-12.1 megapixels-720p high-definition video- 20x wide-angle optical zoom with optical image stabilizer-2.5 wide vari-angled LCD- DIGIC(R) 4 Image processor-Requires AA batteries
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(as of 03/16/2020 00:23 UTC - Details)
Rating
I shoot all kinds of stuff with all kinds of cameras. I am a working photographer who shoots for advertising and corporate client as well as to make images for my own books about photography. Over the last two years I’ve been using small cameras like the Canon G10 and the SX10 for more and more of my work. In the studio, shooting set up shots or small products these cameras shine by dint of their easy to use Live View and increased depth of field. When I bought the SX 10 it was for the long range of the zoom lens which meant I could shoot anything from a construction site to tight shots of the cabins at the top of the construction cranes. I’ve done some portraits with studio lights and an SX10 and they were also very usable. I wish the SX 10 and SX 20 had raw file capability but they don’t. That just means I have to be a bit more careful about WB and exposure. I’ve used the SX10 at outdoor swim meets and found that the lens performs better than expected right out to the end.
So, why the SX 20? Recently I’ve been asked to do more and more little video snippets for clients and for my publisher and while I like the results from the SX10 I wanted real HD video for the times that a medical practice has asked for video clips for both their website AND for power point and other uses. I wanted the extra detail for the times that they use the clips in projected presentations. The price point works.
I’ve spent a couple days testing the SX 10 and the results are very, very good. The front mounted microphones are of very high quality and the sound for most applications is very acceptable. Would I like a mike input? You bet! Does that sour the deal? Not in the least.
The image quality of the stills is just as good as the SX 10 at low ISO’s and about 1/2 a stop better at 200 and 400. I’ll chalk that up to the new digic processor.
All in all the build quality and the easy operation make the camera a winner for me. These days clients are more interested in using images and video in a wide range of multimedia and the SX 20 is a great tool for anything that’s headed to the web. I still own traditional DLSR cameras and use them but left to my own devices I find the smaller sensor cameras to be highly competent and very usable.
With an SX20 and a G10 I feel like I can handle just about anything except shots that call for narrow depth of field. Traditional photographers may not want to hear that video is becoming a required skill but that won’t make it go away. This camera is a cost effective way to get your feet wet, find your way around and get your feet wet. I like it.
Rating
Let me start off by saying that I’m not a professional photographer. My decision to purchase the SX20 IS was based on a desire to get an excellent still shot camera, with high capacity zoom, that also had HD Video (720p) capabilities. So, I began my research and spent many hours scouring the web to make an informed decision. I had narrowed my choice to the Canon SX20 IS and the Panasonic DMC-FZ35.
Here are some of the key specs of each camera:
Optical Zoom (Canon: 20, Pana: 18)
Still image files (Canon: Not Raw, Pana: Raw)
Articulating LCD (Canon: Yes, Pana: No)
720p HD video per 2 GB (Canon: 10 min 33 sec, Pana: 15 min)
Video file format (Canon: .mov, Pana: AVCHD Lite)
Battery Type: (Canon: 4 AA, Pana: Li-ion rechargeable)
Stereo Audio (Both)
SD Card Storage (Both)
[…].
In the end I decided to go with Canon for a few key reasons:
#1. The articulating LCD (pull out, tilt/move) was a key factor, as I wanted to be able to shoot from many different angles. It came in handy very soon–the second time I used the camera–I was able to whip out the LCD and get some decent shots at a football game when I had to raise the camera high over my head to shoot over the folks standing in front of me.
#2. The ability to easily share video files. The .mov file format is a more widely accepted format, which can easily be shared (without processing/conversion). The files are accepted on sites such as You Tube. The files can be played with Quicktime and other media players (e.g. VLC). Although the Panasonic camera uses a format which is more compressed and allows more data to be stored on an SD card, the file format is not as wide spread and not as easy to share with others, without converting the file.
#3. Consumer Reports rankings for last year’s model: Canon #1, Pana #5 (SX10 IS & Pana DMC-FZ28). I suspect the SX20 IS will follow the same trend this year when Consumer Reports releases their test results for 2009.
#4. Canon takes AA batteries. This makes the camera slightly heavier, but you’ll always be able to get economical batteries in a pinch, without the need for buying a proprietary lithium ion battery. May I recommend Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries. I bought some new on Amazon. They are excellent. I haven’t charged them yet and I’ve taken 120 pictures and 40 minutes plus of 720p video. I’ve also played back the pictures and movies on my TV/Projector and transferred all files to my computer, using the same batteries, without charging them. And they are “..still going…”
Here are some sample pictures taken with the SX20 IS. Keep in mind that Flickr doesn’t display the full, original picture which was taken in maximum resolution (in auto mode). […].
