Features & Controls

Canon equiped the SX20 with a single-point TTL AF system that achieves sharp focus quickly, and is aided in low-light conditions with a built-in AF assist lamp. You can move the AF frame to the area desired by pressing the AF Point Selection button on the back of the camera and using the 4-way controller as well as choose the AF frame size (Normal or Small). It also features manual focus override as well as a Focus Bracketing function and Canon's Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB technology. This allows the camera to detect, lock on and track up to nine human faces in a scene simply by pressing the shutter button halfway. The face detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects the optimum subject and not simply the closest face (based on Canon's Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure, and white balance to ensure the best possible results for easy picture taking moments.

The focusing range is:

• Normal: 1.6 ft. (50cm) - infinity Wide, 3.3 ft. (1m) - infinity Tele
• Macro: 3.9 in. - 1.6 ft. (10 - 50cm) Wide
• Super macro:  0 - 3.9 in. (0 - 10cm) Wide

In low light conditions the focus-assist lamp helps to illuminate the subject for accurate focusing.

• 1.6 - 22 ft. (50cm - 6.8m) at Wide angle, 3.3 - 12 ft. (1.0 - 3.7m) at Telephot

You can also see the Right and Left microphones located just below the flash, that record stereo audio to be included with your movies.

Controls on top: on the left is the Flash mode button. Next is the hot shoe that allows you to use optional flash units like Canon's 220EX, 380EX, 430EX II or 580EX II Speedlites. To the right of the hot shoe is the Mode dial with positions for Auto, Program, Shutter priority (Tv), Aperture priority (Av), Manual, Custom, Movie, Stitch Assist, SCN, Sports, Night Scene, Landscape, and Portrait. Next is the shutter release with the zoom lens control mounted around it, in playback mode the zoom lever functions as the index and magnified image control. Last but not least is the On/Off power button.

On the back is a 230,000 pixel 2.5-inch Vari-angle color LCD monitor. It offers a wide viewing angle and can be tilted and rotated up to 270 degrees.

Controls on the back: in the upper right is the Play, Exposure value (Rotate), and Focus point selector (Delete) buttons. The 4-way controller lets you navigate menus and select images during playback, the FUNC/SET button accepts menu selections. It also gives you access to the Function shortcut menu, which has many settings (white balance, Color effects, Bracketing, Flash output compensation, Metering, Movie/Still Image quality and Image size, etc.) In record mode you press 'Up' to change to Manual focus mode, 'Right' to toggle the sensitivity, 'Down' to change the Drive mode, and 'Left' to enable Macro focus mode. Mounted around the 4-way controller is the Control dial. This handy dial allows you to quickly navigate the menu, set aperture and shutter speed values, etc. The DISPlay toggles the amount of information displayed on the LCD and EVF as well as switched between the two. The MENU button calls up and dismisses the menu screens. You can also see the Movie mode Record button in the upper left hand corner.

At the top you can see the two separate I/O port doors. At the top is the DC IN port for connecting the optional Power Adapter and Audio/Video Output (NTSC or PAL format) for viewing images and movie files on your TV. The Digital USB 2.0 (high-speed) port handles both transferring images to your computer as well as Direct printing to any PictBridge compatible printer.The SX20 also offers HDMI output, with an optional cable.

Powering the SX20 IS are four standard AA type batteries. While Canon supplies alkaline type cells, we recommend high-capacity NiMH rechargeable AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries save you money and can be reused hundreds of times. Using CIPA testing standards, Canon estimates that the approx. battery life with alkalines is 340 shots and a total of 12 hours of playback time. Using NiMH batteries you can expect approx. 600 shots or 14 hours of playback time.