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Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Comparison

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Canon SX30 IS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX30 IS
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Canon SX20 IS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX20 IS
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Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SX30 IS and SX20 IS, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by Canon. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0 MP and Canon SX20 IS has a 12.0 MP resolution. Canon SX30 IS was introduced to market in September 2010 and Canon SX20 IS was launched in July 2010. There is only 2 months difference between SX30 IS and SX20 IS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 601g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Compare

Canon SX20 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-07-06
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 28-560 mm F2.8-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 600g. 128 x 88 x 87 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Compare

Canon SX30 IS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Max Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 12 MP 16% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 2.5" 0.2 inches larger display
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 560mm 280 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
35× vs 20× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 2.80 faster lens at wide


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX20 IS over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Weight
600 g vs 601 g 1 g lighter
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fully Articulated Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 560mm Very good Telezoom
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 2.5" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 5.70 Slow lenses at tele
Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX30 IS has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″) and weighs 601 g (1.32 lb / 21.20 oz) (including batteries). Canon SX20 IS has external dimensions of 128 x 88 x 87 mm (5.04 x 3.46 x 3.43″) and weighs 600 g (1.32 lb / 21.16 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS. Canon SX20 IS is 4mm shorter and 21mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS but it is also 5mm wider.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SX20 IS is 1g lighter than the Canon SX30 IS but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
SX20 IS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
SX20 IS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Canon PowerShot SX20 IS provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon SX30 IS's 2.7" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX20 IS's 2.5" screen.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Canon SX20 IS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor.

Below you can see the SX30 IS and SX20 IS sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Canon SX20 IS features a 28-560 mm F2.8-5.7 20× zoom lens.

Canon SX30 IS has 4mm wider coverage than the Canon SX20 IS. At f2.70, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Canon SX30 IS has 280mm longer reach than the Canon SX20 IS. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Canon SX20 IS is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
SX20 IS
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
SX20 IS
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
SX20 IS
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
SX20 IS
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS 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 SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX20 IS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
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

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SX20 IS for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 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
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

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX20 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
840 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: f5.80
Read the details
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

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SX20 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
601g
Body Thickness 108mm
Read the details
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

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SX20 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
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

Canon SX30 IS vs Canon SX20 IS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 SX30 IS and Canon SX20 IS scores compare:

Canon SX30 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #69 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #629 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Canon SX20 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #72 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #642 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
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Canon SX20 IS
Canon SX20 IS
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Canon SX20 IS vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Brand Canon Canon
Announced 2010-09-14 2010-07-06
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
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 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 1,600 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 24-840 mm (35×) 28-560 mm (20×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F2.8-5.7
Macro Focus Range 0cm 0cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Size 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/3200s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m 6.80 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1280 x 720
Video Formats Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 600g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 128 x 88 x 87mm
Battery Life n/a n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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