Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Review @ Photography Blog

[Mark Goldstein]

Just to let you know that we’ve reviewed the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS camera today.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_sx20_is_review/

[Silverfox1]

Just to let you know that we’ve reviewed the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS camera today.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_powershot_sx20_is_review/


Thanks to all that contributed in this review of the SX20-is.

IMHO which isnt worth much i am not very impressed with the sample images even taken in good light using low F-stops & low ISO.

Im sure the folks that purchase this camera providing they have a pc equipped with the proper video card & harddrive size will enjoy the HD video.

Regards, :D

[Bencooper21]

Thanks to all that contributed in this review of the SX20-is.

IMHO which isnt worth much i am not very impressed with the sample images even taken in good light using low F-stops & low ISO.

Im sure the folks that purchase this camera providing they have a pc equipped with the proper video card & harddrive size will enjoy the HD video.

Regards, :D

I'm not sure which you're referring to that "isn't worth much."
If its the review, I think it's a pretty good review. I read through it and nowhere does it say the SX20 "isn't worth much" whether directly or implied.
If its the camera, the SX20 is still a pretty good camera even without the HD function. (It may not be perfect but what camera is)
I don't know if you've handled the SX20 but I've been using it for three weeks in connection with my work as well as recreationally. It's done very well and has even surprised me (and some people on this board) with it what it can do.
As for the video function, the world of photography is changing very rapidly and having video capability on a camera is no longer just "play feature". Especially if you're covering fast moving developments, having the ability to switch quickly from still to video and back can make a lot of difference. (A photographer can't have a camcorder on him/her all the time)
And this is where the SX20 with its pretty good still capability and HD function at a decent price can have a niche.

[davidfig]

If its the camera, the SX20 is still a pretty good camera even without the HD function. (It may not be perfect but what camera is)


If SilverFox is talking about the images, which I think he is, then those images from the test are awful. They don't even look like they came from a canon camera. If this is what the SX20 does, I am no longer interested.

[don't_shoot]

I think he means that his humble opinion (IMHO) probably isn't worth much and he's probably not giving himself enough credit.

[tman07]

i saw it at best buy today

[Jon]

Thanks to all that contributed in this review of the SX20-is.

IMHO which isnt worth much i am not very impressed with the sample images even taken in good light using low F-stops & low ISO.

Im sure the folks that purchase this camera providing they have a pc equipped with the proper video card & harddrive size will enjoy the HD video.

Regards, :D
That's sort of the problem with rushing reviews out just to be "first". No matter the camera, it takes time to learn the new one to the point you can make the most of it. And when you compare it to the previous version, which you've been using for months or years . . . .

[dundeebirder]

If SilverFox is talking about the images, which I think he is, then those images from the test are awful. They don't even look like they came from a canon camera. If this is what the SX20 does, I am no longer interested.

I agree that the images in the review were awful. I would suggest that you take a look at some of the pictures that have been posted on this forum that people have taken with this camera. I did and thats why I've decided to order one for myself.

[kay92]

Hi, amateur photography enthusiast here :D
I just got a Canon SX20 IS.. I really liked it, the pictures looked bright and sharp on the camera screen..but when I open the pictures on my laptop, they're all very dull and not as colourful. Help? :confused:

I have to keep editing pictures.. Does anyone know a permanent way to fix this? Is this normal or is something wrong with my laptop or camera? :( :( :(

[Big Hands]

Hi, amateur photography enthusiast here :D
I just got a Canon SX20 IS.. I really liked it, the pictures looked bright and sharp on the camera screen..but when I open the pictures on my laptop, they're all very dull and not as colourful. Help? :confused:

I have to keep editing pictures.. Does anyone know a permanent way to fix this? Is this normal or is something wrong with my laptop or camera? :( :( :(

Could be the way your laptop screen is adjusted or something else. Best way to get some good feedback is to post a few pics as examples.

[mpix345]

I recently purchased an SX20, based largely on the positive buzz here about it. I also recently sold that same SX20. I was not very impressed with it in some areas.

HD video looked good to me, and feature set is pretty healthy, but I thought the IQ was just OK. No better, I don't think, than my old A630 under similar conditions. Of course the SX20 covers a lot more ground, and I think does pretty well on the longer end of the zoom range.

