Canon SX20 IS features a 28-560 mm F2.8-5.7 20× zoom lens whereas Canon SX50 HS features a 24-1200 mm F3.4-6.5 50x zoom lens.
Canon SX50 HS has 4mm wider coverage than the Canon SX20 IS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Canon SX20 IS is faster at widest end.
On the tele end, Canon SX50 HS has 640mm longer telezoom reach than the Canon SX20 IS. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Canon SX20 IS is faster at widest end.
Wide Coverage
DSLR-Like Cameras
Telezoom
DSLR-Like Cameras
Max Aperture at Tele
DSLR-Like Cameras
Max Aperture at Wide
DSLR-Like Cameras
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX50 HS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.
Canon SX20 IS for Portrait Photography
Canon SX50 HS for Portrait Photography
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details
Canon SX20 IS for Street Photography
Canon SX50 HS for Street Photography
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details
Canon SX20 IS for Sports Photography
Canon SX50 HS for Sports Photography
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
560 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No RAW shooting capability
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
1200 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details
Canon SX20 IS for Daily Photography
Canon SX50 HS for Daily Photography
20.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
600g
Body Thickness 87mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
50.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
595g
Body Thickness 106mm
Read the details
Canon SX20 IS for Landscape Photography
Canon SX50 HS for Landscape Photography
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
You may have already made your decision regarding which camera best suits your needs and budget. However, if you're curious about how we rated the Canon SX20 IS and the Canon SX50 HS, below you'll find their scores across five different aspects.
Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.
Here is a summary of how Canon SX20 IS and Canon SX50 HS scores compare:
Canon SX20 IS
Ranked
#69 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked
#704 out of 1282 in all Cameras
Canon SX50 HS
Ranked
#28 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked
#467 out of 1282 in all Cameras
Canon SX50 HS is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SX20 IS in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon SX20 IS. Otherwise, Canon SX50 HS is the better camera overall.
General |
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS |
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS |
Brand |
Canon |
Canon |
Announced |
2010-07-06 |
2013-01-15 |
Body Type |
SLR-like (bridge) |
SLR-like (bridge) |
Sensor |
|
|
Type |
CCD |
BSI-CMOS |
Size |
1/2.3-inch |
1/2.3-inch |
Dimensions |
6.17 x 4.55 mm |
6.17 x 4.55 mm |
Area |
28.07mm2 |
28.07mm2 |
Megapixels |
12 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
Max Resolution |
4000 x 3000 |
4000 x 3000 |
Max Native Light sensitivity |
1,600 ISO |
6,400 ISO |
Min Native Light sensitivity |
80 ISO |
80 ISO |
RAW Support |
|
|
Autofocus |
|
|
AF Touch |
|
|
AF Continuous |
|
|
AF Single |
|
|
AF Tracking |
|
|
AF Selective |
|
|
AF Center |
|
|
AF Multi Area |
|
|
AF Live View |
|
|
AF Face Detection |
|
|
AF Contrast Detection |
|
|
AF Phase Detection |
|
|
Number of Focus Points |
9 |
9 |
Lens |
|
|
Manual Focus |
|
|
Lens Mount |
fixed lens |
fixed lens |
Lens Focal Range |
28-560 mm (20×) |
24-1200 mm (50x) |
Max Aperture |
F2.8-5.7 |
F3.4-6.5 |
Macro Focus Range |
0cm |
0cm |
Screen |
|
|
Type |
Fully Articulated |
Fully Articulated |
Size |
2.50" |
2.80" |
Resolution |
230k dots |
461k dots |
Touch Screen |
|
|
Viewfinder |
|
|
Viewfinder |
Electronic |
Electronic |
Viewfinder Resolution |
n/a |
202k dots |
Viewfinder Coverage |
n/a |
100% |
Photography Features |
|
|
Max Mechanical Shutter |
1/3200s |
1/2000s |
Shutter Priority |
|
|
Aperture Priority |
|
|
Manual Exposure Mode |
|
|
Custom White Balance |
|
|
Built-in Image Stabilization |
Optical |
Optical |
Built-in Flash |
|
|
Flash Range |
6.80 m |
5.50 m |
Max Flash Sync |
1/500s |
1/2000s |
External Flash |
|
|
Continuous Shooting |
1.0 fps |
2.0 fps |
Multi-Segment Metering |
|
|
Average Metering |
|
|
Spot Metering |
|
|
Partial Metering |
|
|
AF-Area Metering |
|
|
Center Weighted Metering |
|
|
AE Bracketing |
|
|
WB Bracketing |
|
|
Video Features |
|
|
Max Video Resolution |
1280 x 720 |
1920 x 1080 |
Video Formats |
H.264 |
H.264 |
Microphone Port |
|
|
Headphone Port |
|
|
Connectivity |
|
|
Wireless Connectivity |
None |
None |
HDMI |
|
|
Physical |
|
|
Environmental Sealing |
|
|
Weight |
600g |
595g |
Dimensions |
128 x 88 x 87mm |
123 x 87 x 106mm |
Battery Life |
n/a |
315 shots |
Other Features |
|
|
Timelapse Recording |
|
|
GPS |
None |
None |
DxO Sensor Scores |
|
|
DxO Overall Score |
not tested |
47 |
DxO Color Depth |
not tested |
20.3 |
DxO Dynamic Range |
not tested |
11.2 |
DxO Low Light ISO |
not tested |
179 |
|
Report a correction |
Report a correction |