Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Vs. Nikon Coolpix P90

[ayaa1977]

Hey guys, I am thinking of buying a new camera and I am considering these two Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Nikon Coolpix P90. I have the reviews online and also checked out the sites that compares the two side by side
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

http://www.camera-catalog.com/compares/popular/canon_powershot_sx20_is_vs_nikon_coolpix_p90[/b]]http://www.camera-catalog.com/compares/popular/canon_powershot_sx20_is_vs_nikon_coolpix_p90

and they both looks great to me.

My best friend is a photography enthusiast and he think the two are great, now I need the feedback of you guys to sway me one way or another. I love photography but I am too lazy I can't be bothered to read the user manual. That is why point and shoot is the best option for me. One more thing: it is either Nikon or Canon for me, so don't get outside those two brands if you have other recommendations. 

[fizz]

Oh boy...I wish you didn't start this thread because I will have quite a lot to say...

Here goes.

I've owned (and eventually sold) the Canon Powershot SX20. It is, without a doubt, a very good (and very popular) camera. It beats the Nikon equivalent without even trying very hard. There are many reasons for this but the most universally acknowledged one is that Nikon is no threat or competition to Canon when it comes to Point and Shoots, both Sony and Panasonic models pose more of a challenge to Canon in this area. Nikon is an excellent camera company if you consider their DSLR range, which is equivalent (some would say even better) to Canon's. The reason for this, as numerous online extreme photo tests will tell you, is that Canon's P&S shoot better photos, especially at low light. To see this in action, you might want to quickly view the results of this exhaustive test:

Canon SX20 at ISO 3200
Nikon P90 at ISO 3200

To me (and many others) its very clear that Canon's control on the image noise is better than Nikon's. This therefore renders the images sharp in all areas (pretty much corner to corner) but also gives the image a more natural colour feel. Of course, this is a subjective opinion, but I tried both the Canon and Nikon and the quality of the images of the Canon, even on the LCD, looked much better and more natural. Regarding low light photography, especially indoors, both camera suffer and therefore compel you to use the onboard Flash, which results in not just ugly looking red eyes on your subjects, but also a lot of white flare on the foreheards etc so I would personally avoid the use the onboard Flash unless absolutely necessary. To counter this effect, many people like to buy an external flash because they have more range, more power etc and you can do more unique things with it, like bounce the light of the flash off ceilings and walls, to give your subject indirect illumination, but again, this is an entirely subjective point of view (though universally used technique). Again, the advantage of Canon here is that it supports an external flash (it has what is referred to as a Flash hot shoe, which Nikon does not), so if you even get tempted to buy an external flash (not cheap) Canon will allow it.

On the whole, the rule of thumb is, go to a store with an SD card, ask someone to allow you to take a couple of shots using both cameras and your SD cards, go home and view them at full resolution (100%) and then make up your own mind. A big reason for this is you may not like the way Canon feels in your hand and may prefer Nikon for this reason. You may also want to consider a few other things:

1 - Nikon has already launched a follow up to the P90, which is the P100, unused by me. Apparently, its an improvement (higher resolution HD, more zoom etc), but again, not sure if it manages to be a threat to Canon.
2 - Canon's real threat in this area is the excellent Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 or the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. Most reviews I read generally put them at the same level as the Canon (mostly for Sony) or better (mostly for Panasonic). I would ask you not to get caught up in any one brands and go for the expert opinion and your own gut to make the final decision, but both of these cameras are worth a look and consideration, especially the Sony which my heart was set on especially because of its sensor (CMOS, which is used by almost all DSLR's).
3 - Why are you considering these camera models anyway? Both of these cameras are referred to as ultra zooms - i.e. they go from wide angle to extreme zoom (20X in the case of Canon, 24X in the case of Nikon). From my own experience, this is not a useful zoom range unless you are a nature/wildlife photographer. I almost never used the camera at the zoom end and a more useful range is probably 10X. The biggest reason for this is that at 20X or more, the image vibrates so much, even with the built in stabilization, that you can't really take a good photo, unless you use tripods, and even then, the slightest vibration (e.g. wind) is enough to blur out your images. Also, it is generally considered that ultra zooms (those that go from normal to 20X zoom or more) generally compromise on image quality because no camera sensor could support one built in lens with such a diverse range and do any justice to the images it produces. This is why people who get serious about photography, generally end up buying a DSLR eventually, because you can change lenses according to your need.

My honest, sincere recommendation is to seriously consider the Canon S90, which has been called the best P&S that Canon has ever produced. It is quite a brilliant camera, depite its tiny size, and will keep you happy. It doesn't look like a DSLR, but don't let that fool you, it is a very strong beast with excellent low light image quality. I learned this after I bought the SX20 and regretted it because they have more or less the same price (S90 might cost you a couple of hundred more). Another option is the slightly more expensive Canon G11, which is so good that many professional photographers use it as a backup camera and it looks rather excellent with its old school design (google for it).

I don't want to confuse you too much with the specifics or the thousands of models that are available. Stick to a few and make your own decision. The more you read, the more confusing it can get especially becasue of the number of websites that are available. I would only recommend you to 2 websites, where you can read the detailed reviews of both camera (take you time, unless you are in a hurry) and then decide.

www.cameralabs.com (especially their verdict here)
www.dpreview.com

You may also want to look at snapsort for a general feature/spec comparison along with their recommendation and why.

Good luck and feel free to ask for more!

[kaytee]

Wow Fizz...that is some solid research you put in to buy a camera...impressive....

[shariqq]

Uff! Agree yaar, that's an impressive amount of study!

