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Canon SX20 PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Canon PowerShot SX20 IS? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Canon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the SX20 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS below.

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In any case, the SX20 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This fixed lens compact camera was revealed to the public on August 19th, 2009, which means that, as of today, the camera is 5515 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Canon SX30 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Canon's user guide for the SX20

The camera's user guide is 180 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the SX20 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Canon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Canon SX20 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your SX20 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Canon SX20 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find SX20 guide book at
amazon.com

Canon SX20 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the SX20.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the Canon SX20 based on?

The camera is build around a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Canon SX20 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Canon equipped the SX20 with the DIGIC 4 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon SX20?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200.

Does the Canon SX20 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon SX20 for flash photography?

The SX20's flash sync speed is 1/500 sec.

Which battery does the Canon SX20 use?

The camera gets its power from the Canon 4xAA, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

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Further reading

How does the SX20 stack up against available alternatives? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Canon SX20
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 28-560mm f/2.8-5.7
    Launch Date August 2009
    Launch Price USD 399
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CCD
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4 000 x 3 000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.53 μm
    Pixel Density 42.74 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3 200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 202k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 2.5 inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen
    V-logging Friendliness No front-flip
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/3200s
    Continuous Shooting 0.7 shutter flaps/s
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port YES HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi
    Body Specs
    Battery Type Canon 4xAA power pack
    Body Dimensions 123 x 88 x 87 mm
    (4.8 x 3.5 x 3.4 in)
    Camera Weight 600 g (21.2 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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