Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

    47
    Image cannot be found

    Highlights

    • 10.0 MP 1/2.5-inch CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 1,600 Native ISO
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 230k dot Fixed Screen
    • 0.9 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 640 x 480 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
    Image cannot be found
    Image cannot be found

    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS was announced in 2009 and is a 1/2.5-inch (5.744 x 4.308 mm) Standard Compact camera with 10.0 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 1,600. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 230k dot resolution. It has an image stabilization.

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS can capture video up to 640 x 480 resolution.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Screen
    4. Sensor
    5. Photography Features
    6. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    7. Other Features
    8. Physical Parameters
    9. For Different Types of Photography
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Here is the Canon PowerShot SX1xx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Canon PowerShot SX1xx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Canon SX170 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2013    		 16 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX160 IS
    Compare
    		June
    2013    		 16 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 100 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX150 IS
    Compare
    		May
    2012    		 14.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX130 IS
    Compare
    		August
    2010    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.3-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Canon SX120 IS August
    2009    		 10.0 MP
    1/2.5-inch    		 80 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Canon PowerShot SX170 IS vs PowerShot SX160 IS vs PowerShot SX150 IS vs PowerShot SX130 IS vs PowerShot SX120 IS.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Canon PowerShot SX120 IS.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
    •   Internal Storage
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.0 Megapixel
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2500 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 3.0"

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 230k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.

    Sensor

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS features a 10.0 megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 5.744 x 4.308 mm and a total area of 24.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 1,600.

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with DIGIC 4 processor and can take pictures up to 3648 x 2736 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3648 x 2048, 2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 3456 x 1944 with 4:3, 3:2 aspect ratios.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Canon PowerShot SX120 IS.

    Canon SX160 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    16 MP

    Canon SX150 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    14.1 MP

    Canon SX130 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    12.1 MP

    Canon SX170 IS
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    16 MP

    Sony a7S III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    12.1 MP

    Canon Rebel T5
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    18.0 MP

    Canon R50
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon R10
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Image cannot be found

    1/1.7-inch

    10.0 MP

    Canon R7
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    32.5 MP

    Panasonic TS5
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.33-inch

    16.1 MP

    Olympus SZ-30MR
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    16 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Battery

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS comes with 2 x AA battery pack.


    Internal Storage and External Storage Slots

    The camera has 128 MB internal storage and a single SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS's shutter speed can go up to 1/2500 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 0.9 fps.


    Flash

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS has a built-in flash with maximum range of 3.00 m. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/500 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS has dimensions of 111 x 71 x 45 mm (4.37 x 2.8 x 1.77"). It weighs 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    111 mm (4.37")

    71 mm (2.8")

    Image cannot be displayed


    71 mm (2.8")

    Image cannot be displayed

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS dimensions

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Canon PowerShot SX120 IS is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    POOR
    41

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS gets a score of 41 and is POOR choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    55

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS gets a score of 55 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    61

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS gets a score of 61 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    AVERAGE
    60

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS gets a score of 60 and is AVERAGE choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    82

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)

    Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Evaluation

    We evaluate Canon PowerShot SX120 IS and give score of 47 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    47

    Sensor

    BAD
    39

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 39 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.0 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    58

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 58 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2500 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 0.9 fps
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/500 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    POOR
    41

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 41 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 640 x 480

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    59

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 59 for Focusing parameters.

    •   No Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    52

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 52 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    BAD
    36

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 36 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    47

    We give Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a score of 47 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 285 g (0.63 lb / 10.05 oz)
    •   Internal Storage


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

    Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
    ZKelectronics is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, .co.uk, .ca, etc) and any other websites that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.