[ayaa1977]

Thanks Fizz, this is the kind of advice I was looking for. I think I just dodged the bullet, on a compulsion I made a bid on the Nikon and almost won it on ebay. After placing the bid I knew about the Canon and I wanted it more. Anyway, I will properly end up owning a Canon, although not 100% which one would it be. I previously owned two Kodaks, they were fine but they left me wanting more. They are not with me anymore (one was stolen from my brother's car, the other I lost in fire) so both had a rather dramatic exit.

Now I own a Fujifilm FinePix F47fd. But I am ready for a step up, and in my mind (right or wrong) this means a Canon or a Nikon. You can say I am kind of a brand whore, lol. That being said, this link you provided make a great case for the Panasonic, which I never associated before with great photography. So may be I will make a rather dramatic change of mind, lol.

My question to you Fizz, is continuous shooting really important in practice? The Canon has a 1 fps which is disappointing compared to the Nikon P90's 15 fps. But for someone like me, does it really matter??

[X.]

Ayaa, you shouldn't be asking any questions after what Fizz posted.

[ayaa1977]

Ayaa, you shouldn't be asking any questions after what Fizz posted.

Butt off AK, I am going to take advantage of Fizz's expertise as much as he'd allow me. Not only he has awesome knowledge of films, he also gives great tips on travel and photography. I am really grateful to have a friend like him, and what are friends for anyway if not to use them

But of all seriousness, I agree with you AK, there is not much can be said after such a thorough and excellent research.

[animatedude]

the digital camera industry is as boring and confusing as the printers industry,they release 10000 type of cameras a year which is confusing to the consumers.

now Ayaa's question has been answered i would like to take this thread to somewhere else...a little off-topic.i recently bought this camera from Saudi
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DSCW350N-Cyber-shot-Digital-Camera/dp/B00336EOK0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282816200&sr=8-5

the camera comes with a "free" memory stick and a bag.however,i was shocked and surprised later on to find out that the camera bag didn't come with a shoulder strap.in fact,i went to a couple of Sony stores in London and Dubai and NONE of them had a camera bag with a shoulder strap.i had to pay 15 pounds to get a crappy bag just so i can take its strap and use with the Sony bag.

is this normal? have i been living under a rock?! why they don't sell camera bags with shoulder straps anymore?! as far as i know having your camera around your neck is the best and fastest way to use ,right? i was telling my friend about it and he was telling me no one uses a shoulder strap for cameras anymore,only Filipinos do that!

[animatedude]

just read this breaking news you might wanna check it out

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/26/canon-eos-60d-18-megapixels-and-1080p-video-flexes-its-articula/

[fizz]

In defense of Panasonic, lets just say that the best glass for lens worldwide are considered to be Leica followed by Zeiss. Some Panasonic P&S cameras (unfortunately not the ultra zooms) use Leica glass while certain models of Sony (again, no ultra zooms) use Zeiss glass. Panasonic really is good in the P&S area, but it lacks in not being a brand name associated with cameras. Canon and Nikon trump all others because, above all, they are known as camera companies. Both Panasonic and Sony also make other electronic appliances, while Kodak was always known for its imaging equipment, not its cameras. Like you I too would stick to Canon because of its brand image (it appeals to my conservative nature), but the more adventurous have bought Panasonic and have been very impressed by it.

About your FPS question - high FPS is good in certain situations, but not always. Unless you are into high end photography (capturing birds in motion for e.g.), it may not be a deal breaker for you. On my recent trips (Pakistan, Europe etc) FPS did help me grab photos out of car/train windows, because I was able to take shots while moving, but on close inspection, at home on my laptop, they were found to be less than stellar - hardly stuff I would keep. Just remember, high FPS allows you to take shots in quick succession, hardly of much use for casual photographers, but good for people who experiment (e.g. shooting a drop of water hiting a water surface). Another reason to go for Canon (if you didn't already have enough) - its LCD screen is fully articulated (can move in every direction) allowing you to take some very innovative pictures and also fold the screen inwards when not in use, Nikon's P90 LCD screen on the other hand only articulates at 90 Degrees.

animatedude is right though about the nature of the camera industry. Like mobile phones, they work on the basis of tempting consumers with a barrage of new models and terminology that is of little or no consequence to them - it used to be megapixels, now its ISO etc. Still, if you do a bit of research, you can end up with exactly what you need (not want).

[ozzylogic]

Hence the reason why I'm leaning towards a Panasonic Lumix Leica P&S camera.

[fizz]

Don't know if you finally made a decision about this, but I just came across this very comprehensive and very accurate analysis of all the existing superzooms on the very reliable DP website. If you don't want to read all 19 pages of it then just skip to the last page.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q110superzoomgroup/page19.asp

The winners are clearly Canon and Panasonic.

[fizz]

And Canon announces the follow up to the very popular SX20 IS....the SX 30 IS.

In my personal opinion, the upgrades are mostly pointless... (35X zoom...really?), but its enough to get people excited. Full list of new features as usual on DPReview's excellent site.

I think this is the perfect time to pick up the SX 20 IS because prices will drop now and the camera should be available for a few more weeks.

[ayaa1977]

Thanks Fizz for the update, after reading that I think I am gonna stick with my choice of the SX20 IS. However, I am gonna put buying it on hold for a couple of weeks and hopefully, as you predicted, the price will go down.   

[fizz]

Thanks Fizz for the update, after reading that I think I am gonna stick with my choice of the SX20 IS. However, I am gonna put buying it on hold for a couple of weeks and hopefully, as you predicted, the price will go down.   

Do check with retail outlets. If you are late in your purchase and the SX30 is released locally, the SX20 will disappear off shelves and no one will stock it anymore because Canon will make sure they don't (how else will their new product sell?).