Nikon P900 vs Sony HX20V: In-Depth Hands-On Comparison of Small Sensor Superzooms

When it comes to small sensor superzoom cameras, two names pop up that cater to quite different crowds: Nikon’s jungle-gun-style Coolpix P900, and Sony’s compact, pocket-friendly Cyber-shot HX20V. I’ve spent serious time experimenting with both shooters in various real-world scenarios - lots of outdoor rambles, city explorations, and casual wildlife attempts - so let's get down to business and see which model nails which needs, and more importantly, which one deserves a spot in your bag.

Whether you're a photo hobbyist who craves zoom reach or a traveler seeking lightweight versatility, my goal here is to give you the nitty-gritty distinction between these two cameras based on lengthy use, technical know-how, and plain old practical experience.

Size Matters: Ergonomics and Handling

Before we dive into pixels and zooms, let’s talk about how these cameras feel in the hand and function day-to-day.

The Nikon P900 is unmistakably bridge-style - chunky, with a substantial grip and a beefy build weighing an easy 899 grams (nearly 2 pounds). This heft translates to stability, especially when shooting at extreme telephoto focal lengths on its colossal 83.3x zoom. It’s not a small camera by any means (140x103x137mm), but feels solid and balanced, with intuitive control dials and lots of buttons that scream manual tweaks ahead!

In contrast, the Sony HX20V is a true compact, weighing a mere 254 grams, making it pocketable and easy to whip out quickly. Its size (107x62x35mm) is a huge advantage for street shooters and anyone who hates lugging around gear. Ergonomically, though, it feels a bit more cramped, with fewer physical controls and a fixed, narrow grip that won’t comfort your thumb during extended shooting sessions. But if you want a cheapskate-friendly, grab-and-go style, it fits the bill brilliantly.

The Nikon’s bulk provides more buttons and dials for real manual control. The Sony leans heavily on programmed modes and menus, although you still get some manual exposure. If you’re a hands-on type who loves clubs for thumbs (as I like to call those chunky thumb grips), the P900 wins in raw handling.

Design Details: Interface and Control Layout

Let’s peek at the top plate and control schemes - because how a camera lets you tweak settings on the fly can sometimes make or break the photo experience.

Nikon’s P900 bristles with dedicated dials for shutter/aperture priority and exposure compensation. There’s a command dial around the grip, a separate command dial near the shutter button, a physical zoom rocker, and a fully articulating 3-inch screen which I found handy for low-angle macro and awkward selfie angles. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has a nice 921k-dot resolution, giving you a decent preview with 100% coverage - no surprises on framing.

Sony’s HX20V skips the EVF altogether, relying on the fixed rear screen which is also 3 inches but fixed and with a slightly better 922k-dot resolution on an XtraFine TruBlack LCD - nice for combating glare, but you lose flexibility without articulation. The button layout is minimalist: fewer controls, no dedicated mode dial, so you wrestle with menus to make setting changes. Still, for casual snapshooters or video bloggers, this simplicity reduces the learning curve.

If you value tactile control and find yourself often fiddling with exposure, ISO, or white balance on the fly, Nikon’s P900 feels much more like a serious tool. Sony’s HX20V is better suited for quick point-and-shoot scenarios with some manual override for enthusiasts.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: Crunching Pixels

Both cameras cavort in the small 1/2.3” sensor category, typical for superzooms. It’s a bit of a mixed bag - small sensors are great for zoom reach but trade off especially in low light and dynamic range.

• Nikon P900: 16MP CMOS sensor, 6.17x4.55 mm, max ISO 6400 (expandable to 12,800), with an anti-aliasing filter.
• Sony HX20V: Slightly higher resolution at 18MP BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated), same 6.17x4.55 mm area, max ISO 12,800, and anti-aliasing filter.

The BSI sensor on the Sony provides a technical edge in low-light performance as it improves the quantum efficiency, gathering more light and reducing noise at high ISO. However, in everyday shooting from ISO 100 to 800, both cameras produce similar sharpness and color fidelity. Nikon’s slightly lower megapixel count helps keep noise in check.

