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Canon SX420 IS

 
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41

Canon SX420 IS overview

Canon SX420 IS is Canon's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally revealed on January of 2016. The camera has a 20MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 5152 x 3864.

The SX420 IS is placed #104 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & all round #635 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can check our Smart camera finder to find camera rankings based on your customized factors.

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The following is a chart of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Canon SX420 IS history

The Canon SX420 IS has a history of related cameras. Here, you can check out all older and latest models as well as key features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Canon-PowerShot-SX70-HS front thumbnailCanon SX70 HS
SX420 IS vs SX70 HS
21-1365mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2018
Canon-PowerShot-SX740-HS front thumbnailCanon SX740 HS
SX420 IS vs SX740 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
21MP1/2.3"2018
Photography Glossary
Canon-PowerShot-SX730-HS front thumbnailCanon SX730 HS
SX420 IS vs SX730 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2017
Canon-PowerShot-SX620-HS front thumbnailCanon SX620 HS
SX420 IS vs SX620 HS
25-625mm
F3.2-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX720-HS front thumbnailCanon SX720 HS
SX420 IS vs SX720 HS
24-960mm
F3.3-6.9
20.3MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX420-IS front thumbnailCanon SX420 IS24-1008mm
F3.5-6.6
20MP1/2.3"2016
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Canon-PowerShot-SX540-HS front thumbnailCanon SX540 HS
SX420 IS vs SX540 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2016
Canon-PowerShot-SX410-IS front thumbnailCanon SX410 IS
SX420 IS vs SX410 IS
24-960mm
F3.5-5.6
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX710-HS front thumbnailCanon SX710 HS
SX420 IS vs SX710 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX610-HS front thumbnailCanon SX610 HS
SX420 IS vs SX610 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2015
Canon-PowerShot-SX530-HS front thumbnailCanon SX530 HS
SX420 IS vs SX530 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Canon-PowerShot-SX60-HS front thumbnailCanon SX60 HS
SX420 IS vs SX60 HS
21-1365mm
F3.4-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX400-IS front thumbnailCanon SX400 IS
SX420 IS vs SX400 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX520-HS front thumbnailCanon SX520 HS
SX420 IS vs SX520 HS
24-1008mm
F3.4-6.0
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX700-HS front thumbnailCanon SX700 HS
SX420 IS vs SX700 HS
25-750mm
F3.2-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX600-HS front thumbnailCanon SX600 HS
SX420 IS vs SX600 HS
25-450mm
F3.8-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Canon-PowerShot-SX170-IS front thumbnailCanon SX170 IS
SX420 IS vs SX170 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX510-HS front thumbnailCanon SX510 HS
SX420 IS vs SX510 HS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX160-IS front thumbnailCanon SX160 IS
SX420 IS vs SX160 IS
28-448mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Canon-PowerShot-SX270-HS front thumbnailCanon SX270 HS
SX420 IS vs SX270 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX280-HS front thumbnailCanon SX280 HS
SX420 IS vs SX280 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX50-HS front thumbnailCanon SX50 HS
SX420 IS vs SX50 HS
24-1200mm
F3.4-6.5
12MP1/2.3"2013
Canon-PowerShot-SX500-IS front thumbnailCanon SX500 IS
SX420 IS vs SX500 IS
24-720mm
F3.4-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX260-HS front thumbnailCanon SX260 HS
SX420 IS vs SX260 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX150-IS front thumbnailCanon SX150 IS
SX420 IS vs SX150 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX240-HS front thumbnailCanon SX240 HS
SX420 IS vs SX240 HS
25-500mm
F3.5-6.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Canon-PowerShot-SX40-HS front thumbnailCanon SX40 HS
SX420 IS vs SX40 HS
24-840mm
F2.7-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-PowerShot-SX230-HS front thumbnailCanon SX230 HS
SX420 IS vs SX230 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Canon-SX220-HS front thumbnailCanon SX220 HS
SX420 IS vs SX220 HS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
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Canon-PowerShot-SX30-IS front thumbnailCanon SX30 IS
SX420 IS vs SX30 IS
24-840mm
F2.7-5.8
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX130-IS front thumbnailCanon SX130 IS
SX420 IS vs SX130 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX20-IS front thumbnailCanon SX20 IS
SX420 IS vs SX20 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX210-IS front thumbnailCanon SX210 IS
SX420 IS vs SX210 IS
28-392mm
F3.1-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Canon-PowerShot-SX200-IS front thumbnailCanon SX200 IS
SX420 IS vs SX200 IS
28-336mm
F3.4-5.3
12MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX1-IS front thumbnailCanon SX1 IS
SX420 IS vs SX1 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
10MP1/2.3"2009
Canon-PowerShot-SX10-IS front thumbnailCanon SX10 IS
SX420 IS vs SX10 IS
28-560mm
F2.8-5.7
10MP1/2.3"2009

Canon SX420 IS Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of positives and negatives of the Canon SX420 IS based on criterias that are generally seen as useful in a digital camera.

above average min ISO (100)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
excellent zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has built in flash
has face detect focusing
has image stabilization (Optical)
long reach (1008mm)
NFC support
really wide (24mm)
you can focus manually
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
does not have phase detect AF
does not have RAW format
external flash not possible
lack of aperture priority mode
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
max zoom aperture not good (f6.6)
no HDMI socket
no headphone socket
no manual mode
no mic socket
no shutter priority mode
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (195 shots)
screen has low resolution (230 thousand dots)
screen is fixed
screen is not selfie friendly
slow continuous shooting (0.5 frames/s)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Canon SX420 IS Sensor specifications

The Canon SX420 IS houses the DIGIC 4+ processor. The measurement of the sensor in the Canon SX420 IS is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 5152 x 3864 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 20MP and has a standard ISO range of 100 - 1600. Sadly, RAW files are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The picture below displays the SX420 IS's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The SX420 IS sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

Canon PowerShot SX420 IS sensor size President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon SX420 IS dimensions

Canon SX420 IS weighs 0.72 pounds (325g / 11.46 ounces) & the measurement of the camera is 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g so the Canon SX420 IS is lighter when compared to various competitors.

