Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20
80 Imaging
36 Features
41 Overall
38


87 Imaging
33 Features
29 Overall
31
Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
- 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
- Released August 2013
- Older Model is Canon SX500 IS
- Successor is Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
- 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
- Revealed May 2009

Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Overview
Below, we will be analyzing the Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX510 HS (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is pretty similar and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

The SX510 HS was manufactured 4 years later than the H20 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SX510 HS scores against the H20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot SX510 HS & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX510 HS Gallery & Sony H20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Sony H20
SX510 HS | H20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | August 2013 | ![]() | May 2009 | More recent by 53 months |
Screen resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+231k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Canon SX510 HS
H20 | SX510 HS |
---|
Common features in the Canon SX510 HS and Sony H20
SX510 HS | H20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial precise focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical screen measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Missing Touch friendly screen |
Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX510 HS features outside dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs) while the Sony H20 has measurements of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).
See the Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the SX510 HS versus the H20.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX510 HS and H20 is 80 and 87 respectively.

Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it's hard to see the difference between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX510 HS and H20.
As you can see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Canon SX510 HS to offer you more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger SX510 HS will have an edge in sensor technology.

Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Sony H20 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SX510 HS | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Released | 2013-08-22 | 2009-05-14 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3648 x 2736 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 1 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 24-720mm (30.0x) | 38-380mm (10.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.4-5.8 | f/3.5-4.4 |
Macro focusing distance | 0cm | 2cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 461k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1600 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 4.0fps | 2.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m | 7.10 m |
Flash settings | Auto, on, slow synchro, off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | - |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 349 grams (0.77 lbs) | 250 grams (0.55 lbs) |
Dimensions | 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") | 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") |
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 | 250 images | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | NB-6LH | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail price | $249 | $249 |