recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Placeholder Canon PowerShot S1 IS
40 vs 72
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon S1 IS

Size Significantly smaller 111x78x66 mm vs 128x88x87 mm
Help
More than 70% smaller
Weight Lighter 469 g vs 600 g
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Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 2.6" vs 3.4"
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More than 30% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 1.7 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $295.00 vs $339.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $44 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Placeholder Learn more about
the Canon S1 IS

Reasons to consider the Canon SX20 IS

Screen size Much larger screen 2.5" vs 1.5"
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Around 70% larger screen
Wide-angle Much better wide-angle 28 mm vs 38 mm
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Around 40% better wide-angle
True resolution Much higher resolution 9.8 MP vs 3.2 MP
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More than 3x higher resolution
Zoom Significantly more zoom 20x vs 10x
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4x more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
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Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
Macro focus Much better macro capability 0 cm vs 10 cm
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Almost the same
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
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Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/2.5" 6x4mm vs 1/3.6" 5x3mm
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Around 40% larger sensor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 230k dots vs 114k dots
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More than 2x higher resolution screen
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
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An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 1,600 ISO vs 400 ISO
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The SX20 IS's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
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60% faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX20 IS
vs

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Weight Heavy Help
S1 IS:469 g
SX20 IS:600 g
Lowest price Very expensive Help
S1 IS:$295.00
SX20 IS:$339.00
Thickness Quite thick Help
S1 IS:2.6"
SX20 IS:3.4"
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
S1 IS:400 ISO
SX20 IS:1,600 ISO
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensivity
Screen size Very small screens Help
S1 IS:1.5"
SX20 IS:2.5"
Size Large Help
S1 IS:111x78x66 mm
SX20 IS:128x88x87 mm

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
S1 IS:1/2000s
SX20 IS:1/3200s
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
S1 IS:1.7 fps
SX20 IS:0.7 fps
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
High-speed framerate No high speed movie support Help
Not supported

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

$340 - $400

Zoom Has much more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$429 - $520

Wide-angle Has a much wider wide-angle lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$350 - $380

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide-angle Has a much wider wide-angle lens
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Super zoom

$293 - $400

Wide-angle Has a much wider wide-angle lens
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$403 - $409

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Super zoom

$600

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide-angle Has a much wider wide-angle lens
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P90

Nikon Coolpix P90

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Wide-angle Has a much wider wide-angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger

Canon PowerShot S1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$759 body only

$733 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Screen size Much larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Movie format Does not take movies
Nikon Coolpix S3000

Nikon Coolpix S3000

Compact

$116 - $150

Screen size Much larger screen
Wide-angle Much better wide-angle
Aperture Narrower aperture
Zoom Less zoom
Placeholder

Canon EOS Digital Rebel

Entry-level DSLR

$849 body only

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Travel zoom

$212 - $230

Screen size Much larger screen
Wide-angle Much better wide-angle
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Viewfinder No viewfinder

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$494 - $500

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Macro focus Slightly worse macro capability
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

Travel zoom

$294 - $350

Size Much smaller
Screen size Much larger screen
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Placeholder Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Placeholder Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Placeholder Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion

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