I’ve taken some great up-close family shots and macro shots. They look great and are very detailed. I took some night/action pics (with the flash) and adjusted the shutter speed and ISO settings and the pictures looked great, given the conditions.
[…].
I apologize for the camera jitter in advance as I didn’t have a tri-pod and I was in a tight area in the Stadium when I took the shots.
I must admit that I am thoroughly impressed with the video quality/resolution. I shot sample video from my 1 year old camcorder (Panasonic SDR-H40, a standard definition hard drive camcorder) and shot the same footage with the SX20 IS. The difference in quality was amazing. Not only was the Canon much sharper, but the richness and vibrance of the colors was so much better. I sold my SDR-H40 on Ebay within two days. I now will have only one camera to shoot stills and 720p HD video–the Canon SX20 IS. The videos from the SX20 IS looked awesome–on both my 32 inch 720p LCD and my 100+ inch screen via a 720p DLP projector. I connected the camera with an HDMI cable and bam, I was ready to watch great video and view still shots “on the big screen.” See the above referenced links for video footage yourself. If I were given the opportunity to watch a football game shot in standard definition by ESPN or an HD version of the same game, shot with the SX20 IS (on a tripod, without my hand jitter), I’d pick the latter in a heart beat.
No buyer’s remorse here! If you are looking for an SLR type camera, that does awesome stills and great 720p HD video (both zoomable at 20x optical), you’d be hard pressed to get more bang for your buck then the SX20 IS on Amazon.
One minor issue I’ve noticed is that when zooming in/out while shooting video, you can here a slight “click” when you initiate the zoom and when you stop the zoom. There is NO noise heard while the lens is zooming/telescoping in/out; the “click” is only heard when the zoom is initiated and when the zoom is stopped. The “click” is not that noticeable. I had to shoot footage in silence, after the kids had gone to bed, in order to distinguish the “click.” In most shooting environments I don’t expect it to be much of an issue.
Best of luck with your purchase decision.
P.S. By the way, the owner manual states that you must use the Canon software to transfer images/movies from the camera to a PC, else movies will not transfer (frames will be dropped) correctly and images shot vertically may be transferred in the horizontal orientation. So, don’t just do a copy/paste of the files them self from the SD card. Keep this in mind as you view sample video on the web.
Rating
I do a lot of web searches for reviews on anything I tend to purchase. I almost purchased the SX10IS which is selling for $370 until I found out that this camera was being released just days ago. I got it yesterday for $400, just $30 more than the SX10IS with more features and so far am very happy with my decision. I played around with it last evening and was very impressed with the features and picture quality. I have a smaller PowerShot that I bought 2 years ago so I am familiar with Canon already. For $400 you cannot go wrong for what you are getting. The only thing that may trun some off is that it is a large “SLR like” camera which cannot be put into your pocket. Since I have a smaller one it wasn’t a concern. I highly recommend this camera for those that want a little more quality in photo taking since the lense is larger than the smaller cameras which is beneficial in lower lighting conditions. It also has a mount for an external flash. My Minolta flash I bought in 1988 works with it.
Rating
I received the camera a few days ago. I wanted a good quality camera for all-around, basic shooting. The main features that attracted me were the wide angle/zoom lens and the video option.
I am not an expert, or even an experienced amateur. I just want to be able to point, shoot, and take decent pics and some occassional vidoe.
In my opinion, the best eye-pleasing pictures are those that show the vibrant colors and color variations – all other things being equal. I’ve experimented with various settings and taken the same shots with those various settings, and compared shots taken with Auto, Landscape, Portrait, etc. against the Foilage setting [SCN/Foilage], and the Foilage setting is by far the best for bringing out the colors (which it is meant to do anyway). Compared to those pics taken using the Foilage setting, the ones taken in the other settings are dull – not that they aren’t decent pictures in the other settings, just compared to the Foilage pictures they are dull(er). So for basic shots, I will probably use the Foilage setting most of the time for all-around shooting – the pictures are beautiful. One problem I expect with this, is to get to the Foilage setting, you must use the top dial set to SCN, then using the free-spinning dial on the back, select foilage. Problem is, after taking shots and letting the camera hang against your body, the free-spinning dial may be prone to be moved to select another setting…
One of the issues I do have, is not being able to choose to set the Auto-Focus frame to the center of the screen for many settings – such as Auto… I’m not crazy about the “smart focus” which chooses which subject(s) that it thinks is the main subject(s) – in my case of shooting mostly non-people so far, this “smart-focus” has been wrong. I think most of us non-pro photographers usually center our subject anyway, and even if we don’t, we should still have the option of keeping the AF frame in the center… One other thing that hasn’t worked for me is connecting it to HDMI on my TV. I’m going to take it to Best Buy and try it there. If it still isn’t working, I hate to send it back because it is a good camera, but I would like the HDMI feature to work to see my videos in true HD.