Dynamic range on these sensors is limited, as expected, but Sony’s newer sensor technology and BIONZ processor gently pull ahead with smoother tonal transitions and less highlight clipping. The Nikon P900 does surprise with good color accuracy and punchy JPEGs, but it’s more prone to noise at higher ISOs.

The Nikon’s larger zoom breadth puts it at a pixel-density disadvantage at the extreme telephoto end, where noise and softness creep in faster. On the other hand, the Sony HX20V’s smaller zoom range gives sharper results across its narrower spectrum.

In practical terms: for crisp landscapes and well-lit portraits, both sensors do fine, but if you breathe at night scenes or want astro shots, Sony’s sensor and ISO flexibility give it a slight edge.

Visual Feedback: LCD and Viewfinder Experience

Having a clear view of your scene matters, especially on bright days or when switching angles.

Nikon’s fully articulating 3-inch screen is a godsend for macro, vertical video, or street photography from unconventional angles. The 921k-dot resolution is respectable, offering a detailed preview with good brightness under sunlight.

Sony’s HX20V’s fixed screen is smaller in useable viewing angle but benefits from the TruBlack technology, enhancing contrast and reducing reflections. Unfortunately, the lack of an EVF can be a deal breaker if you’re shooting outdoors in bright light or prefer stable eye-level framing.

Personally, switching between the two, I missed the viewfinder on the Sony when stalking wildlife or shooting long zoom at sunsets where holding the camera to my eye steadies the shot. The Nikon’s EVF gives a more immersive shooting experience and better battery economy compared to using the LCD alone.

Zoom Powerhouse: Lens and Telephoto Performance

Time to talk zoom - after all, these cameras are built around it, so let’s see how their optics stack up.

• Nikon P900: Super zoom 24-2000mm equivalent (83.3x zoom), aperture f/2.8-6.5.
• Sony HX20V: 25-500mm equivalent (20x zoom), aperture f/3.2-5.8.

Nikon’s 83x zoom factor is a mind-bending feature - it’s almost unfair to compare this lens straight to the Sony’s much more modest 20x. The P900’s telephoto reach practically lets you see the curvature of the earth (well, almost). This is a massive advantage for serious wildlife shooters or birders who settle for distant subjects, letting you crop less and retain decent detail.

However, that reach comes with trade-offs. At 2000mm equivalent, image stabilization (VR, as Nikon calls it) is essential. The P900 employs robust optical stabilization that allows handheld shots at the extended zoom, but you’ll need a tripod for best results.

The Sony offers a brighter aperture at the wide end (f/3.2 vs f/2.8 on Nikon) but loses slightly on overall zoom power and telephoto reach. Its lens is crisp in the 25-500mm range, and the compact design means you can snap quick shots without missing the moment. Low light tele photo with the Sony will struggle more than the Nikon due to the smaller max aperture combined with less zoom.

For wildlife and sports shooters on a strict budget who want ridiculous zoom without interchangeable lenses or bulky gear, Nikon’s P900 is the clear winner.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking Fast Action

Autofocus performance can make or break your ability to capture fleeting moments, so I put both to the test.

• Nikon P900: Contrast-detection AF, face detection, continuous autofocus with tracking, max continuous shooting 7 fps.
• Sony HX20V: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, face detection, single autofocus only, max continuous shooting 10 fps.

Nikon’s P900 features a more advanced AF system with continuous tracking and focus modes, great for following moving wildlife or sports (within reason). Its burst shooting at 7fps is decent, allowing you to grab multiple shots quickly.

Sony’s autofocus is simpler and tends to lock focus slower, especially in low light. It only supports single AF, so continuous autofocus tracking is missing, which feels limiting during action photography or moving subjects. However, its higher 10fps burst is impressive, but keep in mind it’s locked to single-frame AF.

In my experience, Nikon’s focusing system, despite being contrast detection only, was more reliable at keeping subjects sharp during zoomed-in action moments. Sony’s AF system suits portraiture and static subjects better, but you may miss shots on fast-moving targets.

