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Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?

Started Feb 18, 2021 | Discussions
I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?
1

keric205 wrote:

...

BTW, I havnt found a way to install chkdk on it. From what I've read on the net it seems quite complicated and techy, apparently you cant boot from the SD card.

kerica

Really nice sunset Acropolis.  I recall walking up there, but never saw that view of it.

The main thing you'd get from CHDK is RAW/DNG which let's you shoot underexposed, even to where there's little to see on the screen, but able to pull it back out in post-processing.   It also provides a live histogram and exposure blinking, extended Tv, ISO and Av settings, and scripts for time lapse, etc.

CHDK is bootable and entirely installed on a 4GB card (larger cards require fancy partitioning) and doesn't affect the camera's firmware at all.  The camera operates normally when CHDK is disabled.  As you say, it's a bit nerdy to follow the installation steps , though it's simpler these days than when I first did it a decade ago.  (As I wrote above, because the SX20 increased sensor size and video resolution on the same Digic processor and RAM resources as SX10, I recall reports that some CHDK functions didn't work right.)

The Point and Shoot Pro
OP The Point and Shoot Pro Veteran Member • Posts: 3,029
Re: Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?
1

That is a nice shot of the acropolis for sure.  I have family friends from Greece, I am going to get to their neck of the woods someday.  Thanks for the information on the camera,  I think I am going to splurge on it ASAP.

As for CHDK, I am fairly "Geeky"  ha ha,  So I am going to give that a shot for sure.

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The Point and Shoot Pro

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RLight Senior Member • Posts: 4,427
Re: Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?
1

Not to sound mean, some of the older power shots, like this one, belong in the past.

If it's free, and you enjoy it, go for it. Otherwise? Nope. Not trying to be blunt or degrading, but trying to be straight as I gather you're genuinely curious.

Your iPhone, is a better tool, arguably.

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The Point and Shoot Pro
OP The Point and Shoot Pro Veteran Member • Posts: 3,029
Re: Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?
2

RLight wrote:

Not to sound mean, some of the older power shots, like this one, belong in the past.

If it's free, and you enjoy it, go for it. Otherwise? Nope. Not trying to be blunt or degrading, but trying to be straight as I gather you're genuinely curious.

Your iPhone, is a better tool, arguably.

I don't care about the better tool,  I care about having fun with photography.  IPhone is boring to use for photography

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The Point and Shoot Pro

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RLight Senior Member • Posts: 4,427
Re: Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?
1

The Point and Shoot Pro wrote:

RLight wrote:

Not to sound mean, some of the older power shots, like this one, belong in the past.

If it's free, and you enjoy it, go for it. Otherwise? Nope. Not trying to be blunt or degrading, but trying to be straight as I gather you're genuinely curious.

Your iPhone, is a better tool, arguably.

I don't care about the better tool, I care about having fun with photography. IPhone is boring to use for photography

You'll find zero disagreement here; photography needs to be fun and a real dedicated camera gives you that fun.

However, it also needs to be functional, and fun, that is produce good output.

The SX20 IS certainly has reach, 560mm to be exact, no question. And is probably fun. But, at 1/2.3-inch sensor, without BSI, ADC and not even CMOS? The image quality it's going to produce, isn't necessarily going to be impressive.

Everything is a tradeoff, size, capability, fun, output, etc. The SX20 has time against it; that sensor and CPU are a weak spot hampering it's output potential and regardless of focal length, the image quality will show. I looked at some Flickr samples from it, before I made my remark this morning and if you makes you happy, great! But when you have a smartphone, which your profile says you have a iPhone 11 at that? I might suggest you come up to say a SX70 HS, to produce matching or superior output to your iPhone, but with much more reach, and still fun. It'll cost more though. Just my two cents.

 RLight's gear list:RLight's gear list
Canon EOS M6 II Canon EOS R3 Canon EOS R50 Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Canon EF-M 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM +3 more
The Point and Shoot Pro
OP The Point and Shoot Pro Veteran Member • Posts: 3,029
Re: Powershot SX20 IS Thoughts?
1

RLight wrote:

The Point and Shoot Pro wrote:

RLight wrote:

Not to sound mean, some of the older power shots, like this one, belong in the past.

If it's free, and you enjoy it, go for it. Otherwise? Nope. Not trying to be blunt or degrading, but trying to be straight as I gather you're genuinely curious.

Your iPhone, is a better tool, arguably.

I don't care about the better tool, I care about having fun with photography. IPhone is boring to use for photography

You'll find zero disagreement here; photography needs to be fun and a real dedicated camera gives you that fun.

However, it also needs to be functional, and fun, that is produce good output.

The SX20 IS certainly has reach, 560mm to be exact, no question. And is probably fun. But, at 1/2.3-inch sensor, without BSI, ADC and not even CMOS? The image quality it's going to produce, isn't necessarily going to be impressive.

Everything is a tradeoff, size, capability, fun, output, etc. The SX20 has time against it; that sensor and CPU are a weak spot hampering it's output potential and regardless of focal length, the image quality will show. I looked at some Flickr samples from it, before I made my remark this morning and if you makes you happy, great! But when you have a smartphone, which your profile says you have a iPhone 11 at that? I might suggest you come up to say a SX70 HS, to produce matching or superior output to your iPhone, but with much more reach, and still fun. It'll cost more though. Just my two cents.

Don't worry I have a long list of better cameras,  g5x, X100v, p950, RX10iv, etc.  I just want to collect as many point and shoots as I can That are different and fun.  I shoot with my Kodak DC220 and have super fun.  The images are insanely low fi, almost like it's a digital holga...

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The Point and Shoot Pro

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Canon PowerShot A570 IS Kodak DC220 Fujifilm X10 Fujifilm X-S1 Nikon Coolpix P1000 +5 more
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