | - | 32 |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
| Screen sizing | 2.7" | 3" |
| Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 614 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch friendly | ||
| Screen tech | - | Active Matrix OLED screen |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
| Max shutter speed | 1/3200s | 1/8000s |
| Continuous shutter speed | 1.0 frames per second | 8.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | 6.80 m | 11.00 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual |
| External flash | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | - | 1/180s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
| Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
| Video data format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Optional |
| Physical | ||
| Environment seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 601g (1.32 lbs) | 341g (0.75 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 123 x 92 x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") | 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | not tested | 75 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.4 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.9 |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | 785 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 360 photographs |
| Battery format | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | NB-7L | BP1130 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Storage slots | Single | Single |
| Launch price | $400 | $1,100 |