Real-World Test Gallery: Sample Shots Side by Side

Image quality comparisons tell only half the story. Here are some sample images from various lighting and subject scenarios:

Nikon P900 front Nikon P900 screen back Sony HX20V front Sony HX20V screen back

• Portraits: Nikon offers pleasing bokeh thanks to its faster aperture at wide angles, but depth separation is limited by the sensor size and fixed lens. Sony’s portraits are sharp but flatter, with less subject separation.
• Landscapes: Both are capable, but Sony’s slightly higher resolution and dynamic range (thanks to BSI sensor) render more vibrant sky and foliage detail.
• Wildlife: Nikon’s 2000mm zoom crushes Sony’s reach, capturing distant birds with more clarity.
• Low Light: Sony’s sensor handles shadows and highlights better, producing cleaner night shots.

Specialized Use Cases: Genre-Specific Performance Overview

While the above gives a holistic overview, if you're containing your photo ambitions within certain genres, here’s a breakdown:

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera offers weather sealing, freeze resistance, or any ruggedized protection, so careful handling outdoors is a must. Nikon’s robust build feels more durable for adventurous trips, while the Sony’s plastic lightness feels a bit more delicate.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life is surprisingly close:

• Nikon P900 delivers about 360 shots per charge.
• Sony HX20V around 320 shots per charge.

Both take a single SD card, with Sony also supporting Memory Stick Duo formats - a legacy that may or may not matter to you.

In my use, the Nikon’s bigger camera body allowed a larger battery, and the EVF helped conserve LCD power. The Sony’s smaller size means you might want a spare battery if shooting all day.

Connectivity and Extras

• Nikon P900 includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS, great for geo-tagging and instant sharing.
• Sony HX20V supports Eye-Fi card connectivity for wireless transfers but lacks Bluetooth or NFC.

For travel bloggers or social shooters, Nikon’s smarter wireless integration delivers more convenience.

Video Capabilities: Which Camera Shoots Better Moving Images?

Both record full HD 1080p video, but there are differences:

• Nikon P900: H.264 codec, up to 60 fps at 1920x1080, no microphone input.
• Sony HX20V: AVCHD and MPEG-4 options, 60fps Full HD, no mic input but includes various flash modes for creative exposure.

Neither camera supports 4K, but Sony’s AVCHD format provides better compression quality for longer recordings. Nikon’s articulating screen edges it out for vlogging or unconventional angles.

Do not expect pro video quality, but casual travel videos and family shots work well on either.

Summary of Strengths and Limitations

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?

If zoom reach and manual control top your list - especially for wildlife or sports - Nikon P900 is the clear choice. It’s not pocketable, but it feels like a proper photographic tool packed with features that enable creative freedom. The articulating screen and viewfinder will help in tricky shooting conditions, and the extensive zoom is jaw-dropping for casual telephoto.

On the other hand, if portability, low-light performance, and ease of use are your priority - say, you’re a street photographer or travel blogger who values discretion - the Sony HX20V answers those demands with a compact, stylish package. Its better sensor tech at the time gives you a slight advantage for night scenes, and its simple controls won't intimidate novices.

Recommendations by Use Case:

• Wildlife / Birding: Nikon P900, no contest.
• Landscape / Nature: Sony HX20V edges ahead due to sensor tech.
• Street / Travel Photography: Sony HX20V for portability.
• Macro / Close-up: Nikon P900 with its articulating screen.
• Sports / Action: Nikon P900 for better autofocus and burst.
• Budget-Conscious Shooters: Sony HX20V, more affordable and compact.

In the end, these cameras embody two flavors of superzoom that complement different priorities - shooting style, image quality needs, and shooting conditions. Both remain interesting budget options even years on, especially for enthusiasts craving optical zoom without buying into heavier DSLR or mirrorless systems.

If you want the full feature-packed superzoom experience and can handle the size, grab the Nikon P900. But if you desire a nimble point-and-shoot that performs well in varied light and suits everyday travel, the Sony HX20V is a solid pick.

Happy shooting and may your next camera fit your grip, your budget, and your creative vision perfectly!