In summary, the wide-to-zoom feature is great, takes very good pictures (especially in Foilage), takes excellent video. The video option is excellent – you can take pics while filming, and you can simply press the video button in the back to start taking video even if you’re in a picture-taking setting – very nice feature.
If you’re not a pro photographer and want to have a great all-around camera, this is definitely a good buy. I hope I can get my HDMI/TV feature to work so I can keep my camera…
Rating
Having tried over a dozen digital cameras I’ve found the features and picture quality of the SX20 IS to be the best yet in this size and weight. Naturally everyone wants better low light performance and while this could still be better, its the best I’ve seen in cameras other than digital SLRs. Feature set is unmatched by Olympus or Nikon as neither have video or picture quality as good. Stereo audio quality really does sound like the CD sound Canon advertises. I was amazed as usually those small microphones overemphasize the high frequencies. People’s voices, birds and even the background rumbling noise that is typical of a large city were very accurately reproduced. This camera takes good photos with its default settings, but by learning a little about it’s features most people will quickly be taking professional quality photos.
Rating
I reviewed the PowerShot SX200 IS a short while ago on Canon’s and Amazon’s website and rated it very highly. Nonetheless, I decided to return it in exchange for the PowerShot SX20 IS.
This camera offers the following additional advantages: a viewfinder; HD video recording with optical zoom throughout the zoom range plus stereo sound; a form factor much more like that of an SLR: it is on the heavy side, but easy to hold and the viewfinder allows you to hold the camera against your body which adds extra stability, and thus better focus, especially when zooming in; diapter adjustability means I don’t have to wear glasses when using the EVF; the LCD display can be closed so it faces the camera – no need to worry about smudging or scratching it.
Those who are considering the purchase of an SLR need to keep in mind that you’ll need at least three different lenses to get a comparable zoom range. You’d be lugging around quite a bit of weight, and faced with the delay in changing lenses depending upon what you want to take a picture of.
Some question the quality of the pictures it takes. Keep in mind that this is not a camera designed for amateurs who insist on fully automatic features. In other words, the best possible pictures may only be obtained when you make needed adjustments ranging from setting the scene yourself to fully manual ones, or else by using a photo editor.
So far, I have taken perhaps one hundred test pictures and ten minutes of video. Unless you intend to print or view the pictures beyond 11″ x 14″, I doubt that you will notice any difference between the results this camera produces and an SLR. I’ve owned the Olympus e-510, and can say that you’d have to magnify or crop to a degree that most users simply don’t in order to notice a difference. The quality of the videos is much better than that of my standard definition Canon DC230 mini-DVD camera. The downside is the weight of this camera, which makes extended filming somewhat difficult (for me, at least).
I highly recommend the camera for those who are looking for the characteristics I have highlighted. It is probably one of the best, if not the best, super-zooms on the market today.
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Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RFH688G5N3LYT I take a lot of video for promoting my friends band the Peacheaters and this camera has what it takes to bring HD with such wonderful quality. Often some of the clubs are dark even with stage lights and the drummers don’t often get seen but with this camera the natural adjustments to the surroundings make you able to see them. I will be getting a lot of use out of this for sure. I went ahead and ordered the canon rechargeable batteries and I always buy transcend 16GB SDHC class 6. You get so much more time for video this way. About 84 min or so.
Rating
This is my first quality digital camera and it far exceeds my expectations. I am a novice user but I have been getting exceptional photos using the SX20IS camera. I have been taking pictures mainly of an outdoor nature, flowers, gardens and the like. The pictures have not been saturated with too much green or overloaded with hues. The zoom comes in very handy in outside shots.
I have just printed out the best pictures I have ever taken with true accurate colors and exceptional detail.
I have not tried the video function yet. That is still to come.
I have taken countless pictures with my EOS Rebel 35MM camera but the PowerShot is by far the lightest, fastest easiest one to use. This is a sturdy, well made camera which is laid out very well. The right buttons are where they should be.
An excellent choice for a beginner, novice, or a seasoned pro.
Rating
So far so good and I’ve had it for a month. I am very pleased with this camera. Great zoom and sharp-crisp pictures. To think of the 20x zoom but still so compact is amazing- it is much larger than my old camera- a cybershot I replaced, but it’s still easy to transport and lightweight. Only things I would change: the door that closes the compartment that holds the memory stick I can tell could easily break off. This is something you want to take care in. Also I didn’t know it until after I had shot the video of my son’s elementary play, but while using the video, if you take a picture- the video shows this; ie: the video will pause and it shows a shutter capturing the image prior to going back to video- also on the video it picked up now sound at all- so FYI- don’t plan to use this as a video camera- which I didn’t I just was wanting to see the quality- which is good though.
