- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How they compare
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Compare with...
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150
- Panasonic Lumix TZ30
- Nikon Coolpix S9100
- Fujifilm FinePix F660 EXR
- Canon PowerShot SX220 HS
Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)The combination of the f/3.2 aperture, effective optical image stabilizer and maximum ISO speed of 12800 makes this camera well suited to hand-held low-light photography, not to mention the wealth of dedicated shooting modes.
Rated 76% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)A high speed (Class 6 or higher) card is recommended for best performance.
Conclusion Which is better for you?
Features Key features of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V compared to the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
MP18
1/2.5"
Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)Add in the 3D Sweep Panoramas and 3D Still Images, amazing 10fps burst shooting mode, 0.13 second auto-focusing, closer macro mode, extensive range of in-camera Picture effects and the high-resolution 921K dot LCD screen, and it's still easy for us to recommend the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX20V above all of its travel-zoom rivals.
12 MP
1/2.5"
Rated 90% by by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The excellent High-speed Burst mode shoots at a fast rate of 10.3fps at full 12 megapixel resolution, one of the major benefits of the Digic 5 processor, while the Super Slow Motion Movie mode offers a great way to dramatically slow down fast-moving subjects, shooting at either 240fps at 320x240 pixel resolution or 120fps at 640x480 pixels.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 18 MP   | 20 MP |
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by phoongdan (Mar, 2013)My predecessor was a 10.1 megapixel Sony Cybershot which I was pleased with at that price range, but this camera is a whole nuther level!
PowerShot SX260 HS by L.-Benedict (Jul, 2012)The picture quality is excellent and although 12.1 megapixels isn't a whole lot, it is good because the really good sensors can get to each pixel more.
sensor size
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by Nom-de-Plume (Jul, 2012)With the 20x zoom I got a full frame stop motion picture of Clayton just as he released the ball.
PowerShot SX260 HS by Photography Blog (Apr, 2012)The shooting mode dial is also where you'll find the camera's scene modes, some of which again mirror the kind of selections you'll find on the latest consumer DSLRs and Micro Four Thirds hybrids.
wide angle lens
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)The 25mm focal length provides an entirely new wide angle of view that can only increase your creativity.
aperture size
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)The Manual shooting mode lets you set a shutter speed of up to 30 seconds for effective night-time shooting, although I missed the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes that several rivals offer, and only having two possible apertures in Manual mode does somewhat limit what you can achieve creatively.
PowerShot SX260 HS by N-V (Mar, 2012)Aperture value could be set anywhere between f/3.5 & f/8.0, but it also depends on the zoom position (with maximum zoom, aperture value could be set either at f/6.8 or at).
zoom range
| 0x | 20x | 20x |
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by DPReview (Jun, 2012)If you're looking for a GPS-equipped travel zoom camera, then the HX20V is well worth considering.
body size
107 x 62 x 35 mm
106 x 61 x 33 mm
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by Kjeep (Mar, 2013)It takes clear, crisp pictures and is easy to carry along on motorcycle rides, etc..
PowerShot SX260 HS by K.-S.-Bowen--KS-Bowen (May, 2012)I have concluded that for me, a camera that takes 'very good' pictures, that is small and lightweight, is a NECESSITY.
Performance Real world tests of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
battery life
320 photos
210 photos
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by Stephen-F.-Potts (Jan, 2013)Battery life was good and charging is very quick and easy.
PowerShot SX260 HS by SAW (Sep, 2012)After a two week vacation with it overseas as my first real use of it I have to say that I am impressed with the size/weight of the package, the quality of the pictures, the acceptable speed of operation, the battery life, the image stabilization, and the zoom.
max continuous shooting
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by CedarburgSueThe burst mode is another unbelievable feature that captures ten shots in less than a second and each shot was as good as a normal single photo.
PowerShot SX260 HS by L.-Benedict (Jul, 2012)It is also good for motion, and my dad was surprised it had a burst mode, because my mama got her DSLR camera mainly because of it.
