- 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 Cybershot DSC-RX100
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
- Panasonic Lumix TZ30
- Nikon Coolpix S9300
Rated 74% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V is a very good travel zoom camera that offers a great selection of auto modes, some very useful bells and whistles, limited manual controls, blazing performance, and 1080/60p video recording.
Rated 72% by by DPReview (Dec, 2011)The processed raw likewise shows impressively fine resolution, and while there's a bit more color moire, the narrower-radius sharpening we've applied results in a cleaner image without sharpening artifacts.
Conclusion Which is better for you?
Features Key features of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V compared to the Canon Powershot S100
MP18
1/2.5"
Rated 74% by by DPReview (Jun, 2012)If you're looking for a GPS-equipped travel zoom camera, then the HX20V is well worth considering.
12 MP
1/1.8"
Rated 72% by by DPReview (Dec, 2011)The wood in the converted raw image is much closer to its actual color, too, than the more reddish rendition from the JPEG.
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 S100 by DPReview (Dec, 2011)While the 2MP increase in sensor resolution over the S95 is modest in terms of the additional detail that the camera can capture, the 20% increase in total pixel count does help to offset the effect of noise at a given display size/magnification..
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 S100 by Sheraz-A.-Choudhary (Nov, 2011)First off, I don't think it's fair to compare the s100 to DSLRs, APS-C, Four Thirds cameras.
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.
Powershot S100 by Sheraz-A.-Choudhary (Nov, 2011)* 24mm wide-angle is very useful for indoor photography.
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 S100 by DPReview (Dec, 2011)The function ring around the lens is a particularly effective control point, offering quick access to controls like shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
zoom range
| 0x | 20x | 20x |
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by DPReview (Jun, 2012)It also has both automatic and limited manual controls, HDR and other multi-shot options that improve image quality, a fun sweep panorama feature, and Full HD 1080/60p video recording.
Powershot S100 by DPReview (Dec, 2011)The Canon S100 is particularly well-suited to two types of photographers: compact camera shooters looking to upgrade to a similarly small camera with more control, raw mode and better image quality, and ILC photographers looking for a truly compact 'take anywhere' pocket camera with much of the same manual control as their larger cameras.
body size
107 x 62 x 35 mm
99 x 60 x 28 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 S100 by Sheraz-A.-Choudhary (Nov, 2011)But none of these competitors are comfortably pocketable-this means that the s100 has practically no competition for it's size as a truely pocketable semi-pro camera.
Performance Real world tests of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs Canon Powershot S100
battery life
320 photos
200 photos
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V by Stephen-F.-Potts (Jan, 2013)Battery life was good and charging is very quick and easy.
Powershot S100 by K-Gill (Nov, 2000)Quite simply, it is easy to use, and the battery life is better than most and it recharges fast.
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 S100 by DPReview (Dec, 2011)A 4-channel readout system also improves the continuous shooting rate, up to 2.3 fps compared to the S95's maximum framerate of 1.9 fps.
Differences What are the advantages of each
Advantages compared to the Canon Powershot S100
| Significantly larger zoom range | 20x | vs | 5x |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x larger zoom; Great for sports or nature when your subject is further away | |||
| Significantly higher resolution screen | 921 k dots | vs | 461 k dots |
| Around 2x higher resolution screen | |||
| Much higher resolution | 18 MP | vs | 12 MP |
| Around 50% higher resolution; Capture more detail, good for large prints | |||
| Create realistic 3D images | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Create 3D photos to view on a 3D TV | |||
| More photos per charge | 320 | vs | 200 |
| 120 more shots; Longer battery life | |||
| Automatic panorama | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Stitches together multiple photos into a single ultra-wide view | |||
| Less startup delay | 1,900 ms | vs | 2,400 ms |
| More than 20% less startup delay; Be ready for anything | |||
| Significantly more highly reviewed by consumers | 86.58% | vs | 78.26% |
| More than 10% more highly reviewed by consumers | |||
| Better macro lens | 10 mm | vs | 30 mm |
| 3x closer macro focus; Take great close-up photos | |||
| Marginally more recently announced | Feb, 2012 | vs | Sep, 2011 |
| Announced date 5 months later | |||
| 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
| Much faster lens | f/2.0 | vs | f/3.2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 40% faster aperture; Better in low light | |||
| Shoots RAW | Yes | vs | No |
| Somewhat common; Adjust white balance and exposure more easily in post production | |||
| 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 | |||
| Slightly wider lens | 24 mm | vs | 25 mm |
| Almost the same | |||
| Faster max shutter speed | 1/2000 s | vs | 1/1600 s |
| 20% faster max shutter speed; capture fast action | |||
| Lighter | 198 g | vs | 254 g |
| More than 20% lighter | |||
Reviews Word on the street
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V | Canon Powershot S100 | ||
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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 80% by by E.-Tam | Rated by 109 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by Dub_Head (Apr, 2001) | |
Competition What else you should consider
 | 5 | Nikon Coolpix S9300 OK benchmarked shot to shot times |
 | 6 | Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Rated the best by consumers |
 | 7 | Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 3-way tie: Shoots video in 24p |
 | 8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 3-way tie: Best macro lens |
Unanswered Questions
- 3 discussions
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October 19, 2012
Photo/video quality
Which of these camera have better overall image quality? i want to be able to take amazing pictures of animals, landscape, flowers, self portraits, etc. which would be the better camera for this?
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Answers June 2, 2012
Taking photos in low light
I am a beginner and would the camera that take grate photo in low light and fast enough for taking photo of my baby.
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Answers May 20, 2012
Which is better for still images?
Beginner, looking for small camera for vacations, general point-and-shoot use etc. Not looking to get into manual operations. Which takes the better photos - the Canon S100 or the Sony HX20V?...
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Answers 