Canon SX600 vs SX620
The Canon PowerShot SX600 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2014 and May 2016. Both the SX600 and the SX620 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The SX600 has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the SX620 provides 20.2 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS and the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon SX600 and the Canon SX620 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The SX600 can be obtained in three different colors (black, red, white), while the SX620 is also available in three color-versions, but different ones (black, silver, red).
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon SX620 is notably smaller (13 percent) than the Canon SX600. Moreover, the SX620 is slightly lighter (3 percent) than the SX600. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX600 nor the SX620 are weather-sealed.
Concerning battery life, the SX600 gets 290 shots out of its Canon NB-6LH battery, while the SX620 can take 295 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-13L power pack.
The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon SX600 | 104 mm | 61 mm | 26 mm | 188 g | 290 | n | Jan 2014 | 249 | ebay.com | |
2. | Canon SX620 | 97 mm | 57 mm | 28 mm | 182 g | 295 | n | May 2016 | 279 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon G9 X | 98 mm | 58 mm | 31 mm | 209 g | 220 | n | Oct 2015 | 529 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 128 mm | 93 mm | 114 mm | 650 g | 340 | n | Sep 2014 | 549 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon SX400 | 104 mm | 69 mm | 80 mm | 313 g | 190 | n | Jul 2014 | 249 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon SX410 | 104 mm | 69 mm | 85 mm | 325 g | 185 | n | Feb 2015 | 279 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon SX420 | 104 mm | 69 mm | 85 mm | 325 g | 195 | n | Jan 2016 | 299 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon SX430 | 104 mm | 69 mm | 85 mm | 323 g | 195 | n | Jan 2017 | 299 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon SX510 | 104 mm | 70 mm | 80 mm | 349 g | 250 | n | Aug 2013 | 249 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon SX520 | 120 mm | 82 mm | 92 mm | 441 g | 210 | n | Jul 2014 | 399 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon SX530 | 120 mm | 82 mm | 92 mm | 442 g | 210 | n | Jan 2015 | 429 | ebay.com | |
12. | Canon SX610 | 105 mm | 61 mm | 27 mm | 191 g | 270 | n | Jan 2015 | 249 | ebay.com | |
13. | Nikon L840 | 113 mm | 78 mm | 96 mm | 538 g | 590 | n | Feb 2015 | 299 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony H200 | 123 mm | 83 mm | 87 mm | 530 g | 240 | n | Jan 2013 | 249 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX600 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the SX620, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.
Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.
While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX620 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the SX600. This megapixels advantage translates into a 13 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX620 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 1.33μm for the SX600). However, it should be noted that the SX620 is much more recent (by 2 years and 4 months) than the SX600, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Canon SX620 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX620 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX600 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.
The Canon PowerShot SX600 HS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS are ISO 80 to ISO 3200 (no boost).
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon SX600 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.0 | 11.4 | 620 | 45 | |
2. | Canon SX620 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 1080/30p | 20.4 | 11.8 | 838 | 49 | |
3. | Canon G9 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.5 | 12.3 | 495 | 63 | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 1/2.3 | 14.2 | 4608 | 3072 | 1080/60p | 19.2 | 10.8 | 127 | 39 | |
5. | Canon SX400 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 720/30p | 20.1 | 11.5 | 672 | 46 | |
6. | Canon SX410 | 1/2.3 | 19.9 | 5152 | 3864 | 720/30p | 20.2 | 11.6 | 720 | 47 | |
7. | Canon SX420 | 1/2.3 | 19.9 | 5152 | 3864 | 720/25p | 20.3 | 11.7 | 806 | 48 | |
8. | Canon SX430 | 1/2.3 | 19.9 | 5152 | 3864 | 720/25p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 900 | 49 | |
9. | Canon SX510 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/24p | 20.0 | 11.3 | 586 | 45 | |
10. | Canon SX520 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.1 | 11.5 | 672 | 46 | |
11. | Canon SX530 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 20.2 | 11.6 | 712 | 47 | |
12. | Canon SX610 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 1080/30p | 20.2 | 11.6 | 712 | 47 | |
13. | Nikon L840 | 1/2.3 | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60i | 20.2 | 11.6 | 721 | 47 | |
14. | Sony H200 | 1/2.3 | 15.2 | 5184 | 2930 | 720/30p | 19.9 | 11.2 | 529 | 44 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The SX600 and the SX620 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon SX600, the Canon SX620, and comparable cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon SX600 | none | n | 3.0 / 461 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 3.9/s | Y | Y | |
2. | Canon SX620 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 2.5/s | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon G9 X | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 6.0/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 922 | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | n | 1/2000s | 6.4/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Canon SX400 | none | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/1600s | 0.8/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Canon SX410 | none | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 0.5/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Canon SX420 | none | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 0.5/s | Y | Y | |
8. | Canon SX430 | none | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 0.5/s | Y | Y | |
9. | Canon SX510 | none | n | 3.0 / 461 | fixed | n | 1/1600s | 3.8/s | Y | Y | |
10. | Canon SX520 | none | n | 3.0 / 461 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 1.6/s | Y | Y | |
11. | Canon SX530 | none | n | 3.0 / 461 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 1.6/s | Y | Y | |
12. | Canon SX610 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 2.5/s | Y | Y | |
13. | Nikon L840 | none | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.4/s | Y | Y | |
14. | Sony H200 | none | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/1500s | 0.8/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
Both the SX600 and the SX620 have zoom lenses built in. The SX600 has a 25-450mm f/3.8-6.9 optic and the SX620 offers a 25-625mm f/3.2-6.6 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the SX600 and SX620 provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the SX620 has more tele-photo reach at the long end. The SX620 offers the faster maximum aperture.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX600 and the SX620 write their files to SDXC cards.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS and Canon PowerShot SX620 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon SX600 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
2. | Canon SX620 | - | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
3. | Canon G9 X | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
4. | Canon SX60 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
5. | Canon SX400 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Canon SX410 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
7. | Canon SX420 | - | mono / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
8. | Canon SX430 | - | mono / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
9. | Canon SX510 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
10. | Canon SX520 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
11. | Canon SX530 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
12. | Canon SX610 | - | - / - | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
13. | Nikon L840 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
14. | Sony H200 | - | mono / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - |
Both the SX600 and the SX620 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX600 was replaced by the Canon SX610, while the SX620 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the SX600 and SX620 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX600 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon SX620 Manual.