Differences What are the advantages of each
Advantages compared to the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
| Significantly faster lens | f/3.2 | vs | f/3.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 10% faster aperture; Better in low light | |||
| Much higher resolution screen | 921 k dots | vs | 461 k dots |
| Around 2x higher resolution screen | |||
| Much higher light sensitivity | 12,800 ISO | vs | 3,200 ISO |
| 4x higher light sensitivity; Avoid blur in low light situations | |||
| Much higher resolution | 18 MP | vs | 12 MP |
| Around 50% higher resolution; Capture more detail, good for large prints | |||
| Significantly faster rapid fire | 10 fps | vs | 3.2 fps |
| More than 3x faster continuous shooting; Take photos in rapid succession to capture motion | |||
| Much better macro lens | 10 mm | vs | 50 mm |
| 5x closer macro focus; Take great close-up photos | |||
| Create realistic 3D images | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Create 3D photos to view on a 3D TV | |||
| Supports HDR | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Combines multiple photos together to capture both bright and dark areas | |||
| More photos per charge | 320 | vs | 210 |
| 110 more shots; Longer battery life | |||
| More highly reviewed by consumers | 86.58% | vs | 82.43% |
| Around 10% more highly reviewed by consumers | |||
| Longer long exposure | 30 s | vs | 15 s |
| 2x longer long exposure; Capture creative photos such as night sky movement | |||
Advantages compared to the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
| Shoots video in 24p | Yes | vs | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somewhat common; For that film look | |||
| Shoots high speed video | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Create slow motion video | |||
| Significantly faster max shutter speed | 1/3200 s | vs | 1/1600 s |
| 2x faster max shutter speed; capture fast action | |||
Reviews Word on the street
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Canon PowerShot SX260 HS | ||
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 | Rated by 114 users at amazon.com Rated 80% by by P.-Baek (Apr, 2012) Rated 100% by by Nom-de-Plume (Jul, 2012) Rated 100% by by W.-Bison | Rated by 267 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by RhondaH (Sep, 2012) Rated 100% by by Private (Sep, 2012) Rated 100% by by CMB (May, 2012) | |
video
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 100% by by M.-Klein--mike_in_caThe advantage of the HX20V is how fast and easy it is to use, combined with the very high quality of images and video.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 74% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)This clip also demonstrates another of the HX20V's strengths - its capable sensor-based image stabilization system, which has kept this footage relatively wobble-free, despite being shot at the long end of the camera's zoom, hand-held, on a windy day.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)The dedicated Movie button on the rear of the DSC-HX20V allows you to start recording a movie with a single push of a button, and then stop recording by pressing the same button - a lot more intuitive than having to select the movie mode then press the shutter button, as on most compacts.
travel
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V review to find out if its the best travel camera that your money can buy... The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V is a feature-packed travel-zoom camera that sits at the top of the Cyber-shot range.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 80% by by Bobbo (Nov, 2012)For documenting everyday events, vacations, etc., I think the HX20V will do just fine.
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS | Rated 80% by by TrustedReviews (May, 2012)In all other aspects though, the SX260 HS is a fantastic little travel compact that's well worth a closer look if you're in the market for such a camera.
photography
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 100% by by Photography Blog (Jul, 2012)The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX20V offers a range of 9 creative Picture Effects.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Rated 74% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)However, I figure that the average buyer of the HX20V will probably be downsizing their photos for web sharing or making 'normal sized' prints.
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS | Rated 80% by by TrustedReviews (May, 2012)While this does make it a little heavier than some rival travel compacts such as the Panasonic Lumix TZ30 and Sony HX20V, the payoff is a camera that feels especially solid and well built in the hand.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 2 | Panasonic Lumix TZ30 2-way tie: Has a touch screen |
 | 3 | Nikon Coolpix S9100 2-way tie: Highest resolution screen |
Unanswered Questions
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November 8, 2012
Please advise whether to prefer Sony DSC-HX20v or DSC-WX150
I am a beginner...usually takes photo only during the travel and on occassions. Wish to know an expert opinion on the following: 1. What are the distinct negative aspects of HX20V and that of I...
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Answers September 4, 2012
Best non-dslr for concerts?
I'm currently looking for a camera to take to concerts. Preferably in the under or around $400 range. I need a camera with a long zoom, pocketable, works to capture movement in low light, one the...
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Answers 