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The following is a visual of the Canon SX420 IS alongside a soda to help you to get a feel for its scale.

Canon PowerShot SX420 IS dimensions scale

The top view below will show you the button layout on the SX420 IS.

Canon PowerShot SX420 IS topview buttons dials

Canon SX420 IS Lens specifications

The SX420 IS includes an inbuilt lens featuring a focal range of 24-1008mm giving it a 42.0 x zoom which is great and would allow you to zoom right in.

At the widest 24mm, the lens features an aperture of f3.5 which will be rather slow and not good for low light events and you might struggle to get a shallow depth of field. You will likely also have to increase the ISO setting producing noisy images. At the tele end, 1008mm is amazing zoom and comes at f6.6 making it really sluggish and you would need to set slower shutter speeds.

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Canon SX420 IS Connectivity

The SX420 IS has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • NFC Yes

Cameras that incorporate NFC and Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily transfer files and at times adjust camera settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.

Many applications even give a Liveview and press the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external screen. The majority of cameras will allow you to charge the battery through the USB port.

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Canon SX420 IS Video specifications

The highest video quality in the Canon SX420 IS is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 720p is awful for today's standards. You should really target at least FUll HD quality for video. The camera doesn't include a microphone and headphone jack so you get little control over the sound. It is probably a better idea to get a different camera in case you want good sound for your videos.

Photography Glossary

Canon SX420 IS Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing in the Canon SX420 IS so you need to be cautious in rainy or dusty conditions.

Canon SX420 IS Screen and Viewfinder

The Canon SX420 IS has a 3 inch fixed display supporting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Sadly the display isn't a touch screen.

Canon PowerShot SX420 IS screen and viewfinder Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The ViewFinder details for Canon SX420 IS are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be pretty helpful for bright outdoor conditions which may make the camera screen washed out and difficult to see.

Canon SX420 IS Shutter specifications

Canon SX420 IS continuous shooting speed is 0.5 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Canon SX420 IS Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Canon SX420 IS features only integrated flash without external flash ability.

Canon SX420 IS Autofocus specifications

Canon SX420 IS features just Contrast Based AF & lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & exact when compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera has Face detection which makes it valuable for people photography.

Canon SX420 IS can use manual focusing when needed for low light conditions or you need to have more exact control on focusing.

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Canon SX420 IS Battery life

The battery power (NB-11LH) in the Canon SX420 IS is designed to last for 195 pictures with respect to the CIPA standards which is lesser when compared to it's rivals. The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has got the highest (600) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Underneath is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the highest battery life:

Canon SX420 IS for specific kinds of photography

The following graph provides a summation of the Canon SX420 IS for specific kinds of photography. To learn more, have a look at the specific section below.

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography information

The Canon SX420 IS receives a rating of 44 which is bad, meaning that it is simply not acceptable for portraits. Shooting portrait photos leans heavily to sensor size, RAW support and flexibility to work with off-camera lighting.

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you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format

Street photography with Canon SX420 IS

Coming in at a average score of 52, the Canon SX420 IS is somewhat acceptable to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera has a perfect balance of image quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support

Sports photography with Canon SX420 IS

A bad sports photography score of 41 suggests the Canon SX420 IS is simply not acceptable for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have good tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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amazing zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
max frames per second low (0.5 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus

Canon SX420 IS as a Travel photography camera

Weight is extremely critical in choosing a travel camera. On the whole, the Canon SX420 IS gets a very good 61 for a travelling camera which makes it a very decent choice to purchase for your holidays.

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decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (195 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)

Canon SX420 IS Landscape photography details

If you are looking to pick a camera for landscape photography, the most important aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Canon SX420 IS and it's modest grade of 47 for a landscape camera is relatively acceptable in the current market.

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has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery pack (195 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode

Canon SX420 IS Vlogging factors

A vlogging camera should offer a articulating display, mic input and ideally image stabilization. Considering all the details, the Canon SX420 IS is simply not acceptable as a vlog camera as it gets a bad score of 29.

Photography Glossary
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket

Canon SX420 IS Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the SX420 IS, below is a selection of the top scored cameras which fall in to the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart below will give you an overview of the SX420 IS vs it's highest ranking rivals mentioned previously.

These are various other cameras you might look into as alternatives. To look at a complete comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Canon
Model type
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed
2016-01-05
Physical type
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor Chip
DIGIC 4+
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
5152 x 3864
RAW photos
Max native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-1008mm (42.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.5-6.6
Macro focusing range
0cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inches
Resolution of screen
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
15 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
0.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
5.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
325g (0.72 lb)
Dimensions
104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3")
Other
Battery life
195 shots
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NB-11LH
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
One
Price at launch
$299