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.
Flash range at ISO Auto is:
- 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.
Number of Recordable Images |
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Time of Recordable Movies | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: N=Normal F=Fine Storage Capacity varies depending on camera settings. This data is estimated from Canon's standard shooting conditions. Figures for Movie Mode represent total capacity of the particular media. |
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.
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.