• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 560.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
  • Olympus PEN E-PL9
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon SX10 IS
SX10 IS vs SX20 IS
Olympus E-PL8
E-PL8 vs E-PL9
Successor: Canon SX30 IS
SX20 IS vs SX30 IS
Olympus E-PL10
E-PL9 vs E-PL10
General
Model Number: SX20 IS E-PL9
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: EVF Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $399.99 $699.99
Street Price: $399.99 $699.99
Date Available: 2009-09-15 2018-04-05
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 23.8 oz (676 g)
includes batteries
16.7 oz (473 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 4.9 x 3.5 x 3.4 in.
(124 x 88 x 87 mm)
4.6 x 2.7 x 1.5 in.
(117 x 68 x 39 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 16.1
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch 4/3
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.54 microns 3.75 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
3840 x 2160 (8.3 MP, 16:9),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
3200 x 2400 (7.7 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1280 x 960 (1.2 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.1 8.6
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (120p)
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG); Linear PCM 16-bit, 48kHz stereo audio
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a Micro Four Thirds
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ ED M.Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 28 - 560mm 28 - 84mm
Focal Length (actual): 5 - 100mm 14 - 42mm
Zoom Ratio: 20.00x 3.00x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (W) / f/5.7(T) to f/8.0 f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 0 - 10 cm
0.0 - 3.9 in
 
Filter Thread: n/a 37.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x 2x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect AF with Face Detection High-speed Contrast-detect AF: 121 points / All target, Group target (9 areas), Single target (normal), Single target (small); Eye detection with left/right/nearest priority
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: No Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: EVF type  
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution:   n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.5 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 1,036,800 dots
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 14.0x
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   25600
Minimum ISO (native):   200
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*special scene mode) AUTO ISO: 100 (Low) - 25600 (Customizable, Default 100-1600); Manual ISO: 100 (Low), 200 - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Custom Auto, Sunny, Shadow, Cloudy, Incandescent, , Fluorescent, Underwater, Flash, Custom, Kelvin
Shutter Speed Range: 1/3200 - 15 sec 1/16000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: No Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot, Face Detect AE Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Night Scene, Indoor, ISO 3200, Color Accent, Color Swap), Super Macro, Night Snapshot, Stitch Assist, Scene (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape with Portrait, Night Scene with Portrait, Children, Hand-held Starlight, Night Scene, Fireworks, Light Trails, Sports, Panning, Landscape, Sunset, Beach and Snow, Backlight HDR, Candle, Silent mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Documents, Multi Focus); Live Composite, Live Bulb, Panorama, Silent, Multiple Exposure, AE bracketing, HDR Backlight, Keystone Compensation; Art Filter (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Cross Process, Dramatic Tone, Gentle Sepia, Key Line, Water colour, Partial Colour (18 colors selectable), Vintage, Bleach Bypass, Instant Film); Gradation (Auto, Normal, High Key, Low Key).
Self Timer: 1 - 30 seconds 2, 12, custom seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Safety FE, Slow Synchro Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (Full, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 5.4 m / 17.7 ft.
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 1.6-22 ft./50cm-6.8m (W), 3.3-12 ft./1.0-3.7m (T) GN=7.6m (ISO 200)
Max Flash Sync: 1/500 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot-Shoe Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No Yes
Uncompressed Format:   12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG); Linear PCM 16-bit, 48kHz stereo audio
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes
Remote Control Type:   Wi-Fi or Optional Remote Cable RM-UC1
Connections (extended):   Micro HDMI (Type-D), Micro-B USB 2.0 port
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 2.26  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.1 8.6
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited Unlimited
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   8.6
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   14
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.54 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.52 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.440 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.84 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.072 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 2.4 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 2.2 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 2.3 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 600 shots (NiMH AA) 350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:   80 minutes
Battery Form Factor: 4 x AA Proprietary BLS-50
Usable Battery Types: Alkaline disposeables, NiMH rechargeables Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 4 x AA Alkaline disposeables 1 x Proprietary BLS-50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): No Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM  
OS Compatibility: Windows XP SP2/Vista, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Articulating LCD, Smart Auto, Face/Motion Detection, Intelligent Contrast Correction, HD Movies. Available in black, brown or white.