Big positives- battery life. I was very leary about buying a camera that uses regular batteries. In the past cameras, especially digital ones, would eat those things up. I’ve always had to use lithiums with my sony cameras. But this camera has great battery life. I have yet to see the battery status even go down at all yet- a month later, using the lcd screen the entire time, and using it a lot. Oh and this is with generic batteries that came with the camera, I imagine a good Energizer or Duracell will be even better. I do have rechargable Ni type batteries that will work with the camera too, but not sure I’ll even need them! And the features- there are so many and so many settings, that for right now I just use the auto-setting. I have been playing around trying to master the rest.
A few quick points of interest: the flash is only auto if you have it flipped up. It does not flip up itself, but the screen will show “flip up flash” if needed. I like this though as you can choose to have artificial lighting or not- I prefer pictures without a flash if it can be done. I’ve seen where people said you had to use the Canon software to download pictures correctly and it does say that in the manual- untrue for me so far. It downloads the pictures even vertical ones correctly but simply downloading via usb, or card reader and just using the general built in picture finder software we all have on our microsoft formatted computers. I find this to be easier anyway so they save directly to the folder I want and I don’t have to toy with their software (I’m sure it’s a ploy to buy services and merchandise through them.
Overall very good camera and very happy!!!!
Rating
The SX20IS is a camera for those who want more functionality than the average point-and-shoot, notably:
– a whopping 20x stabilized optical zoom
– a hot shoe for an external flash (rare for this class of camera)
– an articulating viewfinder (very handy for kid-level or over-the-head shots)
– full manual control (when needed), including aperature, ISO and focus
– 720p HD video recording
These features aren’t all available in today’s point-and-shoot cameras, yet a “budget” DSLR kit would cost over twice the price of this camera (once the 35mm equivalent focal length zoom lens — 560mm — is factored in).
The hot shoe + flash feature is not to be overlooked as it allows one to add a “bounce flash,” which enables low-light photography that isn’t washed out by a direct flash. This is a stand out feature for this class of camera as the competing “superzoom” cameras don’t offer a hot shoe. If you aren’t familiar with the difference between bounce and direct flash in picture quality, do an internet search — it’s huge.
Compared to other superzooms, the SX20IS doesn’t offer RAW picture format, lacks “superfine” JPEG compression (only “fine” and “standard”), and continuous shooting is limited to 1 frame per second. It’s a shame, as these are limitations of the firmware merely to differentiate this camera from the more-expensive Canon SX1, which is the same camera but with 4fps continuous shooting, superfine JPEG, and RAW mode.
The downside of this camera — and all superzooms — is the sensor size. It’s roughly the same size as other Canon point-and-shoot sensors (roughly half the size of a full frame 35mm SLR), which will have limitations for low light shooting and detail levels. This, plus the limitations noted above combined with user inexperience, are likely the source of any negative reviews related to image quality.
Image quality is “darn good.” Look at the sample pictures; most are macro/close-ups, which this camera is exceptional at taking. This is not a D-SLR, it doesn’t take pictures that are of D-SLR quality, and it doesn’t pretend to be a D-SLR. If you don’t need the 20x optical zoom, buy the Rebel XS or another budget D-SLR kit.
Thing is, budget D-SLRs have small-ish sensors, too (slotting almost exactly half-way between this and a full frame 35mm D-SLR).
Nit picks – the lens cap doesn’t have a string nor any apparent place to attach one, the mini-HDMI cable isn’t included, and there’s no case in the package. The AA batteries are a mixed blessing; they’re available everywhere in the world, but they’re also clumsy and add weight. Expect to purchase rechargeables. The manual is digital only, which is a shame as there are so many great features that aren’t immediately obvious. If you buy the SX20IS, print out the manual. Take it from a guy who doesn’t stop for directions.
There are also niceties, as well: a dedicated video button, an included lens hood with a bi-directional mount, idiot-proof menu nav, and a bevy of cool features you’re likely to rarely (if ever) use (just a few examples: a “face self timer” that starts the timer once a new face is added to the shot; stitch-assist that makes panoramic shots a breeze; gobs of handy ‘scene’ settings, including ‘aquarium,’ ‘fireworks,’ ‘snow,’ ‘foliage’ and so much more.)
I bought this camera because it was a significant upgrade to our SD1100IS; when we’re ready for a D-SLR, the SX20IS won’t be redundant– it will be a handy alternative to a full frame 35mm D-SLR beast.
Some final recommendations on purchasing: there are a number of kits available through Amazon that are only a few dollars more but offer some essentials that don’t come in the box (case, tripod, memory). Also strongly consider purchasing a flash, preferably one that can articulate as a “bounce flash” (the 270EX is a great choice). This will make all the difference in your low light shots, and it will likely be the one accessory you’ll keep many years to come. And don’t forget the rechargeable batteries…