Review summary
So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon SX600 and the Canon SX620? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.
Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS:
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.9 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2014).
Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 13%.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 461k dots).
- Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.2 vs f/3.8).
- More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
- More compact: Is smaller (97x57mm vs 104x61mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 4 months of technical progress since the SX600 launch.
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the SX620 emerges as the winner of the match-up (6 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX600 and the Canon SX620 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the SX600 or the SX620 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.
Expert reviews
This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon SX600 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2014 | 249 | ebay.com | |
2. | Canon SX620 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | May 2016 | 279 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon G9 X | 3.5/5 | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2015 | 529 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 75/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | 549 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon SX400 | .. | + | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jul 2014 | 249 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon SX410 | .. | o | .. | .. | .. | .. | Feb 2015 | 279 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon SX420 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3/5 | Jan 2016 | 299 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon SX430 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 299 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon SX510 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2013 | 249 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon SX520 | .. | + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Jul 2014 | 399 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon SX530 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2015 | 429 | ebay.com | |
12. | Canon SX610 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jan 2015 | 249 | ebay.com | |
13. | Nikon L840 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2015 | 299 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony H200 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | Jan 2013 | 249 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon M10 vs Canon SX600
- Canon SL3 vs Canon SX620
- Canon SX600 vs Canon T3
- Canon SX600 vs Fujifilm X-T4
- Canon SX600 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II
- Canon SX600 vs Panasonic FZ300
- Canon SX600 vs Pentax WG-90
- Canon SX620 vs Nikon A1000
- Canon SX620 vs Nikon D5200
- Canon SX620 vs Panasonic GH5s
- Canon SX620 vs Panasonic GX80
- Canon SX620 vs Sony A7R IV
Specifications: Canon SX600 vs Canon SX620
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Canon SX600 | Canon SX620 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Fixed lens compact camera |
Camera Lens | 25-450mm f/3.8-6.9 | 25-625mm f/3.2-6.6 |
Launch Date | January 2014 | May 2016 |
Launch Price | USD 249 | USD 279 |
Sensor Specs | Canon SX600 | Canon SX620 |
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | 1/2.3" Sensor |
Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | 6.17 x 4.55 mm |
Sensor Area | 28.0735 mm2 | 28.0735 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | 7.7 mm |
Crop Factor | 5.6x | 5.6x |
Sensor Resolution | 15.9 Megapixels | 20.2 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 4608 x 3456 pixels | 5184 x 3888 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 1.33 μm | 1.18 μm |
Pixel Density | 56.73 MP/cm2 | 71.80 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | 1080/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 3,200 ISO | 80 - 3,200 ISO |
Image Processor | DIGIC 4+ | DIGIC 4+ |
Screen Specs | Canon SX600 | Canon SX620 |
Viewfinder Type | no viewfinder | no viewfinder |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 461k dots | 922k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Fixed screen |
Shooting Specs | Canon SX600 | Canon SX620 |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Continuous Shooting | 3.9 shutter flaps/s | 2.5 shutter flaps/s |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | no | no |
Connectivity Specs | Canon SX600 | Canon SX620 |
External Flash | no Hotshoe | no Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | micro HDMI |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | NFC built-in |
Body Specs | Canon SX600 | Canon SX620 |
Battery Type | Canon NB-6LH | Canon NB-13L |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 290 shots per charge | 295 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
104 x 61 x 26 mm (4.1 x 2.4 x 1.0 in) |
97 x 57 x 28 mm (3.8 x 2.2 x 1.1 in) |
Camera Weight | 188 g (6.6 oz) | 182 g (6.4 oz) |
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