Canon has introduced the 12.1 megapixels 20x optical zoom (28mm – 560mm) Canon PowerShot SX20 IS, an upgrade to its SX10 IS superzoom camera.
It is essentially the same camera with the exception of the following: new silver and black body, an increase in resolution from 10 to 12.1 megapixels, the incorporation of 720p HD video and HDMI output, new motor for a quieter zoom so that the zooming sound won’t be captured by the camera’s stereo speaker, an enhanced “Smart Auto Mode” and an enhanced version of i-Contrast.
SX20 IS... more megapixels, with HD video to boot
Last year, when Canon introduced the SX10 IS and SX1 IS, I decided to buy the SX1 IS because it has three features — HD video capability, fast continuous shooting of 4fps and the fact that it is the first Canon compact camera to use a CMOS sensor.
Although it is debatable whether the CCD sensor on the SX10 IS produces better image quality than the CMOS on the SX1 Is, I have no regret going for the more expensive SX1 IS.
Now with the SX20 IS around, consumers can have one of what makes the SX1 IS compelling — its HD video capability.
Who the SX20 IS is for?
If we can stop comparing the SX20 IS with the camera it is replacing, on its own the SX20 IS is a compelling tool which should appeal to first time buyers of wide angle-to-megazoom compacts.
It is also an interesting gear to have for those who feel that the 12x optical zoom offered by compact superzoom cameras is no longer sufficient to cater to their needs.
Those who already own the SX10 IS may find less reasons to upgrade to the SX20 IS and may wait for another year for a more substantive change to the camera before upgrading. There are already several reviews posted on the SX20 IS, at Photography Blog and DigitalCameraReview.com.
Enough of the SX20 IS. So, where is the SX1 IS upgrade? Is Canon thinking of something compelling for the SX2 IS, like installing a bigger DSLR-size CMOS sensor and increasing the zoom reach to at least 24x optical zoom, which seems to be the standard of today’s megazoom compacts?