The complete deal-breaker for me was ergonomics. I went from a 500D to a 50D recently. I recall reading so many folks slamming the Rebel ergonomics and praising the xxD series. To me there is a nice upgrade in feel and comfort, but I never had an issue with the 500D. When holding the SX20 for a few minutes I suddenly understood what the folks were talking about who slam the Rebels. My hand started cramping, to the point where I really couldn't hold the camera any longer. I tried holding it different ways, but the way the grip area on front of camera protrudes was just a killer for me.

I think I would have kept the camera if not for the ergonomic issue. I'm sure improvements in IQ are possible with more practice, but I really couldn't see myself getting there. I don't recall reading any comments about ergonomic issues, so maybe it is just me and my big hands. But I was pretty happy with S1 IS, A630, and the aforementioned DSLRs.

[kay92]

Hello again! another problem. I'm clueless about this one,

How do you get photographs with an object in focus and the background really blurry? Do you need to get a lens? I know about the manual and the macro and super macro feature, but i have to be super close to the object and the background isnt as blurred as i want it. do i have to buy a lens? what about the ones u manually focus with using ur hand? is that in-built or can u get lenses or whatever?

[Wowsers]

Hello again! another problem. I'm clueless about this one,

How do you get photographs with an object in focus and the background really blurry? Do you need to get a lens? I know about the manual and the macro and super macro feature, but i have to be super close to the object and the background isnt as blurred as i want it. do i have to buy a lens? what about the ones u manually focus with using ur hand? is that in-built or can u get lenses or whatever?


You have to set the camera to AV (Aperture Priority) and choose the biggest aperture available (2.8 if possible) for the focal length you are using. Hopefully, you are very close to your subject and this will help blur the background.

[childsuccess]

I have had the SX20IS for 6-8 months. I have very mixed feelings about it. I have found too many of my images to be soft/fuzzy unless the light is great and I am shooting at 80ISO and the zoom is not fully extended. I wish it had better glass but it is a P&S and ypou get what you pay. I also found that I am frequently hitting the exposure compensation button when holding the camera for a shot - maybe it's my big hands. Also the center circular dial can be difficult. Frequently when trying to turn the dial to change f stop or speed, it's sensitivity will make it easy to get the ISO button or macro button pushed.
On the other hand, the video quality is great and the zoom is wonderful to have on trips when you do not want to be changing lenses.
Just my 2 cents
Larry

[denncald]

A lot of folks blame their cameras for not being good enough, when many times it is us behind the lens that do not fully exploit our equipment. There are many examples of excellent photos around taken with the SX20, but to me, they demonstrate the skills of the photographer. Here are some examples;

http://www.flickriver.com/search/SX20/interesting/

I can not get the best from my G9 unless I stick to ISO 80, and sometimes also use a tripod, and carefully adjust settings, to include manual focusing. I got a G11 with the understanding that it could produce excellent results at ISO 200, or even ISO 400. However, I still only use ISO 80 when I want the best results. It's the laws of physics and the sensor size, primarily, that we all struggle with.

I've considered getting an SX20 several times, but it's too large, it's sensor too small, and it does not shoot RAW. I would like to have it all in one package, meaning not having to add lenses, but I suspect some day I will have to move on to a DSLR. I carried film SLRs for decades, but hated the weight and quantity of equipment. I work harder at making my point and shoot models perform better, but there are lots of limits to overcome.

my two cents,
Dennis

[splinx]

A valuable 2¢. Nice selection of shots on Flickriver taken with the SX20. Yea verily, it is the light and the photographer's vision which make the great photographs.

I see the superzoom digicams like the SX20 and my (earlier) Coolpix 8800 as being jack-of-many-trades-master-of-none imaging devices. So far, none has proven very useful for action and most wildlife photography, they've got the same small sensors as the pocket cameras in many cases, and they're just about as big as a DSLR. The only real distinction is the long zoom, But that wide-tele superzoom is also a compromise in terms of sharpness.

If I'm going to carry around a compromise, I'd rather have one that fits in my pocket.

[denncald]

If I'm going to carry around a compromise, I'd rather have one that fits in my pocket.

Perhaps we all need bigger pockets?

Dennis