What is the crop factor of the Canon SX20?
The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor, whose diagonal measures 7.7mm. The sensor has a crop factor (or format factor, or focal length multiplier) of 5.6.
The crop factor is defined as the ratio of the 35mm full-frame film diagonal to the diagonal of a digital sensor. This number indicates how a lens behaves in relation to the size of the image sensor.
Sensor size comparison with a film slide
With a crop factor of 5.6, the sensor in the Canon SX20 is smaller than the receptor area of a 35mm film slide or negative. As a result, the lens that is attached to the Canon SX20 will offer a narrower angle of view and provide deeper depth of field than a lens of similar focal length and aperture on a film camera. The equivalent focal length is obtained by multiplying the actual focal length of the lens with the crop factor. For example, a 9mm lens on the Canon SX20 will provide the same angle of view and depth of field as a 50mm normal lens on a film camera (9mm * 5.6 = 50mm).
Sensor specs and performance
The table below compares the sensor specs of the Canon SX20 to those of several similar cameras. The reported DXO values are indicators of the sensor's imaging quality (higher is better), covering color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape), and high-ISO noise (DXO Sports). Larger sensor cameras tend to outperform cameras of the same generation that are equipped with a smaller imager. On the other hand, larger sensors are more expensive and require bigger and heavier lenses than smaller light receptors.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon SX20 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 720/30p | 19.2 | 10.5 | 225 | 37 | |
2. | Canon SX1 | 1/2.3 | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | 1080/30p | 19.0 | 10.3 | 144 | 35 | |
3. | Canon SX10 | 1/2.3 | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | 480/30p | 19.0 | 10.3 | 144 | 35 | |
4. | Canon SX30 | 1/2.3 | 14.0 | 4320 | 3240 | 720/30p | 19.4 | 10.7 | 320 | 39 | |
5. | Canon SX40 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/24p | 19.6 | 10.9 | 409 | 41 | |
6. | Canon SX50 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/24p | 20.3 | 11.2 | 179 | 47 | |
7. | Canon SX60 | 1/2.3 | 14.2 | 4608 | 3072 | 1080/60p | 19.2 | 10.8 | 127 | 39 | |
8. | Canon SX730 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 1080/60p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 924 | 50 | |
9. | Canon XS | APS-C | 10.1 | 3888 | 2592 | none | 22.0 | 10.9 | 719 | 62 | |
10. | Leica V-LUX 2 | 1/2.3 | 14.0 | 4320 | 3240 | 1080/60i | 19.4 | 10.7 | 321 | 39 | |
11. | Panasonic FZ100 | 1/2.3 | 14.0 | 4320 | 3240 | 1080/60i | 19.4 | 10.7 | 306 | 39 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
In the United States, the SX20 was initially launched in August 2009 at a price of $399.
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 30D vs Nikon Z6
- Canon 70D vs Canon SX20
- Canon D30 vs Nikon Z6
- Canon G5 X Mark II vs Nikon Z6
- Canon SX20 vs Canon SX70
- Canon SX20 vs Fujifilm X-A7
- Canon SX20 vs Leica V-LUX 2
- Canon SX20 vs Nikon Z6 II
- Canon SX20 vs Panasonic TS7
- Fujifilm X-A3 vs Nikon Z6
- Fujifilm X-T4 vs Nikon Z6
- Nikon Z6 vs Panasonic GM5
Camera Model | Canon SX20 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | |
Camera Lens | 28-560mm f/2.8-5.7 | |
Launch Date | August 2009 | |
Launch Price | USD 399 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CCD | |
Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | |
Sensor Area | 28 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | |
Crop Factor | 5.6x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 000 x 3 000 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 1.53 μm | |
Pixel Density | 42.74 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 720/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 3 200 ISO | |
Image Processor | DIGIC 4 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 202k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 2.5 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 230k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/3200s | |
Continuous Shooting | 0.7 shutter flaps/s | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDHC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | no | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | YES HDMI | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Canon 4xAA power pack | |
Body Dimensions |
123 x 88 x 87 mm (4.8 x 3.5 x 3.4 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 600 g (21.2 oz) |
Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.
You are here: Home » Canon SX20 Review » Canon SX20 Crop Factor