• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 37.00mm - 185.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 18.2 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 500.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
  • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Sony DSC-HX9V
DSC-HX9V vs HX20V
Successor:    
General
Model Number: SD970 IS HX20V
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Ultra Compact Compact
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $379.99 $399.99
Street Price: $169.95 $325.99
Date Available: 2009-04-15 2012-05-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 6.7 oz (189 g)
includes batteries
9.0 oz (254 g)
includes batteries
Size: 3.7 x 2.2 x 1.0 in.
(95 x 57 x 26 mm)
4.2 x 2.4 x 1.4 in.
(107 x 62 x 35 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony Exmor R
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 18.2
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch 1/2.3 inch
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.54 microns 1.26 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:    
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
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),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 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)
4896 x 3672 (18.0 MP, 4:3),
4896 x 2752 (13.5 MP, 16:9),
3648 x 2736 (10.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
10480 x 4096 (42.9 MP, Other),
7512 x 1080 (8.1 MP, Other),
4912 x 1920 (9.4 MP, Other),
4912 x 1080 (5.3 MP, Other),
3424 x 1920 (6.6 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG, MPF
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.0 10.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
1920x1080 (60p(PS))
1920x1080 (60i(FX))
1920x1080 (60i(FH))
1440x1080 (60i(HQ))
1440x1080 (30p)
1280x720 (30p)
640x480 (30p)
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) AVCHD Ver 2.0 or MP4; with 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 n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens (8 elements in 6 groups, including 2 aspherical) Sony Lens G; 12 elements in 9 groups, 4 aspheric elements
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 37 - 185mm 25 - 500mm
Focal Length (actual): 6.6 - 33mm 4.5 - 89mm
Zoom Ratio: 5.00x 20.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.2 or f/9.2 (W) / f/5.8 or f/16.6 (T) f/3.2 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 2 - 50 cm
0.8 - 19.7 in
1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 2x Clear Image, up to 4x Precision, up to 306x Smart Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect AF with Face Detection Contrast Detection AF: Multi-point, Center-weighted, Flexible Spot, Manual, Semi Manual; Tracking, Face Tracking
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: No Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD LCD
Viewfinder Type:    
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 461,000 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x  
Top Deck Display:
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):    
Minimum ISO (native):    
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*special scene mode) Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent 1/2/3, Incandescent, Flash, One Push, White Balance Shift
Shutter Speed Range: 1/1600 - 15 sec 1/1600 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot, Face Detect AE Multi-pattern, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: No No
Shutter Priority: No No
Full Manual Exposure: No Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Creative Light Effect, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Long Shutter, Exposure Zoom, Stitch Assist Background Defocus, Scene (High Sensitivity, Night Scene, Handheld Twilight, Night Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Soft Skin, Anti Motion Blur, Backlight Correction HDR, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Advanced Sports Shooting, Gourmet, Pet Mode), Picture Effect (HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, Soft High-key, Watercolor, Illustration), 3D (3D Still Image, 3D Sweep Panorama, Sweep Multi Angle), Panorama (Intelligent Sweep Panorama)
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10, Portrait1, Portrait2 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro Auto, Flash On, Slow Syncro, Flash Off; Red-eye Reduction: On/Off/Auto
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 1-11 ft./30cm-3.5m (W), 1-6.6 ft./30cm-2.0m (T) ISO Auto: Approx. 0.4 - 7.1m (W) / Approx. 1.7 - 3.9m (T)
Max Flash Sync:    
Flash Exposure Compensation:    
External Flash Connection: n/a n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No No
Uncompressed Format:    
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) AVCHD Ver 2.0 or MP4; with stereo audio
Included Memory: No memory included 105.0 MB
Included Memory Type:   Internal
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No Yes
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No
Remote Control Type:    
Connections (extended): Multipurpose USB/AV connector, HDMI output Micro USB, Mini HDMI (Type C)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 1.98  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press?
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.0 10.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 10
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.40 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.45 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.078 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 1.9 seconds  
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power: 8.0 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 270 shots 320 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NB-5L Proprietary NP-BG1/NP-FG1
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NB-5L Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-BG1 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Canon Software Suite CD-ROM  
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection, Motion Detection, 720p HD video. Optical Image Stabilization, Full HD 1080p Movies, Dual Record captures 13MP stills during movies, 9 Picture Effect options, Built-in GPS. Available in black.