Canon PowerShot SX20 IS intro
Canon’s PowerShot SX20 IS is a 12.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with a 20x optically-stabilised lens and 2.5in flip-out screen. Announced in August 2009, it comes one year after its predecessor, the massively popular SX10 IS. Canon’s not messed too much with a winning formula and kept the body, lens, screen and AA battery power of the SX10 IS, but enhanced them with a few key upgrades.
Most obviously (and inevitably) Canon has increased the resolution from 10.0 to 12.1 Megapixels. Much more importantly, the movie mode now boasts a 720p HD option, and there’s also an HDMI port so you can watch both video and stills in high quality on an HDTV.
The SX20 IS has also become more cunning in its auto mode, employing scene detection which along with recognising people and close-ups, can additionally discern between different lighting conditions, and even if the subject is in motion. Making operation even easier, the SX20 IS also now features Hints and Tips which explain what different settings will do if required. And for those who like to know exactly when a photo was taken without consulting the file attributes, a new Date Stamp can optionally imprint the information in the corner of your images.
These new features enhance what was already one of the best super-zoom cameras on the market. The headline 20x optical zoom range remains extremely flexible, delivering coverage equivalent to 28-560mm with effective image stabilisation.
You can start recording video at any time by simply pressing the big red button on the rear, zoom the lens while filming, and capture decent quality stereo sound.
The 2.5in screen may sound a little small compared to the latest cameras, but like its predecessor it’s fully articulated, allowing you to compose with ease at high or low angles – not to mention flipping it round for self-portraits or back on itself for protection.
As before there’s also a flash hotshoe on top of the camera which can accommodate any of Canon’s Speedlite range, and even control recent models through the menu system. THIS CAMERA COMES WITH 8 GB SD MEMORY CARD , CANON BATTERY , BATTERY CHARGER AND USB CABLE .
